Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 10-05-13

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

CONTENTS

[01] ZERIHOUN PRESIDENT

[02] MINISTER - DOMESTIC TOURISM

[03] CAROB TREE PEACE PARK

[04] FOREIGN TRADE - FERBUARY

[01] ZERIHOUN PRESIDENT

Zerihoun, who is leaving the island for the UN Headquarters in New York had on Thursday a farewell meeting with the President of the Republic Demetris Christofias.

In statements after the meeting, Zerihoun recalled that he came to Cyprus in May 2008 ``at the time when the peace process really had gained traction and hope for a solution was very much justified.``

``It`s been a long process, a difficult process but I think hope still lingers and it is within reach,`` he added.

Zerihoun said that ``there has been a new state of affairs in the north with the election of Mr Eroglu as head of the Turkish Cypriot community,``, adding that ``the talks in a way are going to the second half and we will see very shortly how they will proceed.``

``But it is our hope and expectation that there will move in deliberate speed and that they will continue on the basis of the agreed parameters for these talks as they have been said and repeated by the parties themselves and by the UN,`` he added.

Replying to a question whether he believes the talks will become more difficult after the election of Mr Eroglu, Zerihoun expressed hope and expectation that the talks will resume on the agreed basis.

``I think Mr Eroglu has said publicly and he did say it yesterday to me that he is prepared to reengage on the basis of the agreed parameters, but as I said when the talks resume in a couple of weeks it will be evident what that means,`` he noted, adding ``we should give him the benefit of the doubt and judge him by what he does.``

Zerihoun said he returns back to New York and to the UN department of political affairs as assistant SG for Africa as well as for the support and the servicing of the Security Council.

He added that his responsibility with respect to the SC gives his ``a window of opportunity`` to continue to follow developments in Cyprus.

``And I will do that and like many people who have come and gone I have been bitten by the Cyprus bug,`` he said, adding he hopes ``to contribute as best as I can to the resolution of this problem, a resolution of a problem which the people really need, that is long overdue.``

Zerihoun is expected to leave Cyprus on Saturday. Replying to a question he said he is not aware of who will be replacing him as head of the UN Mission in Cyprus, noting that the process for the appointment of his replacement has started a week ago, but by then there ``was no clear indication of who would be``.

UN-led talks for a mutually agreed settlement to the problem of Cyprus, divided since the 1974 Turkish invasion, which began in September 2008, will resume on May 26 after a brief recess for the ``elections`` in the northern Turkish occupied areas of the island, which saw the rise of Dervis Eroglu at the head of the Turkish Cypriot community.

[02] MINISTER - DOMESTIC TOURISM

Addressing the 2nd Exhibition on Domestic Tourism, which takes place in the framework of 35th Cyprus International Fair, Paschalides said that the sector of the domestic tourism marked a remarkable increase lately.

Paschalides called on Cypriots to use the several notable offers provided by the Cyprus hotel owners and meet Cyprus and its beauty. Cyprus, definitely offers great vacations to everybody, he stressed.

He also noted that the government and the CTO promote several initiatives in order to contribute effectively to the development of the domestic tourism, such as the participation to an exhibition of the Association of Cyprus Travel Agents.

[03] CAROB TREE PEACE PARK

According to the organisers, celebrations will begin with welcoming speeches by the funding organisations followed by a ribbon cutting ceremony in the presence of US Ambassador in Nicosia Frank Urbancic.

The opening is a bi-communal event to celebrate the completion of the Peace Park and the beginning of its use as a public picnic area and a space for open-air activities, a press release issued here said.

President of the Kontea Heritage Foundation Charalambos Perikleous has expressed hope that the Park will act as a meeting place between Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots.

The project aims to rescue and revitalise a unique historical site on the outskirts of the village of Kontea, which consists of the Orthodox Church of Agios Charalambos and its Auxiliary Buildings, a Catholic Chapel and cemetery, a Frankish Manor from the time of the Crusaders and an Ottoman irrigation system of stone cisterns and aqueducts.

The project is made possible with funding from UNDP - Action for Cooperation and Trust.

[04] FOREIGN TRADE - FERBUARY

According to the Statistical Service of Cyprus, the trade deficit was 761,2 mn in January-February 2010 compared to 720,9 mn in the corresponding period of 2009.

During February 2010 total imports/arrivals (covering total imports from third countries and arrivals from other member states) valued at 466,0 mn.

Total exports/dispatches (covering total exports to third countries and dispatches to other member states), including stores and provisions, in February 2010 amounted to 83,0 mn.

Åxports/dispatches of domestically produced goods, including stores and provisions, were 48,3 mn whilst exports/dispatches of foreign goods, including stores and provisions, were 34,6 mn.

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