Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 09-07-04

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

CONTENTS

[01] MINISTER CYPRUS ISSUE MISSING

[02] SIOUFAS HOUSE PARTHENON

[03] CYPRUS - H1N1

[04] COC PRESIDENT MEDITERRANEAN GAMES

[01] MINISTER CYPRUS ISSUE MISSING

The Minister was speaking at the funeral of Greek Cypriot soldier Petros Hadjimichael Kkaili, who was killed during the Turkish invasion of 1974 and was declared missing. His remains were identified recently through the DNA method.

``We are determined to give all our strength, working with sincerity and showing through the proposals we submit our political will for an honorable compromise, bearing in mind the interests of all the people of Cyprus, the Minister stressed.

He added that the Greek Cypriot side is struggling for a solution that would reunify Cyprus in the framework of a bizonal, bicommunal federation with political equality, as described in the relevant UN Security Council resolutions, a solution that would terminate the Turkish occupation as well as Ankaras policy to bring to Cyprus illegal settlers.

``This solution must safeguard the territorial integrity and unity of the state, with a single sovereignty, a single international personality and a single citizenship and must be based on international law. It should also be compatible with the EU principles and values, he stressed.

The Minister of Defence reiterated that the solution of the Cyprus problem is a procedure which belongs to the Cypriots and there should be no strict timeframes or arbitration.

Referring to the agreement reached between the leaders of the two communities in Cyprus to open the Limnitis crossing point, Papacostas said that the agreement constitutes a positive development and revives our optimism for a comprehensive solution of the Cyprus problem.

Pointing out that the opening of crossing points does not mean the settlement of the Cyprus problem, he said that it enhances though confidence between the two communities ``and contributes to the creation of a good climate while negotiations for a Cyprus settlement continue.

For the past 45 years, Greek Cypriot residents in the area of Limnitis, on the northwest, have to travel to Paphos, on the western coast, and Limassol, on the south, in order to reach the capital Nicosia. Opening a crossing point at Limnitis would make this journey far shorter.

In the recent past, several crossing points to and from the islands northern Turkish occupied areas have opened to facilitate the movement of people.

Papacostas also referred to the humanitarian issue of missing persons, saying that in the past years there have been some steps which could be described as positive.

He added that this humanitarian issue is not only an issue of exhumations and identifications of the remains of the missing people, it is the most dramatic aspect of the Cyprus tragedy.

``The families of the missing have the inalienable right to be informed about the fate of their beloved ones, he said.

The government, he added, will continue to work so that Turkey fulfills its obligations, in line with the European Court of Human Rights ruling of 2001, by allowing access to the archives of its military and other services, thus contributing to the full ascertainment of the fate of our missing persons.

Meanwhile, the funeral of another more missing person took place on Saturday in Limassol. Andreas Georgiou Afxentiou was murdered by Turks in 1974. His remains were identified recently by the DNA method.

As a result of the 1974 Turkish invasion in Cyprus, 1619 Greek-Cypriots were listed as missing, most of whom soldiers or reservists, who were captured in the battlefield.

Among them, however, were many civilians, women and children, arrested by the Turkish invasion troops and Turkish-Cypriot paramilitary groups, within the area controlled by the Turkish army after the end of hostilities and far away from the military front.

Many of those missing were last seen alive in the hands of the Turkish military. The Committee on Missing Persons in Cyprus has been engaged in a process of exhumation and identification of remains of both Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots, who have been missing since the early 1960s when intercommunal fighting broke out.

Cyprus President Demetris Christofias and Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat have been engaged in direct negotiations since September 2008, with a view to reach a comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus problem.

[02] SIOUFAS HOUSE PARTHENON

``This is the first decision on behalf of a Parliament supporting the world-wide struggle, which has been intensified lately, so that the `captive` symbols of our civilization in the British Museum, return here, where they have been created, Sioufas told the Greek Parliament.

In a resolution, which the Cypriot House plenary adopted unanimously on Thursday, Cypriot MPs called on the British government and every other competent authority of the United Kingdom to give a definite end to the adventure of the marbles, by returning them to their natural space in Greece.

[03] CYPRUS - H1N1

According to a press release, seven of the new cases concern Cypriots.

It is stated that until now laboratory tests for 211 persons with flu symptoms have been conducted and 95 of them have been diagnosed with the H1N1 virus. The Health Ministry says the flow of the incidents is fully monitored and there is no reason for concern.

[04] COC PRESIDENT MEDITERRANEAN GAMES

In Pescara we made a step forward. This can not be doubted by anyone. I believe that our participation was absolutely successful, Ioannides said.

He noted that one of the main goals set out for the Games was to secure at least seven medals, like four years ago during the Games in Almeria, ``and if possible the whole team to make a step forward.

The Cypriot team secured eight medals in Pescara, three gold, four silver and one bronze.

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