16/05/2008 (Agence Europe) - French MEP Françoise Grossetête (EPP-ED), who chairs the EP's contact group on relations with the Cypriot-Turkish community, met the leaders of the two Cypriot communities in Nicosia this week. On this occasion, she called on both sides to “go beyond the symbols, such as the opening of Lédra Street, to enter into the heart of the negotiations”, according to a press release published on 16 May. After meeting the new president of the Cypriot Republic, Dimitris Christophias, with the Cypriot-Turkish leader, Mehmet Ali Talat, on 21 March this year, working groups and committees were set in place to take stock of convergences and differences. On 23 May, both leaders may decide to launch real negotiations on the Cypriot issue. “Cyprus, the European Union and the UN must seize this critical moment to get beyond past resentment, to finally reach a lasting solution to the Cypriot problem within the framework of United Nations Security Council resolutions”, Ms Grossetête stressed. (H.B.)