Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 08-03-01

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

CONTENTS

[01] NEW MINISTERS - OFFICE

[02] UN - CYPRUS

[03] CHRISTOFIAS - TALAT

[01] NEW MINISTERS - OFFICE

Ten of the eleven ministers took over their portfolios pledging to carry through Christofias pre-election programme.

New Foreign Minister Markos Kyprianou will take over from outgoing Minister Erato Kozacou Marcoullis on Monday.

In statements after taking over his new duties, Minister of Finance Charilaos Stavrakis said his main goal would be a strong, robust and competitive economy able to support the social state.

Outgoing Minister of Finance Michalis Sarris said that the Ministry is allowed to be proud for achieving macroeconomic stability with great success.

Energy issues, including natural gas and the establishment of an energy center, are according to new Minister of Commerce, Industry and Tourism Antonis Paschalides the most important issues to be put forward during Christofias presidency.

Paschalides took over his new duties from outgoing Minister Antonis Michaelides who expressed satisfaction with Tassos Papadopoulos presidencys achievements in the respective Ministry.

Andreas Demetriou, new Minister of Education and Culture said he would do his utmost to further develop the work accomplished so far in the respective Ministry by his predecessors.

Outgoing Minister, Akis Kleanthous expressed conviction that his successor would meet the challenges of his new duties with success.

Promoting agricultural development will be the center of our policy, said new Minister of Agriculture, Natural Resources and the Environment Michalis Polynikis, assuming his duties.

Outgoing Minister Fotis Fotiou congratulated his successor and wished him every luck in his new responsibilities.

New Minister of Communication and Works Nikos Nikolaides pledged to work hard in order to implement in full the new governments programme on the basis of good administration, common work and determination in solving problems.

The Ministrys competent personnel, together with your abilities and long experience are the guarantee for a successful course in this Ministry, said Maria Malahtou Pampalli, outgoing Minister of Communication and Works, addressing the new Minister. Assuming his new duties, new Minister of Defense Costas Papacostas talked about a strong National Guard, based on good administration, modernization and discipline.

His predecessor, Christodoulos Pashiardes said that strengthening Cyprus defense is compulsory as long as the Turkish occupation forces in northern occupied Cyprus continue to upgrade their presence.

Neoclis Sylikiotis, new Minister of the Interior, said he was returning back to a ``familiar place, since he served in that particular Ministry during Papadopoulos presidency.

We will begin hard work. Our philosophy will be characterized by social sensitivity, he said, whereas outgoing Minister said that 90% of the governments programme has been realized.

New Minister of Justice and Public Order Kypros Chrisostomides assumed his new duties saying that President Christofias programme for a just society is very important adding that this Ministry is very much concerned with justice.

Outgoing Minster, Sophoclis Sophocleous said he had done his utmost in achieving results in the Ministry. By assuming this Ministry I was faced with a lot of problems, but with the help of my colleagues here we managed to limit the problems. I am honored to hand over the Ministry to a dear friend and competent politician, he said.

In her speech after assuming her new responsibilities, Minister of Labor and Social Insurance Sotiroulla Charalambous said she would continue her predecessors work, especially as regards the sustainability of the Social Insurance Fund and the support towards the economic lower social classes.

Outgoing Minister Antonis Vassiliou said he was happy that Charalambous would continue his work, describing her as a competent, experienced and sensitive person.

New Minister of Health Christos Patsallides said the portfolio he assumes is a very important one. Through hard work we will succeed, he said.

Costas Kadis, outgoing Minister of Health, praised Patsallides, saying he is a competent person and expressed conviction that he would meet with success all challenges he may face during his duties.

[02] UN - CYPRUS

In statements after a reception hosted for diplomats by Cyprus President Demetris Christofias at the Presidential Palace, on the occasion of his investiture, Moler said that he had already met Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat and will meet on Monday Christofias with a view to arrange for Mr. Talat and Mr. Christofias to get together as soon as possible.

Moller said that he cannot announce a date for the meeting between the two leaders and expressed hope that he will be able to come up with something more concrete, after his meeting with the President.

Furthermore, British High Commissioner to Cyprus Peter Millett said ``the sooner we can get the two leaders meeting face to face the better``.

``I hope that can happen very soon, he concluded.

The Chinese Ambassador to Cyprus Zhao Yali expressed hope that the efforts expected to commence for a Cyprus settlement will bear fruit.

[03] CHRISTOFIAS - TALAT

If we really want to work seriously for a political settlement, then we must avoid public statements. This is my message to Mr. Talat, Christofias said, commenting on a letter sent by the leader of the Turkish Cypriot community to UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon.

Christofias added that he had elaborated on the parameters of the settlement to be pursued before the House of Representatives and added: I expect understanding from the other side.

The Presidents remarks come in the wake of many public statements by Talat about efforts towards a settlement.

Christofias was speaking to the press shortly after he assumed office on Thursday, following his election victory last Sunday, from his predecessor Tassos Papadopoulos.

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