Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 08-09-14

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

CONTENTS

[01] PRESIDENT CYPRUS ISSUE

[02] ECHR PRESIDENT VISIT

[01] PRESIDENT CYPRUS ISSUE

Speaking during the unveiling of a memorial devoted to three missing persons since 1974 Turkish invasion, in a small village of Nicosia district, Politiko, President Christofias underlined his determination to work hard with the aim to reach a solution to the Cyprus problem, to end Turkish occupation and reunify the country.

We can reach a solution if the other side will demonstrate the same good will our side shows. If it will come to the negotiations table with reasonable positions, President Christofias stressed.

He also pointed out that a solution is possible if Turkey cooperates towards a just, viable and functional solution in the best interest of all Cypriots.

Referring to statements made by Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat after their first substantive meeting on September 11, in the context of direct negotiations aimed at finding a solution to the Cyprus problem, despite the commitment they both have undertaken to refrain from public statements, President Christofias expressed his regret.

This behaviour does not help improve the climate between us and between the two communities, he said and added that he will abide by the commitment, clarifying this does not constitute a sign of weakness but of a serious approach and self-confidence.

The solution must be based on the 1977 and 1979 High Level Agreements, on UN Resolutions and the principles of international and European law, he said adding that a solution can only be achieved on the framework of a bizonal bicommunal federation with only one sovereignty, one citizenship, with political equality of the communities as provided by the Security Councils relevant resolutions.

Referring to the issue of missing persons, President Christofias stressed that it is a humanitarian issue and the government face it as such. He also made special reference to the work of the Committee on Missing Persons (CMP) which undertaken a joint bicommunal project to exhume and identify remains of missing persons in Cyprus.

Cyprus government has recently bought a new excavator and two other vehicles to help speed up the procedure of exhumations, he said.

He also mentioned Cyprus governments efforts to persuade Turkey to open Turkish armys archives as well the archives of other services in order to gain access to information and evidence to help solve the cases of the missing persons.

Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third. As a result of the 1974 Turkish invasion in Cyprus, 1619 Greek-Cypriots were reported as missing.

In the past few years, exhumations in the northern Turkish occupied areas and in the southern government controlled part of the country have unearthed remains of people missing since the 1974 Turkish invasion and since the early 1960s intercommunal troubles.

The Turkish military has not come forward with information from its archives for any of the Greek Cypriots, who were last seen alive in their hands during the summer of 1974.

President of the Republic of Cyprus Demetris Christofias and Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat entered substantive negotiations on September 11, aimed at finding a solution to the Cyprus problem.

During the meeting, which was held in the presence of the UN Secretary General`s Special Advisor on Cyprus Alexander Downer, the leaders of the two communities discussed the issue of governance and power sharing.

The two leaders will continue negotiations on the 18th of September.

[02] ECHR PRESIDENT VISIT

Costa said he was happy to be in Cyprus for two reasons. ``First to strengthen the traditional cooperation between the European Court of Human Rights and the Supreme Court in Cyprus but also because I will be received by higher political leaders of Cyprus, the President of the Republic and the President of the House of Representatives and it will be very good also to have some backing from your country to our Court``.

As he explained, ECHR has 47 member states and it is a very important international court. Costa also pointed out the huge number of applications ECHR receives, ``which means a huge workload for the Court and we need not only traditional support and cooperation but also some political understanding and support from the highest leaders of every country,`` he said.

Costa expressed hope the presence of the Courts delegation will be useful for Cyprus, the Supreme Court and the authorities.

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