Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 06-10-30

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

CONTENTS

[01] CYPRUS - MALTA - PARLIAMENTS

[02] CYPRUS - JULY 8 AGREEMENT

[03] CSE - ASE - PLATFORM

[01] CYPRUS - MALTA - PARLIAMENTS

Speaking after a meeting with Cypriot House of Representatives President Demetris Christofias, Tabone assured that Malta has always abided by the UN resolutions concerning Cyprus and congratulated Christofias on the initiatives he has taken.

Christofias said Tabone has undertaken certain initiatives, for which he congratulated him, noting that ``Cyprus and the House of Representatives are always beside Malta and the reverse, in our effort to promote out common goals.``

He said they discussed ``the burden on smaller parliaments regarding the massive bulk of material being sent from Brussels and which when approved, if the Constitution is approved at some time, but even without the approval of the Constitution, at some point the parliaments will have more say both in the direction of the European Parliament and the Commission.``

``So, mechanisms must be set up to assimilate as best we can this material and take positions. It is a huge problem for the small countries and we have exchanged views on this issue,`` he added.

Christofias said Tabone showed interest regarding the Cyprus problem and developments, as well as Turkey`s EU accession course and its obligations, which ``to some extent have to do with Cyprus.``

``I want to stress that there was full understanding and that Mr. Tabone has shown a great interest and great understanding towards the positions we have explained. I want to stress that Malta, both on the executive and legislative level, is a constant, solid friend of Cyprus and this friendship and solidarity is based on international law, UN decisions on Cyprus and of course the European principles,`` Christofias pointed out.

Tapone said ``we agreed that there should be formal meetings to set up a group of small parliaments, or relatively small parliaments in the EU to get together to put our positions clearly in front of the other member states and also the Commission, that as small parliaments we have to deliver as much as larger parliaments in the same timeframe as the larger parliaments have to deliver themselves.``

He noted that ``Malta and Cyprus are both Mediterranean countries and we have an extra common ideal to follow, and we would like, as we discussed this morning, to take new initiatives to put the Mediterranean on the agenda of the EU.``

Tapone said they discussed the Cyprus issue, noting that Christofias ``has made his position and the position of Cyprus very clear and he elaborated on the whole issue.``

``Malta always abided by the UN resolutions and of course it is very close to the whole issue,`` he said, adding that ``it is important to understand even more the situation as it develops and as it is, because that would help very much to understand even more what is at stake and what the issues are as they develop and as they come forward.``

[02] CYPRUS - JULY 8 AGREEMENT

Replying to questions, Pashiardis said that no meeting had been scheduled for Monday.

``Mr. Moller knows that our side is ready and willing at any time to attend such a meeting,`` he said, pointing out that a meeting ``depended on the Turkish side.``

[03] CSE - ASE - PLATFORM

Among the important innovations introduced with the common platform is the trading of certain titles in euros and the lengthening of the market schedule to 17:00 local time (15:00 GMT) as in the Greek and other stock markets.

The stock market dealings on October 26 and 27 were suspended due to the imminent operation of the platform, in order to allow adequate time to dispatch all relevant works and checks needed to ensure the smooth transfer of all market considerations to the new environment.

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