Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 10-07-30

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

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

CONTENTS

[01] GREEK ALTERNATE FM - UN ENVOY - CYPRUS PROBLEM

[02] CBC - PUBLIC DEBT - FINANCE MINISTRY

[03] CYPRUS - HUMAN TRAFFICKING - INTERIOR MINISTER

[01] GREEK ALTERNATE FM - UN ENVOY - CYPRUS PROBLEM

Greek Foreign Ministry Spokesman Gregory Delavekouras said that Dower elaborated during the meeting on the current situation of the talks and the positions of the two sides, as well as the prospects of the negotiations.

Droutsas and Downer also discussed further steps and recent proposals by Cyprus President Demetris Christofias, aiming to give a new impetus to the negotiating process.

In statements to the press, Downer said that keeping in touch with the governments of the three guarantor countries, Greece, Britain and Turkey is very important, and noted that the United Nations were very close to the Greek position during the process of the negotiations.

Downer described as very interesting President Christofias ideas about an international conference, noting that the issue has not been discussed with the UN Secretary General yet and that it would be helpful to have a progress on the internal aspects, as the issue of properties, before convening a conference.

On his part, Droutsas reiterated, according to Delavekouras, Greeces full support to President Christofias and underlined that Christofias proposals on the negotiating process, Famagusta and the international conference will give an impetus to the UN-led process and the improvement of the climate on the island, as well as to Turkeys EU accession course.

Droutsas reiterated that with these proposals the Greek Cypriot side and more specifically President Christofias is now a step ahead on the substance, proving his commitment to achieve a settlement, as determined by the UN relevant decisions and Cyprus leaders agreements.

Once again it was stressed that the settlement must come from the Cypriots for the Cypriots and be a European one and will respect the acquis communautaire as Cyprus is a member of the EU.

It is obvious, Delavekouras said, that President Christofias proposals and especially the proposal for the simultaneous discussion of the property issue, the territorial issue and the issue of illegal settlers constitutes a self-evident development, as long as there is will from all sides for speedy progress at the negotiations, since these issues are interlinked.

The Greek Foreign Ministry Spokesman also stressed the importance of the UN substantive and constructive participation to the process, adding that Turkeys role is determinative to the extent it can give a decisive impetus to the negotiations, responding positively to President Christofias proposals.

The Greek Cypriot and the Turkish Cypriot sides in Cyprus have been engaged in direct negotiations since September 2008 with a view to solve the problem of Cyprus, divided since the Turkish invasion of 1974.

[02] CBC - PUBLIC DEBT - FINANCE MINISTRY

CBC has been managing Cyprus` public debt since its creation in 1963.

``The competence for the management of the public debt as well as all other activities concerning this management will be as of Sunday, August 1, definitively and officially transferred from the Central Bank of Cyprus to the Ministry of Finance,`` a CBC press release says.

[03] CYPRUS - HUMAN TRAFFICKING - INTERIOR MINISTER

During the meeting chaired by the Minister of Interior Neoclis Sylikiotis, who is the national coordinator for combating trafficking in human beings, the participants exchanged views on planning issues for the coming years.

In statements following the meeting, Sylikiotis said that one of the issues raised at the meeting was also to hold an annual event for human trafficking to mark the European Day against trafficking in persons on 18 October.

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