Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 06-11-12

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

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

CONTENTS

[01] NEW ARCHBISHOP - CEREMONY

[02] PAPADOPOULOS - TURKEY

[03] FINNISH AMBASADOR - TURKEY

[01] NEW ARCHBISHOP - CEREMONY

The ceremony will take place in the presence of members of the Holy Synod, the church most senior body, high priests and laymen.

Cyprus President Tassos Papadopoulos, House of Representatives President Demetris Christofias and the islands political leadership will attend the ceremony. The Greek Government will be represented by Minister of Public Order Vyron Polydoras.

Moreover, representatives from all Orthodox churches, the Vatican and other churches will be present.

All religious denominations on the island (Armenians, Latins, Maronites and Anglicans) have been invited to attend the ceremony.

Greece`s Church will be represented by Archbishop Christodoulos.

In the long and turbulent history of the Church of Cyprus in the 20th century, six archbishops served the church for 79 years, while for nearly three decades the post was vacant because of friction among the church ranks.

The Church of Cyprus is autocephalous and its head enjoys exceptional privileges (signs in red ink, wears special empirical tunic at important church ceremonies and holds a scepter).

The Church was announced autocephalous in 478 AD when the remains of its founder, Saint Barnabas, were located on the island, in a tomb together with a copy of the gospel by Saint Mathew.

[02] PAPADOPOULOS - TURKEY

In statements on his return from Croatia and the Vatican where he paid official visits, President Papadopoulos said that since the beginning of the Finnish EU presidencys efforts to avert a Euro - Turkish crisis, the Cypriot side has supported the Finnish initiative.

Invited to comment on Finlands optimism that its initiative will bear fruit until the EU Council of December, President Papadopoulos expressed hope that the Finnish proposals would include the elements that are necessary to reach a progress in the issues we are discussing.

He noted that the Finnish initiative can not be linked with the December European Council, which will clearly deal with Turkeys assessment regarding its EU accession course.

Any other development in Cyprus, is possible to help Turkey meet its EU commitments, he said, adding though that the main issue at the December EU Council is the assessment of Turkeys progress regarding its EU accession negotiations.

President Papadopoulos was also invited to comment on statements made by the Finnish Ambassador to Cyprus Risto Pipponen, in an interview with CNA, that if his countrys initiative fails, then all interested parties will loose, Turkey, the Greek Cypriots and the Turkish Cypriots.

[03] FINNISH AMBASADOR - TURKEY

In an interview with CNA, the Finnish Ambassador to Cyprus Risto Pipponen has indicated that something in writing could be presented to the parties, if a compromise is on the cards.

He stressed however that progress towards a compromise deal depends on the parties involved the government of Cyprus, the Turkish Cypriot community and Turkey and not on the presidency, and the parties are to take the responsibility of any possible failure.

Ambassador Ripponen also believes that progress on one part of the Finnish proposals, which he described as realistic, relating to direct trade between Cyprus northern Turkish occupied areas and the EU would help progress on the other (Turkeys obligations under an EU protocol affecting Cyprus too) , noting at the same time that these two parts are clearly separate issues.

He said that consultations have been going on for quite some time now and continue with all the parties and a set of ideas has been presented orally to them.

These ideas have two separate parts, one to continue implementation of the conclusions of the Council of April 26, 2004, called trade between the northern part of Cyprus and the EU and the second relates to Turkeys obligations under the additional protocol of the Ankara Agreement, he explained.

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