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Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 06-05-16Cyprus News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Cyprus News Agency at <http://www.cyna.org.cy>CONTENTS
[01] PAPADOPOULOS - EU - TURKEYCypriot President Tassos Papadopoulos said that the aim of Turkey is to avoid its evaluation by the EU regarding its obligations, adding that Turkey will find itself in a difficult position if it undergoes the scrutiny provided for by the 21 September 2005 decision, known as the EU counterstatement to Turkey`s unilateral declaration that it does not recognise the Republic of Cyprus.``Turkey`s aim is to avoid this examination. Since September 21, when the relevant decision of the EU Council was made, we had stressed to the people how important this decision was and how useful a tool it would be in our effort to promote the fulfillment by Turkey of the obligations it undertook through its negotiating framework both towards the EU and Cyprus,`` he said. Commenting on information that Turkey was seeking to postpone its evaluation, President Papadopoulos said Ankara, in one way or another, wants to avoid this examination, ``and it is natural for us to try, and we are already trying with various contacts and explanation of our positions, to tackle this tendency.`` ``I believe Turkey will find itself in a very difficult position if it is called upon to undergo the scrutiny the 21 September 2005 decision imposes,`` he added. Replying to questions, President Papadopoulos said the EU member states consider it Turkey`s obligation to be evaluated. Asked if Cyprus was considering the option of blocking the opening of new negotiating chapters for Turkey if it`s progress is not assessed in October, President Papadopoulos said he was not going to announce Cyprus` stance. Commenting on the situation, Government Spokesman George Lillikas said ``some countries, very few, would want a postponement of Turkey`s evaluation by the Council in October,`` adding that ``there is a very large group of countries that want Turkey to be assessed and judged, just like all the other candidate countries.`` Replying to questions, Lillikas said that ``it is during this period that the countries will form their final positions, from now until the Summer in my opinion.`` ``However, there is a previous binding decision by the Council, in any case, for the evaluation to take place within the year 2006. This decision has not been retracted or cancelled by any other Council decision,`` he pointed out. [02] CYPRUS CLERGY - SWITZERLANDThe Metropolitan Bishops of Paphos, Limassol and Kyrenia, as well as the Bishop of Arsinoe, members of the Holy Synod of the Church of Cyprus, left for Geneva on Tuesday to participate in a broad meeting, chaired by the head of the Greek Orthodox Church Patriarch Vartholomeos, which will decide whether elections for a new Cyprus archbishop will take place or not.The Patriarchs of Alexandria, Antioch and Jerusalem will also be participating in the meeting, to be held on May 17 and 18. The Metropolitan Bishop of Morphou and the Bishops of Kykkos and Trimithounta flew to Switzerland yesterday. [03] DEFENCE MINISTER - BRITAINCypriot Minister of Defence Kyriakos Mavronicolas said that the Ministries of Defence and Foreign Affairs had both made the necessary representations regarding the withholding of National Guard armaments by Great Britain, adding that ``we expect the matter to be resolved very soon.``Speaking at Larnaca Airport on his return from Brussels, where he participated in the EU Defence Ministers` meeting, Mavronicolas said he had not discussed the issue with his British counterpart. Weaponry belonging to the Republic of Cyprus, which had been sent for repair, is now in Britain, which refuses to grant an export licence for its return to Cyprus. Referring to the discussions in Brussels, Mavronicolas said they focused on the European defence mechanisms and rapid reaction military units. He said it was decided that Cyprus would participate with one officer and that efforts were being made to raise the number to two officers. [04] CoE - CYPRUS - REPORTCyprus has shown great progress concerning actions against racism and discrimination, a report by the Council of Europe says, noting though that the Cypriot authorities have to take further action in a number of areas.``Since the publication of the second report on Cyprus of the European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI), on 3 July 2001, progress has been made in a number of the fields highlighted in that report. The legal and institutional framework against racial discrimination has been considerably strengthened, the extension of the mandate and powers of the Commissioner for Administration to deal with racial discrimination,`` the report notes. It adds that ``a number of important measures, including issuing of passports and other personal documents, have been taken to improve the position of the members of the Turkish Cypriot community, who, following the partial lifting of the restrictions to freedom of movement across the Green Line in April 2003, live and work in increasing numbers in the government-controlled part of Cyprus.`` The report notes that the legal and institutional framework for the examination of international protection needs is now in place and police monitoring of racist incidents has been introduced. Cyprus News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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