Kalam hopes for lasting solution to Cyprus problem

New Delhi, Apr 12 (UNI) President A P J Abdul Kalam today reaffirmed India's support to independence, sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity of Cyprus and hoped for a lasting solution to the Cyprus problem in accordance with U N Security Council Resolutions.

In a speech at a banquet given in hounour of visiting President of Cyprus, Tassoss Papadopoulos, Dr Kalam said India respects the democratic choice exercised by the people of Cyprus in the April 2004 referrendum and hopes that a just and lasting solution will be found to the problem in accordance with the UNSC resolutions and the aspirations of the people of Cyprus.

He also welcomed the meeting between Mr Papadopoulos and UN Secretary General Kofi Annan held in Paris on February 28 for preparing ground for resumption of negotiations under the UN auspices that would lead to a ''mutually-agreed, functional and viable comprehensive settlement'' of the Cyprus problem.

Lauding the economic developments of Cyprus, Dr Kalam said India's economy too had been growing at the rate of 7-8 per cent during the past few years and hoped that it would achieve a growth of 10 per cent in the next few years.

''Our foreign trade and foreign exchange reserves have grown since 1991. But in order to bring prosperity and growth to our one billion people, we need to grow at around 10 per cent or so for the next few years. Although this is a high figure, we feel optoimistic that we can achieve this,'' he said.

Describing the India-Cyprus relations as ''long-standing and time-tested,'' he said that in size and demography, the two countries may present a few contrasts. But the similarities of outlook across a wide spectrum of issues, shared values of democracy, human rights and commitment to fighting terrorism united them in a common endeavour.

Thanking the Cyprus government for installing a bust of Mahatma Gandhi near its Parliament House in 1972 and naming the avenue after Jawaharlal Nahru, Dr Kalam said India had taken this sentiment further when the Indo-Cypriot Joint Commemorative Stamp was released this morning indicating the long tradition of warm, close and friendly ties between the two countries.

He said cooperation between the two countries held out tremendous possibilities for collaboration in areas of knowledge-based and high-technology industry.

Indian enterprises would be happy to participate in the development of knowledge-based industries and in high-technology park projects in Cyprus.

UNI RB MSJ VC2044