Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 08-05-16

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

CONTENTS

[01] ΒΡΙΤΑΙΝ - CYPRUS

[02] EP GROUP - CYPRUS

[03] BEIRUT - FLIGHTS

[01] ΒΡΙΤΑΙΝ - CYPRUS

In an interview with the London Greek Radio (LGR), she confirmed that President Demetris Christofias will meet British Prime Minister Gordon Brown on 5 June in the British capital.

Replying to questions, she said she was not unduly dismayed at public remarks by Christofias that a lot of work needs to be done at the ongoing discussions at seven technical committees and six working groups, set up to prepare the ground for substantive negotiations.

There will be difficulties but we should not let them become obstacles, she said.

Next weeks meeting between President Christofias and the leader of the Turkish Cypriot community Mehmet Ali Talat is a good way forward, she added. I think having a face to face meeting to talk about difficulties is a very good way forward, she said of the May 23 meeting between Christofias and Talat.

The British diplomat believes that there are very high expectations in Cyprus, noting that the solution has to be one by Cypriots for Cypriots, under Un auspices.

Britain, she said, as a guarantor power, accepts it has an important role to play and will do everything it can to ensure that this process is a success.

She pointed out that Turkey - which continues to occupy Cyprus northern part since 1974 - has a role to play.

She said she was pleased to hear from Turkish politicians that they are committed to finding a way forward in Cyprus to bring reunification on a bizonal bicommunal federal basis

I have no reason to believe that Turkey has changed its position, she added.

On Britains relationship with Turkey, she reiterated Londons support for a reformed Turkey in the EU, a position Cyprus and Greece share, as she pointed out.

They understand the situation in Cyprus is a real obstacle to their accession to the EU, when they have met all the requirements, Ryan added.

Questioned on a failed UN-proposed plan (the Annan plan), she said that both the Turkish Cypriots and Turkey understand very clearly that Annan 5 , as it said, in its entirety, was not acceptable to the Greek Cypriots.

In April 2004, the UN-proposed solution plan was put to simultaneous referenda in both communities. The overwhelming majority of the Greek Cypriot community rejected it, saying it did not serve the interests of the country, nor did it meet the fundamental concerns of the Greek Cypriot community. The Turkish Cypriot community approved the referendum by a majority.

It is fair enough to say that all the ideas from all previous talks, agreements, etc are there on the table, for the technical committees, for the working groups to draw on, she explained.

She said there was much in the Annan Plan that isnt controversial, that is not problematic, but everybody knows that there are certain key, very difficult issues, everybody also knows that there have to be some difficult compromise, the outcome must be a solution that is acceptable to both sides.

I think Turkey understands, I know Talat understands that Annan 5 is not acceptable to GC and there will have to be negotiation, she concluded.

[02] EP GROUP - CYPRUS

The European Parliament High-level contact Group for Relations with the Turkish Cypriot community, which concluded a visit here, welcomed the opening of a crossing point at Ledra street, in Nicosia, providing access to and from the islands northern Turkish occupied areas and said this should lead to bigger changes.

Coordinator of the Group, French MEP Francoise Grossetete, told a press conference today that a possible solution in Cyprus can only be an international political settlement, adding that anyone that plays a direct or indirect role in this field has to assume their responsibility and make sure that this unexpected opportunity that has arisen will lead to victory and success and therefore to the reunification of Cyprus.

She said difficulties in Turkeys domestic front will not make things easier and wondered whether the leader of the Turkish Cypriot community has enough room to manoeuvre at the negotiating table.

We would like Mr. Talat to carry enough weight in order to negotiate under better conditions and I must admit that I am not sure this is the case, she pointed out.

She described the visit as particularly important, welcomed the start of talks, said the opening of the Ledra crossing point was highly symbolic and encouraged Cypriots not to stop at that. Cypriots must go beyond what is symbolic and continue with these talks that began on the 21st of March, following an agreement between Cyprus President Demetris Christofias and Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat.

[03] BEIRUT - FLIGHTS

Meanwhile, Cyprus Airways (CAIR) has announced the resumption tonight of flights to and from Beirut.

According too a CAIR press release, flight CY342 to Beirut will take off tonight 21.50 with Airbus-319 and will arrive at 22.35 h, carrying 110 passengers and a six member crew.

Cypriot nationals in Lebanon may contact the Embassy of the Republic in Beirut at: + 961 1 326461 και + 961 1 329500.

Tomorrow, at 7.15 h in the morning, flight CY343 takes off from Beirut to Larnaca and arrives at 8.00 h.

From 7 May until this morning, 18 flights have been cancelled to and from Beirut due to the closing of the airport and the political situation in the country.

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