Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 07-05-29

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

CONTENTS

[01] EU SCIENCE COMMISSIONER IN CYPRUS

[02] EU SERVICES COMMISSIONER - CYPRUS

[03] UN PEACE-KEEPERS - UNFICYP

[04] CZECH MPS - CYPRUS

[01] EU SCIENCE COMMISSIONER IN CYPRUS

During his two-day visit, on May 29 - 30, Potocnik will be received by Cyprus President Tassos Papadopoulos and will meet with Finance Minister Michalis Sarris. Present at the meeting will be the Ministers of Education and Culture Akis Kleanthous and Commerce, Industry and Tourism Antonis Michaelides.

The visit aims at the exchange of views and information with Cypriot officials on matters relating to government policy on research and important aspects of the relevant European policy, such as the 7th European Programme on Research and Technological Development, the European Institute of Technology and the development of the European Research Area.

The 7th Programme is the main financial source for activities in the field of research. The European Commissioner and his entourage will also visit Cyprus Institute of Neurology and Genetics and will be briefed on its activities.

Potocnik will give a speech during a gathering organised in Nicosia, on May 30, by the Cyprus Research Promotion Foundation.

[02] EU SERVICES COMMISSIONER - CYPRUS

McCreevy will be received by Cyprus President Tassos Papadopoulos and meet the Ministers of Finance Sarris and Commerce, Industry and Tourism Antonis Michaelides to discuss issues concerning the Internal Market and Services, including the timely and appropriate transfer of EU legislation to Cyprus national legislation and its effective implementation. He will also meet a delegation of the House Committees on Trade and Industry, on Financial and Budgetary Affairs and on European Affairs.

McCreevy will give a lecture on the Internal Market of the EU and the vision for the 21st century. On Wednesday he will give a press conference.

[03] UN PEACE-KEEPERS - UNFICYP

In a message on the International Day of UN Peacekeepers, Ban said that today, members of the UN family around the world join together to commemorate our colleagues who gave their lives in the cause of peace last year. In 2006, for the fourth year in a row, more than 100 peacekeepers lost their lives. This brings home to us the risks that our colleagues in peacekeeping undertake on behalf of the international community to provide peace, security and hope to hundreds of millions of people.

He noted that as we mourn those we have lost, we pay tribute to the professionalism, dedication and courage of those who are carrying on the proud legacy of our fallen comrades in 18 peace operations on four continents. The Secretary General said that last year, for the first time, more than 100,000 peacekeepers were deployed by the United Nations. One hundred and fifteen countries now contribute uniformed personnel to UN peacekeeping operations. Both of these figures are at an all-time high. They speak of unprecedented confidence in and expectations of UN peacekeeping, he underlined in his message.

The UN peace-keeping force in Cyprus (UNFICYP) is one of the longest serving forces. It arrived on the island in March 1964 after inter-communal fighting broke out. As at September 2005, 868 military personnel from 12 different countries currently work alongside 69 police officers and 150 locally and internationally-recruited civilians, according to UNFICYP website.

[04] CZECH MPS - CYPRUS

An official press release said the delegation will meet House President Demetris Christofias and hold separate meetings with Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environment Minister Photis Photiou and the President of the House Agriculture and Natural Sources Committee Yiannakis Thoma and members of the Committee. The Czech parliamentarians will also hold meetings with the Vice Mayor of Famagusta Andreas Shiopahas and with the President of the European Affairs Committee of Nicosia Municipality Eleni Loukaidou.

They will also visit the cease fire line at Derynia area and in Nicosia, and other places of interest. The delegation comprises, except from Jiri Papez, MPs Jdenek Mach, Petr Zgarba and Josef Cernansky.

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