Abbas backs Greek stand on Cyprus issue

NICOSIA - Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas voiced support to the Greek theses on Cyprus issue during his visit Greek Cyprus, local media reported. A day after Abbas’ remarks, Turkey’s Parliament Speaker Köksal Toptan said on Friday he wanted to believe Palestinian leaders’ comments stemmed from a misunderstanding.

"It is not possible for us to interpret Abbas' remarks in a different way," Anatolia News Agency quoted Toptan as saying during his meeting with Dimeji Bankole, the speaker of the Nigerian House of Representatives in Ankara. The Turkish parliament speaker also recalled that the Turkish parliament had hosted Abbas for many times, and Turkey had supported him in every platform. "I hope it is just a mistake," Toptan said. During Palestinian president’s visit to Greek Cypriot, Demetris Christofias thanked Abbas for Palestine’s support to the "struggle" of the Greek Cypriots, and bringing up the Greek Cypriot theses during the meetings of the Organization of the Islamic Conference, or OIC, according to the news in the media in Greek Cyprus. "We desire that an atmosphere based on a productive dialogue begins once again so as to bring to an end to the grave sufferings of the Palestinian people and settle the Middle East problem via peaceful means and we believe that this dialogue will start soon," said Greek Cypriot leader. Christofias noted that Greek Cyprus defended the struggle of his Palestinian "brothers" within the European Union in a constructive manner all the time, adding that it will continue its support to the Palestinians. He also said that Greek Cyprus has decided to open a foreign representative office in Ramallah, a city located 10 kilometers (6 miles) north of Jerusalem.