Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 07-07-08

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

CONTENTS

[01] AKEL GENERAL SECRETARY CANDIDATE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS

[02] STATE DEPARTMENT JULY 8th AGREEMENT LOST OPPORTUNITY

[03] GREEK PRESIDENT VISIT CYPRUS

[01] AKEL GENERAL SECRETARY CANDIDATE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS

In favor of Christofias candidacy voted 1,447 from the 1,566 delegates (92,7%) and 103 voted against (6,6%) while eleven abstained (0,7%).

The delegates approved the proposal submitted to them by the Central Committee of AKEL, Cyprus` main ruling coalition partner, that the party suggests to the President of the Republic and the government partner parties the candidacy of AKEL`s General Secretary Demetris Christofias to lead the three party coalition.

Addressing the Pancyprian Party Congress, Christofias said that AKEL would like to continue the cooperation with the other two coalition parties, but noted that if the partys proposal is not accepted by DIKO and EDEK, then AKEL would have to run for the elections with its own candidate.

But Christofias said that first and foremost, AKEL would continue to struggle for a just solution of the Cyprus problem on the basis of a bizonal, bicommunal federation and in line with the UN resolutions and the High Level Agreements of 1977 and 1979, for the benefit of all Cypriots, Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots as well.

[02] STATE DEPARTMENT JULY 8th AGREEMENT LOST OPPORTUNITY

The one year anniversary of the July 8th Agreement represents a lost opportunity which neither side has seized. We are deeply disappointed in the lack of progress in terms of a constructive dialogue over the past year; leaders on both sides must be prepared to take risks, look ahead toward future progress, he said.

Invited to comment on the one year anniversary of the July 8th agreement, between the leaders of the two communities in Cyprus, the Spokesman said that the international community needs to see political resolve and ownership of the process on the parts of both parties.

[03] GREEK PRESIDENT VISIT CYPRUS

According to a press release issued by the Greek Embassy in Nicosia, President Papoulias will attend the events, organized by the Cypriot government, to mark the 30th anniversary of the death of first President of the Republic of Cyprus, Archbishop Makarios III.

Makarios, who served as President of Cyprus from 1960 until 1977, died unexpectedly on August 3rd, 1977, of a heart attack, three years after the Turkish invasion in Cyprus in 1974, which resulted to the occupation of one third of the islands territory.

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