Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 11-05-08

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

CONTENTS

[01] PRESIDENT CYPRUS PROBLEM MISSING PERSONS

[02] TRIO MEETING - WARSAW

[01] PRESIDENT CYPRUS PROBLEM MISSING PERSONS

Addressing the inauguration of a park, dedicating to the fallen and missing persons of the Cyprus tragedy, President Christofias said that our vision is to restore and secure the unity of the our homeland, the people, the institutions and the economy and to create the necessary conditions in order the people of Cyprus to become, without any foreign interventions, the master of its place.

President Christofias noted however that the achievement of a solution mainly depends on Turkey. The point is Turkey to change its stance and practically to work, in the basis of the UN resolutions, for a solution in Cyprus, he stressed.

At the same time, President Christofias said that he strongly rejects the partition of the island and the surrender of the half of our homeland to Turkey. The only feasible solution that can lead to the reunification of our homeland and its people is the solution of a bi-zonal, bi-communal federation with political equality as defined by the UN Security Councils relevant resolutions and with the human rights and the basic freedoms of all the Cypriot citizens safeguarded, he said pointing out that all the former Presidents of the Republic of Cyprus were committed to such kind of a solution.

Referring to the issue of missing persons in Cyprus, President Christofias stressed the importance of the re operation of the Committee on Missing Persons. However, he noted, an essential investigation for the fate of the missing persons, in order justice to be attributed to their families, will take place only when an individualized investigation will begin. He also said that the Republic of Cyprus provides the Committee on Missing Persons any kind of assistance, stressing that Cyprus is doing its best in order Turkey to comply with the decision of the European Court of Human Right and open the Armys and other Services achieves.

President Christofias congratulated the Ayios Athanasios Municipality for its initiative to create a Park dedicated to the Fallen and Missing Persons of the Cyprus Tragedy. Finally, Cyprus President expressed hope the ongoing direct negotiation process to lead to an agreed solution to the Cyprus problem soon.

Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third. As a result of the invasion, 1619 Greek-Cypriots were listed as missing, most of whom soldiers or reservists, who were captured in the battlefield.

Among them, however, were many civilians, women and children, arrested by the Turkish invasion troops and Turkish-Cypriot paramilitary groups, within the area controlled by the Turkish army after the end of hostilities and far away from the battlefield. Many of those missing were last seen alive in the hands of the Turkish military.

According to figures released, by early November 2010, a total of 263 remains, 209 belonging to Greek Cypriots and 54 to Turkish Cypriots have been unearthed and identified since 2007.

Peace talks are currently underway to find a negotiated settlement that will reunite the country, under a federal roof.

[02] TRIO MEETING - WARSAW

According to an official announcement here today, President Christofias is due to have a working lunch with his two counterparts on Monday after which the three leaders will give a joint Press conference.

Then President Christofias will have separate meetings with the Polish Prime Minister and Polands Senate Speaker Bogdan Borusewicz.

The President will be accompanied by Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Nicholas Aimiliou, Head of the Secretariat of the Cyprus EU Presidency Andreas Moleskis, Ambassador of Cyprus to Poland Popi Avraam and his Diplomatic Office officer Andrea Petranyi.

He departs from Warsaw to return to Cyprus Monday afternoon.

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