Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 07-12-10

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

CONTENTS

[01] RUSSIAN FM - TALKS

[02] BRUSSELS - TURKEY

[03] SC PRESIDENT - INTERVIEW

[01] RUSSIAN FM - TALKS

He also expressed the hope that future reports on Cyprus by the UN Secretary General will reflect the realities in Cyprus.

Lavrov was speaking after talks with President Papadopoulos as part of his two-day official visit to the island.

Papadopoulos said their talks took place in the well known friendly spirit that exists between the two countries during which they discussed ways and means of strengthening our relations in a wide field of commercial, research, educational and other activities.

President Papadopoulos expressed gratitude for the constant support, and the principled attitude which Russia takes concerning Cyprus, noting that the Russian FM is very knowledgeable about the Cyprus problem.

In his remarks, Lavrov confirmed his country is very satisfied with its relations with Cyprus. The talks covered a rich agenda, culture, tourism military and technical cooperation, education. We discussed yesterday and today how to promote these.

We also discussed the Cyprus problem. Russia is interested in finding a settlement which will be based on Security Council resolutions which will be the outcome of an agreement between the two communities that will be just, supported by the people of Cyprus, he said.

The Russian FM added his country welcomes the recent eight point initiative by President Papadopoulos which was addressed to the UN, adding that this initiative is a move, a very good mechanism to start implementing the July 8 Agreement which was endorsed by the leaders of the two communities and supported by the UN.

As we discuss Cyprus at the SC, we will be proposing to pay special attention to the proposals by President Papadopoulos and I hope this will bring results, Lavrov underlined.

Asked why he did not meet Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat, Lavrov said his contacts involved four visits and he could not visit the rest of Cyprus.

On much talk about the so-called isolation of the Turkish Cypriots and less talk about the occupation of Cyprus by Turkish troops, Lavrov said, speaking through an interpreter, that on Cyprus, we must talk, use specific fundamentals. We are talking about real facts, because the government of the Republic of Cyprus is making many efforts to support the Turkish Cypriot community so that economic cooperation between the two communities increases.

He said President Papadopoulos reconfirmed his readiness for reunification of the country, adding I hope in the future the UN Secretary-Generals reports will detail the real facts,

Lavrov said he was surprised to see that in his recent report, the UN Secretary-General made no clear reference to the eight point proposal by President Papadopoulos, which aims to implement the July 8 agreement signed with the contribution of the UN in 2006.

We call on both sides to become active in the direction of finding a solution which will be commonly accepted, based on the previous agreements signed and based on UN resolutions on Cyprus, the Russian FM added.

On July 8 2006, Cyprus President Tassos Papadopoulos and Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat in the presence of the then UN Undersecretary-General for Political Affairs Ibrahim Gambari signed an agreement, involving bicommunal discussions by technical committees of issues affecting the day-to-day life of the people and, concurrently, consideration by expert working groups of substantive issues of the Cyprus problem.

Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkish troops invaded and occupied 37% of its territory

Lavrov expressed appreciation to President Papadopoulos for his consistent position for developing Russia EU partnership and more issues which concern the international community and the EU.

Asked about Russias reaction in the event of a unilateral declaration of independence by Kosovo and recognition of this independence by other states, Lavrov said in this event those countries will violate international law. We do not support violation of international law.

Lavrov said a unilateral declaration of independence by Kosovo and recognition of this independence will not remain without consequences.

This will create a chain reaction throughout the Balkans and other areas of the world. Those who devise such plans must weigh up the consequences very carefully, he said on the day mediation efforts between Serbia and Kosovo Albanian leaders officially ended.

[02] BRUSSELS - TURKEY

Marcoullis said that despite the amendments made on the conclusions text regarding enlargement, the two paragraphs on Cyprus remained unchanged.

The Cypriot FM said that the wording regarding Turkeys support in reaching a Cyprus settlement has been changed for the better.

Marcoullis said she was satisfied with this development since the old wording could be interpreted in various and dangerous ways.

The new adopted text calls upon Turkey to support the implementation of the agreed procedure of the July 8th Agreement which would lead to the comprehensive and viable solution of the Cyprus problem within the UN framework and based on the EU principles, Marcoullis said.

She described the reference on the July 8 Agreement and its connection with a comprehensive and viable solution as very important.

This development is very important because Turkey is now expected to act towards the support of those efforts to implement the July 8th Agreement she stressed.

Marcoullis described as positive the reference, which says that Turkey should make concrete steps towards the creation of a good climate for a comprehensive solution.

In her statements, Marcoullis said the conclusions also refer to Turkeys EU obligations and the fact that Ankara has not yet met its obligation to implement in full the additional protocol, which provides for the extension of the Customs Union agreement between Turkey and the Republic of Cyprus.

The conclusions, Marcoullis added, note that Ankara has made no progress in normalizing its relations with Nicosia.

We managed to pass all those strong messages to Turkey in a way that leaves no room for false interpretations she underscored.

Marcoullis said that the conclusions refer to the Intergovernmental Conference end of December during which two more EU Turkey negotiating chapters will open, chapter 28 on public health and consumers protection and chapter 31 on inter-European networks.

These are two chapters which have no political dimension and cause us no problems. We gave our consent for their opening, she concluded.

[03] SC PRESIDENT - INTERVIEW

In an interview with CNA, he also said a group comprising three Supreme Court judges and one Senior District Court Judge has prepared a series of amendments to the civil justice code, pointing out that these changes will not bring about a total restructuring of the system but further improvements.

According to available statistics, there was a total of 121,497 cases (both penal and civil) pending at the end of 2006, a number which, according to Artemides, cannot be justified considering Cyprus` small population.

However, as Artemides points out, these numbers regardless of how huge they may seem for a population of approximately 750,000 do not justify the delays caused by procedures. In 2006 the Courts processed a total of 132,400 cases (withdrawal/settlement, partial and full hearings).

Cypriot citizens have free access to the Courts, hence the increasing number of cases dealt with through litigation. This approach often leads the trial to be transformed into an arena in which those involved argue their case, at times without respect to reason or the truth, I dare say, he told CNA.

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