Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 10-07-23

Cyprus News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

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

CONTENTS

[01] GERMANY - CYPRUS - TALKS

[02] CYPRUS - KOSOVO

[03] VITOL INVESTMENT

[04] EXPLOSIVES - ARRESTS

[01] GERMANY - CYPRUS - TALKS

Speaking after a meeting in Nicosia with his Cypriot counterpart Marcos Kyprianou, Westerwelle said the recent opinion issued by the International Court of Justice in The Hague concerned Kosovo exclusively and expressed hope that Cyprus would follow in Germany`s steps and be reunified.

Kyprianou said ``we had the opportunity to discuss many issues, among which the Cyprus problem, of course, the current situation at the talks and the problems arising,`` adding that he referred to ``the latest proposals of the President of the Republic.`` ``We believe this will help progress and the speeding up of the talks and other issues as well, such as the progress in negotiations for Turkey`s accession to the EU,`` he said.

He noted that ``the bilateral relations of our countries are excellent, there are no problems,`` and pointed out that ``we had the opportunity to discuss issues of mutual interest, such as Gaza and Kosovo.``

Speaking in English, Westerwelle said their talks on Thursday and Friday were ``excellent`` and ``very fruitful,`` adding that ``the background of this visit is of course our traditional excellent relations between Cyprus and Germany, and we think this visit here on this island is also an expression of our excellent relations.``

``The people of Cyprus may know and should know that the people of Germany have a lot of sympathy with you and we feel in the same way, because we have been a divided country for many years and we will never forget the very special moment when the wall came down,`` Westerwelle said.

He added that Germany`s reunification was one of the most touching historical moments in the country`s history, and that ``this is also what we would wish to you and to your island and to the people of Cyprus.``

``We experienced ourselves what it means to live in a divided country and we wish you of course what we had twenty years ago, what happened in Germany twenty years ago,`` he said.

Speaking in German, Westerwelle said Germany`s aim was to treat all states, both large and small, as equal members of the EU.

He said they discussed the Cyprus problem and other issues, such as the Middle East question and the issue of Kosovo in the light of an opinion by the International Court of Justice.

Asked about the ruling of the International Court of Justice in The Hague regarding Kosovo, Kyprianou said ``we will study the opinion thoroughly,`` adding that ``we take note that it distinguishes the case of Cyprus from that of Kosovo.``

``This is very important. It specifically does so. It explains why the unilateral declaration of independence is illegal concerning the Turkish occupied part of Cyprus,`` he said.

Kyprianou added that ``our position on Kosovo remains unchanged and we believe that any change to the territorial integrity of a country has to come through discussions and negotiations.``

``We will study the opinion very thoroughly and we will continue being constructive regarding the development and assistance to Kosovo in the EU,`` he said.

Replying to the same question, Westerwelle said the opinion was ``very specific`` and ``has nothing to do with any other cases in the world.``

``There is a special historical background and this opinion of the judges had to do with this specific historical background and this specific situation, and it is not a decision for other countries or for other regions in the world,`` he said, noting that ``it is a unique decision in a unique situation with a unique historical background.``

Asked by foreign reporters if the creation of two states in Cyprus would be good solution for the island, Kyprianou said, ``Of course not.``

``First of all, the Greek Cypriots did not oppose the reunification of the island. They rejected the specific plan that would not lead to true reunification but to the actual partition of the island, causing problems that would not be solvable in the future,`` he explained.

Kyprianou pointed out that ``the Greek Cypriots are the victims of the situation, they are the ones who are displaced, lost their properties, cannot go and live in their homes, and half of the island is occupied by 40,000 Turkish troops.``

``There has been no historical separation between Greeks and Turks until 1974 and therefore the future of the island is to be reunified and this has been the aim of the negotiations, this was accepted by both sides, this was endorsed by the UN Security Council and the European Union. So the aim here is to reunite the island in a federal solution, this was the big compromise that was achieved, giving the possibility of each community running its affairs in its own territory but within the context of one country, one state, one citizenship, a single sovereignty and a single international personality,`` he said.

Westerwelle said he was convinced that the solution of the problem ``is possible if both sides act constructively and in a spirit of understanding and this is a process we want to support.``

[02] CYPRUS - KOSOVO

In a statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs says the Advisory Opinion is currently being thoroughly studied by the Legal Service of the Republic of Cyprus, as well as the Foreign Ministry, and that the Republic of Cyprus notes that the argumentation used by the Court differentiates the issue of Cyprus from that of Kosovo.

On this occasion, Cyprus would like to reiterate its position of principle on the issue of Kosovo and reaffirm its unwavering position of respect to the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Serbia, which includes the Kosovo and Metohija province.

The Republic of Cyprus calls upon both parties, the Republic of Serbia and Kosovo under UNSC Resolution 1244/99 to relaunch dialogue for finding a mutually acceptable solution to the issue of Kosovo, enabling thus stability and peace to prevail in the region.

[03] VITOL INVESTMENT

The terminal at Vassiliko, which is expected to be completed in 2012 at an investment exceeding EUR 100 million, will have 20 tanks with a total capacity of 347,000 cubic metres in phase 1, for gasoline, diesel, jet fuel and fuel oil, and will include four to six jetties.

It will be used to import products from the international market, supply products to the domestic market, and trade with the regional market, and will provide the opportunity to expand the storage.

Addressing a press conference, Stavrakis said ``today is a very special day for the economy of Cyprus,`` with an investment of 100 million EUR for phase 1 and possibly a further 100 million EUR for phase 2, the creation of a thousand new jobs for the construction of the terminal and many new jobs to operate it, and financial benefits for the state, apart from the fact that new technology was being introduced to the island.

[04] EXPLOSIVES - ARRESTS

Both suspects will appear before the Limassol District Court on Friday to request remand orders.

Police Spokesman Michalis Katsounotos said the suspects, a 36-year-old from Paphos and a 35-year-old from Limassol, were serving at the camp from which the explosives were stolen.

He added that the Police were continuing investigations in cooperation with the National Guard.

Cyprus News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article