Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 08-09-20

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

CONTENTS

[01] PRESIDENT CHRISTOFIAS - UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

[02] IMO - CYPRUS

[03] CYPRUS PARALYMPIC MEDALISTS - RETURN

[01] PRESIDENT CHRISTOFIAS - UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

Speaking to reporters prior to his departure for New York to address the UN General Assembly, President Christofias said he will meet the UN Secretary General and world leaders as well as take part in the General Assembly deliberations and attend various functions organised by the Commonwealth and the UN.

Christofias will meet the Russian Foreign Minister and host a lunch for the representatives of the five permanent members of the Security Council. He will also hold contacts with Cypriots living in New York.

I believe this intensive work will produce results, the President remarked.

Replying to questions, he said his address to the General Assembly will deliver a message - as negotiations with Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat continue but refrained from revealing the contents of his speech.

We will refer in general terms to the problems faced by humanity, we will give our own views and, naturally, concentrate on developments in the Cyprus issue, to brief the General Assembly, Christofias said. We will describe, once again, the positions of principles of the government, the Republic and the Greek Cypriot side, on issues which concern us as far as a resolution of the Cyprus issue is concerned, the President added.

He said the dialogue is underway and we expect the UN to support it, to remain consistent with the position that this dialogue is taking place between Cypriots for the Cypriots, pointing out that the Cyprus issue has international aspects as well which we are not ignoring.

We expect the UN, the EU and other international organisations to play their role towards Turkey so that international law principles will be respected by the occupation force, otherwise we will not be able to solve the Cyprus problem, the President added.

He said that the withdrawal of the Turkish troops and settlers from Cyprus northern Turkish occupied areas and other aspects of the Cyprus issue are the international aspects of the problem.

Asked if he remains optimistic about the talks, President Christofias said that only two meetings have taken place as yet. I have said many times that I am cautiously optimistic and that we will face obstacles and difficulties in the course of the talks, therefore we should be ready to face these obstacles, adding that from there on it will become clear what the result of the talks will be.

Cyprus, which joined the EU in 2004, has been divided since 1974, when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third. Talks which began earlier this month aim at reuniting the country under a bizonal bicommunal federation.

President Christofias and Talat have had two meetings on the substance of the problem, during which they discussed governance and the powers of the executive. Their next meeting is scheduled in early October.

[02] IMO - CYPRUS

Regarding the Republic of Cyprus, Minister Nicolaides said that as an active contributing IMO state, it participates and supports the organisations decisions, adopting and implementing all conventions. He said the Department of Merchant Shipping closely follows developments and participates in IMO meetings. In the past six years, he said, the chairman of the Marine Environment Protection Committee of the IMO is a shipping inspector at the Department of Merchant Shipping, something which indicates Cyprus active participation.

The Cyprus Registry has shown phenomenal growth in the past twenty years, according to the Department of Merchant Shipping website. In the early eighties Cyprus ranked thirty-second on the list of leading maritime nations. It now ranks tenth with a merchant fleet exceeding 19 million gross tons.

[03] CYPRUS PARALYMPIC MEDALISTS - RETURN

Karolina Pelendritou won a gold medal in the 100m breaststroke SB12 and a bronze medal in the women`s 200 individual medley while track and field athlete Antonis Aresti won two silver medals in the 200m and 400m races.

Undersecretary to the President Titos Christofides said today was one of the greatest days in the history of Cyprus sports since our small island has managed to secure a good position among the 120 which participated in the Paralympics.

He praised the two athletes who brought home medals and paid tribute to the performance of the other two athletes who took part in the Games.

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