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Thursday, 19 December 2024
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Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 11-02-25Cyprus News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Cyprus News Agency at <http://www.cyna.org.cy>CONTENTS
[01] CHRISTOFIAS-EROGLU MEETING - RESCHEDULED FOR MONDAYToday`s meeting betweenthe President of the Republic Demetris Christofias and the Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu, in the framework of direct negotiations for solution of the Cyprus problem, has been postponed to Monday morning, the UN has said.Yesterday, UN Secretary General`s Special Adviser on Cyprus Alexander Downer met with President Christofias at the Presidential Palace. He said that the basis of the negotiations in Cyprus remains the same, as far as the UN is concerned, as defined by Security Council resolutions and agreements reached between President Christofias and former Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat. Cyprus, which joined the EU in 2004, has been divided since 1974, when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third. The leaders of the two communities in Cyprus are currently engaged in UN-led negotiations, with an aim to reunify the island, under a federal roof. [02] EU MINISTERS - TURKEY - ACCORDThe EU Council of Ministers of Justice and Internal Affairs has approved the Turkey EU Readmission Agreement, which Cyprus has welcomed. Following an intervention by Cyprus Minister of Interior Neoklis Sylikiotis on the matter, the European Commission issued a declaration to the effect that it will be bound by the implementation of the Agreement with regard to all member states throughout the entire jurisdiction of the EU without discrimination.Sylikiotis presented data according to which within the past three years 11,000 illegal immigrants have entered the southern government controlled areas of the Republic of Cyprus via the northern Turkish occupied areas - where the legal government is prevented from exercising its jurisdiction by the presence of Turkish troops - 4,000 of whom initially arrived from Turkey. We now have a very important tool which can be used against illegal immigration originating from Turkey, said Sylikiotis after the meeting, adding that the culmination of negotiations for this Agreement is a great success since Cyprus had repeatedly argued that it was a necessity. The original draft document has been improved greatly, Sylikiotis said, expressing the view however that there are still provisions which are unclear as to their interpretation and that the three year transitional period is too long. [03] PARLIAMENT - PFP - DECISION - GOVERNMENTPresident Demetris Christofias, defending the Constitution and exercising the functions and powers conferred on it, will exercise the right to veto on a decision by the House of Representatives requesting membership in NATOs Partnership for Peace (PfP), said Thursday Government Spokesman Stephanos Stephanou. ``The decision of the House of Representatives requesting membership in the PfP is an act that violates the Constitution and the separation of powers, which is one of its basic principles`` said Stephanou in a written statement.Stephanou explained that ``the PfP is neither an international organization nor a treaty of alliance, for the House of Representatives to invoke Article 50.1.A of the Constitution``. He added that the Partnership for Peace is a programme of NATO. Additionally, the Spokesman clarified that equal participation of Cyprus in the mechanisms of Defense and Security of the European Union is granted and that the interests of the Republic are best served by the defense and preservation of its constitutional status. The House of Representatives adopted Thursday a decision urging the government o apply membership in the PfP, with 32 votes in favor, 17 against and one abstention. Apart from AKEL, the left wing party which backs the government of President Christofias, all parliamentary parties, including government partner DIKO voted in favor of joining the Partnership for Peace. The Cyprus Green Party abstained from voting. Cyprus News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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