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Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 10-09-12Cyprus News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Cyprus News Agency at <http://www.cyna.org.cy>CONTENTS
[01] PRESIDENT TURKEY CYPRUS ISSUEPresident of the Republic of Cyprus Demetris Christofias has said that Turkey is not ready yet to make the necessary steps that would lead to a solution of the Cyprus problem.The President expressed the wish that soon the Turkish government would realize that it is to its own benefit to change its stance on Cyprus, saying that Ankara knows that without a just and viable solution of the Cyprus problem it can not join the EU. It seems that Turkey is not ready, at least for now, to proceed to the solution of the Cyprus problem, due to its own domestic and regional problems, which Turkey itself has created, he said, addressing an event for the inauguration of a theatre hall in the village of Palaichori. He pledged to do his utmost for justice in Cyprus, by defending principles and being flexible at the same time. The Cypriot President reiterated his commitment for a solution based on a bizonal, bicommunal federation, saying that this is the only way to reunite Cyprus, its people and its economy. He said that Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots must unite and be able to celebrate together, as they did in the past, the great religious feasts of Easter and Ramadan Bayram. When I tell the Turkish Cypriot leader, Dervis Eroglu, that we must reunite to celebrate together Easter and Bayram, he agrees. But the positions he submits on the negotiating table, I am sorry to say, they do not bring us any closer, he concluded. Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third. Peace talks are currently underway between President Christofias and the leader of the Turkish Cypriot community to find a negotiated settlement that will reunite the country under a federal roof. [02] FM TURKEY OBLIGATIONSForeign Minister Marcos Kyprianou has stressed that Turkey must fulfil its obligations towards the EU and its member state, the Republic of Cyprus, noting that it has done nothing towards this direction.In an intervention at the Informal EU Foreign Affairs Ministerial Council in Brussels, which exchanged views on the EU Turkey relations, Kyprianou said that Nicosia favors Turkeys full EU accession, provided that Ankara fulfills all criteria set for all candidate countries and meets its obligations towards the EU and the Republic of Cyprus, especially as regards the solution of the Cyprus problem. Unfortunately, until now, Turkey has done nothing towards this direction, Kyprianou underlined. Noting that Turkeys recent foreign policy on international matters has a different approach than the EU policy, he stressed that Ankara must prove that it follows a European policy and that it belongs to the West. The EU Turkey relations, he said, must not be addressed outside the existing EU Turkey framework, stressing that this would show a preferential treatment of Turkey against other candidate countries and other EU strategic partners. Concluding, he said that despite the fact that there is a prospect for strategic relations between the EU and Turkey, Ankara has not yet proven its reliability. [03] CYPRIOT MINISTER WHO SESSION OPENINGMinister of Health Christos Paschalides will open the deliberations of the 60th World Health Organisations Regional Committee for Europe Session, which will convene in Moscow, 13-16 September.Over 300 representatives from the 53 member states in the WHO European Region will meet in Moscow, for the annual session of the WHO Regional Committee for Europe. Hosted by the Government of the Russian Federation, the conference will discuss strategies and action plans to tackle public health issues on the national and regional levels. According to an official press release, the Conference will be opened by the Cypriot Minister, who presided over last years 59th annual Conference, in Copenhagen, following a decision of all 53 member states. Patsalides will open the Conference and later on, he will preside over the election procedure of the new President and officials of the Conference. [04] CYPRUS SHOOTING UNIVERSIADESix Cypriot athletes of the Cyprus Shooting Sport Federation (CSSF) depart Monday for Poland to participate in the World University Shooting Championship that will be held between 14-20 September.According to a press release by the CSSF, the Cypriot athletes will compete in skeet and trap. The level of our athletes and their technical skills allow them to expect medals and other distinctions, the press release says. Cyprus News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |