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Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 07-05-22Cyprus News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Cyprus News Agency at <http://www.cyna.org.cy>CONTENTS
[01] PAPADOPOULOS - 2008 ELECTIONSPresident Tassos Papadopoulos has expressed his wish to secure the support of all three parties, that back his government, as he contemplates re-election in next years presidential elections.He also said that he respects his main partner, left-wing AKEL, and its leadership and lays special emphasis on the party views. His comments came as AKEL Central Committee met and decided the procedure it will follow in order to decide on its positions with regard to the presidential elections. The Committee also approved a document on the same issue, to be discussed by party grassroots organizations before it is sent back to the Committee and the party congress in early July for a final decision. My wish is to have the cooperation of all three parties and certainly that of AKEL. I think you know how much I respect AKEL, its leadership and members and as such I think the party views are particularly important, he told the press Monday evening at the Annual General Meeting of the Employers and Industrialists Federation. Papadopoulos also said that he would see how things develop and would assess all factors relating to Februarys presidential elections. AKEL spokesman said after the Committee meeting on Monday that the document approved by the Committee assesses the situation in the question of Cyprus and on the domestic front, in relation to previous party decisions and the programme of governance. This paper stresses the need for AKEL to give a battle for the presidential elections with all its might, united, irrespective of what the final decision of the party will be, he added. So far there is one presidential hopeful, former minister of agriculture Kostas Themistocleous, but it is widely expected that Papadopoulos and former foreign minister Ioannis Kasoulides will also join the presidential race. [02] FOREIGN MINISTER - FAMAGUSTA MAYORCypriot Foreign Minister George Lillikas has said that a coordinating committee will be set up to help organise overseas activities and promote efforts by Famagusta Municipality for the return of their Turkish occupied city. Lillikas made the statement after a meeting with a delegation from Famagusta Municipality under Mayor Alexis Galanos, who expressed concern over Turkish moves to settle the occupied areas and to exploit Greek Cypriot properties.The Minister said Famagusta Municipality representatives were informed on the latest developments in the Cyprus problem and efforts to secure the return of the town of Famagusta, a fundamental aim of the government. He also said they examined ways for closer cooperation between the Ministry, the Mayor and the Famagusta Municipality to promote the just cause of Famagusta refugees for the return of their occupied town. Lillikas pointed out we have decided to set up a coordinating committee, with the participation of representatives from the Foreign Ministry, the Famagusta Municipality and the Press and Information Office, to organise a series of activities with main emphasis overseas and decide on ways to promote the cause which the Famagusta Municipal Council has undertaken especially after the initiative to collect signatures from the people of Famagusta. Famagusta Municipality has collected around 30 thousand signatures as part of efforts to have the town returned to its lawful citizens. The Cypriot minister said cooperation will continue and expressed hope that soon government and Municipality efforts will yield results. Galanos said there was a useful exchange of views, noting that this was a difficult period since Turkish intransigence with regard to Cyprus is at its peak. Galanos called for closer cooperation with the Ministry of Finance and funds for the refugee municipalities to enable them to promote their cause. [03] RELIGIOUS HERITAGE - OCCUPIED AREASA German investigator, dealing with a case of stolen cultural heritage artifacts from Cyprus Turkish occupied areas, hopes that these will be returned to their lawful owners. Addressing an event on the destruction of Cyprus cultural heritage, as a result of the continuing Turkish occupation of the islands northern part, Walter Moser, investigator with the Bavarian police force, said the case of stolen religious artifacts is before the courts in Munich and the Federal judicial authorities. He said they will decide if and when the stolen property will be returned to Cyprus.The case pending before the courts involves Turkish born art dealer Aydin Dikmen, facing charges of illegal export, possession and attempts to sell property belonging to the church of Cyprus. Moser expressed hope that the case will soon conclude and that the objects will be returned to Cyprus. Speaking at the same event, professor Klaus Gallas said that the largest number of stolen mainly religious treasures are in Munich and the German authorities have yet to return them to Cyprus, in spite of the fact that their origin has been established. According to the church of Cyprus, some 500 churches have been either destroyed or pillaged since the 1974 Turkish invasion. Some religious relics have been bought back, others were returned to the church after lengthy legal proceedings and others are still at large. Cyprus News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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