Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 10-09-22

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

CONTENTS

[01] EP RESOLUTION - TURKEY

[02] DEPUTY SPOKESMAN PRESIDENT UNSG EROGLU - MEETING

[03] PASCHALIDES - HYDROCARBON RESERVES

[04] MINISTER OF COMMERCE ECONOMIC STABILITY

[01] EP RESOLUTION - TURKEY

Deputy spokesman Christos Christofides said that this is a positive resolution which provides advantages in our efforts to solve the Cyprus problem.

He noted that the government worked to achieve the approval of this resolution. Furthermore he praised the Cypriot MEPs, Greek MEPs, political groups and individual MEPs, who contributed to the effort of our side.

He said that paragraph 11 of the resolution was particularly positive, as it noted that for the fifth consecutive year Turkey has neither fully implemented that Additional Protocol to the Association Agreement nor removed all the obstacles to the free movement of goods.

He also noted that in the same paragraph, Turkey is called in an explicit manner, to implement fully and without delay all its obligations deriving from this Protocol in an non-discriminatory way and it is recalled that failure to do so may further seriously affect the negotiating process.

Christofides also said paragraph 24 was important as it noted Turkeys role in the Mediterranean region as a founding partner of the Barcelona Process and called on Turkey to fully respect all the states partners of the process.

The Deputy Spokesman also said that this resolution was also achieved due to the stance of the Cypriot government on the problem of Cyprus, which sends the message that we are creative, fully prepared for a right solution to the Cyprus problem, something which contributes to the assessments and the positions of the European and the international community.

Turkey which aspires to become an EU member state does not recognize the Republic of Cyprus, an EU member state since 2004.

Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkish troops invaded and occupied 37% of its territory.

[02] DEPUTY SPOKESMAN PRESIDENT UNSG EROGLU - MEETING

Christophides dismissed Turkish Cypriot press reports that such a meeting would be held in New York and noted that ``such a possibility was not even discussed during President Christofias` meeting with the UN Secretary General.``

``This issue has been raised by Mr. Eroglu in the past as well. Our side`s position was well known and it surely does not help to continue raising the same scenario about a meeting between the President of the Republic and Mr. Eroglu in New York,`` he added.

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

[03] PASCHALIDES - HYDROCARBON RESERVES

In statements Wednesday, the Minister said that when those negotiations are concluded, the government of Cyprus will proceed to the next licensing round for companies who are interested in exploring possible oil or natural gas reserves in any of the exploration blocks at sea, lying south and southwest of Cyprus.

In addition, he said that consultations with neighbouring countries are under way as regards technical, practical, economic and political issues concerning mineral resources in the area.

Recalling that Cyprus has protested to the UN and the European Commission regarding Turkish harassment against ships which were conducting exploration surveys in Cyprus EEZ, he said that despite that, the government of Cyprus has shown responsibility and has continued its exploration work.

[04] MINISTER OF COMMERCE ECONOMIC STABILITY

Paschalides noted that ``services play a critical role in our economy as they are the most dynamic and growing sector which has surged since the mid-1990s and now accounts for about 80% of the countrys Gross Domestic Product.``

He underlined that professional services are one of the most important and best organized sectors. ``The international status and image of our country as a competitive and reputable international business centre is due, to a large extent, to the entrepreneurial spirit of our service providers and the high level of education combined with work ethics and high standards and the excellent training that exists in Cyprus,`` he added.

As he said ``the success of the services sector has ensured that Cyprus maintains its enviable position at the top of the EU league tables for university graduates, attracting highly qualified young professionals in a number of disciplines ranging from legal to financial and investment services, banking, accountancy, corporate formation and business consultancy.``

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