Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 11-02-27

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

CONTENTS

[01] TALKS - LEADERS

[02] CYPRIOT FM INDONESIA

[03] CYPRIOTS LIBYA

[04] ÅÁC NATURAL GAS RESERVES

[01] TALKS - LEADERS

UN Secretary General`s Special Adviser on Cyprus Alexander Downer, speaking after his last meeting with President Christofias had 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] CYPRIOT FM INDONESIA

According an official statement issued today, during his visit Kyprianou will have talks with his Indonesian counterpart R.M. Marty Natalegawa to discuss bilateral relations between the two countries and examine ways to further promote them.

EU Indonesia relations will also be discussed as well as other international and regional matters such as recent developments in the Middle East and North Africa and the situation in Kosovo.

Kyprianou will also update Natalegawa on recent developments regarding the ongoing UN led negotiations between President of the Republic Demetris Christofias and Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu to find a comprehensive solution to the Cyprus problem.

[03] CYPRIOTS LIBYA

The Director of the Crisis Management Center of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Andreas Zenonos told CNA that they are the last Cypriots who wanted to be repatriated from Libya. They are working in a Cypriot company Joannou & Paraskevaides (J&P) which undertook the responsibility to transfer them from Greece to Cyprus. They are expected in Cyprus most probably via Athens later Sunday.

Approximately another 35 Cypriot citizens remain in Libya, according to Zenonos, and have expressed the wish to stay in the country. Most of them live in Tripoli.

[04] ÅÁC NATURAL GAS RESERVES

Under the current planning for the use of natural gas as the main fuel for electricity generation, the Government established the Natural Gas Public Company (DEFA), the sole firm to trade natural gas, which in turn selected the preferred natural gas provider of liquefied natural gas (LNG) for a 20-year contract. Under this planning EAC would create a terminal in Vasilico which would receive, store and de-liquefy the LNG to be imported in Cyprus.

However with the news that block 12 in Cyprus` EEZ could hold up to 8 trillion cubic feet of natural gas, political parties suggested that Cyprus should not commit to long-term contract for the provision of LNG before exploring the possibilities of natural gas extraction.

``I believe we could combine the utilization of our own (natural gas) reserves with the current procedures mobilized by DEFA and EAC,`` Stylianou, who is also a member of the DEFA negotiating team said, in statements after a conference of the Union of EAC` Scientific Personnel (SEPAIK), pointing out that the government`s delay in taking a final decision costs the Cypriot economy, given the fact that electricity generation depends on oil.

Chairman of SEPAIK Sotos Savva said that the current DEFA planning guarantees that natural gas would be used for electricity generation purposes by late 2015 or early 2016, something which could save money for the Cypriot consumers.

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