Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 09-08-10

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

CONTENTS

[01] AIDES VISIT LIMNITIS AREA

[02] BAGHDATIS CHAMPION MENS SINGLES ODLUM BROWN VAN OPEN

[01] AIDES VISIT LIMNITIS AREA

Presidential Commissioner George Iacovou and Turkish Cypriot leaders advisor Ozdil Nami together with UN Secretary-General`s Special Representative in Cyprus Taye-Brook Zerihoun traveled on Monday to Limnitis from the UN headquarters in Nicosia to experience the journey first-hand.

On June 26th, during their 34th meeting in the framework of the direct negotiations aiming to solve the Cyprus problem, the leaders of the two communities, President of the Republic of Cyprus Demetris Christofias and Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat reached an agreement on the opening of Limnitis crossing point.

The agreement provides that in emergency fire engines and ambulances can cross to and from Cyprus northern Turkish occupied areas to the southern part of the country, which is under the control of the Republic of Cyprus.

The opening of Limnitis will facilitate movement between the islands northern Turkish occupied areas and the southern government controlled part of the country.

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.

On Monday, the officials, together with journalists, were first welcomed at occupied Limnitis by Turkish Cypriot community leader Yoksen Kaparan who said it is very important for the area and the two communities the opening of the road.

Zerihoun told reporters that the two sides have made it their priority to open the checkpoint and the UN are trying to facilitate the effort.

Presidential Commissioner Iacovou said the aim of opening the checkpoint will be to ease the region and have wider repercussions on the Cyprus issue. He also said expectations are that last weeks ambulance test-run from Limnitis to Nicosia General Hospital, which took one hour and 45 minutes to be less than one hour.

On his part, Nami expressed the hope that work to open the checkpoint will be completed in a few months, making easier the lives of people in the area.

After occupied Limnitis, the entourage traveled to Pyrgos Tyllirias.

In his remarks, Iacovou said the opening of Limnitis checkpoint must take place as soon as possible as the people in the region have been suffering for decades.

Kato Pyrgos community leader Costas Michaelides said that the Tylliria area has been through a lot of hardship for 35 years now and the situation cannot continue.

For this reason, he added, the Kato Pyrgos Development Council is demanding from the negotiators to discuss immediately the repair of the existing road and the urgent opening of the checkpoint, with the simultaneous study of the whole project to take place.

Zerihoun pledged the UN would do everything possible to open the road the soonest.

On his part. Nami said that the opening of the checkpoint would be a step towards the greatest moment, which is a solution to the Cyprus issue.

Cyprus has been divided since 1974 when Turkish troops invaded and occupied the islands northern third.

[02] BAGHDATIS CHAMPION MENS SINGLES ODLUM BROWN VAN OPEN

Baghdatis secured the Men`s Singles Champion after defeating Belgian Xavier Malisse with 6-4, 6-4.

According to Twitter, the social networking and microblogging service, Baghdatis was quoted as saying that is not likely to play qualifying rounds at the US Open. Instead, he will return to Cyprus to rest, practice and be ready to play at the Davis Cup.

The Cypriot champion was defeated in the doubles with Argentinean Juan-Francisco Spina with 2-0 sets (6-4, 7-6(4)) at the semi-finals by Ramon Delgado and Kaes Vant Hof.

The doubles were won by Kevin Anderson and Rik De Voest from South Africa who defeated at the finals 2-0 (6-4, 6-4) Delgado/Van`t Hof.

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