Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 09-08-16

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

CONTENTS

[01] PRESIDENT CHRISTOFIAS SPEECH

[02] SPOKESMAN MISSING PERSONS

[03] FAMAGUSTA ANTI-OCCUPATION EVENTS

[01] PRESIDENT CHRISTOFIAS SPEECH

In a speech during a memorial service for Andreas Nicolaou, who was killed during the Turkish invasion of Cyprus in 1974, Christofias said that the goal of this strategy is to achieve through the development of concrete initiatives the joint action of various factors that can play a role in solving the Cyprus question.

Referring to the direct talks held between him and Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat, with a view to solve the problem of Cyprus, Christofias said that there have been convergences and progress steps at the talks, despite difficulties, adding however that there are also significant divergences on important issues .

Despite the fact that we expected more progress than this achieved so far, we are not disappointed and we remain reservedly optimistic, he said, adding that we will continue to work with the same sincerity, always demonstrating through the proposals we are submitting our political will for a just settlement under the circumstances and having always in mind the well-perceived interests of all the people of Cyprus.``

Christofias expressed hope that despite the fact the negotiations are difficult and the road towards the settlement is full of obstacles, Turkey and the Turkish Cypriot leadership will show the necessary good will and cooperation to reach a settlement.

He said that this is why the international community and especially the EU must exert their pressure on Turkey, in the light of its EU accession course and its European aspirations, to change its stance and cooperate towards reaching a settlement.

Christofias said that Turkey must understand that it is necessary to fulfill its obligations towards the EU and Cyprus so that its accession course continues without any obstacles. He noted that if this is not the case, Turkey will find us in its way, in the framework of efforts for its accession to the EU.

Christofias reiterated that we remain committed to the agreed base and the principles for a Cyprus settlement. We purse a settlement providing for a bizonal, bicommunal federation because it is the only realistic approach to lift the occupation and division and the tragic impacts of the double crime of 1974, he added.

He said that in the framework of this compromise the equality of the two communities would be implemented as provided by the UN relevant resolutions. Christofias noted that the settlement must lift the Turkish occupation, the illegal settling and foreign dependencies. It must also ensure the independency and the territorial integrity of the United Federation of the Republic of Cyprus, the human rights and the fundamental freedoms of all Cypriots, Greek Cypriots, Turkish Cypriots, Maronites, Armenians and Latins.

The settlement must really reunite the country, the people, the institutions and the economy on the basis of the international law principles, the Security Councils relevant resolutions and the principles on which the EU is funded, he stressed.

Christofias noted that our goal is to achieve a settlement that will be functional and viable so that it can be durable and ensure conditions of peace and prosperity.

The United Federal Republic of Cyprus does not need guarantees and guarantors since its people, Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots, will be able to feel and be really secure, he added.

Christofias and Talat have been engaged in UN-led direct negotiations since September 2008, with an aim to reunite the island. The second round of talks will begin on September 3, 2009.

[02] SPOKESMAN MISSING PERSONS

In statements to the press, on the sidelines of the burial of the remains of Greek Cypriot Yiannis Papayiannis one of the five Greek Cypriot National Guardsmen killed in August 1974 in Chiaos village and whose remains were identified recently through DNA tests, Stephanou said that the Cypriot government continues its struggle and effort for the implementation by Turkey of the European Court of Human Rights decision regarding the provision of all information with a view to facilitate the ascertainment of the missing persons fate.

Stephanou, who represented Cyprus President Demetris Christofias at the funeral, said that the CMP Project on the Exhumation, Identification and Return of Remains of Missing Persons in Cyprus must be safeguarded.

He also noted that President Christofias and the government fully share the pain of the missing persons relatives.

[03] FAMAGUSTA ANTI-OCCUPATION EVENTS

Galanos said that the issue of Famagusta has a special meaning this year because the UN led direct negotiations between the leaders of the two communities, with a view to reach a comprehensive settlement, have entered the final phase. It will become clear, he said, whether a solution will be reached reuniting the island or we will move on to unpleasant developments.

Furthermore, Famagusta Mayor said this is something to clear up in the forthcoming months, noting that ``it will clear whether Turkey really has the political will to solve the Cyprus problem and go ahead with its European course``.

He expressed the view that otherwise, Turkey cannot move on.

Cyprus cannot be divided and a ghost- town captured by Turkish troops cannot exist and at the same time Turkey to move forward (with it accession course) because its EU itself that is divided, he said.

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