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Wednesday, 25 December 2024
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Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 09-12-06Cyprus News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Cyprus News Agency at <http://www.cyna.org.cy>CONTENTS
[01] UN SECURITY COUNCIL - CYPRUS RESOLUTIONThe UN Security Council begins on Monday closed-doors consultations with the countries which participate with troops in the United Nations Peacekeeping Forces in Cyprus (UNFICYP).UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon will meet his Special Adviser on Cyprus Alexander Downer who will brief him on the latest developments in the ongoing peace talks and moves to try and intensify the process of negotiations, currently underway between President Demetris Christofias and Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat. Downer and the UN Secretary-Generals Special Representative in Cyprus, Taye Brook Zerihoun will brief on Wednesday the Security Council on developments in Cyprus. The Council, after the meeting, may express its support to the UN mission, possibly in the form of a press statement, since a statement by the President of the Council is unlikely to be issued since Turkey is a non permanent member of the Council - as this would require unanimity. According to the schedule, the resolution covering the reports on UNFICYP and the good offices mission will be adopted on December 14. Turkey has already informed several Security Council members that it will vote against the resolution. Already there is a draft resolution, prepared by the British in cooperation with the UN Secretariat, which stresses the need for a solution to the Cyprus issue. The draft text uses some of the expressions included in the report on the mission of good offices, such as the reference to maintaining and speeding up the momentum in the peace talks and to an overall and lasting solution to the Cyprus problem within a reasonable timeframe. Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third. The leaders of the two communities have been engaged in UN-led direct negotiations since September 2008, with an aim to reunify the island. UNFICYP arrived in Cyprus in March 1964, after intercommunal fighting broke out between the two communities. It is one of longest serving peace-keeping forces and currently numbers about 1,000 men and women from several countries. [02] FOREIGN MINISTER - EU COUNCILMinister of Foreign Affairs Markos Kyprianou will be in Brussels on Monday to participate in the EU General Affairs Council, which will focus mainly on preparations for the upcoming European Council and the issue of enlargement. EU Foreign Ministers will also discuss the situation in the Western Balkans and Iran, the Middle East peace process, and the role of the EU.Kyprianou goes to Brussels, following consultations in Nicosia with the members of the National Council - the top advisory body to the President on the handling of the Cyprus problem - on Turkeys assessment of its accession course by the EU, ahead of the European Council, on December 10 and 11. Government Spokesman Stephanos Stephanou said, after the consultations, 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. After Cyprus` accession to the EU, in 2004, 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 flying the Cyprus 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 because of Ankara`s refusal to comply with its EU obligations. Membership talks continue on the rest of the chapters, but the eight shall not be closed until Turkey fulfills its obligations. [03] GREECE - EU SWEDISH PRESIDENCY - TURKEYGreece has warned the current EU six-monthly rotating presidency, Sweden, that its present proposal relating to Turkeys assessment cannot be accepted by either Athens or Nicosia. The warning came in statements by Greek Alternate Foreign Minister Dimitris Droutsas, ahead of tomorrows meeting of EU Foreign Ministers who will prepare the European Council later this week.The proposals which the Swedish presidency has submitted on Turkeys EU evaluation are far from those which Cyprus and Greece can accept``, Droutsas stated. We have said this in every possible manner to the Swedish presidency and to our EU partners, and we have blocked conclusions and have said that we do not agree with these conclusions and that there must be substantial changes, Droutsas told Greek Television NET, according to the Athens News Agency. Greece and Cyprus are working very closely on a daily basis and we are coordinating our moves, he said, responding to questions about Mondays General Affairs Council, ahead of the European Council, 10-11 December, which will concentrate on enlargement and will also examine Turkeys accession course. We are following a common line on this issue and have agreed to be in daily contact to coordinate our positions, he continued. [04] US CONGRESSMAN - OBAMA - CYPRUS ISSUEIllinois Representative Joseph B. Crowley has pledged to seek explanations from US President Barack Obama with regard to positions Ombama will express during Mondays visit to Washington by Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayip Erdogan. Speaking during a gathering in Astoria in support of his pre-election campaign, Crowley said that - as it has been proven in the case of Afghanistan - when someone is elected to such a high post, he changes his positions.I want to know the Presidents positions on Cyprus and I will contact the White House on the occasion of the Turkish Prime Ministers visit, he said. The Democratic Representative said he is committed to a fair and viable solution to the Cyprus problem, one which will guarantee that Cyprus will remain a united state. It is necessary to double our efforts at this critical period, he said. Cyprus News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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