Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 09-10-20

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

CONTENTS

[01] PRESIDENT CHRISTOFIAS - TURKEY - EU

[02] PAPANDREOU - CYPRUS TALKS

[03] GOVERNMENT - AIR ROUTES

[04] CYPRUS - HIGHER EDUCATION

[01] PRESIDENT CHRISTOFIAS - TURKEY - EU

Replying to questions regarding statements by Turkish President Abdullah Gul, President Christofias said ``the Cyprus problem should be solved the soonest possible and Turkey has a duty to support the right solution and not a partnership of two sovereign states, two republics.``

``There is only one Republic of Cyprus, which, with the agreement we are trying to reach, will become a bizonal bicommunal federal republic,`` he said, adding that ``everything else is merely an excuse for Turkey not to proceed with the implementation of its obligations towards the EU and Cyprus.``

He pointed out that Turkey`s obligations are to normalise its relations with the Republic of Cyprus, recognise the Republic of Cyprus and open its ports and airports.

Asked about the December milestone, when the EU would be evaluating Turkey`s accession course, President Christofias said the aim at this point was ``to convince our partners to exert their influence on Turkey, even in the short time until December, to change its stance and help by fulfilling its obligations, and assist with actions, not words, so that the negotiations`` for a Cyprus settlement ``are successful.``

[02] PAPANDREOU - CYPRUS TALKS

``We will not be mere observers in this effort,`` he said in a speech before an extraordinary plenary session of the House of Representatives, attended by the state, political, religious and military leadership of the Republic of Cyprus, as well as representatives of organisations, foreign ambassadors, and media representatives from Greece and Cyprus.

Papandreou said Greece would undertake initiatives, in the framework of the close cooperation and coordination between the two countries, adding that ``there is no alternative to the reunification of the island`` and ``we will not accept division.``

He said the Cyprus question was a problem of invasion and occupation, and that the aim was to terminate the military occupation, be rid of the threat it constitutes to Cypriot Hellenism, and end the drama of the relatives of missing persons.

[03] GOVERNMENT - AIR ROUTES

Air tickets from Athens to Smyrna and on to the illegal airport of Tymbou, in the Turkish occupied areas of Cyprus, cannot be issued because they were illegal, Minister of Foreign Affairs Markos Kyprianou said on Tuesday, asked to comment on an agreement signed by former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Greece Dora Bakoyiannis for flights by Turkish airlines ``Pegasus`` from Athens to Tymbou via Smyrna.

Any involvement of the illegal Turkish Cypriot occupation regime in those flights violates international conventions and Greek legislation, the Minister added.

He noted that the government would discuss this sensitive issue with the Greek government, and that travelers and Greek travel agencies should be informed about the situation so that tickets including an illegal destination are not issued.

[04] CYPRUS - HIGHER EDUCATION

The recommendations were presented here on Tuesday during a press conference by the President of the University of Cyprus Charis Charalambous, in the presence of the Presidents and Rectors of the six Universities.

With regard to the operation of the universities, it is recommended that they enhance their autonomous and independent operation within the legal framework.

It is also recommended that basic and applied research, with additional state expenditure, (beyond the current very small percentage of GDP) should be considered a priority to help Cyprus approach the objectives set out by the European Union.

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