Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 10-08-06

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

CONTENTS

[01] KYPRIANOU - FAMAGUSTA - BRIEFING

[02] SMITHSONIAN - CYPRUS

[03] MILITARY RECRUITS

[04] BAGHDATIS - LEGG MASON

[01] KYPRIANOU - FAMAGUSTA - BRIEFING

The delegation of foreign MPs and politicians, which is in Cyprus to participate in anti-occupation events organised in Dherynia by the Municipality of Famagusta, was also briefed by Kyprianou on the course of talks to solve the Cyprus problem.

Kyprianou told reporters that he focused on the issue of Famagusta, which he said must be promoted separately, and the proposal to pass on Varosha to the UN, with an aim to rebuild and return the town to its legitimate citizens.

He noted that the delegation showed great interest in and support to the issue of Famagusta, and that there were various approaches to the President`s proposals, which must be seen as a package and not individually.

Kyprianou pointed out that the implementation of the proposals would facilitate legal trade between the EU and the Turkish Cypriots, and that Turkey would be able to apply the customs union and the additional protocol on Cyprus, and thus promote its EU accession course.

The three-tier proposals the President has submitted at the negotiating table during the UN-led talks are as follows: the first suggests linking discussions on property to territory and immigration, citizenship, aliens and asylum. Property and territory are considered to be two of the most hotly contested issues at the talks President Christofias and the Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu are engaged in.

The second proposal calls for the implementation of Security Council resolution 550 which provides for the return of the fenced off area of Varosha, now under Turkish occupation, to the UN. The objective of the proposal is to restore the town and return it to its legitimate inhabitants. The proposal envisages also the opening of the citys port for trade for Turkish Cypriots, under EU supervision, as well as the restoration of the walled city of Famagusta (old part of the city).

The third proposal relates to convening an international conference on Cyprus, once the Greek Cypriot and the Turkish Cypriot side are within reach of an agreement on the internal aspects of the Cyprus problem. This conference must be called by the UN, and apart from the Republic of Cyprus and the islands two communities, the EU, the five permanent members of the Security Council and Cyprus three guarantor powers will attend (Greece, Turkey and Britain are the guarantor powers according to the 1960 Constitution).

[02] SMITHSONIAN - CYPRUS

The exhibition will be on view from September 29, 2010 until May 1, 2011 and it will feature about 260 items, many of which are being displayed for the first time in the USA, covering nearly 11,000 years of history, from the Cypriot-Archaic through the Venetian period, which range from items from the earliest villages to masterpieces of medieval religious art. The exhibition is expected to be displayed at other US museums and in Canada, which have already expressed an interest in hosting the exhibition.

The formal opening of the exhibition will take place on September 28, by President of Cyprus Republic, Demetris Christofias.

Head of Press and Information Division at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Androula Lanitis, in an interview with CNA said this effort started in 2008. The exhibition takes place at the initiative of Cyprus Ambassador to the US Andreas Kakouris. The proposal to stage the exhibition, part of cultural diplomacy to promote Cyprus, was welcomed by the Minister of Foreign Minister, the Government Spokesman and President Christofias. The Council of Ministers approved the project at the end of 2008.

[03] MILITARY RECRUITS

The formal ceremony took place at Larnaka training camp, and it was attended by Defence Minister Costas Papacostas and Chief of Staff of the National Guard Petros Tsalikides.

Speaking before the new recruits and their families and friends, Papacostas said that the National Guard is today welcoming the new blood and although the recruits may not realize now the benefits of their service for themselves and their country, they will be very grateful for this in the future.

The Minister expressed hope that there will soon be a viable solution to the Cyprus problem, allowing all Cypriots to live in peace. Cyprus has been divided since the 1974 Turkish invasion. Peace talks are currently underway to find a political settlement to reunite the country.

[04] BAGHDATIS - LEGG MASON

Baghdatis, currently 25th in the ATPs World Rankings, will compete now for a place in the semi finals, with Spanish Fernando Verdasco, 10th in the ATP World Rankings in a match scheduled to start at 21:15 (GMT+3) on Friday.

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