Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 09-12-04

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

CONTENTS

[01] NATIONAL COUNCIL - MEETING

[02] GREEK ALTERNATE FM - CYPRUS - TURKEY - EU

[03] CYPRUS - BICOMMUNAL GROUP - ENVIRONMENT - EU

[04] QUEEN`S BATON FOR THE 2010 COMMONWEALTH GAMES - CYPRUS

[01] NATIONAL COUNCIL - MEETING

In statements after the meeting, Government Spokesman Stephanos Stephanou described the discussion as constructive, saying that the Minister of Foreign Affairs was authorised by the National Council to make the necessary moves at the EU General Affairs and External Relations Council, on Monday.

The main issue of discussion was Turkeys assessment. There was also discussion on other issues concerning the Cyprus negotiations, he said.

Asked about statements by Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat that the leaders of the two communities in Cyprus have decided to intensify talks and hold two three-day long meetings at their residences, the Spokesman said that there was no such decision yet.

``I must say that there is no such decision but there is a discussion on the matter and there is also an intention to do that. We must wait until decisions are made, he went on to add.

President of the Republic of Cyprus Demetris Christofias and Talat have been engaged in UN-led direct talks since September 2008, with a view to find a mutually acceptable solution that will reunify the country, divided since 1974 when Turkish troops invaded and occupied its northern third.

After Cyprus` accession to the EU, Turkey refused to extend its Customs Union to Cyprus, a commitment known as the Ankara Protocol, to open its ports and airports to vessels and aircraft bearing the Cypriot flag and to normalise its relations with the Republic of Cyprus.

In 2006, the EU decided to freeze eight of the 35 EU-Turkey negotiating chapters due to Ankara`s refusal to comply with its EU obligations. The rest of the chapters continue to go ahead, but the eight shall not be concluded until Turkey fulfills its obligations.

The EU will assess Turkey`s progress at the December EU Council.

[02] GREEK ALTERNATE FM - CYPRUS - TURKEY - EU

Droutsas described the Council of EU Foreign Ministers to be held on Monday as important, noting that the ministers will discuss the evaluation of Turkeys EU course.

He noted that Greece and Cyprus want the same thing, that is for the EU 27 partners to reach a joint position that will be based on the strict and objective evaluation of what Ankara has done so far.

Replying to a question, Droutsas noted that there are differing views among EU partners as regards the issue of Turkey, that the discussion is not easy and that all possibilities are open until Monday, when the Council will take place.

[03] CYPRUS - BICOMMUNAL GROUP - ENVIRONMENT - EU

According to a press release issued by the Representation, the environmentalists discussed actions concerning the protection of the environment in Cyprus, during their gathering, which was hosted by Head of the Representation Androulla Kaminara.

The initiators of the PCEE and signatories of the Memorandum of Understanding are persons and organisations that took part in a bicommunal visit to Brussels in February 2009, the press release notes.

[04] QUEEN`S BATON FOR THE 2010 COMMONWEALTH GAMES - CYPRUS

In statements, Paphos Mayor Savvas Vergas noted the importance of the arrival of the baton for the first time in Paphos and wished every success to the town of New Delhi in organising the Commonwealth Games.

Stavros Michaelides of the Cyprus Olympic Committee thanked the Mayor of Paphos for the event, which the Paphos Municipality organised on the occasion of the arrival of the baton to Paphos, and expressed hope that Cyprus will be successfully represented at the Commonwealth Games in New Delhi.

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