Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 11-02-10

Cyprus News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

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

CONTENTS

[01] GREEK FOREIGN MINISTER - CYPRUS

[02] MISSING - INVESTIGATIONS

[03] CYPRUS - CLIMATE CHANGE

[04] ROAD SAFETY - CONTRACT

[01] GREEK FOREIGN MINISTER - CYPRUS

Droutsas is expected to be received by President of the Republic Demetris Christofias and to meet with Minister of Foreign Affairs Marcos Kyprianou.

On February 17, Droutsas will be flying to New York for a meeting with UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon. On their agenda will be the Cyprus problem, developments in the Middle East and the issue of the name of FYROM.

In view of his meetings, Droutsas met in Athens on Thursday with the UN Secretary General`s Special Adviser on Cyprus Alexander Downer, to hear his views and assessment concerning the Cyprus problem.

According to Spokesman for the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs Gregoris Delavekouras, the purpose of Droutsas` meetings is to discuss the Cyprus problem and express Athens` concern over the slow pace of the talks for a settlement and the absence of any will on the Turkish Cypriot side for substantive talks.

Delavekouras noted that Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu should sit at the negotiating table with constructive positions and a will for progress, having first committed himself clearly to the basis of a solution.

Referring to demonstrations by Turkish Cypriots in the occupied areas of the Republic of Cyprus, Delavekouras said that they reflect a reality and a situation that is not viable, which has been formed as a consequence of the Turkish occupation and the oppression of the Turkish Cypriots by the Turkish troops.

[02] MISSING - INVESTIGATIONS

In a press release after reports that the Turkish occupation forces intended to investigate the circumstances of the death of Greek Cypriot missing persons, the relatives of which appealed to the European Court of Human Rights, the Law Office notes that the Attorney General ordered the Police to proceed with the criminal investigations and that the Police began investigations without delay.

It adds that the initiative to begin criminal investigations relating to the circumstances of the death of Turkish Cypriot missing persons, whose remains have been found and identified, was launched by the Republic of Cyprus and was later followed by the Turkish occupation forces for the Greek Cypriot missing persons.

[03] CYPRUS - CLIMATE CHANGE

Speaking at an event on Climate change and green development, the Minister said that countries which are less responsible for climate change and the pollution of the environment are the countries which will suffer the most. Those countries, he added, will produce the first environmental refugees, namely from Africa, Asia, the Mediterranean and the Middle East.

Eliades said that Cyprus suffers from the consequences of climate change like long periods of drought, fires and temperature increase.

Recalling that the Kyoto Protocol will expire at the end of 2012, he said that this could pave the way for an overall agreement at the South Africa Conference on climate change next year, or during Cyprus presidency of the Council of the EU, in the second half of 2012.

[04] ROAD SAFETY - CONTRACT

The contract was signed in the presence of Minister of Communications and Works Erato Kozakou-Markoullis who said that it is of utmost significance for the Ministry, since the Minister chairs the Road Safety Council and together with the Minister of Justice and Public Order, they are promoting actions and efforts which have yielded positive results.

Markoullis said that regarding the reduction in the number of injured in road accidents, we have reached 50%, the target set by the EU, adding however that a lot needs to be done to reduce the number of fatalities. The last five years, said Markoullis, the number of fatalities was down by 41.7%, the lowest percentage since the establishment of the Republic of Cyprus in 1960.

This is a positive message that gives us strength and determination to continue efforts, she added.

Cyprus News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article