Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 10-10-27

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

CONTENTS

[01] COMMISSIONER - TURKEY - PROTOCOL

[02] GREEK MINISTER- VISIT

[03] EUROSYSTEM - SEMINAR

[04] CYPRIOT - UEFA - GRAFTS

[01] COMMISSIONER - TURKEY - PROTOCOL

Fule was speaking during the 65th meeting of the EU-Turkey Joint Parliamentary Committee on Tuesday. He also referred to a regulation on direct trade between the EU and Cyprus northern Turkish occupied areas and defended the legal basis the Commission has chosen to press for approval of this regulation.

He noted that this basis is the most appropriate one and it does not imply recognition of the self-styled Turkish Cypriot regime in Cyprus occupied areas. He added that the discussion on the issue will continue at the Conference of the Presidents of the European Parliament political groups.

With regard to the Cyprus problem, the Czech Commissioner noted that its settlement will give an impetus to Turkeys EU course. He added that the key for the de-freezing of the eight chapters in Turkeys accession negotiations is in Turkeys hands and depends on the full implementation of the Ankara protocol.

He stressed the need to solve the Cyprus problem on the basis of a bizonal, bicommunal federation and expressed hope that the EU Belgian Presidency will be able to open the Competition chapter by the end of the year.

Meanwhile, at todays EU-Turkey meeting, Cypriot and Greek MEPs reacted strongly to the offensive remarks by Turkish Minister for EU Affairs and Chief Negotiator Egemen Bagis who spoke about two states, two peoples and two parliaments in Cyprus and noted that his country does not recognize the southern areas of Cyprus, as he called the government-controlled areas of the Republic of Cyprus.

Cypriot MEPs Takis Hadjigeogiou, Eleni Theocharous and Antigoni Papadopoulou and Greek MEPs George Koumoutsakos and Niki Tzavela intervened and asked that these provocative references by the Turkish Minister are not included in the minutes of the meeting.

The Chairwoman of the Committee did not respond to their request and the five MEPs walked out of the meeting in protest.

Bagis reference to two states, two peoples and two parliaments in Cyprus had resulted in Fules reaction who recalled that negotiations for a Cyprus settlement aim at a bizonal, bicommunal federation.

[02] GREEK MINISTER- VISIT

The two Ministers will have a meeting today and talks will follow with delegations from the two countries.

After statements to the press, Loverdos will visit Nicosia General Hospital.

On Thursday, the two ministers will take the salute of a parade in Paphos, on the western coast, to commemorate the anniversary of October 28, 1940, when Greece resisted the fascist forces.

[03] EUROSYSTEM - SEMINAR

The seminar will take place in Pafos on October 27 and 28, in the presence of Governors and officials from the Eurosystem Central Banks, as well as from the Central Banks of southern and eastern countries of the Mediterranean, namely, Albania, Algeria, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, the Palestinian Authority, Syria and Tunisia, as well as officials of the European Commission and the European Investment Bank.

ECT President Jean-Claude Trichet and Cyprus Central Bank Athanasios Orphanides are scheduled to give a press conference on the sidelines of the seminar at 18:30 local time (1530 GMT).

[04] CYPRIOT - UEFA - GRAFTS

Marangos has told CNA that UEFA had invited him via email to travel to Geneva or Zurich but he refused, through his lawyers, due to short notice, explaining that he would be willing to make the trip and testify if he was given reasonable time to make travel arrangements.

He added that over the past couple of years he had tried to contact UEFA President Michel Platini to inform him about the evidence but had not been successful.

Meanwhile, German daily newspaper ``Sueddeutsche Zeitung`` published Marangos` allegations and notes that he has been trying unsuccessfully for two years to contact Platini to hand over the evidence, which concerns grafts worth 11 million EUR and a list of officials. Marnagos` lawyer Neoclis Neocleous has told the newspaper that his client is in possession of many documents and signed statements by witnesses who, he says, are willing to testify.

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