Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 08-01-23

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

CONTENTS

[01] PAPADOPOULOS KARAMANLIS TURKEY

[02] SLOVENIAN FM - CYPRUS ISSUE

[03] FITCH CYPRUS ECONOMY

[01] PAPADOPOULOS KARAMANLIS TURKEY

Papadopoulos also said he had a telephone conversation with Karamanlis on Monday, in view of the visit.

Asked whether he believes there is favourable ground for the improvement of the relations between Greece and Turkey, Papadopoulos pointed out that for favourable ground to exist the good will of both counties is necessary.

``Our position is simple and clear. Every effort, every initiative, which improves the relations between Greece and Turkey, has beneficial effect on the Cyprus problem,`` he added.

Invited to comment on press reports suggesting that Karamanlis will raise the Cyprus problem during his talks with his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan, President Papadopoulos said that the Greek PM ``will outline the well-known positions shared by Greece and Cyprus.``

Karamanlis after his arrival in Ankara will hold official talks with Ergodan, in the presence of the Foreign Ministers of the two countries, Dora Bakoyiannis and Ali Babacan.

This is the first visit by a Greek PM in Turkey after 48 years. Tomorrow Karamanlis will meet with Turkish President Abdullah Gul and opposition leader, President of the Republican People`s Party Deniz Baykal. He will then travel to Constantinople where he will meet with Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew.

In an interview with Turkish News Agency Anadolu, Karamanlis said, ``Greece believes that if Turkey fully adjusts itself to EU acquis, this should lead to full membership.``

``It should also accommodate its relations with Cyprus and recognize`` the Republic of Cyprus, Karamanlis was quoted as saying.

Cyprus, an EU member-state since May 1 2004, has been divided since 1974 when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third.

[02] SLOVENIAN FM - CYPRUS ISSUE

In an interview with CNA on the occasion of the 5th Informal Meeting of the EU Foreign Ministers of Mediterranean countries (known as Olive Group), which took place in the coastal town of Paphos, Rupel expressed the wish that both sides in Cyprus demonstrate certain flexibility during the negotiations.

Regarding Kosovo, an issue that predominated during the Paphos Informal Meeting, Rupel reassured once again that the Kosovo issue does not constitute a precedent for any other cases and reiterated that Kosovo is a unique situation and a sui generis.

Asked about illegal immigration, the Slovenian FM said that Cyprus is one of the most vulnerable countries in Europe regarding illegal immigration, and added that the Slovenian EU presidency will support efforts to conclude agreements with more countries, among them Morocco, Algeria and Turkey.

[03] FITCH CYPRUS ECONOMY

The delegation will meet the Governor of the Central Bank of Cyprus (CBC) Athanasios Orpanides, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Finance and other senior officials of the Ministry and the CBC.

The Central Bank, in a press release issued here today, underlines that this is the first visit of Fitch after Cyprus accession to the euroarea on January 1 2008. According to CBCs press release, Fitch in its previous evaluation of Cyprus economy in July 2007, revised higher the credit rating of Cyprus to AA-, Stable from A+, Positive.

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