Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 07-09-11

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

CONTENTS

[01] PRESIDENT PAPADOPOULOS - PRESS CONFERENCE

[02] CYPRUS - EUROPEAN COURT OBJECTION

[01] PRESIDENT PAPADOPOULOS - PRESS CONFERENCE

He also said that the insistence of the UN Security Council and significant states to implement a UN-brokered agreement with the Turkish Cypriot community will yield results.``

Speaking at a televised interview here this evening, the President called for unity, stressing that the only enemy is the Turkish occupation army.

Unfortunately there was no positive outcome at my recent meeting with the leader of the Turkish Cypriot community because the necessary political will to implement the agreement was not there. We shall not be disappointed, nor shall we relinquish our efforts irrespective of the difficulties, he said.

The President said that he believed that the worst has been avoided when a UN-proposed solution plan (the Annan plan) was rejected.

We have overcome the difficulties we had to face in the period following the referendum on the Annan plan through our initiatives, he said, adding that Turkey did not achieve its goal to have the illegal Turkish Cypriot regime in occupied Cyprus recognized.

Cyprus, he went on to add in his opening remarks, has strengthened its status by joining the European Union and the forthcoming membership of the Euro zone will bring important economic and political benefits in Cyprus.

We have managed to improve our finances, we have put our house in order, enlarge the social role of the state, strengthened social cohesion and promoted institutional changes. We are improving the quality of life for every citizen, he said.

Papadopoulos pointed out that not everything has been rectified nor is everything perfect but there have been many and significant steps towards progress.

What we have achieved so far proves in practice that we can and shall achieve even more. We shall continue on our course, a sure path forward, he said.

Concluding his opening remarks, the President called on all citizens to stay away from fanaticism that divides people.

History teaches us that division can only bring bad things to the country and to our struggle. We have to safeguard our unity as the most valuable basis of our struggle. There are no enemies among us. The enemy is one: the Turkish occupation army. The opponents in the political arena and in elections are only political opponents with different positions and not enemies, he said.

Finally, he urged people to deal with all presidential candidates with due respect, saying that each candidate has something to propose.

Everybody has something to offer to the country and their intention is to do just that. Citizens have to listen to the positions, proposals and arguments of the candidates and judge for themselves, he added.

[02] CYPRUS - EUROPEAN COURT OBJECTION

We have filed an objection regarding this decision by the Third Section of the Chamber, Government Spokesman Vasilis Palmas told CNA today, invited to give an initial reaction to the decision.

Palmas, who indicated that there may be more comments on the part of the government on this issue, also said that the government of Cyprus respects judgments of the Court.

The Third Section of the Chamber of the Court, comprising seven judges, took the decision on Thursday of last week and this was communicated to interested parties today.

The Third Section of the Chamber rejected an objection by the Cyprus government concerning the participation of Mr M. Hakki and Mrs G. Eronen as the ad hoc judges designated by Turkey, the decision noted.

The two Turkish Cypriots were put forward by Ankara, whose appointed judge to the Court had retired, as its representative judges to the European Court.

Hakki has been appointed to hear 38 cases against Turkey relating to property of Greek Cypriots in Turkish occupied Cyprus and Eronen is set to hear 9 cases concerning the issue of missing persons in Cyprus.

Turkey, which occupies Cyprus northern part since its troops invaded in 1974, has been found guilty of human rights violations in this part of Cyprus, in relation to property rights and the fate of missing persons as well as the rights of their relatives.

The Court, in its rulings on different cases the Republic of Cyprus and individuals have filed against Turkey, has described the Turkish Cypriot regime as a local subordinate administration to Turkey.

Ankara, the Court added, by virtue of the presence of its occupation troops exercises effective control in occupied Cyprus and is therefore responsible for what happens there.

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