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Sunday, 22 December 2024
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Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 07-01-30Cyprus News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Cyprus News Agency at <http://www.cyna.org.cy>CONTENTS
[01] HOUSE PRESIDENT TURKEYPresident of Cyprus` House of Representatives Demetris Christofias called on Turkey and the Turkish Cypriot leadership to show the necessary flexibility and respect to the sovereign rights of the Cypriots, both Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots, in order to reach a bizonal, bicommunal federal solution, which would serve the interests of the Cypriots.Christofias said the Turkish Cypriots would of course be partners in this federal democracy and would share with the Greek Cypriots the benefits from any oil deposits found in Cyprus` seas. Invited to comment on remarks by Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat that the Turkish Cypriots had a right to the exploitation of oil deposits, since they have proven their willingness for the reunification of the island by voting in favour of a UN settlement plan, Christofias said ``the Republic of Cyprus is the Republic of Cyprus we know, it has been attacked by Turkey under the pretext of a coup, a fascist coup, violating international law.`` He added that this action of Turkey has been condemned repeatedly by the UN Security Council and the General Assembly, as well as other international organisations, and that Turkey continues to illegally occupy part of Cyprus, and of course the Republic of Cyprus is functioning based on international law, as a UN member. ``The Turkish Cypriots are citizens of the Republic of Cyprus and they are our partners. This is true. Unfortunately, however, they do not participate in the governing of the Republic of Cyprus because they do not want to participate or because they are forced not to participate,`` he pointed out. Referring to the 2004 referendum on the UN settlement plan which was accepted by the Turkish Cypriot community and rejected by the Greek Cypriot community, Christofias said ``the UN placed this plan before the people of Cyprus, of course with the wish to approve it, but the plan had a provision that says that if one of the two communities does not approve it, this plan does not exist`` and thus the Turkish Cypriots ``should not present it as a solution to the Cyprus problem.`` He noted that the legality of the Republic of Cyprus exists and will continue to exist until a solution to the Cyprus problem, adding that Turkey is behaving as an occupation power and a martinet in the region. ``This is an unacceptable stance and I wonder why it in fact remains unnoticed and without any representations from the UN,`` Christofias pointed out. Commenting on reports that Lebanon would be giving Turkey information about an agreement signed recently with Cyprus regarding the oil deposits, Christofias said he did not know if this was true but noted that in any case it did not mean Turkey was getting its own way. Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third. [02] AGRICULTURE MINISTER DROUGHTCypriot Minister of Agriculture, Natural Resources and the Environment Photis Photiou said that the EU should intervene and support the member states that are facing the negative consequences of drought, adding that the Cypriot government, as part of its water policy, is planning and implementing desalination and water recycling projects.Speaking at Larnaca airport on his return from Brussels, where he represented Cyprus at a meeting of EU Agriculture and Fishery Ministers, Photiou said he had the opportunity to discuss with his counterparts of the Mediterranean countries the consequences of drought on the agricultural people of Cyprus. [03] CYPRUS SHIPPINGCyprus will spare no effort to maintain a leading ships register of high quality and participate actively in all international fora where policy decisions on shipping are taken, Cyprus Minister of Communications and Works Haris Thrasou pledged, speaking at the fourth Digital Ship Conference, Digital Ship Cyprus, which opened Tuesday.The international two-day conference deals with information and communication technologies that relate to ships and shipping companies. In his address, Thrasou said government maritime policy is focused on maritime safety and security and the protection of the environment, where the flow of information is of vital importance for its effective implementation. Furthermore he noted that all ships under the Cyprus flag as well as all port facilities in Cyprus have been duly certified as complying with the requirements of the International Ship and Port Facility Security Code (ISPS), which has been adopted and is effectively implemented. Second Vice President of the Cyprus Shipping Council Andreas Neophytou said that Cyprus, and in particular Limassol, remains one of the largest ship management centres globally. We are also proud that Cyprus remains a strong register, being the 10th largest globally and the 3rd in the European Union, he added. As regards the Shipping Council, he said it continued its growth in 2006 and today comprises 130 ship-owning, ship-management and shipping related companies places in Cyprus as well as abroad. In terms of the number of ships and tonnage under the Council of Members control, the total number of ships owned, managed or operated by Council member companies amounted to more that 2,100 ocean going ships, having a total tonnage of approximately 42 million tons. Cyprus News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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