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Thursday, 19 December 2024 | ||
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Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 09-09-22Cyprus News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Cyprus News Agency at <http://www.cyna.org.cy>CONTENTS
[01] PRESIDENT - NEW YORK - CYPRUS QUESTIONPresident of the Republic of Cyprus Demetris Christofias has expressed hope that Turkey will change its stance on the Cyprus problem so that a settlement could be achieved.President Christofias, accompanied by his spouse, Elsie, Government Spokesman Stephanos Stephanou and associates, arrived in New York on Monday to participate in the works of the UN General Assembly. Minister of Foreign Affairs Marcos Kyprianou is already in New York since Saturday. ``Yet another UN General Assembly and we are obliged to present our problem once again, which unfortunately has not been solved,`` President Christofias said in statements to the press. President Christofias said ``we will note the relative progress that has been made but we will clearly stress that so far progress in the talks does not give us the potential to be especially optimistic for a solution soon.`` ``The differences existing in core issues, such as the issues of property, security, restoration of human rights, and I mean the rights of the refugees and the fundamental freedoms, are great,`` he pointed out. He expressed hope that ``the Turkish side will change its stance, will change its philosophy, so that we can move quickly to a solution of the various aspects of the Cyprus problem.`` ``I will raise with the General Assembly the question of the paradox that a country, which is now a non permanent member of the Security Council, is violating dozens of UN Security Council and General Assembly resolutions, is maintaining occupation troops in a UN member state. The same applies to Turkey`s obligations concerning its European course,`` he added. To questions regarding the issue of the fenced off town of Famagusta, President Christofias said efforts were being made to rebuild the town so that its lawful residents could return to their homes. He added that there were UN resolutions calling on Turkey to hand over the town to the UN and that efforts were continuing, in cooperation with the town`s Mayor. Replying to other questions, President Christofias said ``Turkey is following a communication policy, which is unfortunately imbued with arrogance.`` He pointed out that, instead of implementing Security Council resolutions, Turkey has created a pseudostate in the occupied areas of Cyprus, which only Turkey recognises, and is struggling to gain recognition from other countries. Furthermore, he said, Turkey is trying to lift the so-called isolation of the Turkish Cypriots and has never spoken of a federation solution to the Cyprus problem but refers to a confederation. ``The answer is simple. The strong party wants to impose its will. The weaker party is refusing to accept the force of power from the strong party and is turning to the international community for support, for justice,`` he added. President Christofias expressed certainty that ``Cyprus will be justified.`` Replying to questions regarding the talks for a settlement, President Christofias said neither arbitration nor deadlines are acceptable, and noted that the UN are aware of these positions. Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third. President Christofias and Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat have been engaged in UN-led direct negotiations since September 2008, with an aim to reunite the island. [02] HOUSE PRESIDENT - TURKEY - CYPRUS - ILLEGAL SETTLERSAnkara must recognise that the influx of illegal settlers from Turkey to Cyprus northern occupied areas is a war crime, House President and Acting President of the Republic Marios Garoyian has stressed, pointing out that once this is acknowledged, Cyprus would be ready to discuss the possibility of Turkish settlers remaining in Cyprus, on humanitarian grounds.Asked after signing the condolences book for the death of Cuban politician Juan Almeida Bosque, whether the issue of illegal settlers is still on the negotiating table, Garoyian said the objective is not to have settlers after the solution of the Cyprus problem. Turkey must, first of all, accept that illegal colonisation is a war crime and once this is done, we are ready to discuss not accept the stay of settlers on humanitarian grounds, he stressed. [03] PRESIDENT - UN SUMMIT ON CLIMATE CHANGEClimate change will be at the focus of a UN Summit taking place in New York, with the participation of more than 100 UN member-states leaders, including Cyprus President Demetris Christofias.United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has convened the Summit on Climate Change to focus Heads of State and Government on the need for urgent action, and to mobilize the highest-level political will needed to reach a fair, effective, and scientifically ambitious global climate deal at the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen this December. [04] FM - NEW YORK - MEETINGSForeign Minister Markos Kyprianou is currently in New York accompanying President of the Republic of Cyprus Demetris Christofias, for the deliberations of the UN General Assembly.The Minister will take part in a special UN session on Climate Change and he will meet his Georgian counterpart Grigol Vashadze. Bilateral meetings will follow with the foreign ministers of Libya and Israel, Musa M. Abdussalam Kousa and Avigdor Liberman respectively. On Wednesday, Kyprianou will take part in the EU Foreign Ministers Meeting with the US Secretary of State and then will attend a dinner hosted by Hillary Clinton for her European counterparts. Cyprus News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |