Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 06-05-09

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From: The Cyprus News Agency at <http://www.cyna.org.cy>

CONTENTS

[01] CYPRUS PRESIDENT - EUROPE DAY - CYPRUS QUESTION

[01] CYPRUS PRESIDENT - EUROPE DAY - CYPRUS QUESTION

Speaking at a reception organized by the European Commission Representation in Cyprus and the European Parliament Office in Cyprus on the occasion of Europe Day, President Papadopoulos said ``the EU has to play a role in whatever solution we find.``

He said the EU ``has to advise us and monitor that any arrangements to be met would be compatible with the acquis communitaire``.

``At the same time it is universally accepted, also accepted by us - maybe this is one of the few common points with our Turkish compatriots - that the Cyprus problem must remain under the umbrella of the United Nations. Neither EU nor any country wants the Cyprus problem to be removed from under the aegis of the UN into another forum``, President Papadopoulos added.

Commenting an article in a newspaper saying that he rejects a federal solution of the Cyprus problem, President Papadopoulos said ``I say firmly and again that the solution we are aiming at is a bizonal, bicommunal federation of Cyprus``.

Everything else, he noted, is just a lie aimed at serving other purposes from the reunification of Cyprus.

He also said that ``by our accession in the EU automatically the lawful citizens of Cyprus, T/C and G/C, are automatically citizens of Europe and we intend to see that both communities make use of the benefits which our accession to the EU provided and at the same time we must both comply with the obligations towards the EU``.

Head of the European Commission Representation in Cyprus Themis Themistocleous said ``the EU is associated with security: social security; security against terrorism and crime; security in health, living and environmental contidions; job security``.

He also said ``the EU is expected to harness globalization, bring solutions in terms of peace, democracy, living standards as well as research, innovation and economic performance``.

Head of the European Parliament Office in Cyprus Tasos Georgiou said it is unfortunate that the accession of Cyprus was not followed by the re-unification of the island so that all people of Cyprus, Greek-Cypriots and Turkish-Cypriots would jointly enjoy the benefits of accession in a unified country. However, he noted, I am convinced that this time will come soon.

Ambassador of Austria in Cyprus Eva Hager referred to a meeting of Turkish-Cypriots and Greek-Cypriots young people earlier and said they have the same questions about their future, the same wishes and expectations for their country.

The students met at a coffee shop in Nicosia and expressed their views about Europe. They also wrote stories about Europe, fifty of which will be issued later in an anthology book.

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