Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 09-11-27

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

CONTENTS

[01] BRITISH PRIME MINISTER CYPRUS ISSUE

[02] EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT TURKEY EU

[03] SWEDISH MP CYPRUS ISSUE

[04] PARLIAMENT RUSSIA HEALTH - AGREEMENT

[01] BRITISH PRIME MINISTER CYPRUS ISSUE

É want to see progress in Cyprus. I have talked to President Christofias on a number of occasions. About that he has visited London and we have considered what we can do to help. We made an offer about the Bases and what we can do to help to make possible an agreement as a result of our actions, he said speaking at a press conference.

Now, he added, I am going to talk to Mr Talat (Turkish Cypriot leader) and obviously, I am talking to Mr Papandreou and Mr Erdogan about the very issue.

So, I am very anxious to push things forward. I think there is a need to deal with this problem that was not solved by the Annan proposals a few years ago but where there is good will I hope we can make some progress, he concluded.

Christofias and Talat have been engaged in UN-led peace talks since September last year, in an effort to find a negotiated settlement that will reunite Cyprus, which has been divided since the 1974 Turkish invasion.

Britain is a guarantor power of Cyprus independence, in accordance with the 1960 treaties that established the Republic of Cyprus. It maintains two military bases on the island and recently it repeated an offer to give up part of the bases territory, should an agreement be reached between the two communities.

[02] EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT TURKEY EU

A resolution approved by the Parliament also points out that current and potential candidate countries must continue reforming to stay on track for EU membership. The resolution highlights the importance of implementing judicial reform swiftly to improve the functioning of the Turkish state and society.

MEPs regret the limited progress made in the area of freedom of religion (non-Muslim and Alevi communities) and freedom of expression, following the unprecedented fine imposed on a media group.

[03] SWEDISH MP CYPRUS ISSUE

Speaking after a meeting in Nicosia with AKEL General Secretary Andros Kyprianou, Lundgren said Turkey will have to meet its obligations before accession to the EU, adding that efforts should be made to build bridges, not walls.

To questions regarding Turkey`s obligations towards the EU, Lundgren said that ``before membership,`` Turkey`s obligations ``have to be fulfilled and we have, of course, the Copenhagen criteria as well, and we will scrutinise, and the EU as a whole will be looking into that very carefully.``

[04] PARLIAMENT RUSSIA HEALTH - AGREEMENT

The agreement, which was signed in Moscow in November 2008, is expected to contribute to enhanced bilateral relations and provide the opportunity to utilise the Russian experience in health and medical science matters.

It provides for the promotion of cooperation, with emphasis on health reforms, financial and funding systems, the promotion of health and the prevention of diseases, cardiology, food safety, control and prevention of transmitted diseases, and the environment.

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