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

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

CONTENTS

[01] SPOKESMAN TURKEY EU

[02] PRESIDENT - TURKEY - SOLUTION

[03] MINISTRY - BILL BOND

[01] SPOKESMAN TURKEY EU

In statements Saturday, Stephanou recalled that Turkey occupies part of the Republic of Cyprus and as an occupation force, which violates international law in Cyprus since the Turkish invasion in 1974, must undertake its responsibilities.

Turkey has the chance to help itself and fulfill its ambitions. Ankara has undertaken some responsibilities before the EU, the Republic of Cyprus and the Cyprus problem. By meeting those obligations first of all Turkey helps itself, he noted.

Invited to comment on President Christofias statement Friday that if Turkey does not change its stance on Cyprus by December, measures will be taken, Stephanou said that with this statement, President Christofias has sent a message to Turkey, the EU as well as to some people in Cyprus.

He also said that we should remain calm, we have a strategy which we have reaffirmed at the National Council, the top advisory body to the President regarding the Cyprus problem.

The Spokesman pointed out that the government implements this strategy, to best exploit the opportunity ahead of the December EU Council and meet its goal, which is the solution of the Cyprus problem.

He added that President Christofias reiterated the clear position that Turkey should fulfill its EU obligations, including the ones concerning the Republic of Cyprus; otherwise, Ankara cannot continue its EU accession course unscathed.

The Spokesman dismissed again reports that there is a plan B regarding the Cyprus issue, saying that the only plan which exists, is to solve the Cyprus problem.

This is our duty, to solve the Cyprus problem and we work towards this goal on the basis of the UN relevant resolutions, on the all we have agreed with the Turkish Cypriot community for a solution based on a bizonal, bicommunal federation, on the basis of the principles of international and European law, he stressed.

Cyprus, which entered the EU in May 2004, has been divided since 1974 when Turkish troops invaded and occupied 37% of its territory.

Turkey, which aspires to join the EU, has begun accession negotiations with the EU, but due to its failure to apply to Cyprus the Additional Protocol to the Ankara Agreement, the European Council had decided in December 2006 that eight relevant chapters will not be opened and no chapter will be provisionally closed until Turkey has fulfilled its commitment.

Ankaras stance will be assessed at the EU Council, which will take place in December.

[02] PRESIDENT - TURKEY - SOLUTION

Addressing the official diner, hosted in honour of Bulgarian President Georgi Parvanov who is paying a two-day official visit to Cyprus, Christofias reiterated that the government continues to work for a permanent, viable and workable solution which would reunify the state in the framework of a bi-communal, bi-zonal federation with political equality (of Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots) as interpreted by the UN Security Council resolutions.

The solution must comply with the principles and values of the European Union and must be based upon the UN resolutions on Cyprus, the 1977 and 1979 High level agreements and the principles of the international law.

``We are ready for a solution. A solution which would reunify our country and would serve the interests of the people of Cyprus and not of foreigners,`` the President noted.

He underlined the serious role and the responsibilities of Turkey, which instead of assisting the solution of the Cyprus problem, it constantly threatens the Republic of Cyprus with the legitimazation of the status-quo`` of the island.

[03] MINISTRY - BILL BOND

Finance Minister Charilaos Stavrakis, who had the final consultation with all concerned parties (the Cyprus Central Bank, Commercial Banks, Cooperative banks, Employers and Industrialists and the Cypriot Chamber of Commerce), told the press that the bill will be tabled to the Council of Ministers on Tuesday and will be submitted to the House of Representatives for approval the next day.

Stavrakis noted that the terms of the bonds issue focus on the ``creation of competitive interest rates for the benefit of the real economy.``

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