Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 08-10-15

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

CONTENTS

[01] OBAMA MESSAGE CYPRUS

[02] CYPRPUS PRESIDENT - BRITISH PM - MEETING

[01] OBAMA MESSAGE CYPRUS

The National Chairman of Greek-Americans for Obama, State Treasurer from Illinois Alexi Giannoulias, speaking exclusively to the Greek News revealed Obamas message, that is going to be released later on.

Senators Obama and Biden have demonstrated, once again, their understanding of issues of importance to our community and their commitment to the rule of law and to justice Giannoulias told the Greek News.

This statement, while just a beginning, provides a solid basis from which our community can engage with the Obama-Biden administration and shows that we may once again have friends in the White House, Alexi Giannoulias concluded.

It is the first time ever that a major Presidential candidate refers to Turkish occupation he said.

According to the Statement Barack Obama and Joe Biden have been true friends of the Greek American community throughout their careers in public service. Obama has worked closely with this community, especially the large constituency in Chicago, Illinois, and always supported the Greek communitys participation in the American political process.

Obama and Biden greatly respect the major contributions Greek Americans have made to so many aspects of the American experience. They will continue to work closely with Greek Americans at home and reestablish Americas strong partnership with Greece and our other European allies abroad, it adds.

Regarding the Cyprus issue, the statement notes that as president, Barack Obama will show U.S. leadership in seeking to negotiate a political settlement on Cyprus. He believes strongly that Cyprus should remain a single, sovereign country in which each of the two communities on the island is able to exercise substantial political authority within a bi-zonal, bicommunal federation.

It underlines that there must be a just and mutually agreed settlement of difficult issues like property, refugees, land, and security. A negotiated political settlement on Cyprus would end the Turkish occupation of northern Cyprus and repair the islands tragic division while paving the way to prosperity and peace throughout the entire region.

It would also give Cypriots a firm foundation on which to build their future after many years of division and uncertainty. It would help foster better Greek-Turkish relations, strengthen Turkish democracy, reduce the risk of military conflict, and remove a major obstacle to Turkish membership in the EU, says the statement.

On the Macedonian issue, it stresses that Barack Obama was one of three original lead co-sponsors of Senate Resolution 300, which urged that the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia work with Greece within the framework of the United Nations process to reach a mutually-acceptable official name for that country and achieve longstanding United States and United Nations policy goals.

Obama supports the UN-led negotiations and believes that there can and should be an agreement between Skopje and Athens on a mutually-acceptable name that leads to greater stability in the Balkans, it adds.

Regarding the Ecumenical Patriarchate, the statement notes that Barack Obama was one of 73 Senators who signed a letter to President Bush in 2006 urging him to press Turkey to restore the full rights of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of the Orthodox Christian Church in Istanbul. He has sent Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice a personal letter on the same matter.

It concludes that Senator Obama calls on Turkey to respect the Ecumenical Patriarchates rights and freedoms, including its property rights. Turkey should allow the reopening of the Patriarchates school of theology on Halki Island and guarantee the right to train clergy of all nationalities, not just Turkish nationals.

[02] CYPRPUS PRESIDENT - BRITISH PM - MEETING

In statements to journalists, President Christofias said he informed the British Premier about the latest developments regarding efforts to reunify Cyprus, divided since the Turkish invasion of 1974.

``My effort is to keep Mr Brown informed about the developments. The special relations between Britain and Turkey and the influence London could have on the Turkish leadership to help achieve a Cyprus solution should be noted and taken into consideration``, he said.

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