The funeral of singer George Michael took place today during a private ceremony with his family and close friends.
A statement released on behalf of the family today read:
‘We can confirm that the funeral of the singer George Michael took place today. Family and close friends gathered for the small, private ceremony to say goodbye to their beloved Son, Brother and Friend.
‘George Michael’s family would like to thank his fans across the world for their many messages of love and support. We ask that the family’s wish for privacy be respected so that they can continue to live their lives privately, away from any media intrusion.
‘No further details will be released.’
Michael’s funeral had been delayed while his family waited for a coroner’s report to determine his cause of death. It was confirmed on March 7 that George died of ‘natural causes’.
George Michael died in December last year at the age of 53.
Article written by London Greek Radio
UK Special Envoy on Cyprus Jonathan Allen is set to pay the island a two-day visit on Wednesday and Thursday during which he will hold contacts regarding the Cyprus talks.
Jonathan Allen – UK’s special envoy to Cyprus
“Jonathan Allen, the UK’s Special Envoy on Cyprus will visit Nicosia for 2 days on 29-30 March,” a British High Commission press release issued here today says.
During that time, it is added, “Allen will hold contacts with both sides in the Cyprus settlement negotiations, UN Special Adviser to the Secretary-General, Espen Barthe Eide, and meet representatives of civil society and the bi-communal technical committees whose work also makes an important contribution to rapprochement between the communities of the island.”
Speaking on the visit, British High Commissioner Matthew Kidd said that “the UK welcomes the commitment of Mr. Anastasiades and Mr. Akinci to resuming political level talks soon.”
“The two leaders have shown courage and dedication to get this far in their negotiations, and have made remarkable progress,” he added.
He also expressed the view that “with continued commitment and political will on behalf of the leaders, we continue to believe that an historic agreement is within reach.”
Allen has held the role of Special Envoy on Cyprus since the Geneva Conference on Cyprus in January 2017.
He served as Political/Communications Officer at the British High Commission from 1999 – 2002.
Cyprus has been divided since 1974 when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third. UN led talks between the Greek Cypriot and the Turkish Cypriot communities resumed in May 2015 with a view to reunite the island under a federal roof.
The talks were interrupted in mid February by the Turkish Cypriot side, which demands that a decision passed by the Cypriot Parliament relating to a 1950 referendum on union with Greece is revoked, claiming this indicates a shift in the Greek Cypriot side`s goal for a federal solution. The amendment provides that there will be a very brief reference one a year to the referendum at schools.
President Anastasiades has described the House decision as wrong and called on the leader of the Turkish Cypriot leader, Mustafa Akinci, who walked out of the talks, to return to the negotiating table to discuss pending issues with a view to reach a mutually acceptable agreement to reunite the country.
The UN SG`s Special Adviser on Cyprus is hosting a dinner for the two leaders on Sunday. This is the first time the two will meet since mid February.
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UN Secretary General`s Special Adviser on Cyprus Espen Barth Eide is set to host a dinner for Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades and Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci next Sunday, April 2, at Ledra Palace hotel, in Nicosia.
Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades (L)-Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci (R)
In a press release the UN SG`s Good Offices Mission in Cyprus announced on Monday that “Eide, will host a dinner for the Greek Cypriot leader, Mr. Nicos Anastasiades, and the Turkish Cypriot leader, Mr. Mustafa Akıncı, on Sunday 2nd April.”
“The dinner will be held at the Ledra Palace Hotel within the UN buffer zone,” the press release concludes.
Cyprus has been divided since 1974 when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third. UN led talks between the Greek Cypriot and the Turkish Cypriot communities resumed in May 2015 with a view to reunite the island under a federal roof.
The talks were interrupted in mid February by the Turkish Cypriot side, which demands that a decision passed by the Cypriot Parliament relating to a 1950 referendum on union with Greece is revoked, claiming this indicates a shift in the Greek Cypriot side`s goal for a federal solution. The amendment provides that there will be a very brief reference one a year to the referendum at schools.
President Anastasiades has described the House decision as wrong and called on the leader of the Turkish Cypriot leader, Mustafa Akinci, who walked out of the talks, to return to the negotiating table to discuss pending issues with a view to reach a mutually acceptable agreement to reunite the country.
Sunday will be the first time the two will meet again.
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Foreign Minister 0f Cyprus Ioannis Kasoulides and his British counterpart Boris Johnson discussed today the prospects for resumption of the negotiations to resolve the Cyprus issue, in the margins of the Council of EU Foreign Ministers, held in Brussels today. I.Kasoulides reaffirmed President Anastasiades` will to return to the negotiating table as soon as possible, while pointing out that the new Turkish absurd claims such as the issue of the “four freedoms” further complicate the process.
Boris Johnson (L) – Ioannis Kasoulides (R)
Boris Johnson expressed confidence that mutually acceptable formula is feasible on the security issue and I.Kasoulides stressed that while they have filed several constructive ideas, clearly the right unilateral intervention of a third State and perpetual stationing of Turkish troops is out of the question. The Minister met with his British counterpart at the latter’s request to discuss the latest developments in the Cyprus problem.
During the main Council`s works, the Eu 28 discussed security and defense issues, developments in the Western Balkans, migration and the implementation of the new framework of partnership with third countries, the peace process in the Middle East and the issue of EU – Egypt relations. A joint meeting of the Foreign Ministers and Defence Ministers of the EU Member States, also took place, where defense and security issues, such as those arising from the EU`s global strategy.
The EU foreign Ministers also discussed developments in the Western Balkans. The EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Frederica Mogherini informed them on the tour she has completed in the region. The EU28 also talked about migration, focusing on the 3rd progress report on the implementation of the new framework of partnership with third countries.
The 28 Foreign Ministers also invited the Foreign Minister of Egypt Sameh Hassan Shoukry during lunch, for a detailed review of the EU – Egypt relations and their prospects.
In his speech I.Kasoulides welcomed the opportunity for comprehensive review of the relations with Egypt (regional, migration, human rights, economy etc.), underlining the strategic role of the country in a turbulent region and the need for the EU support reforms in the country.
Finally, the Foreign Ministers discussed the latest developments in the Middle East as well as how they shaped the roles and positions of the EU in the Peace Process in the Middle East.
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President Nicos Anastasiades has called on Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci to return to the negotiating table for a Cyprus solution with a productive stance, in order to continue the momentum of the talks and maintain all the positive elements that have been achieved in the past 22 months during the UN backed talks.
Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades (L) – Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci (R)
He also calls on Akinci to return to help reconvene the Conference on Cyprus as it was agreed last January during the first Conference in Geneva.
The Presidency of the Republic issued a statement on Tuesday, regarding the meeting the President had earlier today with the Bicommunal Peace Initiative. The President expressed his readiness for a new meeting to be set with the Turkish Cypriot leader to resume the talks from the point they were suspended to reach a just and viable solution on the basis of the February 11, 2014 agreement between the two communities, UN resolutions and the unanimous decisions of the National Council.
He also told his guests, as he has publicly stated, that the decision taken recently by the Cyprus House regarding the Union Referendum was not appropriate and unnecessary.
Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkish troops invaded and occupied 37% of its territory. Anastasiades and Akinci have been engaged in UN-backed talks since May 2015 with an aim to reunify the island under a federal roof.
Akinci walked out of a meeting in mid February, in the framework of the UN-led negotiations on the Cyprus problem. Anastasiades and Akinci had elaborated earlier on in that meeting their positions on an amendment passed by the Cypriot Parliament which includes a once a year reference of no more than ten minutes at schools to the 1950 referendum held in Cyprus, advocating enosis (union with Greece).
President Anastasiades has described the House amendment “wrong” and called on Akinci to return to the negotiating table. Akinci demands that the amendment is revoked before returning to the negotiating table.
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