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Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 08-01-31Cyprus News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Cyprus News Agency at <http://www.cyna.org.cy>CONTENTS
[01] CYPRUS GOVERNMENT - SCHROEDER - ILLEGAL VISITThe government and political parties have criticised a proposed visit to the northern Turkish occupied part of Cyprus by former German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder, saying it is illegal.Schroeder is expected Friday in the occupied areas, arriving via Turkey, at an illegal airport. Cyprus President Tassos Papadopoulos has described Schroeders visit as a very sad development, expressing regret for the fact that Schroeder, acting as an individual, continues to maintain the same positions towards Turkey and the Turkish Cypriots. The former Chancellor was an advocate within the European Union for the interests of Turkey and the Turkish Cypriot community. Government Spokesman Vassilis Palmas has said that Schroeder will visit the occupied areas as an individual representing some businessmen and noted that he no longer has the political clout he had in the past. He said that all representations have been made to avert Schroeders visit to the occupied areas but since this is as private visit they did not bear fruit, because no one can force an individual to visit or not to visit a certain place. Charges d affaires of the German embassy here Joachin Heidorn confirmed, in statements to CNA, that Schroeder will visit Cyprus occupied areas, underlining the fact that Schroeder is not a government official any more and but a private citizen. Heidorn said that as a German citizen, Schroeder could not be prevented from paying this visit, adding that the embassy is in no way involved in this visit and that Schroeder had not informed the embassy about this trip. Heidron also noted that Schroeder will be accompanied by businessmen interested in investing in the occupied areas. Schroeder is expected to leave on Saturday. [02] FM - FINLAND - CYPRUS QUESTIONCypriot Foreign Minister Erato Kozakou Marcoullis, currently in Finland on a working visit, has said that Turkey refuses to fully implement a UN-brokered agreement, signed in 2006 by the leaders of the Greek Cypriot and the Turkish Cypriot communities.Marcoullis, who met in Helsinki representatives of Finnish media, noted Turkeys refusal to implement the July agreement despite the fact that the UN Security Council and the December 2007 European Councils Conclusions explicitly support the implementation of the Agreement. Answering questions, Marcoullis said that the Greek Cypriot side would welcome any new initiative in 2008 that would lead to the implementation of the agreement and underlined the Greek Cypriot sides readiness to immediately begin procedures that would lead to its full implementation. [03] SPOKESMAN - REHN - OCCUPIED PORTSThe government disagrees with the view of the Enlargement European Commissioner that Cyprus Turkish occupied ports and airports can be used by ships and aircraft of third countries, even though Nicosia has declared them illegal ports of entry.The position of the government on the issue of the occupied ports is completely different than that which EU Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn has, Government Spokesman Vassilis Palmas has said. Palmas noted that the position of the European Council is also completely different to that expressed by Rehn. [04] EPP-ED GROUP - BUREAU MEETINGThe Euro-Mediterranean Policy and its perspectives is going to be the main focus of the EPP-ED Group Bureau meeting, which will take place here on 7-8 February 2008.The Cyprus issue, the role of the United Nations and the EU as key players to promote the Cyprus Settlement will be another item of discussion, particularly in view of the forthcoming presidential elections in Cyprus on 17 February 2008. An EPP-ED Group press release said the South and East Mediterranean and the Middle East are areas of vital strategic importance to the European Union, which both the EU Council and the European Commission have identified as key external relations priorities for the EU. Cyprus News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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