Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 07-07-25

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

CONTENTS

[01] GREEK AND CYPRIOT FMs - CYPRUS PROBLEM - ELECTIONS IN TURKEY

[02] GRAND IMAM OF EGYPT - CYPRUS ARCHBISHOP

[03] CYPRUS - HEAT WAVE

[01] GREEK AND CYPRIOT FMs - CYPRUS PROBLEM - ELECTIONS IN TURKEY

The two ministers looked into developments in the Cyprus question and evaluated the results of the recent elections in Turkey.

Marcoulli expressed the hope that after the reelection of Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayiip Erdogan, second thoughts will be made for a more constructive stance by the Turkish government and Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat on the Cyprus question, so that the implementation of the 8 July Agreement for the preparation of a new negotiating process will begin.

On her part, Bakoyianni said that the fact that there will be a stable and democratically elected government in Turkey is positive, noting that Erdogan has expressed the will of Turkey to maintain its EU orientation. She stressed however that tangible proofs and actions are expected with a view to draw secure conclusions, noting that this applies also to the Cyprus question.

Bakoyianni noted that there is a stalemate as regards the 8 July Agreement, due to the stance of the Turkish Cypriot side which has been following a delaying policy.

Bakoyianni also said that Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat refrained from responding to the recent initiative of the President of the Republic of Cyprus Tassos Papadopoulos for a meeting between them, with a view to overcome the current counter-productive deadlock.

As regards Turkeys EU course, Bakoyianni said that in the discussion they had with Marcoulli they focused on those aspects which concern Turkey`s obligation as a candidate state to normalize its relations with the Republic of Cyprus as an EU member state.

Bakoyianni said they confirmed with Marcoulli the constant and close cooperation and coordination between Athens and Nicosia in the common effort to achieve a just, viable and functional settlement for the reunification of Cyprus, so that Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots will be able to enjoy the benefits of the participation in the EU, without the presence of occupation forces.

Bakoyianni wished Marcoulli luck at her new task and noted that during their meeting they reviewed the situation and evaluated the prospects ahead, after the recent Turkish elections.

On her part, Marcoulli, referring to Turkish elections, said that what concerns us particularly is the participation of the nationalist party of Mr Bahceli (Nationalist Action Party) in the parliament.

It is a party with a very negative tradition as regards national issues in general and specifically the Cyprus question, Marcoulli said.

She noted that the success of Erdogans party at the elections is a very important development in Turkey, as is the continuation of the reforms in Turkey and its accession course, but what counts is whether the Prime Minister of Turkey will succeed in this difficult struggle to reduce the role of the army in the whole political process in Turkey.

Referring to the 8 July Agreement, Marcoulli noted that this is the only process on the table and that its implementation will lead to the preparation of a new negotiating procedure which we hope will lead to a just settlement of the Cyprus question, on the basis of the United Nations resolutions, of the European and international law and on the basis of a bizonal, bicommunal federation.

Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third.

Cypriot President Tassos Papadopoulos and Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat agreed on 8 July 2006, during a meeting in Nicosia in the presence of UN official 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 of the Cyprus problem.

[02] GRAND IMAM OF EGYPT - CYPRUS ARCHBISHOP

According to the Archbishops press spokesman Andreas Demetriou, the pledge was given at a meeting in Cairo between the two, during which the Archbishop outlined the situation on the island, saying it remains divided since the 1974 Turkish invasion, and referred to attempts to afford recognition to the illegal Turkish Cypriot regime in occupied Cyprus.

The Archbishop told the Grand Imam that more than 500 churches in occupied Cyprus need to be restored urgently, otherwise they will collapse and sought support from him to prevent this destruction. During the one-hour long meeting, Chrysostomos explained that the Church of Cyprus had always respected Moslem places of worship on the island. The Grand Imam said he would work for peace and love in Cyprus and promised to communicate the Archbishops concerns to everybody and to support his call with all his might.

[03] CYPRUS - HEAT WAVE

The situation is expected to remain the same in the coming days, according to the Meteorological Services, while humidity is also very high, something that causes problems to vulnerable groups, such as the elderly and the very young or sick people.

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