Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 09-12-08

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

CONTENTS

[01] CYPRUS - GREECE - GENERAL AFFAIRS COUNCIL - TURKEY

[02] SPOKESMAN - ERDOGAN - CYPRUS PROBLEM

[03] THE ELDRES - CYPRUS QUESTION

[04] CYPRUS - H1N1 - FATALITIES

[01] CYPRUS - GREECE - GENERAL AFFAIRS COUNCIL - TURKEY

Kyprianou thanked Droutsas and the Greek government for its support and the cooperation of the two countries, noting that ``we had quite a few difficulties but we can say that we are satisfied with the result.``

He added that aims had been met, such as to strengthen the wording of the conclusions, to make sure they do not contain anything that could prevent any future moves by Cyprus and for Turkey not to pass unscathed from the Council of Ministers.

Droutsas said ``close cooperation, absolute coordination and our common course in this Council of Ministers gave power to our joint voice.``

He said ``we should be satisfied with the result`` and pointed out that ``we managed a substantive improvement of the conclusions with regards Turkey.``

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.

[02] SPOKESMAN - ERDOGAN - CYPRUS PROBLEM

Invited Tuesday to comment on statements made by Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayip Erdogan after his meeting with US President Barack Obama, Stephanou said that the government of Cyprus does not accept the proposal for a four- or five- party meeting on the Cyprus issue, pointing out that there is already a UN procedure underway among the two communities of Cyprus, the Greek Cypriot and the Turkish Cypriot.

Our goal is to continue dialogue and negotiations until the end. Our expectation and wish is to find the same constructive positions on the table submitted by the other side as well so that we can reach an overall solution, he stressed.

[03] THE ELDRES - CYPRUS QUESTION

In statements after being received by Cyprus President Demetris Christofias, Tutu noted that the possibilities for a settlement in Cyprus are great and that the two leaders, President Christofias and Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat, have to be commended for their keenness and dedication in looking to find a solution.

We have been very very interested in the situation here. As you know this is our third meeting and we come basically to give encouragement to people who are doing what we think is a good work. The world has far too many conflicts and we see here a situation where the possibilities of a resolution are great and the two leaders have to be commended for their keenness and dedication in looking to find a solution. And we come saying that we are encouraged by that and look forward to the possibilities of a united Cyprus, Tutu said.

[04] CYPRUS - H1N1 - FATALITIES

The second fatality is a 65-year-old woman, who died on Tuesday in the Intensive Care Unit of the Nicosia General Hospital.

The first fatality was a five-month-old infant, suffering from severe cerebral palsy. The baby girl died on Monday afternoon at the Makarios Hospital in Nicosia, after contracting influenza A (H1N1).

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