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Thursday, 21 November 2024
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Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 10-07-17Cyprus News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Cyprus News Agency at <http://www.cyna.org.cy>CONTENTS
[01] HOLY MASS OCCUPIED CHURCHFor the first time after 36 years a holy mass was held on Saturday at Ayia Marina church in the village of Ayia Marina Skyllouras, occupied since the Turkish invasion of 1974.More than 500 people visited the Maronite church to attend the mass, held by Youssef Soueif, the Maronite Archbishop of Cyprus. Pilgrims had to go through a long procedure before entering the church. The Turkish regime registered their personal data and controlled their personal bags. The church of Ayia Marina, which was built two years before the Turkish invasion, is situated in the centre of the village and in the center of a military camp of the Turkish occupation troops. The regime did not allow journalists or TV stations to enter the area with cameras, saying that it is a forbidden area and no photographs are allowed. The church of Ayia Marina, like many other churches in occupied Cyprus, is currently being used by the Turkish military as a storehouse. The Maronite Archbishop, who held the mass, described the day as historic and prayed for justice and peace in Cyprus. This day is historic for us Maronites of Cyprus, especially for the people of Ayia Marina, who have always wished to come here, pray and attend the holy mass in the church of Ayia Marina, in their village, in their beloved country, in our country, he stressed. Many churches in the Turkish occupied areas of Cyprus have been converted to mosques, military camps, hen houses, mortuaries or silos. Since the 1974 Turkish invasion of Cyprus, about 550 churches were desecrated and between 15,000 to 20,000 icons went missing, believed to be stolen or sold on the black market. [02] FM OSCE MEETINGSThe Cyprus problem, as well as bilateral issues, were discussed during a meeting held between Minister of Foreign Affairs Marcos Kyprianou and his counterpart from Kazakhstan Kanat Saudabayev.The meeting took place on the sidelines of the Informal Foreign Ministers Meeting of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), which took place in Kazakhstan from July 16 to 17. The two Ministers singed a bilateral agreement on the abolition of visas for diplomatic passport holders. They also agreed to promote a number of agreements in various fields of cooperation. Kyprianou briefed his counterpart on the latest developments regarding the Cyprus issue ahead of the assumption on behalf of Kazakhstan of the presidency of the Islamic Conference in 2011. The Cypriot Minister expressed Nicosias satisfaction with Kazakhstans positions of principle, which are based on UN Security Council resolutions. Kyprianou also held a meeting with his counterpart from Turkmenistan with whom he agreed to sign a memorandum of understanding between the two Ministries. He also met his Russian counterpart with whom he reviewed the preparations ahead of the Russian Presidents forthcoming visit to Cyprus in October. [03] GAROYIAN - WORLD CONFERENCE OF SPEAKERSPresident of the House of Representatives Marios Garoyian will participate in the 3rd World Conference of Speakers of Parliament, to take place in Geneva.According to an official press release, the Inter-Parliamentary Union is convening the World Conference, a global summit focusing on democracy, the role of legislative institutions and the relationship with the United Nations. The broad theme for the 2010 Conference is ``Parliaments in a world of crisis: securing global democratic accountability for the common good``. Cyprus News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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