Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 08-07-16

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

CONTENTS

[01] CHRISTOFIAS-TALAT - DIRECT COMMUNICATION LINE

[02] BRITISH PARLIAMENT - CYPRUS ISSUE

[03] CoE HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISIONER - INTERVIEW

[01] CHRISTOFIAS-TALAT - DIRECT COMMUNICATION LINE

In statements to the press after a meeting between President Christofias and a delegation from the British Foreign Affairs Committee of the House of Commons, Stefanou noted that at the moment we are discussing how this can be implemented.

Invited to comment on a statement made by the Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat after his meeting with the UN Secretary General, regarding the issue of UN arbitration and strict timeframes on the negotiations for the solution of the Cyprus problem, Stefanou pointed out that the position of the Greek Cypriot side on the issue is very clear.

We would like a process from the Cypriots, which will lead from the direct negotiations between the leaders of the two communities to a Cypriot solution of the problem that will be in the best interest of the people of Cyprus, he said.

Thus, we do not want to get into a process with arbitrations and strict time frame, he added.

The Government Spokesman also noted that President Christofias will to engage in a process leaded by Cypriots, was acknowledged and appreciated by the UN Secretary General.

Stefanou also said that President Christofias position on the Cyprus issue is explicit and very well know, both domestically and internationally.

Regarding the content of the possible solution of the Cyprus problem, Stefanou pointed out that we want a solution that ends the occupation and the issue of Turkish settlers, a solution that reunites Cyprus and restores and entrenches the human rights and basic freedoms of the people, Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots.

We want a solution that would turn the people of Cyprus to master of their country, he stressed, and added, We hope the Greek Cypriots and the Turkish Cypriots will build together their common future, under conditions of lasting peace and security.

Finally, Stefanou referred to the forthcoming meeting between President Christofias and Talat. The two leaders will review the progress achieved by the working groups and technical committees on various aspects of the Cyprus question, with a view to decide whether to start direct negotiations, Stefanou concluded.

Christofias and Talat will meet for the fourth time on July 25. Working groups and technical committees were set up after their first meeting in March this year with a view to prepare the ground for direct fully fledged negotiations between the two sides, to reach a settlement of the problem of Cyprus, divided since 1974, when Turkish troops invaded and occupied 37% of its territory.

[02] BRITISH PARLIAMENT - CYPRUS ISSUE

The delegation comprises members of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the British Parliament representing all three major political parties.

The British MPs were received by Cyprus Republic President Demetris Christofias. Earlier the British MPs had meetings with House of Representatives President Marios Garoyian and the Cyprus Parliamentary Foreign Affairs Committee.

After the Presidential Palace meeting, Sir John Stanley noted that British Foreign Affairs Committee members were visiting Cyprus for a second time in the last 18 months. The visit was decided, because the Committee decided that with the election results here there was a very-very important opportunity opening up for both communities in the island of Cyprus to reach a settlement of the problem of this island, he said.

Sir John also said that the group is having a wide-ranging session of talks with the leaders of both communities.

We are very encouraged by what we have heard so far. The British Parliament and all three major political parties are represented here today``, he said, pledging that the British Parliament is ``wholly behind the two communities in the island of Cyprus in their efforts to try to reach a settlement. We wish you every possible success.

[03] CoE HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISIONER - INTERVIEW

In an interview with CNA on the results of his recent three-day visit to Cyprus, Hammarberg said while on this eastern Mediterranean island, he had the opportunity to be briefed on the present situation regarding issues such as migration, refugees and asylum seekers, human trafficking and living conditions in detention centres.

As he noted, despite the fact that on some of these issues progress has been made, yet there are some problems which need to be resolved.

The positive thing for Cyprus, Hammarberg added, is that it has ratified all the standards set by the Council of Europe in the field of human rights, showing in this way its willingness to find solutions for the remaining problems.

Referring to the issue of human trafficking, he welcomed the fact that Cyprus has ratified the relevant International Conventions against human trafficking, although he pointed out that their full implementation was still pending.

The problem is that all these decisions must be implemented in reality and the fact is, the way I understood it, that trafficking is still wide spread with all the cabarets still operating here, he noted.

It is a very serious problem and in this way it should be treated, he continued, expressing the need to take strict measures in order ``to combat organised prostitution``.

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