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

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

CONTENTS

[01] PRESIDENT - UN CHIEF - PROPERTY ISSUE

[02] GOVERNMENT - PROTEST

[03] CYPRUS - EU FUNDS

[04] PRESIDENT - EDUCATION

[01] PRESIDENT - UN CHIEF - PROPERTY ISSUE

Speaking to journalists on Thursdays separate communication between the UN SG on the one hand with President Christofias and Turkish Cypriot leader Eroglu on the other, Stephanou noted that the policy of the UN is not to put the blame on either side, while the process is ongoing, in order to protect the negotiation process.

According to the Spokesperson, the President told UN SG that it is also his wish to proceed with the negotiations and achieve convergences and progress in the talks.

The President noted however that the solution of the property issue cannot ignore the relevant UN resolutions, international law or human rights conventions, Stephanou said.

He went on by saying that the negotiations and the solution to the problem should be based on these facts.

The proposal which the Greek Cypriot side has recently put forward enshrines the right of the property owner to opt either for restitution, exchange or compensation of his/her property, Stephanou said.

The Spokesperson added that during the telephone conversation, President Christofias referred to his proposal to link discussion on property to territory and immigration, citizenship, aliens and asylum, saying that this proposition will bring about progress.

Stephanou concluded that the Turkish side has not accepted the Presidents proposal.

President Christofias has recently put forward a three-tier proposal in a bid to help make headway at the talks he is currently engaged with the leader of the Turkish Cypriot community, Dervis Eroglu.

[02] GOVERNMENT - PROTEST

In statements to the press here Friday, Stephanou said that the signing of that agreement, violates international legality and UN resolutions.

Turkey signed a protocol with an entity which according to UN resolutions and decisions was established illegally. The UN itself has called on all states not to recognize or facilitate that regime, he said.

However, Turkey reached an agreement with the illegal Turkish Cypriot regime, Stephanou said and added: We have instructed our diplomats to lodge the necessary protests and make the necessary representations.

[03] CYPRUS - EU FUNDS

Speaking after a Council of Ministers` meeting, Stephanou said that the Council examined the final situation concerning the absorption of community funds for the period 2004-2006, noting that the total amount absorbed by Cyprus was 109,200,000 EUR, of which 55 million were from structural funds and 54 from the cohesion fund.

The funds were used to complete about 70 projects of a total budget of 200 million EUR, he said.

``We have the honour as a state to be among the few EU member states to have managed to fully absorb funds from the structural funds and the cohesion fund,`` Stephanou said.

[04] PRESIDENT - EDUCATION

Speaking at the opening of a new state high school, President Christofias said education was a priority for the Government and considered educational reform as one of its main aims.

He pointed out that Cyprus is first among EU member states in expenditure on education, which reached 7.8% of its GDP, while the rest of Europe`s aim was for expenditure reaching 6% of GDP.

President Christofias added that it was time for the Cypriot educational system to reach the highest quality levels in Europe, reflecting the resources allocated to education by the state.

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