Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 11-05-12

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

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

CONTENTS

[01] FM - CYPRUS - TURKEY - CONFERENCES

[02] MINISTER - ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION

[03] COMMISSIONER - CYPRUS - PRESIDENCY

[01] FM - CYPRUS - TURKEY - CONFERENCES

Apart from the issue with the banquet, all facilities and all services were offered to the Republic of Cyprus as to all other states, Kyprianou said, on his return to Cyprus.

Kyprianou, who participated in the Fourth United Nations Conference on the Least Developed Countries (LDC IV) and in the 121st Session of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe that took place during the week 9-13 May in Constantinople, said that Cyprus participated as an equal state in those two conferences.

Referring to the banquet, he said it had been offered by the Turkish government and was not part of the UN program. Despite that, we believe that Turkey, as a hosting country, should have invited all delegates and we have raised this issue to the UN, he noted.

On the sidelines of the conferences, Kyprianou met with his counterparts as well as with the UN Secretary General Ban Ki moon. He said that the UNSG expressed his content with the participation of Cyprus in the UN conference, despite the problems regarding the initial invitation and the banquet.

Kyprianou reiterated that during his meeting with Ban Ki moon he stressed that the process of the UN backed Cyprus talks must not change, adding that the process has been agreed by the parties. Moreover, he told the UNSG that after the Turkish elections in June, Ankara should get the message that it has to follow a more positive and constructive stance at the Cyprus talks.

[02] MINISTER - ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION

Interior Minister conveyed the deep concern of the Mediterranean Member States, in relation to the humanitarian crisis in the Southern Mediterranean region and the mass waves of illegal immigration and the flows and movements of possible beneficiaries of international protection to the Mediterranean Member States. As he said, that development brings upon the Mediterranean Member States additional social, economic, administrative and demographic burden.

Sylikiotis underlined that security and stability in the Mediterranean is directly linked to the security and stability of the EU as a whole and that effective response to this challenge requires joint efforts, commitment and solidarity from all EU Member States.

He also stressed the need for additional actions and policies with a view to implement the EU principle of solidarity and fair sharing of responsibility as expressed in the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union and in line with the Stockholm Programme, the European Pact on Immigration and Asylum, the Global Approach to Migration and the relevant European Council Declarations.

The Cypriot Minister urged the European Union to practically offer operational as well as financial support to Member States which face mass and disproportionate mixed migration flows, by fully mobilizing all available EU assets, instruments and capabilities, either existing or additional ones.

[03] COMMISSIONER - CYPRUS - PRESIDENCY

Barnier, who is visiting Cyprus in the framework of a tour in European capitals to discuss the future reforms in the single market, told a press conference the Commission has submitted proposals for reforms in the single act which would be mature for approval in the period of the Cypriot presidency, whereas the financial framework 2013-2020 will be discussed during the 18-month period of Cyprus` trio presidency (along with Poland and Denmark).

``For this reason the Cypriot presidency in the second half of 2012 is extremely important as the majority of the texts will be reach legislative maturity in the second half of 2012,`` Barnier said speaking through an interpreter.

Barnier also said that the period of the Cypriot Presidency will be ``very important`` concerning the instability observed in countries such as Libya and Egypt because Cyprus is ``bastion`` of the EU towards the Middle East and North Africa.

``I believe that Cyprus, when holding the EU presidency in the second half of 2012, will aim at strengthening and accelerating the dialogue with the other side of the Mediterranean, in a bid to contribute to a real strategy of cooperation and partnership agreement with these countries so that a economic growth would be generated in these countries, needed by the young generations,`` he added.

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