Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 08-09-12

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

CONTENTS

[01] DOWNER DIRECT TALKS

[02] FM CYPRUS QUESTION

[03] ARTEMIS - SUPREME COURT - NEW PRESIDENT

[04] LATVIAN BANK - CYPRUS

[01] DOWNER DIRECT TALKS

Speaking at a press conference here in Nicosia, Downer said that from the discussions he had with the political parties in Cyprus, and particular with the two leaders, but also from his discussions in both Athens and Ankara, he is encouraged by what he has heard.

Referring to the meeting on September 11 between the two leaders, who discussed governance and power sharing, Downer noted that it has gone well.

The atmosphere is good, the atmosphere of these talks is friendly, and the negotiations are productive he said.

There is no doubt that this is a very difficult process after all. There has not been any successful conclusion to the Cyprus problem for many years, therefore it is not going to be a simple and easy process, Downer pointed out, and added: But my sense is that there is the political will that it is time to try to solve the problem.

Replying to a question whether or not the UN will act as arbitrator during the negotiating process, Downer pointed out: We will do what we can to help the process, so what we will try to avoid doing something that is unhelpful.

Downer also stressed that in case of an agreement between President Christofias and the Turkish Cypriot leader Talat, this agreement is going to be put to both Turkish Cypriots and Greek Cypriots into referenda on the same day.

It is not going to be the UN plan, ultimately this is going to be a negotiation, if it is to succeed, it must be embraced by the people of Cyprus, he said.

Replying to a question on the process of the direct talks, Downer noted that it is going to be a rolling process.

There will be points of agreement, points where the two sides are quite close together and they (the two leaders) might choose to have some of those issues worked through by the working groups, and there will be some points of quite significant difference which they will come back to later on in the process he said.

Finally, Downer stressed that just because the process has failed in the past, it does not mean that you cannot try to make it succeed in the present and the future. There were deferent times, circumstances were different, and history was different. My whole experience of negotiations in difficult issues is that there is a time when things can work he concluded.

President Christofias and Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat entered substantive talks on September 11, aimed at reaching a comprehensive settlement that will reunite Cyprus, which has been divided since 1974, when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third. The two leaders will meet again next week.

[02] FM CYPRUS QUESTION

Kyprianou, who visited the Anthropological Laboratory of the Committee on Missing Persons (CMP) and the Judicial Genetics Laboratory of the Cyprus Institute of Neurology and Genetics, said he was shaken by his visits and assured that the government would support the work being carried out. Replying to questions, Kyprianou pointed out that the issue of determining the fate of missing persons was independent of efforts to solve the Cyprus problem, since it is a humanitarian issue and should be prioritised as such.

He noted that the government would discuss the issue of missing persons with other countries and international organisations, and pointed out the significance of the technical and financial support of efforts to speed up the procedures.

[03] ARTEMIS - SUPREME COURT - NEW PRESIDENT

Artemis was speaking at the swearing in ceremony before President Christofias on Friday which took place at the Presidential Palace. President Christofias expressed certainty that Artemis would vindicate his choice and continue his long and successful course in the judiciary.

He also assured that as the President of the Republic he supports in every possible and acceptable manner the power of the judiciary and its officers. Your competency in the legal profession, your successful service to the judiciary and your virtues as a servant of the law and officer of justice have been the exclusive criteria of your appointment to the position of the President of the Supreme Court, President Christofias added.

[04] LATVIAN BANK - CYPRUS

According to an official announcement, Baltikums operates in Latvia since 2001 and belongs to «JSC Baltikums Bankas group» of Latvia which, since 1994, is active in the financial and insurance industry. Baltikums has a strategic focus on European and international customers, offering private and corporate banking services, specialising in ship and trade finance, the announcement adds.

The branchs immediate plans, it continues, include the further expansion of the services currently offered by its head office to existing clients, as well as attracting new customers from Cyprus.

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