Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 08-11-25

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

CONTENTS

[01] PRESIDENT CHRISTOFIAS TALAT MEETING

[02] ZERIHOUN CYPRUS TALKS

[03] PRESIDENT GREECE OFFICIAL VISIT

[04] MINISTER MEETING TOURISM

[01] PRESIDENT CHRISTOFIAS TALAT MEETING

President Christofias was commenting on Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talats written statement, which Talat read out during Tuesdays tenth meeting between the leaders on the framework of the UN led Cyprus talks. In his statement, Talat was criticizing the recent official visit President Christofias has paid to the Russian Federation, as well as the common political declaration signed between President Christofias and the Russian President.

The Cypriot President said also that during Tuesdays meeting between himself and Talat, an agreement was reached on issues concerning federal offenses.

In statements after the leaders tenth meeting, President Christofias said that regarding the discussion on federal offenses and way of handling ``we have an agreement.

We also discussed the issue of federal police, where we have noted convergence but also deviations. We will continue the discussion, he added.

The next meeting between the leaders will be held next Tuesday, 2nd December. President Christofias and Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat have been meeting since early September to find a mutually agreed solution that will reunite Cyprus, divided since the 1974 Turkish invasion.

In his statements, President Christofias expressed sorrow over the fact that during the meeting, the Turkish Cypriot leader chose to read out a written statement criticizing his recent official visit to Russia.

The Republic of Cyprus has the sovereign right to conclude agreements, the Cypriot President said, adding we will continue doing this until we reach a solution of the Cyprus problem, until the future Federal United Republic of Cyprus concludes agreements with other states.

President Christofias said he associates Talats action with Turkeys recent provocations in Cyprus territorial waters, when on November 13th, a Turkish warship forced a Norwegian vessel, which was conducting an exploratory survey on behalf of the Republic of Cyprus within its exclusive economic zone, 27 miles off the south coast of the island, to cease its operations and withdraw within the territorial waters of the Republic of Cyprus, fearing for the lives of its crew and the integrity of the ship.

Regarding Talats criticism on President Christofias official visit to Russia, President Christofias said he rejects what Talat has said in his written statement and underlined that the President of the Republic of Cyprus has the right to sign agreements and protocols with political leaders of the five permanent UNSC member states and other leaders as well.

The Cypriot President said that Talat had every right to make his statement but not in the particular place, at the UN premises.

These issues are not on the agenda of the talks. These are not issues, which we agreed to discuss before the UN. Talat had every right to make that statement, as he understands it, but not there where he made it, he added.

President Christofias said that Talats complaint was that I have stated that the legal government of Cyprus can not exercise its sovereignty on the occupied area and that the essence of the Cyprus problem is the Turkish occupation which does not allow the Republic of Cyprus to exercise its sovereignty over the whole territory of the Republic.

He added that Talat concluded that the above means that with the solution of the Cyprus problem, todays government, as he says, will exercise its sovereignty over the whole territory of the Republic of Cyprus. This is, I believe, an arbitrary interpretation on behalf of Talat.

President Christofias reiterated that after the solution of the Cyprus problem, Turkish troops will withdraw, there will be no occupation and the two communities, the Greek Cypriot and the Turkish Cypriot, will jointly exercise the legislative and executive power of the United Federal Republic of Cyprus, based on the agreement that will be achieved between the two communities.

ĢI would like to express my sorrow because Talat chose to make that statement in that particular place, he said.

ĢI am saddened by those actions and I associate them with Turkeys provocations. But we will judge them based on the outcome of the talks at the negotiating table. It is true that it causes a tension. It is also true that one needs steely nerves.

He stressed that the President of the Republic of Cyprus does not relegate the right of a state, member of the UN and the EU, with all its territory, to Talat or anyone else, neither does it give anyone the right to doubt the Republic of Cyprus sovereignty.

ĢI invite Talat to come together and solve the Cyprus problem. All those issues will be solved automatically, with a just, viable and functional solution of the Cyprus problem, on the basis of the UN resolutions, the High Level Agreements, he said.

Asked whether the UN have taken a position on the matter, since Talat chose to make his complaint in the framework of the UN led Cyprus talks, President Christofias said he asked the UN not to get involved in the matter, saying that it is an issue concerning himself and the Turkish Cypriot leader.

[02] ZERIHOUN CYPRUS TALKS

Their 10th meeting lasted 2,5 hours and Taye Brook Zerihoun, UN Secretary Generals Special Representative in Cyprus, said that there was almost full convergence on federal offences and what consist a federal offence. The next meeting will held on Tuesday, December 2nd.

On the federal police they also achieved some convergence and they have other areas to discuss when they meet next, he added. In addition to discussion on the federal police, community leaders will discuss Federal Public Service, the Public Service Commission and external affairs.

[03] PRESIDENT GREECE OFFICIAL VISIT

Christofias and the official delegation will arrive on Wednesday morning at Eleftherios Venizelos International Airport where an unofficial welcoming ceremony will take place at the presence of Greek Deputy Foreign Minister Yiannis Valinakis on behalf of the Greek Government.

The official welcoming ceremony will take place at the Presidential Palace at noon. A private meeting between President Christofias and his spouse and Greek President Karolos Papoulias and his spouse will take place. A meeting with the participation of delegations of the two governments will follow. Later on the two Presidents will make statements to the press. In the framework of the visit, Cyprus Foreign Minister Marcos Kyprianou will have a meeting on Thursday with his Greek counterpart Dora Bakoyannis.

[04] MINISTER MEETING TOURISM

Speaking after the meeting, Paschalides said they reached decisions in order to promote better coordination and improve cooperation, aimed at greater accessibility for tourists, with more connections and better services, taking into considerations the interests and intentions of Cyprus Airways and Eurocypria.

Asked if they discussed the implementation of ``open skies`` plan, Paschalides said technocrat meetings have been arranged and that the first results were expected the soonest possible.

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