Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 08-05-12

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

CONTENTS

[01] CYPRUS - GREECE HOUSE PRESIDENTS - TALKS

[02] CYPRUS PRESIDENT - RUSSIAN COMMUNIST PARTY LEADER

[03] FM - CYPRUS PROBLEM

[04] CYPRUS - LEBANON - YACHTS

[01] CYPRUS - GREECE HOUSE PRESIDENTS - TALKS

Sioufas reiterated that the Greek parliament supports the efforts of the Cyprus people to achieve a functional and viable settlement of the Cyprus question, according to UN resolutions and EU principles.

He also underlined that the agreement between the two parliaments, signed between former House President and current House President Demetris Christofias and himself is currently being implemented.

Sioufas said that the two parliamentary delegations had a constructive cooperation and assured their decision to continue and broaden cooperation between the two parliaments at all levels.

The first agreement concerns the common cooperation of the two parliaments and a Greek radio station and the London Greek Radio, with the support of the two parliaments, to start broadcasting a programme for Greek civilisation and language.

The second agreement provides for the broadcast by the Hellenic Parliament TV of a programme for the activities of the Cyprus House of Representatives and the third for the twinning of the two parliaments.

Sioufas underlined that the Greek Parliament supports the goal for a comprehensive and agreed settlement of the Cyprus question that will reunite the island, secure the rights of all legal inhabitants and lead to the coexistence of the islands two communities in harmony.

He reiterated that the Greek Parliament supports the efforts of the people of Cyprus to achieve a functional and viable settlement, according to UN resolutions and principles of the EU, of which the Republic of Cyprus is a member.

Greece and the Greek parliament welcomed the March 21 Agreement between Cyprus President Demetris Christofias and Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat and we will continue in the same unwavering way to support the efforts by (Cyprus) President Christofias towards this direction, he added.

He reiterated that Greece and Cyprus cooperate closely at all levels and in all fields and added that they agreed and looked into ways that the delegations of the two parliaments have a more systematic and upgraded cooperation in all international fora.

They also looked into ways for promoting the relations of the two parliaments.

Karoyan said that they had an overwhelming discussion which was substantive and productive.

He said that the existing agreement between the two parliaments is already being implemented and that they exchanged views, ideas and thoughts to further enhance the ties between the two parliaments, the cooperation of their work at international fora as well as common efforts and common programmes to promote the Greek civilisation and to increase the exchanges between the two parliaments.

He said that he briefed Sioufas on the current phases of the Cyprus question, they reviewed the whole situation and established identification of views, positions and approaches.

Karoyan expressed the gratitude of the people of Cyprus and the House of Representatives for all that the Greek House President and the Greek parliament and all political forces in Greece and the people of Greece do towards the settlement of the Cyprus question.

Sioufas handed over to Karoyan the Gold Medal of the Hellenic Parliament and the Vafeio Cup on behalf of himself and the Greek MPs.

Karoyan handed over to Sioufas a silver olive branch.

Karoyan met Greek Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis. He also had a meeting with Greek Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyiannis and was received by Greek President Karolos Papoulias.

[02] CYPRUS PRESIDENT - RUSSIAN COMMUNIST PARTY LEADER

Zyuganov, who conveyed to President Christofias the personal greetings of the Russian President, the Russian Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, said that the Cypriot President accepted an invitation exerted to him on behalf of his Russian counterpart to visit Russia.

During the meeting, they exchanged views on the situation in the Middle East ahead of Zyuganovs official visit to Syria.

The Cypriot President knows very well the political situation not only in Cyprus but also in the Middle East. Cyprus has had historically very good relations with Syria and Egypt. I discussed with President Christofias some issues ahead of my official visit to Syria tomorrow, he said.

The Russian official, who is visiting Cyprus at the invitation of the ruling left wing AKEL party, said that the relations between the two states and the two communist parties of Cyprus and Russia have always been very friendly.

[03] FM - CYPRUS PROBLEM

He was responding to questions after a meeting with the President of the right wing DISY party, Nicos Anastasiades, during which he briefed the politician about government initiatives on the Cyprus issue and efforts within the EU.

Asked about the role of the factor time in efforts to reach a Cyprus settlement, the FM noted the importance of keeping the interest in Cyprus alive and referred to new facts and realities, created in the northern Turkish occupied areas of the island as time goes by.

This however does not mean that specific deadlines should be imposed, which, if for any reason can not be followed, could lead to a new failure, in efforts to reunify the country, divided since 1974 when Turkish troops invaded, he added.

[04] CYPRUS - LEBANON - YACHTS

Speaking to the press Michalis Filis, Larnaca Marina`s Director said that so far 18 yachts arrived in the Marina, adding that the people on board these vessels are officials and the yacht owners with their families.

According to Filis, among the people that arrived in Cyprus was Saudi Arabian Ambassador to Lebanon, who will travel on to another country by plane. More officials are expected to come to the island, he said.

He also said that yacht owners have told him that more yachts are expected to come to Larnaca carrying people from Lebanon.

During the Lebanon crisis in July 2006 and throughout its duration, Cyprus had made its emergency services and facilities available to the international community for the repatriation of foreign nationals from Lebanon.

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