Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 10-10-28

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

CONTENTS

[01] CYPRUS - UN - THIRD COMMITTEE

[02] SPOKESMAN - EROGLU

[03] STAVRAKIS - GROWTH 2011

[04] CNA - TELAM - AGREEMENT

[01] CYPRUS - UN - THIRD COMMITTEE

Addressing the Third Committee of the UN General Assembly, Hadjimichael said that "UN resolutions must be honoured, not least by a country that today sits at the UN Security Council," noting that "this is of vital importance, not just for Cyprus, but also for the credibility and moral standing of this organisation."

Hadjimichael referred to 1974 Turkish invasion of Cyprus, which resulted in the occupation of the island`s northern third and massive human rights violations, adding that "these violations were repeatedly reported and condemned by a plethora of UN Security Council and General Assembly resolutions and decisions of the European Court of Human Rights."

He also referred to the "methodical and deliberate plan to alter the demographic composition of the island and thus prejudice the settlement of the Cyprus problem has been put in place, with the continuous arrival of settlers from Turkey," as well as the "systematic and widespread destruction of religious and cultural heritage in the occupied part of Cyprus," which is "yet another example of Turkeys efforts to falsify history."

Regarding the issue of missing persons, Hadjimichael said that "this continuing humanitarian tragedy stems not only from the violation of the human rights of the missing persons themselves, but extends to the suffering of their families who are forced to live with the painful uncertainty of the fate of their beloved."

"The Government of Cyprus is grateful to the UN Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP) and the Committee on Missing Persons (CMP) for their efforts on the exhumation, identification and return of the remains of missing persons. However, the issue of ascertaining the fate of missing persons goes well beyond this. A series of UN resolutions reflects the universal condemnation of Turkeys invasion and calls for the tracing of missing persons still not found. It is long overdue for Turkey to adhere to humanitarian principles and international practices regarding the effective investigation of the fate of missing persons," he added.

Referring to efforts to solve the Cyprus problem, Hadjimichael said that "for almost two years now, the President of the Republic of Cyprus, in his capacity as leader of the Greek Cypriot community, and the Turkish Cypriot leader have been engaged in a process of negotiations under the good offices mission of the UN Secretary General, aimed at finding a solution to the Cyprus problem, based on the creation of a bizonal, bicommunal federation in accordance with the relevant Security Council Resolutions."

Speaking on behalf of Greece, Deputy Permanent Representative Ambassador Demetris Karamitsos Tziras deplored the continuing violations of human rights in Cyprus, and expressed Greece`s full support to negotiations for the reunification of Cyprus.

"We look forward to the conclusion of a viable, functional and comprehensive agreement for the reunification of Cyprus, on the basis of a bizonal and bicommunal federation, in accordance with the relevant Security Council resolutions and the principles and values of the EU," he said.

[02] SPOKESMAN - EROGLU

In a remark that Eroglu has met German Foreign Minister, Stephanou said that such meetings always take place without any symbols that may give the impression that there is a meeting with a head of state.

Regarding Eroglus statement about ``borders`` in Cyprus, Spokesman said that this is fully harmonized with the approach of Eroglu, as was the approach of Bagis and unfortunately Turkeys, that there are supposedly two states in Cyprus and that no occupying line exists, but only borders.

Stephanou noted that there are decisions of the international community, the UN, the EU itself on the matter, and for this reason such statements are unacceptable.

UN-led direct negotiations between the Greek Cypriot and the Turkish Cypriot side in Cyprus have been going on since September 2008, with a view to solve the problem of Cyprus, divided since the Turkish invasion of the island in 1974. Turkey which aspires to become an EU member does not recognize the Republic of Cyprus, an EU member since May 2004.

[03] STAVRAKIS - GROWTH 2011

Stavrakis also said that this year we expect positive growth rates, anything between 0,5% and 1%., noting that growth mainly comes from the service sector.

He noted that we are an open economy, we have been affected by what has happened globally, but we have done reasonably better compared to the rest of the Eurozone with growth last year falling to 1,7% compared to 4% drop in the Eurozone.

Stavrakis said Cyprus is a European country with the lowest tax rates in Europe, 10% corporate tax rate, a maximum 30% personal tax rate, 0% heritage tax, 0% capital gains tax, 15% VAT the lowest in Europe.

So we are the country with the lowest taxes in Europe but at the same time with large number of important double taxation treaties with major trading partners throughout the world. Within the last two months we have signed and concluded 4-5 new treaties, with Denmark, Slovenia, Kuwait, UAE and most important with Russia, he said.

Stavrakis said Russia is Cyprus` most important trading and economic partner and what we have now with Russia is probably the best double taxation treaty which in simple words means that any foreign investor whether American, British or European who wants to invest in Russia, most probably he will be advised to do it through Cyprus.

He also noted that Cyprus has a good legal and accounting system, a solid banking system which fortunately did not require direct or indirect government support, and a reasonably stable economy.

[04] CNA - TELAM - AGREEMENT

The agreement was signed by CNA Board Chairman Costakis Constantinou and TELAM Vice-President in charge of the Presidency Sergio Fernadez Novoa, in Bariloche, Argentina, on the sidelines of the third News Agencies World Council (NAWC).

Constantinou was accompanied by CNA Acting Director and Editor-in-Chief George Penintaex.

The agreement provides, inter alia, for the exchange of news, photographs and other material produced by the two agencies.

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