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Sunday, 22 December 2024
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Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 08-01-30Cyprus News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Cyprus News Agency at <http://www.cyna.org.cy>CONTENTS
[01] EU TURKEYWith the initiatives and methodical efforts, the Government has achieved the recent decision of the EU General Affairs Council for the reviewed EU-Turkey partnership text, and today the Greek Cypriot side is in a more powerful position to succeed in the Cyprus efforts for political settlement, Cypriot President Tassos Papadopoulos said.We are in a more powerful position today and we are allowed to be optimistic, the President said, responding to questions. Asked on the illegal visit to the Turkish occupied north of Cyprus of the former Chancellor of Germany Gerhard Schroeder, Papadopoulos said it is a sad development, noting that Schroeder is an ordinary citizen. As an ordinary citizen he continues to have the same feelings for Turkey and the Turkish Cypriots as he had before, he said. Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third. [02] FM - HELSINKICypriot Foreign Minister Erato Kozakou - Marcoullis pays a working visit to Finland , during which she will hold a meeting with her Finnish counterpart Ilkka Kanerva to discuss various issues such as the Cyprus problem and bilateral relations.During her visit in Helsinki, Marcoullis will meet with Minister of Europe and Migration Astrid Thors and Chairman of the House External Affairs Committee Pertti Salolainen. After concluding her contacts there, the Cypriot Foreign Minister and her entourage will head for Estonia. Marcoullis will be received by President of Estonia Toomas Henrik Ilves, Prime Minister Andrus Ansip and hold a meeting with her Estonian counterpart Urmas Paet. [03] GREEK CHURCH CONDOLENCESCyprus President Tassos Papadopoulos expressed deep sorrow over the death of Archbishop of Athens and All of Greece Christodoulos, noting we will always remember him.It is our wordless grief for the early grave of the Archbishop, who brought the Church closer to the people, who stood by our side from the beginning, who was so much loved by the Cyprus people and who loved our island so, President Papadopoulos told reporters, after signing the book of condolences opened at the Embassy of Greece. The Cypriot President will be represented at tomorrows funeral in Athens by Minister of Defence Christodoulos Pashiardes. The House President will be represented by MP Kypros Chrysostomides. The Church of Cyprus will be represented at the funeral by Archbishop Chrysostomos II who departs this afternoon for Athens. [04] EU IMMIGRANTSCypriot Minister of Interior Christos Patsalides said that countries neighbouring with the EU, countries that have the candidate status, such as Turkey or aspire to have closer ties with the Union, should realize they have the responsibility to sign treaties for the reentry of immigrants with the EU.Speaking to the EU Justice and Home Affairs Council that took place in Ljubljana, Slovenia, holder of the EU presidency, Patsalides reiterated his call for a common policy on the issue of immigration. Referring to a recent agreement between Libya and Italy for joint sea patrols, Patsalides said that such agreements in the future should be the result of European Convention with third states and not of bilateral agreements of EU member states and third states He further explained that the aim of this is such issues ``relating to illegal immigration would be included in the EU foreign policy, something which would significantly assist smaller member-states, which do not have important political weight and capabilities.`` Cyprus ranks first in the EU, regarding asylum applications compared to its population, Patsalides said. ``Therefore Cyprus supports the creation of a European support office since this would assist all member-states and especially the member-states considered as ``first-stop`` which face the strongest pressure,`` he added. Cyprus News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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