Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 11-03-03

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

CONTENTS

[01] HOUSE PRESIDENT CYPRUS ISSUE

[02] DELAVEKOURAS T/C TURKEY

[03] MINISTER TOURISM

[04] EUROSTAT CYPRUS GDP INCREASE

[01] HOUSE PRESIDENT CYPRUS ISSUE

Garoyan criticized Turkey for maintaining an intransigent position over Cyprus, not respecting international law, applying a neo-ottoman policy, as well as for promoting an international conference for the Cyprus problem.

Speaking to students of International Relations and European Affairs of the University of Macedonia, Greece, Garoyan said that the Greek Cypriot side was not willing to accept the imposition of artificial deadlines and arbitration.

On the issue of the international conference, the House President said that it may be convened only once there is an agreement on the domestic aspects of the Cyprus problem.

Garoyan also said that the prospects of a solution are not very bright, following a two-year long negotiation process with poor results.

The Greek Cypriot side, he added, urges for a solution, but at the same time it is not willing to make sacrifices in the substance of the solutions parameters.

Garoyan referred, moreover, to the prospects of exploiting the natural gas reserves of the area. He said that relations with Israel need to be upgraded, without damaging the relations with the Arab countries, and relations with China and Russia should be broadened.

Coordinating action with Greece, in undertaking the right initiatives with foresight, was imperative, Garoyan concluded.

Cyprus has been divided since the 1974 Turkish invasion. Peace talks are currently underway to find a negotiated settlement that will reunite the country, under a federal roof.

[02] DELAVEKOURAS T/C TURKEY

Delavekouras was invited Thursday to comment on the second mass demonstration staged in the Turkish occupied areas of Cyprus by Turkish Cypriots against the economic policy of the so called government in the occupied areas of Cyprus and against the policy of the Turkish Government towards the occupied areas.

This new demonstration was even bigger than the previous one. This shows that the continuous occupation by Ankara, the presence of the Turkish army and the presence of illegal settlers exert a great pressure on the Turkish Cypriots, and hinder the achievement of a solution on the island as well as the future of the Turkish Cypriot community, he stressed.

Delavekouras urged Turkey to undertake its responsibilities and proceed to the negotiating table in a constructive manner that would allow progress to be achieved so that a political solution is reached on the island. He said that the situation in the Turkish occupied areas of Cyprus is not viable, since it does not allow the people of Cyprus to fully enjoy the benefits of its participation in the EU.

[03] MINISTER TOURISM

Addressing Thursday the 33rd Annual Conference of the Cyprus Hotel Association, Paschalides said that the British market shows some improvement while other markets, like Germany, Russia and the Scandinavian countries, show an encouraging trend.

He went on to note that the governments new strategic plan for tourism 2011 2015 aims to upgrade Cyprus tourist product.

The Minister said that 2010 has been a year of challenges as regards the tourist industry, pointing out that 2011 will also be a year of difficulties since the world economic crisis continues to exert pressure on the tourism industry.

Concluding, he reassured that the government of Cyprus will continue its efforts to achieve even better results this year than in 2010.

[04] EUROSTAT CYPRUS GDP INCREASE

According to second estimates released by Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union, Cyprus GDP increased by 2.2% in the fourth quarter of 2010 compared to the corresponded period of 2009.

This is the fourth consecutive quarter during which the Cyprus GDP shows an increase.

GDP increased by 0.3% in the euro area (EA16) and by 0.2% in the EU27 during the fourth quarter of 2010, compared with the previous quarter. In the third quarter of 2010, growth rates were +0.3% in the euro area and +0.5% in the EU27.

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