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Thursday, 21 November 2024
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Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 09-06-16Cyprus News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Cyprus News Agency at <http://www.cyna.org.cy>CONTENTS
[01] GOVERNMENT - TURKISH EXERCISES - OCCUPIED CYPRUSCyprus has made strong demarches to the United Nations and the European Union to denounce Turkish military exercises in the Karpass area, on the northeastern tip of the country, still under Turkish occupation.Government Spokesman Stephanos Stephanou has said that the exercises violate the sovereignty of the Republic of Cyprus, its air space and territorial waters. He noted that the Turkish exercises may be linked to efforts by the government to explore and exploit hydrocarbon reserves in its exclusive economic zone. If these efforts succeed, whatever benefit may come our way, through a political settlement, this benefit will go to Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots,`` he said. Replying to a question, Stephanou said that the exercise bears the name of a Turkish soldier who was killed during the Turkish invasion in Cyprus in 1974, adding the exercise will last ``a few days``. ``The essence of the matter is that Turkey continues to violate the air space and territorial waters and obviously the sovereignty of the Republic of Cyprus, that is why we have protested, denouncing such moves``, the Spokesman said. Stephanou said the exercise, as far as he knows, takes place in the Karpass area. We have a sovereign right to carry out research in our exclusive economic zone, in accordance with the Law of the Sea convention and this is what we are doing, he pointed out. The Spokesman reiterated that the prospect of benefits from such research could act as an additional incentive to continue efforts to reach a negotiated settlement where Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots will reap the fruits of a solution. [02] VERHEUGEN - TURKEY - EUEuropean Commission Vice President, Commissioner responsible for Enterprise and Industry Gunter Verheugen, believes that Turkey must meet its commitments emanating from the Ankara Protocol, if it wants its accession negotiations to progress. He also said that everybody, in the EU, shares the view that Turkey, a candidate country, must fulfill its obligations towards the Union and its member states.Speaking to Cypriot MPs, members of the House Committee on European affairs, the EU Commissioner said he had never criticised the Greek Cypriots for their rejection of the UN-proposed solution plan (the Annan plan) in 2004. The Commissioner said that he was critical of the result of the referendum on the Annan plan, but he was critical of one man, as he said. I have never used the word cheated, I have said I was misled, he explained. In April 2004, one week prior to Cyprus` accession to the EU, the overwhelming majority of the Greek Cypriots rejected the Annan plan, saying it did not serve the interests of the country nor did it lead to its reunification. The Turkish Cypriots approved the plan. Verheugen, the then EU enlargement Commissioner, told Committee members that he wanted to make this clarification. [03] GURIRAB - NAMIBIA - CYPRUS ISSUEPresident of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) and Speaker of the National Assembly of Namibia Theo-Ben Gurirab has expressed Namibia`s support for a just solution to the Cyprus problem which will re-instate its territorial integrity. Gurirab is on an official visit to Cyprus at the invitation of the President of the House of Representatives Marios Garoyian, heading a parliamentary delegation.Garoyan and Gurirab, who met Tuesday, exchanged views on the Cyprus problem, on bilateral relations, as well as ways to further enhance ties between the two Parliaments. The House President said he briefed Gurirab about the latest developments in the Cyprus issue and the difficulties faced because of Turkish intransigence. Gurirab said that Cyprus and Namibia function democratically and emphasised that democracy means equality and peace in the world, adding that where there are disputes, these must be solved through peace negotiations. [04] FINANCE MINISTER - CYPRUS ECONOMYCyprus Finance Minister Charilaos Stavrakis has said that there are indications that the growth of the Cyprus economic will slow down. Speaking after a meeting of the Cyprus Finance Advisory Committee, Stavrakis said that during the meeting, the current situation and the prospects of the Cyprus economy have been discussed.Special emphasis was given to the briefing by Minister of Communications and Works on the progress of the infrastructure projects, he said, adding that they also focused on the issue of investments and the initiatives of the government aiming to attract increased foreign investments by the signing of agreements for avoiding double taxation with countries like Russia and Italy. Replying to a question, Stavrakis said that according to Eurostat, Cyprus growth rate in the first three months of 2009 was 1.5%. There are clear indications that show a slow down to the economic growth for the coming months. However, we are convinced that Cyprus will not only be the only country in the EU with a positive growth, but also the final growth rate that we will achieve in 2009 will be considerably higher than the forecasts of the International Monetary Fund and the European Commission, he added. Cyprus News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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