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

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

CONTENTS

[01] CYPRUS - TURKISH VIOLATIONS

[02] DOWNER - CYPRUS - TALKS

[03] CMP - WORK - FUNDS

[04] FAMAGUSTA - PROTEST

[01] CYPRUS - TURKISH VIOLATIONS

According to an official press release, a letter dated 1 August 2008 was sent by Charge d` affaires of the Permanent Mission of Cyprus to the UN, Louis Telemachou to the Secretary - General and the President of the Security Council.

The letter drew attention to the violations of the national airspace of Cyprus and Nicosia FIR by military aircraft of the Turkish Air Force recorded from 2 June to 29 July 2008.

In his letter, Telemachou strongly protested the violations and appealed for their immediate cessation, noting that ``the non - observance by Turkey of rules and regulations governing air traffic constitutes a serious threat to the safety of air flights in the region and a breach of its international obligations``.

``At the same time, its attempt to upgrade, contrary to Security Council resolutions, an illegal secessionist entity in the occupied part of the Republic of Cyprus, to the detriment of a sovereign country, member of the United Nations and the European Union, constitutes a blatant violation of international law and United Nations resolutions, with serious ramifications for the peace and stability of the region.``

The Cypriot diplomat stressed that Turkey instead of promoting a policy of separation and undermining Cyprus, ``it should finally heed international law and respect without any preconditions the independence and territorial integrity of the Republic of Cyprus, in accordance with UN resolutions thus contributing to the maintenance of stability and prosperity in the region.``

The letter was circulated as a UN document yesterday, August 11 2008.

[02] DOWNER - CYPRUS - TALKS

Deputy UNFICYP Spokesman Captain Thomas Pavlik told CNA today that Downer, former Australian Foreign Minister, would be present at the start of the negotiations between the leaders of the two communities, President of Cyprus Demetris Christofias and Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat.

Diplomatic sources have also told CNA that Downer would be present for the start of the talks, during which the leaders will not discuss matters of substance, but they will agree on the procedure to be followed during the negotiations, which aim at reuniting Cyprus, divided since 1974 when Turkish troops invaded and occupied 37% of its territory.

Downer will return to the island on September 10th to participate in the beginning of substantive negotiations, which according to the same sources, will start on September 11th. Between his first and second visit to the island, Downer will visit European capitals, most probably Athens, Ankara, London and Brussels.

[03] CMP - WORK - FUNDS

Elias Georgiades, representative of the Greek Cypriot community to the CMP, told CNA today financial assistance is essential in order to speed up the process of exhumation of the remains of missing persons from the island`s both communities.

Speaking to CNA, Georgiades said that exhumations carried out in the area of Gerasa, in Limassol, on the southern coast, are coming to an end. He said in this specific area the exhumed remains are believed to belong to 33 persons.

As he said, so far exhumations have taken place in more than 150 lcoations where more than 410 remains have been found and sent to the anthropological laboratory, which carries out DNA tests on the remains to identify the person they belong to. He also noted that the remains of 105 persons have been identified so far and returned to their relatives, of which 76 belong to Greek Cypriots and 29 to Turkish Cypriots.

[04] FAMAGUSTA - PROTEST

Famagusta Municipal Council will hold a public meeting on Saturday 16 August, during which it will adopt a resolution calling for the return of Famagusta, under Turkish occupation since 1974, to its lawful inhabitants.

Speaking to CNA, Alexis Galanos, Mayor of Famagusta, said that the meeting will take place at Dherynia Cultural Centre, on the south of this eastern coastal city. The meeting will be followed by a wreath-laying ceremony at the monument of Famagusta citizens who were killed during the Turkish invasion.

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