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Monday, 18 November 2024 | ||
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Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 06-09-29Cyprus News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Cyprus News Agency at <http://www.cyna.org.cy>CONTENTS
[01] EU PRESIDENCY - TURKEY - CYPRUSThe EU Finnish Presidency is actively working ``to reach a solution which would enable direct trade between the EU and Northern Cyprus``, said Finnish Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen, adding that ``our aim is a solution that would also ensure that Turkey proceeds with the opening of ports to Cypriot vessels``.In a speech before the Finnish Parliament, Vahnanen noted that ``a positive outcome would help us to avert difficulties with Turkey`s EU accession negotiations.`` We continue, he pointed out, ``to hold intensive and constructive talks with the Republic of Cyprus and Turkey to see whether a solution can be found.`` ``The following weeks will be crucially important for these efforts as the European Commission has announced that it will issue its progress report on Turkey on 8 November``, Vanhanen concluded. [02] GERMAN & CYPRIOT FM MEETGerman Minister of Foreign Affairs Frank Walter Steinmeier expressed the hope that Turkey will implement the additional protocol of the Ankara Agreement, stressing that the German government expects Turkey to abide by its commitments.Speaking after talks in Berlin on Wednesday with Cypriot Minister of Foreign Affairs George Lillikas, Steinmeier said that the two discussed Turkey`s accession course and agreed that Germany, Cyprus, Turkey and Finland will have to examine ways to find the best possible solution, an official statement said. The German Minister expressed understanding for Cyprus` positions, as well as the hope that Turkey will proceed with the ratification of the additional protocol of the Ankara Agreement before the end of the year and generally implement the obligations it has undertaken. [03] AIR CRASH - TESTIMONYFour incidents with problems in the air-conditioning system of the Helios Boeing 737-300, which crashed in August 2005 near Athens killing all 121 passengers and crew on board, took place during the period from August 13, 2004, until the end of the year, British pilot instructor Ian Christopher Louis has said.Testifying before the Commission of Inquiry into the causes of the air crash, Louis, who is working with Helios since March 2004, said that engineers of the company had repeatedly tried to fix the problem by changing spare parts but did not manage to spot the cause of the problem. He noted that the decompression problem is common in Boeing planes and does not affect the security of the flights, as long as the pilots have the experience to deal with it, adding that in his previous job this phenomenon used to appear three times a month. Cyprus News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |