Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 11-01-25

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

CONTENTS

[01] PRESIDENT GENEVA MEETING

[02] PRESIDENT - EL SALVADOR CYPRUS ISSUE

[03] UN MINES DESTRUCTION

[04] ARCHBISHOP MOSCOW ATTACK LETTER

[01] PRESIDENT GENEVA MEETING

President Christofias is accompanied by Presidential Commissioner George Iacovou, Government Spokesman Stephanos Stephanou and his negotiating team.

On Monday, the Government Spokesman said that President Christofias goes to the Geneva meeting in a constructive spirit and with good will, showing the necessary realism, in order to serve our firm goal, which is the achievement of a solution to the Cyprus problem the soonest possible.

He added that Cyprus expects the Turkish side to demonstrate a constructive stance at the Geneva meeting.

The Republic of Cyprus, which became a full EU member state in May 2004, is divided since 1974, when Turkish troops invaded and since then occupy 37% of Cyprus territory. UN - led Cyprus 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] PRESIDENT - EL SALVADOR CYPRUS ISSUE

Receiving the credentials of new Ambassador of Cyprus to El Salvador, based in Mexico, Vasilis Philippou, the President of El Salvador reiterated his support for a viable and functional solution in Cyprus, based on the UN Security Council resolutions.

According to an official press release, he also expressed his gratitude towards the government of Cyprus for its continuous humanitarian aid offered to his country due to the natural destructions, which hit El Salvador.

He also talked about the excellent bilateral ties expressing his appreciation and friendship towards President of Cyprus Demetris Christofias.

[03] UN MINES DESTRUCTION

Spokesman of the UN Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP) Rolando Gomez told CNA that explosions heard Tuesday morning in the Nicosia area were part of the destruction of the mines, which have been removed in the recent weeks, before the conclusion of the work of the UN Mine Action Center in Cyprus.

Last week, Special Representative of the Secretary-General in Cyprus and Chief of UNFICYP, Lisa Buttenheim, said that in absence of an agreement with the two sides to extend the de-mining operations to areas outside the buffer zone, UN de-miners will shut down their field operations in February. Since the beginning of the UN mine action programme in November 2004, over 27,000 landmines have been cleared and destroyed by UN de-miners in Cyprus.

According to the Mine Action Centres estimates, some 15,000 landmines could still remain on the island and two million square meters of land may still be contaminated by landmines and unexploded ordnance.

[04] ARCHBISHOP MOSCOW ATTACK LETTER

In his letters, the Archbishop expresses the sorrow and repulsion of the society in Cyprus over the terrorist attack, noting that ``we condemn the profane, barbaric and criminal act of terrorism.``

He also requests that his condolences be conveyed to Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, and the government and people of Russia.

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