Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 09-07-22

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

CONTENTS

[01] SPOKESMAN SWEDISH FM CYPRUS PROBLEM

[02] GOVERNMENT NAMI CYPRUS QUESTION

[03] POLITIKO-TROULLIA - EXCAVATIONS FINDINGS

[01] SPOKESMAN SWEDISH FM CYPRUS PROBLEM

Invited to comment on Swedish Foreign Minister Karl Bildts statements before the Foreign Affairs Committee of the European Parliament on Tuesday, regarding the Cyprus issue, Stephanou expressed hope that Sweden would follow an objective policy during its EU presidency.

The Cyprus problem is a problem of invasion and occupation and violation of the principles of international law, human rights and fundamental freedoms of the people of Cyprus by Turkey and this can not be erased by anyone, he underlined.

Stephanou recalled that Turkish violations in Cyprus are also recorded in many UNSC resolutions.

The Greek coup against Cyprus does not justify the Turkish invasion, the continuous occupation, which caused tens of thousands of Cypriot refugees, does not justify Ankaras policy to illegally bring settlers to Cyprus, its continuous mass violation of international law and the UN Charter for 35 years, he stressed.

The Spokesman said that the achievement of a Cyprus solution that would serve the interests of the people of the Republic of Cyprus is an issue which concerns the two communities and their leaders.

But he went on to add that the EU has a role to play, a political and technical and he recalled similar statements made in the past by European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso.

He clarified that Turkeys obligations towards the EU can not be linked with other terms.

They are obligations and Turkey must fulfill them without linking them with anything else, he underscored.

Stephanou said that the government of Cyprus does not accept Turkeys condition to start commerce from the closed ports and airports of the Republic of Cyprus.

We want to make clear once more, that the Turkish condition to have commerce from the illegal and closed ports and airports is not acceptable. We also stress that the Republic of Cyprus will not compromise on its sovereign rights, he underlined.

He added that by exerting its sovereign rights, the Republic of Cyprus has submitted a series of proposals ``so that the Turkish Cypriot community can make commerce.

Stephanou recalled the Cypriot proposal to open up the Famagusta port under EU auspices and the return of the city to its legitimate citizens, as well as the proposal to use the ports and airports, which are under the control of the Republic of Cyprus, by Turkish Cypriots for commercial purposes.

He also recalled that the Republic of Cyprus has accepted the Regulation on the Green Line as well as the financial aid regulation for the Turkish Cypriot community.

He also expressed hope that the Swedish EU Presidency would be objective towards Cyprus and Turkey.

We hope that Bildt and Sweden, which presides over the EU this semester, will be a truly objective presidency and will not become a tool of exerting pressure on the Republic of Cyprus and covering the negative Turkish policy on Cyprus and the Cyprus problem, he concluded.

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

Following the 1974 Turkish invasion of Cyprus, points of entry in the northern occupied areas have been declared by the government of the Republic as illegal ports of entry into the Republic.

[02] GOVERNMENT NAMI CYPRUS QUESTION

Called to comment on statements made by Ozdil Nami, Advisor of the Turkish Cypriot leader, Stephanou said that the Cyprus federation will definitely have some special characteristics. However, it will be a federation and in order for Cyprus to become a viable and functional federal state, it needs to meet some common federal characteristics, he added.

Ozdil has said that the Turkish Cypriot side seeks for a federal state model like the one of Switzerland, and like the model of the Anan Plan, the UN proposed plan that was rejected by the majority of the Greek Cypriot community in 2004. Additionally, Nami said that all Turkish settlers are citizens of Cyprus and that they will remain on the island and after the solution of the problem.

Our target is to give an end to the settlement, which is the result of the war, is an illegal act and it cannot be legitimated, Stephanou underscored.

[03] POLITIKO-TROULLIA - EXCAVATIONS FINDINGS

These produced evidence of intensive animal husbandry and crop processing, copper metallurgy and sophisticated ceramic technology during the Middle Bronze Age, just prior to the advent of cities on Late Bronze Age Cyprus, a press release issued by the Ministry of Communications and Works, Department of Antiquities has said.

According to the press release, the results from Politiko-Troullia open an archaeological window on the communities that provided the foundation for urbanised civilisation on Cyprus.

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