Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 06-11-21

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

CONTENTS

[01] CYPRUS GOVERNMENT ANNAN STATEMENTS

[02] CYPRIOT FM TURKEY EU

[03] CNA EFE AGREEMENT

[01] CYPRUS GOVERNMENT ANNAN STATEMENTS

In a statement, Undersecretary to the President and Government Spokesman Christodoulos Pashiardis said the Cypriot government wanted to make remarks on several issues regarding yesterdays statements by UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan after his meeting in Geneva with Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat.

The fact that Cyprus reunification was not possible, through the Annan Plan, was because this specific plan, as it was, did not secure the reunification of the people and the country, but merely imposed a loose attachment of two separate entities, perpetuating the partitionist elements and prejudging the creation of a deadlock and the malfunction of the state. For this reason, and others of course, it (the plan) was rejected by the majority of Greek Cypriots, the Spokesman said.

He said that the acceptance of the plan by the Turkish Cypriots was not a concession for which the Turkish side should be rewarded for, bearing in mind that both Turkey and the Turkish Cypriots had secured everything they were asking for in the Annan Plan. In addition, the plan was not the result of negotiations but a decision of `arbitration` by the Secretary-General.

Regarding the lifting of the so-called isolation of the Turkish Cypriots for which there is so much talk and which the Secretary- General refers to in his statements, it is now clear that this myth is merely a pseudonym of the organized effort and pursuit of the Turkish side to politically upgrade the pseudostate which, as the Secretary-General knows very well, the Security Council with its resolutions 541 and 550, considers illegal and a product of an illegal secessionist act``.

``This alleged `isolation` is mainly self-imposed by the efforts of the pseudostate to secure political upgrading or indirect recognition and participation in international organizations, the Spokesman remarked.

Commenting on the position set out by the Secretary-General for granting assistance to satisfy aspirations of the illegal state for economic development, Pashiardes noted that surely this help cannot be connected with the legalization of the systematic exploitation of Greek Cypriot property in the occupied areas, nor with the issue of direct trade, which is connected with the return of Varosha town to its lawful inhabitants``.

``This return, as the Secretary-General again very well knows, is provided for by the relevant Security Council resolutions which the legal government of Cyprus fully respects, he pointed out.

On the issue of the implementation of the 8 July Agreement, we fully agree with the Secretary-General that declarations of intent are not sufficient, but what is needed is action. Our side remains consistent towards this agreement and will continue to work and cooperate with all the good will and every constructive way, to promote its full implementation, the Spokesman concluded.

EU member-state Cyprus, has been divided since 1974 when Turkish troops invaded and occupied its northern third.

In April 2004 a UN-envisaged plan for a comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus problem was approved by the Turkish Cypriot community but rejected by the Greek Cypriots who deemed that it did not lead to the real reunification of the island.

Cypriot President Tassos Papadopoulos and Talat agreed on July 8, 2006, during a meeting in the presence of UN Undersecretary General for political affairs Ibrahim Gambari, to begin a process of bicommunal discussions on issues that affect the day-to-day life of the people and concurrently those that concern substantive issues, both contributing to a comprehensive settlement to the Cyprus problem.

[02] CYPRIOT FM TURKEY EU

It seems that the messages we get from the EU presidency and our EU partners who are in contact with Ankara, are not optimistic, he said, replying to questions.

Lillikas also expressed the view that third countries will exert pressure on EU member states regarding the stance these countries will adopt on Turkeys issue, if Ankara fails to meet its EU obligations.

The Minister was also invited to comment on statements made by Finnish Premier Matti Vanhanen that Turkey would face consequences if until the beginning of December it does not open its ports and airports to the Republic of Cyprus.

Lillikas said that Vanhanens statements reflect the decision which was unanimously taken by the EU on September 21, known as the Unions counter-declaration to Turkeys unilateral declaration that the signing of the Ankara Protocol in July 2005 does not imply recognition of the Republic of Cyprus.

[03] CNA EFE AGREEMENT

The agreement was signed by CNA Board Chairman Costakis Constantinou and EFE President Alex Grijelmo, last Friday in Barcelona, on the sidelines of the General Assembly of the Alliance of Mediterranean News Agencies (AMAN).

Present at the signing ceremony were CNA Acting Director George Penintaex and EFE Managing Director Maria Dolores Alvarez Morales.

The agreement provides for the exchange of news and information between the two national news agencies.

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