Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 06-09-22

Cyprus News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

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

CONTENTS

[01] PAPADOPOULOS - EU - TURKEY

[02] AIR CRASH - HEARINGS

[01] PAPADOPOULOS - EU - TURKEY

In statements on his arrival from New York where he addressed the UN General Assembly, President Papadopoulos said that the Finnish EU Presidency has undertaken a fresh initiative regarding Turkey`s compliance with its EU obligations.

He added that Finland accepts Cyprus` positions, which have been adopted by the EU, that Turkey`s obligations towards the EU do not depend on any developments regarding the Cyprus problem.

President Papadopoulos said that the lifting of the so called isolation of the Turkish Cypriots is not related with the efforts regarding the implementation on behalf of Turkey of the Customs Union Protocol, which provides for the opening of all Turkish ports and airports to all new EU member states, including the Republic of Cyprus.

Turkey refuses so far to open its borders to Cyprus and thus implement the Customs Union Protocol.

"We do not seek to create a crisis in EU-Turkey relations. But we strongly insist that Turkey`s obligations cannot be linked with any developments in the Cyprus problem," he noted.

"We concentrate our efforts on achieving the return of the fenced off city of Varosha and opening the Famagusta port under EU supervision. This involves other actions and political issues as well, on which Finland is trying to reach consensus with various proposals," President Papadopoulos added.

So far, he said, there does not seem to be a favourable climate for the realisation of Finland`s efforts.

However, the President added that the Cypriot government`s proposals regarding Famagusta are one of the main issues that the EU will use to test Turkey`s will for the reunification of Cyprus and the restriction of the consequences of the Turkish occupation and invasion.

[02] AIR CRASH - HEARINGS

Constantinides, who testified today before the Commission of Inquiry into the causes of the 14 August 2005 Helios air crash, that killed all 121 people on board, said that the problems in the DCA date back to 1996 and efforts were made to deal with the situation, despite the restricting legal framework.

He explained that the Ministry exercises an administrative supervision on the DCA and cannot control the Department on a technical level or look into issues of substance, like criteria for issuing licenses or certificates.

The second witness who testified today was Training Manager of Standards in Helios, Philip Roblin, who said that he resigned from his post in July 2005 since it was impossible for him to fulfill his duties under the managing team in Helios during that period.

The way the company was functioning, he said, was different from what he was accustomed to in the private sector, adding that Helios lacked team management. But he expressed the view that since the air crash, the company ``has moved forward.``

Cyprus News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article