Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 06-10-16

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

CONTENTS

[01] FM - TURKEY - EU - CYPRUS

[02] CYPRUS - EU TURKEY

[03] CYPRUS - EARTHQUAKE

[01] FM - TURKEY - EU - CYPRUS

In statements at Larnaca airport prior to his departure for Luxembourg to attend a General Affairs and External Relations Council meeting, Lillikas said that Cyprus is making efforts for the Finnish Presidencys initiative to yield results and to create such preconditions and circumstances that will allow Turkey to continue in a smooth manner its EU accession course.

Invited to say if he expects any result from the meeting between Gul and the EU troika, Lillikas said that that the government is in close contact and cooperation with the Finish Presidency, in the framework of the initiative it has undertaken.

He said he expected to be briefed on the results of the meeting by the president of the General Affairs and External Relations Council.

To a remark that EU member states do not seem to exert any specific pressure on Turkey to implement its obligations towards the Union and Cyprus, Lillikas said that no one can prejudge which will be the position of the various European countries nor someone can prejudge which will be the context of the Commissions progress report on Turkey and the approach for any sanctions to be discussed after the Commissions report.

He noted that there are many ideas on the table which the EU countries are looking into or are discussing, noting that the effort from our part is that the Finnish Presidencys initiative will have results.

Invited to say if these ideas satisfy Cyprus so that it will not veto Turkeys accession course, Lillikas said that from the moment that the Finnish initiative is underway and Turkey has not yet so far rejected these ideas, nor has it closed the door for dialogue, it would be a mistake for us to start discussing on a plan B or the ideas of other member states on the discussion that will follow after 8 November.

Asked about the meeting he had Sunday with his Spanish counterpart Miguel Angel Moratinos, Lillikas said they briefed each other and exchanged views on the further course especially of the Euro-Turkish relations.

The Finnish Presidency tabled some draft proposals in a bid to avoid a ``train crash`` in Turkey`s accession talks, due to Ankara`s refusal to implement the additional protocol.

Cyprus, which joined the EU in May 2004, has been divided since 1974, when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third.

Turkey, a country aspiring to become an EU member state, does not recognize the Republic of Cyprus and refuses to implement the EU-Turkey Customs Union Protocol, by opening its ports and airports to Cyprus.

[02] CYPRUS - EU TURKEY

Regarding the proposals of the Finnish EU presidency, Pashiardis said Turkey did not hesitate to declare its positions, it refuses to implement its obligations and has neither accepted nor rejected the ideas of the Finnish presidency, adding that the Cypriot government was not apathetically waiting for the final form of the proposal, but was in contact with the EU and the partners on the proposal and the content of the European Commission`s progress report on Turkey.

Asked about press reports that the US were drafting a proposal, Pashiardis said the government had no information on a proposal regarding Varosha and the opening of the Famagusta port.

"Our position is that we do not accept any proposal that does not provide for the return of Varosha to its legitimate inhabitants," he added.

Asked if the Finnish proposal was in line with the government`s positions, Pashiardis pointed out that it has not yet been finalised and that the government had already given its comments on the proposal and is in contact with the EU on the matter.

"We are not apathetically awaiting the final form of the proposal but we are in constant contact with the EU itself and with our partners on the form of the proposal and also the content of the expected report of the European Commission on Turkey`s accession course," he said.

Replying to questions, Pashiardis said "the segmental return of Varosha with a simultaneous full concession on our side is neither a fair compromise nor a balanced settlement," adding that if the Greek Cypriot side had to relinquish a full concession for every segment of Varosha, then the Turkish side would gain everything it is demanding.

The Government Spokesman also pointed out that Turkey must meet its obligations and fulfill the commitments it undertook in its EU accession bid.

Cyprus, which joined the EU in May 2004, has been divided since 1974, when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third.

Turkey, a country aspiring to become an EU member state, does not recognize the Republic of Cyprus and refuses to implement the EU-Turkey Customs Union Protocol, by opening its ports and airports to Cyprus.

According to reports, the Finnish EU Presidency is working on a draft proposal, providing for the opening of the Turkish occupied port of Famagusta under EU administration for 24 months, in combination with the opening of Turkish ports to ships carrying the Cypriot flag and the transfer of the closed city to the UN.

[03] CYPRUS - EARTHQUAKE

The quake was registered as Minister of Agriculture, Natural Resources and the Environment Photis Photiou visited the Cyprus Seismology centre to be informed on the procedures followed after Sundays tremour in Larnaca.

He assured that Monday`s tremour had nothing to do with yesterday`s earthquake in Larnaca`` and called on the citizens of the Cyprus Republic not to worry.

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