Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 08-11-24

Cyprus News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

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

CONTENTS

[01] SPOKESMAN CYPRUS - INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

[02] HOUSE PRESIDENT CYPRUS QUESTION

[03] CYPRUS MINISTER OF JUSTICE EU MEETING

[04] GOVERNMENT- PAPADOPOULOS HEALTH-WISHES

[01] SPOKESMAN CYPRUS - INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

If some people insist that Cyprus should accede to NATO, I would like to note that NATO is an organisation which comes from the past, the Spokesman pointed out during a briefing on Sunday.

While the Warsaw Pact was dissolved in 1991, NATO not only remains alive but also raises questions as to why it still exists, he said, adding that NATOs role in various parts of the world, such as the former Yugoslavia, Iraq and Afghanistan, is well known.

The Spokesmans comments came in the wake of President Demetris Christofias comments during an official visit to Russia - about the state of the world during and after the Cold War and about Cyprus support for a Russian proposal for a new security system.

In his remarks at a special ceremony where he was declared a distinguished honoured doctorate holder by the University of International Relations of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, Christofias said Russia and Cyprus share ideas on the need to resolve international problems through effective and credible international mechanisms.

Referring to the Presidents official visit to Russia, last week, Stephanou said that the development of bilateral and international relations is a must for helping efforts towards a solution and strengthens the entity of the state of the Republic of Cyprus.

I believe the results of the Presidents campaign are visible and tangible and as such the government will continue, in this intensive manner, briefing the international community on the Cyprus issue as well as developing international and bilateral ties, Stephanou added.

Stephanou said President Christofias visit to Russia was completely successful and it reaffirmed the traditional friendly cooperation and level of relations between the Republic of Cyprus and the Russian Federation in many fields.

Russia is a very important country in the international political arena, a permanent member of the Security Council, it expresses clear and lucid positions on Cyprus, positions which support and are based on UN resolutions on Cyprus and international law. Everyone should realise the significance which a country, permanent member of the Security Council has, not only at the UN but also at many international organisations it participates. President Christofias official visit to Russia has given a renewed boost to the rapid and very dynamic and developing bilateral relations in the economic, trade, tourism, cultural and other fields, Stephanou added.

The President has expressed his support for Russias security proposal which is based on international law, the UN Charter and aims to promote peace and cooperation in the world, the Spokesman noted.

Some people, he said, argue that the Presidents support for this proposal is beyond the logic and the philosophy of the Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP), and he explained that the CFSP is not part of the obligatory acquis communautaire.

We must have a full understanding of our obligations as well as our rights, as an EU member state. EU member states have a certain autonomy in exercising their foreign policy and we bear witness to this relative autonomy, he pointed.

Various countries come to agreements, undertake initiatives with third countries to achieve various goals and this is exactly what the Republic of Cyprus is doing, Stephanou stressed.

President Christofias, he said, believes that the role of the international community through the Security Council or the EU is very significant and consequently he undertakes such an intense international campaign.

What we are seeking from the Security Council through collective management of the Cyprus issue on the basis of UN resolution is to help the negotiating process and at the same time address itself to Turkey so that it will consent to a just, viable and functional settlement, he concluded.

Turkey continues to occupy Cyprus` northern areas since its troops invaded in 1974. Peace talks are underway in Cyprus to find a negotiated settlement to reunite the country.

[02] HOUSE PRESIDENT CYPRUS QUESTION

Speaking to Karmi Refugee Association, Garoyian said that the rights of the people of Cyprus are not negotiable, adding that the Association building which he inaugurated on Sunday must serve as a guiding light for the return of every refugee from the Turkish occupied village of Karmi to his home.

The time of truth has come for the Turkish side, it has to prove its good will for solution in Cyprus. The Turkish Cypriot leader Mr. Talat, in spite of rhetorical attempts to be positive and conciliatory, has put on the negotiating table the well-known Turkish positions, which aim at a two state solution and talks openly about a partnership of two constituent states and Turkish guarantees, he said.

[03] CYPRUS MINISTER OF JUSTICE EU MEETING

According to the French Presidency website, this cooperation programme will draw inspiration from the conclusions of three meetings of experts that were held in Rabat in March 2008 (legal migration), in Ouagadougou in May 2008 (combating illegal migration), and in Dakar in July 2008 (migration and development).

The three meetings set out a series of operational procedures which can begin to be swiftly implemented. All are aimed at strengthening cooperation between Europe and Africa in all matters relating to the migration route from West Africa.

[04] GOVERNMENT- PAPADOPOULOS HEALTH-WISHES

Stephanou expressed the governments solidarity with Papadopoulos spouse, children and the rest of his family. Papadopoulos was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit of the Nicosia General Hospital on Saturday late evening, suffering from acute respiratory failure.

Cyprus President Demetris Christofias, party leaders, family friends and colleagues have also visited the hospital to convey their wholehearted wishes for a speedy recovery. Papadopoulos was elected President of the Republic in February 2003. He ran unsuccessfully for re-election in the 2008 presidential elections.

Cyprus News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article