Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 06-06-15

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

CONTENTS

[01] PRESIDENT - UN

[02] UNFICYP - RESOLUTION

[03] EU - DRAFT CONCLUSIONS

[04] FM - GREECE

[01] PRESIDENT - UN

Replying to questions prior to his departure for Brussels, regarding Turkish Cypriot press reports that the Director of his Diplomatic Office, Ambassador Tasos Tzionis, has met with Rasit Pertev, advisor to ther Turkish Cypriot leader, to discuss the issue of the technical committees, the President said that Moller`s meetings with the two sides continue since the beginning of March.

``Both sides have been committed that there would be no announcement of any procedures or any separate meetings, because I don`t think that these issues can be promoted through discussions and debates in the media,`` President Papadopoulos said, adding that ``we keep our promises`` and efforts continue.

He explained that efforts aim at starting the discussion of important issues on a technical level, as agreed in Paris, and of other issues depending on the progress made with the core issues.

This, the President added, was and remains ``our position from the beginning,`` expressing the hope that eventually Moeller will help ``so that this correct form of preparation of talks for a Cyprus solution will succeed,`` noting that generally technical committees deal with issues of preparation of the substance of the negotiations.

Responding to another question, the President noted that he personally as well as his representatives made it clear to the UN official that there is no intention on the Greek Cypriot side to get involved in a game of imputation of liabilities.

``We are even prepared to silently accept imputation of liabilities to us, even if there aren`t any, because we are concerned with the substance and not with the game of attribution of responsibility. This is our position and we will repeat it with consistency until the end,`` President Papadopoulos said.

He further described as ``neutral`` the resolution on the renewal of the UN Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus` (UNFICYP) mandate, noting that the Republic of Cyprus makes efforts to reverse the terminology used since 1999 referring to two entities instead of two communities.

Asked if he is troubled by the British stance with the US support during the consultations at the UN for the approval of the resolution, promoting the use of the term entities, he said ``of course`` but noted that the other three countries in the Security Council ``have supported our positions.``

Replying to other questions, the President said it was wrong on UNFICYP`s behalf to monitor a search-and-rescue naval exercise in the Turkish occupied areas of Cyprus, adding that the Republic of Cyprus has made representations.

``This exercise is considered illegal, not only by us, but also by previous decisions of the United Nations on Cyprus,`` the President pointed out, adding that Turkey has no right in the coastal waters of the Republic or in the areas in which the exercise was conducted.

He added that the Annan Plan provided for such an exercise but the plan has not been approved, and therefore it is invalid.

``The UN should first respect their own decisions, that Cyprus remains a sovereign and independent state with all its sovereign rights in the airspace and the sea,`` the President concluded.

[02] UNFICYP - RESOLUTION

Diplomatic sources said that American and British diplomats employing ambiguous wording tried to alter the basis of the UN Secretary General`s Good Offices Mission, using terms as ``parties``, which represent two entities which negotiate instead of ``two communities.``

Problems emerged regarding the technical committees, announced during a meeting on February 28 between UN Secretary General Kofi Annan and Cypriot President Tassos Papadopoulos.

[03] EU - DRAFT CONCLUSIONS

According to EU sources, the reference is made in paragraph 38 of the draft conclusions, which concerns Turkey.

According to the draft conclusions, the European Council ``reviewed progress made in the acquis screening and welcomes the start of substantive accession negotiations with Turkey`` and that ``Turkey is expected to share the values, objectives and the legal order set out in the treaties.``

``The Union is committed to support Turkey in its efforts to comply with the Union`s standards and membership obligations, including the Copenhagen criteria,`` it adds.

The European Council ``recalls, in line with previous conclusions, that the current negotiations are based on each country`s own merits and that their pace will depend on each country`s progress in preparing for accession measured against the requirements set out in the Negotiating Framework.``

[04] FM - GREECE

According to an official press release, Lillikas will also be received by President of the Hellenic Republic Karolos Papoulias.

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