Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 08-11-20

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

CONTENTS

[01] CHRISTOFIAS - MOSCOW - VISIT

[02] POLICE CHIEF - INTERVIEW

[03] ATHEX - CSE - BANKING INDEX

[01] CHRISTOFIAS - MOSCOW - VISIT

The President also said that he expects a positive conclusion to efforts to clinch a Russian-Cypriot agreement to avoid double taxation, which will benefit both parties and described bilateral relations as exemplary. The President also said that he expects a positive conclusion to efforts to clinch a Russian-Cypriot agreement to avoid double taxation, which will benefit both parties and described bilateral relations as exemplary.

Russia and Cyprus, he noted, share common political positions on international issues, he advocated the peaceful resolution of disputes and welcomed Russias steady position of consistently supporting the struggle of the people of Cyprus to reunite their country divided since the 1974 Turkish invasion and to secure the withdrawal of the Turkish occupation troops.

In his opening remarks, the President said the Joint Declaration he and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev signed here, and the bilateral agreements signed on various sectors, including health, finance, tourism and the economy, reflect the outcome of his official visit. Christofias made a particular reference to two points in the Declaration.

The first is a proposal by Medvedev to reassess and redraft a security system in Europe and elsewhere, which will be based on the principles of international law and the Helsinki Final Act and the UN principles.

This proposal deserves a lot of attention from the EU and the international community, he said, and noted also the stance the current EU president, French President, has taken on the matter.

The second issue, he added, is the repetition in a most clear manner of the position of principle Moscow maintains on the solution of the Cyprus problem, which must be based on UN Security Council resolutions.

Referring to bilateral ties, he said these are excellent and exemplary of relations between states, adding that he would continue to work to develop them even further.

Replying to a specific question, he said he had not received a written letter from the leader of the Turkish Cypriot community in which Mehmet Ali Talat warns he would proceed with moves to upgrade the illegal Turkish Cypriot regime, in northern Turkish occupied Cyprus, if there is no political settlement by the summer of 2009.

Christofias said that during private meetings he has with Talat, in the framework of UN-led direct talks, a lot is said, he outlines his views and listens to my views and gets replies to his questions.

At this point, the President stressed that I state categorically that the Republic of Cyprus is not going to relinquish its sovereign rights nor is it going to give in to pressure from anybody.

Responding to other questions, he recalled that the basis for a solution in Cyprus is already in place and this is the UN resolutions and the high level agreements of 1977 and 1979 between the two communities, pointing out that the unitary state of Cyprus will evolve to become a federal state.

The Cypriots must become the masters of their own homeland and foreigners must leave us alone, he added.

Asked if Cyprus European partners understand his support for Medvedevs proposal on a collective system of security, President Christofias said that his EU partners are fully aware of the fact that he is the leader of the communist party in Cyprus.

However, he pointed out that he had never felt any adverse discrimination in Europe because he is the General Secretary of AKEL communist party and noted also that his European partners approve the initiatives he has undertaken (with regard to efforts to find a negotiated settlement in Cyprus).

I wonder whether other EU members ask permission from other member states before they take a stance on an issue such as this proposal, which relates to a collective security system based on principles which the EU advocates as well he added.

On cooperation on cultural and educational sectors, he said a draft agreement is being prepared and it will cover all the sectors of cultural exchanges.

He described as unforgivable crime the destruction of Cyprus cultural heritage in occupied Cyprus by Turkey.

On energy matters, he said the Minister of Commerce, Industry and Tourism met here with representatives of Gasprom Company to discuss such issues.

Replying to questions about the avoidance of double taxation between Russia and Cyprus, he said technocrats from both countries are working on this matters with a view to deal with it in a positive way.

The President returns home on Friday.

[02] POLICE CHIEF - INTERVIEW

In an interview with CNA, the Police Chief remarked that there have been great successes in efforts to combat drugs while similar accomplishments have been achieved in crime solving.

He said that the Cyprus Police Force is highly respected and is greatly admired for its effective performance by overseas bodies.

Papacostas told CNA that said Cyprus accession to the EU has led to sufficient staffing of various departments in order for the Force to have a respectable representation at international fora.

[03] ATHEX - CSE - BANKING INDEX

ATHEX and CSE in partnership with FTSE Group (FTSE), the global index provider, launched on November 3 a new index, the FTSE/ATHEX-CSE Banking Index with starting price of 2,000 index points.

``Despite financial crisis which inevitably affected all bourses, the CSE strives to enrich its products and services,`` Metaxas noted.

ิhe new joint index is composed by Alpha Bank, Agricultural Bank of Greece, National Bank of Greece, Eurobank EFG, Piraeus Bank, Proton Bank, General Bank of Greece, TT Hellenic Postbank and Cypriots Hellenic Bank, Bank of Cyprus, Marfin Laiki Bank.

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