Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 08-02-11

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

CONTENTS

[01] FM - KOSOVO CYPRUS ISSUE

[02] ELECTIONS COUNTDOWN

[03] MISSING - IDENTIFICATIONS

[04] FM CYPRIOTS SRI LANKA

[01] FM - KOSOVO CYPRUS ISSUE

Speaking on departure for Malta, to attend a ministerial meeting between the EU and the Arab League, she said that the UN has given a strong response to any notion of recognition of the regime, through Security Council resolutions which brand the secessionist act of 1983 legally invalid and call on all states not to recognize any other government on the island than the legal government of the Republic and not to facilitate the Turkish Cypriot occupation regime in any way.

Cyprus will never recognize a unilateral declaration of independence outside the UN framework, and in particular by side-stepping the role of the Security Council, she stressed.

Marcoullis also noted that Nicosias view is gaining ground among its EU partners.

Our position is based on principles and not on fear that a UDI could set a precedent for the recognition of the occupation regime, which no other state except Turkey recognises, she added.

Responding to questions, she said that Cyprus is not worried about the stance Russia has adopted on Kosovo, noting that Moscow has always backed Cyprus independence and territorial integrity.

Questioned on developments in the Cyprus issue, she said there is nothing official on the part of the UN for an initiative after this months presidential elections, apart from public statements by UN officials.

We believe that the only way forward is the implementation of the July 2006 agreement, brokered through the UN, and supported by the EU as well, she noted.

Attempts to resume substantive negotiations, she said, must be directed to Turkey and the leadership of the Turkish Cypriot community to help implement the agreement, which provides for talks at working groups and technical committees of core issues as well as issues that affect the day-to-day life of Cypriots.

On the Malta meeting, she said Cyprus favours closer links with the Arab League to benefit both sides.

Cyprus has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Arab League and maintains very close relations with the Arab world. Consequently we hope to have an active and productive participation in the meeting, she concluded.

[02] ELECTIONS COUNTDOWN

Results, according to the Commission, are expected out by 2030 on Sunday evening but points out that this could change, if any problems arise during the counting of votes. Voting is compulsory by law. Electioneering ends at midnight Friday.

The main three candidates in the presidential race are incumbent President of the Republic Tassos Papadopoulos, seeking re-election, House President and General Secretary of AKEL Demetris Christofias and former foreign minister Ioannis Kasoulides.

All three of them are intensifying their campaign in the coming days with special events, including concerts, increased advertising, door-to-door visits, delivery of printed matterial, radio, TV and newspaper interview. All three of them believe that they will go through to the run off election. Recent opinion polls give a slight edge to Papadopoulos, but the outcome of the vote, with many voters still undecided or not replying to poll questions, still in the balance. The second live televised debate with the participation of all three candidates is due to go on air on Thursday, with the Cyprus question being the only item of their agenda.

[03] MISSING - IDENTIFICATIONS

In a statement, the CMP said that the anthropologists and geneticists working on the CMP Project on the Exhumation, Identification and Return of Remains of Missing Persons in Cyprus notified CMP of 12 new identifications and that all families have been informed by the Committee over the past few days.

The total number of missing persons identified so far through the CMP project is 83. Additional identifications of remains are expected in the weeks to come.

Exhumations continue to be carried out island-wide by Cypriot archaeologists and anthropologists of the CMP bicommunal team.

[04] FM CYPRIOTS SRI LANKA

If travel is absolutely essential, it is recommended that Cypriot citizens inform the Honorary Consulate General of the Republic of Cyprus in Sri Lanka of their contact details and place of stay, the Ministry notes in a press release.

It adds that travel to the north, north central and east of Sri Lanka as well as to Yala National Park and areas around it should be completely avoided. Cypriot citizens in Sri Lanka are advised to avoid areas of public and mass gatherings and to take appropriate precautions.

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