Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 11-01-23

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

CONTENTS

[01] SPOKESMAN GENEVA TALKS

[02] ARCHBISHOP CHRYSOSTOMOS RUSSIAN CHURCH

[03] HOUSE PRESIDENT CHINA

[04] CYPRUS BULGARIA LABOUR RIGHTS

[01] SPOKESMAN GENEVA TALKS

In a written statement, ahead of Wednesdays meeting in Geneva between the Cypriot President Demetris Chrisofias, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu, Stephanou said ``in Geneva our side will insist on the UN Security Council decisions which determine the UNSG`s mandate and provide for a Cypriot-owned and Cypriot-led process without suffocating timeframes and arbitration.``

``The President of Republic will outline once more our view concerning the time and the content of an international conference, which will solely deal with the international aspects of the Cyprus problem.``

With regard to suggestions made that the President should be escorted by the National Council (the top advisory body to the President on the Cyprus problem), Stephanou said that no member of the National Council, or the President, have raised such issue during the Council`s meeting last Wednesday. He added that in Geneva the President will be escorted by the negotiating team.

Cyprus, a full EU member-state since May 2004, has been divided since 1974, when Turkish troops invaded and since then occupy 37% of Cyprus territory. UN-backed talks are underway between President of Cyprus Demetris Christofias and Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu with a view to reunify the country.

The UNSG has invited both leaders at a meeting in Geneva on the 26th of January to review progress made so far at the Cyprus talks and decide on the next steps.

[02] ARCHBISHOP CHRYSOSTOMOS RUSSIAN CHURCH

Chrysostomos traveled to Moscow to receive a prize awarded by the International Foundation for the Unity of Orthodox Christian Nations ``for his outstanding contribution to the consolidation of unity of Christian Orthodox peoples and consolidation and promotion of Christian values in the society.``

``The relations between the Church of Cyprus and the Russian Church are brotherly and will continue,`` the Archbishop remarked.

Commenting on Patriarch of Moscow and All Russians Cyril`s remarks on the Cyprus problem, Chrysostomos said he briefed the Patriarch on the Cyprus problem ``and he knows very well that we wish the smooth cohabitation of the two communities (in Cyprus), as the Russian Patriarch also desires.``

Chrysostomos referred to his meeting with Russia`s President Dimitry Medvedev who ``during the talks expressed joy for the good relations between the Cypriot Church and the Russian Church.``

He added that Medvedev was ``fully informed both from an ecclesiastical and a national point of view.``

[03] HOUSE PRESIDENT CHINA

The Cypriot Speaker and a delegation from the House of Representatives comprised by Parliamentarians Yiannakis Thoma, Averof Neofytou, Andreas Angelides, Fedias Sarikas and Demetris Syllouris, held a meeting in Tianjin with Zhang Gaoli, member of the political bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Secretary of the CPC Tianjin Municipal Committee. During the meeting, the Cyprus issue, the economic, commercial and parliamentary relations between Cyprus and China, were examined.

Garoyian told Gaoli, who paid an official visit to Cyprus last November, that since the last time he informed him on Cyprus issue, there has been no progress due to the Turkish intransigence and approach.

``Turkey`s arrogance as well as its cynicism continue, Garoyian said, noting that Turkey believes that due to the fact that it is a powerful country it can impose its conditions on other countries.

Garoyian thanked Gaoli for Chinas firm support on Cyprus issue and reiterated that Cyprus will continue to support the position for one China. The position, as he said, ``for the independence, territorial integrity and sovereignty of China and the Republic of Cyprus. This is the foundation of our common effort, of our common struggles``, he pointed out.

Referring to the bilateral economic relations, Garoyian said that the two countries can further develop those relations and can discuss ways to enhance investments in Cyprus and China. ``We should see how mutual investments can emerge, how the industries can cooperate and how the Republic of Cyprus, as an EU member state, can assist Chinese businesses to expand in the EU and the Middle East``, he said.

Gaoli called on the Cypriot and Chinese businesses to invest in China and Cyprus respectively.

[04] CYPRUS BULGARIA LABOUR RIGHTS

Cypriot Minister of Labour and Social Insurance Sotiroula Charalambous and Bulgaria`s Minister of Labour and Social Policy Totyu Mlandenov, who is visiting Cyprus, attended a gathering to inform Bulgarian citizens working in Cyprus, who amount to 16,612, on their labour and social insurance rights.

``We are here to reaffirm the close cooperation between the two Ministries for the protection of the rights of the Bulgarians working in Cyprus,`` Charalambous said in statements on the sidelines of the gathering.

She reiterated that Cyprus, as an EU member-state implements the principle of free movement of labour in the EU and takes all necessary measures to enforce the principle of equal treatment of labour irrespective of their national origin.

On his part, Mladenov expressed his country`s gratitude to Cyprus, which opened its labour market to Bulgaria, immediately after the country`s accession to the EU.

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