Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 09-07-23

Cyprus News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

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

CONTENTS

[01] PRESIDENT CHRISTOFIAS - CYPRUS TALKS

[02] ZERIHOUN - CYPRUS TALKS

[03] EUROPEAN CHURCHES - CYPRUS

[04] FINANCE MINISTRY - MEETING

[01] PRESIDENT CHRISTOFIAS - CYPRUS TALKS

President of the Republic of Cyprus Demetris Christofias and Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat concluded their 38th meeting, in the framework of the UN-led direct negotiations aiming at finding a mutually accepted solution to the Cyprus problem.

In his remarks after his meeting, Christofias said that the Greek Cypriot side criticised statements by Ozdil Nami, advisor of the Turkish Cypriot leader, that all Turkish settlers should stay in Cyprus after a political settlement.

We discussed with Nami that issue and of course we adopted a very critical stance towards such statements, the President said.

He said that he had a lengthy tete-a-tete meeting with Talat, during which they discussed, in a very constructive manner, as he pointed out, recent developments.

In addition, the leaders discussed the issue of security and the opening of the Limnitis crossing point, on the northwest, to facilitate movement to and from the islands northern Turkish occupied areas. Furthermore, the two sides made their preliminary statements on the issue of citizenship, immigration, and the issue of settlers, Christofias said.

Replying to questions, President Christofias said that there was no discussion about the number of settlers.

Our positions on the issue are based on principles and we do recognise the humanitarian aspect of this issue, he said, adding that this issue will be discussed further in the future.

President Christofias, replying to another question, pointed out that the Greek Cypriot side supports a population census, as proposed by former UN Secretary General Boutros Ghali in 1992, a proposal adopted by the Security Council.

Asked to comment on statements by Turkish officials, the President noted that Ankara maintains its positions and Nicosia its own.

Our positions are based on UN resolutions, the 1977 and 1979 High Level Agreements, agreements and joint statements Talat and I have made on one state with a single sovereignty, single citizenship and one international personality, with political equality as defined by UN resolutions, and agreements on a bi-zonal, bi-communal federal solution, Christofias stressed.

Our positions refer to a united state with a unified economy, common institutions and a united people in the context of a federation, he concluded.

[02] ZERIHOUN - CYPRUS TALKS

He said President Demetris Christofias and Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat, during their 38th meeting, had a two hour tete-a-tete meeting accompanied by their representatives in which they discussed recent developments since they last met.

Zerihoun said the leaders read their opening statement on the issue of aliens, immigration, asylum and citizenship and had a preliminary exchange of views on it.

They have agreed to meet next week on the 30th to give a formal reply to each others introductory statement and they would meet again on the 6th of August before they break up for the summer holiday.

[03] EUROPEAN CHURCHES - CYPRUS

The General Assembly, which took place in Lyon, France, from July 15 to 21, calls on the Turkish government to revise its policy on religious education.

According to a press release, the General Assembly calls for full respect of human rights and religious freedoms, as well as respect of sacred sites and religious monuments, and the protection of freedoms and religious communities.

[04] FINANCE MINISTRY - MEETING

Minister of Finance Charilaos Stavrakis said the main aim of the government was to maintain public deficit below 3%, given the reduction in the state`s income, as well as the measures to tackle the global financial crisis, with simultaneous low taxation and the continuation of the government`s social programme.

Stavrakis said there was certainly a deterioration in public finances, mainly due to the decrease of state revenue from property sales, adding that in 2008 this sector contributed 700 million EUR to public finances, while in 2009 it is expected that revenue would drop to less than half that amount.

``The government is doing everything possible to maintain public deficit on the lowest possible level,`` he said.

Cyprus News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article