Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 06-09-21

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

CONTENTS

[01] BARROSO TURKEY - EU

[02] PAPADOPOULOS - NY

[03] UN SG SPOKESMAN PAPADOPOULOS ANNAN MEETING

[01] BARROSO TURKEY - EU

Speaking in an interview with EuroNews, he called upon Turkey ``to understand that it must respect its obligations and commitments,`` pointing out an EU progress report on Turkey`s accession course is due out next November.

``At the moment, we are not particularly encouraged by the news we are getting,`` Barroso says in the interview.

Referring to these obligations, he notes that amongst them are obligations deriving from the Ankara protocol, which guarantees ``the access of Cypriot ships into Turkish ports,`` and stresses that ``these are vessels of a member state.``

``At the start of November, we are going to bring out our report on the state of progress in negotiations with Turkey. What I can guarantee is that it will be an objective, honest and rigorous report,`` he notes.

Turkey, an EU candidate country, refuses to implement a Protocol extending the Ankara Agreement (Customs Union) to the ten new EU member states, which among others provides for the opening of Turkish ports and airports to Cypriot ships and airplanes.

Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third.

[02] PAPADOPOULOS - NY

On Wednesday the President met with his Croatian counterpart Stjepan Mesic with whome he discussed Croatias EU perspective and reviewed bilateral relations.

The President informed Mesic on the latest developments in the Cyprus issue.

Papadopoulos also met British Minister for Europe Geoff Hoon who said after the meeting that the two had a very good conversation. We have a great deal of good common interest particularly about the future of Cyprus. We had an extremely constructive and helpful discussion.

Foreign Minister George Lillikas, who was accompanying the President on his trip, met his Syrian counterpart Walid Al-Moualem where they discussed the Middle East issue and reviewed bilateral relations.

He also met his Maltese counterpart Dr. Michael Frendo and discussed EU issues.

Lillikas returns to Cyprus Thursday evening.

[03] UN SG SPOKESMAN PAPADOPOULOS ANNAN MEETING

He said that Annan and Papadopoulos "discussed Lebanon, and the Secretary-General thanked the President for his countrys role during the Lebanon crisis."

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