Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 08-10-18

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

CONTENTS

[01] PRESIDENT CHRISTOFIAS - TURKEY - UNSC

[02] GOVERNMENT - OBAMA - STATEMENT

[01] PRESIDENT CHRISTOFIAS - TURKEY - UNSC

``Of course the fact that a country which is occupying part of the Republic of Cyprus, a UN member-state, violating the human rights of the people of Cyprus, becoming a UN SC member state, does not satisfy us,`` President Christofias remarked.

Pointing out that Turkey`s election to the UN executive body ``is a reality,`` President Christofias added that the government will make its position known to various directions ``so that Turkey will not hinder the approval of any resolutions or decisions of the UNSC which are based on correct principles``.

``We will be more active, we already pointed out that Turkey should not have become a UNSC member, we could not have averted this, but we need to see ahead how to deal with Turkeys machinations,`` he added.

Replying to a question whether Turkey, being a UNSC member could harden its stance in efforts to solve the Cyprus problem, Christofias said he believes ``its not that simple`` for Turkey to do so and wondered how much more Turkey could harden its stance on the Cyprus problem.

He expressed the belief that UNSC permanent member-states would demand from Turkey to honour its capacity and its obligations as a non permanent member-state.

President Christofias said he has requested the opinion of experts on Turkey`s ability to affect possible statements of the presidency of the UNSC.

He added that ``we should not rush to say whether Turkey, as a UNSC member, will constitute an impediment in the approval of presidential statements``.

Cyprus has been divided since 1974 when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third. Turkey`s membership of UNSC comes at a time when direct negotiations for a Cyprus settlement between President Christofias and Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat reached their fourth substantive meeting.

[02] GOVERNMENT - OBAMA - STATEMENT

The government expressed satisfaction over statements made by US Democratic Presidential candidate Barack Obama, however, the Cyprus issue cannot be solved with mere statements but with specific deeds.

Asked if the government is satisfied with Obamas statements, Government Spokesman Stephanos Stephanou told reporters that statements contain certain elements which can be true, that is, in Cyprus there is occupation, and a solution should be based on a bizonal, bicommunal federation.

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