Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 08-09-05

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

CONTENTS

[01] CHRISTOFIAS - CYPRUS SETTLEMENT

[02] UNSC - CYPRUS TALKS

[03] US - CYPRUS TALKS

[04] CYPRUS - GREECE - TRADE

[01] CHRISTOFIAS - CYPRUS SETTLEMENT

The President told his audience in Sweden that future generations in Cyprus must live without the agony of survival, as other generations have experienced, and expressed hope that the Talat will overcome his problems.

Speaking at the Swedish Institute of International Affairs, President Christofias said that his vision is a free from the Turkish troops Republic of Cyprus, a homeland of the Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots who will live together under the umbrella of a bi-zonal, bi-communal federation, without any rights of intervention or guarantor powers.

Replying to a question about the property issue, President Christofias acknowledged that this will be one of the difficult issues during the direct talks with Talat and said that it will be the second issue on the agenda of the talks, after governance.

Unfortunately, in a very well planned way, the Turkish side has encroached Greek Cypriot properties, a development that has made the negotiation on that issue very difficult, President Christofias stressed.

Christofias noted that in an agreed solution, Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots should retain the right to choose how to use their properties.

They should have the right of free access to their property, the right to get compensated for it and the right to exchange it, President Christofias said, and added: Our side insists that all property owners should retain all three rights, but the Turkish side is in favour of the latter.

On implementing a solution, Christofias pointed out that it would be more difficult to implement the solution than to agree on. Nevertheless, he said, an eventual solution will be implemented gradually.

The President referred also to the issue of the illegal Turkish settlers, saying that the government, taking into account humanitarian factors, has made compromises.

I have already said that I am ready to accept 50 thousand settlers as legal citizens of the Republic o Cyprus, the President said and added that the large majority of Turkish settlers should return back to Turkey,

Regarding the issue of Turkeys guarantor status, President Christofias made it clear that it is time for the Cypriots, Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots, to get detached from their mother-lands (Greece and Turkey, both of which are guarantor powers according to the 1960 treaties that established the Republic of Cyprus.

Referring to Turkeys EU accession course, President Christofias stressed that the country should fulfill its obligations towards the EU and normalise its relations with the Republic of Cyprus, an EU member since 2004. At the same time he noted that in Turkey there is a struggle that will shape its future, between premier Erdogans party and the military.

[02] UNSC - CYPRUS TALKS

The UNSC issued Thursday a statement by the Council president in which it warmly welcomes the launch of fully-fledged negotiations between the two leaders, under the Good Offices Mission of the Secretary-General, aimed at the reunification of Cyprus, divided since the Turkish invasion of 1974.

The Security Council commends the two leaders, Cypriot President Demetris Christofias and Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat for the progress made since their first meeting on 21 March and supports their common approach.

It also calls on both sides to continue to work together in a constructive and positive manner in order to reach a comprehensive and durable settlement approved in separate and simultaneous referenda.

[03] US - CYPRUS TALKS

Robert Wood, Deputy US State Department Spokesman, said Thursday that the US will do what they can to support both sides as they go forward in their negotiations.

He expressed satisfaction with the commencement on September 3rd of direct talks between the leaders of the two communities in Cyprus, saying that the US support a bizonal, bicommunal federation.

We are very pleased by the talks between the two parties. And obviously, our policy is to support a bizonal and bicommunal federation, Wood said.

[04] CYPRUS - GREECE - TRADE

Speaking at a press conference on Thursday on the sidelines of the 73rd Thessaloniki International Fair (TIF), Paschalides said that the balance of trade between Cyprus and Greece leans against Cyprus since in 2007, the total commercial transactions rose to 1.3 billion euros, marking an increase of 18%, compared to 2006 when it was 1.1 billion euros.

Cyprus exports reached 214.8 m. euros while exports to Greece amounted to 58.2 m. euros, registering a 16.0% increase compared to 50.1 m. in 2006.

Despite the imbalance, said Paschalides, numbers indicate that the Cyprus market prefers Greek products, putting Greece at the top on imports to Cyprus, while Cypriot products rank second in exports to Greece. We can say that these figures are at a very good level with good prospects for the immediate future, the Minister added.

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