Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 09-05-05

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

CONTENTS

[01] CYPRUS PRESIDENT - TALKS

[02] CYPRUS TALKS - 27TH MEETING

[03] PRESIDENT CHRISTOFIAS - QATAR

[04] BULGARIAN PARLIA-MENTARIANS - CYPRUS QUESTION

[01] CYPRUS PRESIDENT - TALKS

In statements Tuesday after the conclusion of the 27th meeting between the leaders of the two communities in Cyprus, President Christofias said that the two leaders are determined to continue negotiations and solve the Cyprus problem.

President Christofias and Talat have been engaged in direct negotiations since September 2008 with an aim to reunite the island, divided since the Turkish invasion of 1974.

We are determined to continue the process of talks because we aim at solving the problem, he stressed.

During Tuesdays meeting, the two leaders discussed, in the presence of their aides and UNSGs Special Representative to Cyprus, Taye Brook Zerihoun, the course of the direct negotiations and what is further needed to be done, the Cypriot President said. He added that the two leaders decided to continue negotiations and intensify them even more, by more frequent meetings between their aides, George Iacovou and Ozdil Nami.

President Christofias told reporters that discussion on the property issue would continue, adding that the Greek Cypriot side will defend its positions, which are reaffirmed by the European Court of Justice during its recent decision on the Apostolides vs Orams case.

The ECJs ruling of 28th of April 2009 paves the way for Cypriot displaced people to defend in an effective manner their property rights against the usurpers of their properties in Turkish occupied Cyprus, before Cypriot and other European courts.

Asked whether the Courts decision was among the issues discussed during talks, President Christofias said that they discussed the issue, noting that he reiterated at the negotiating table his positions on the matter.

He pointed out that the Courts decision confirms the pertinence of the Greek Cypriot sides positions regarding the property issue.

Replying to questions, the Cypriot President said that Talat did not talk about the possibility of abandoning the talks process in case the British justice implements the European Courts ruling.

The Cypriot President was also asked whether the two leaders discussed statements by Turkish Cypriot National Unity Partys leader Dervis Eroglu, winner of the illegal elections in the Turkish occupied areas of Cyprus last month, who said that the Turkish Cypriot side should abandon the negotiating table.

President Christofias recalled that his interlocutor at the Cyprus talks is the leader of the Turkish Cypriot community, which is Mehmet Ali Talat and not Eroglou.

Cyprus, which joined the EU in 2004, has been divided since 1974, when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third.

The European Court of Justice ruled April 28th, that a judgment of a Court in the Republic of Cyprus must be recognized and enforced by the other EU member states even if it concerns land situated in the Turkish occupied areas of Cyprus.

The Courts ruling refers to the Apostolides vs Orams case and came after a dispute has arisen before the Court of Appeal of England and Wales, which has requested a preliminary ruling from the Court of Justice, between Greek Cypriot refugee Meletis Apostolides, and British couple David and Linda Orams, in relation to the recognition and enforcement of a judgment of the District Court of Nicosia.

The court in the government controlled southern areas of Cyprus had delivered a judgment ordering the Orams couple to vacate an area of land in the Turkish occupied north and to pay various monetary amounts.

The British couple had purchased the land from a third party and built a holiday house on it. According to the findings of the court in Cyprus, however, the rightful owner of the land is in fact Apostolides, whose family was forced to leave the north as a result of the Turkish invasion of Cyprus in 1974 and the occupation of the islands northern third.

[02] CYPRUS TALKS - 27TH MEETING

The UN Secretary General`s Special Representative in Cyprus Taye Brook Zerihoun said after Tuesday`s meeting, the 27th between President Christofias and Talat, that ``the leaders met for just over two hours in the company of their representatives.``

[03] PRESIDENT CHRISTOFIAS - QATAR

Accompanied by First Lady Elsi Christofia, the President will be chairing a delegation which includes Foreign Minister Markos Kyprianou, Finance Minister Charilaos Stavrakis, Commerce, Industry and Tourism Minister Antonis Pashalides, Government Spokesman Stephanos Stephanou and government officials for a series of contacts in Doha with the Qatar leadership.

During his visit, President Christofias will meet the Emir of the state of Qatar Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani and Sheikh Hamad Bin Jassim Bin Jabr Al-Thani Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Qatar.

Bilateral agreements are expected to be signed during the meetings.

[04] BULGARIAN PARLIA-MENTARIANS - CYPRUS QUESTION

Tcherveniakov, who is heading a delegation, made the statement during a meeting with Cyprus Foreign Minister Markos Kyprianou.

An official statement said that Kyprianou briefed the Chairman and the Members of the Committee on the latest developments on the Cyprus issue.

Mr. Tcherveniakov expressed Bulgarias full support to the solution of the Cyprus problem on the basis of the UN resolutions and on the basis of a bi-zonal, bi-communal federation, with a single citizenship, a single sovereignty and a single international identity, without arbitrations, it added.

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