Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 11-07-20

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

CONTENTS

[01] CYPRUS - TURKISH INVASION

[02] HOUSE PRESIDENT - ERDOGAN`S STATEMENTS

[03] GERMAN MP - TURKEY - BERLIN

[04] EAC - GENERATORS

[01] CYPRUS - TURKISH INVASION

Cyprus pays tribute to those killed during the invasion and those still missing, with memorials and other commemorative events in the southern government-controlled areas of the Republic.

Air-raid sirens wailed at 0530 local time (0230 GMT), when the Turkish invasion was launched 37 years ago with the landing of Turkish troops on the island`s northern shores.

In the morning, a memorial service for army officers and soldiers killed during the invasion took place at Makedonitissa Tomb in Nicosia, in the presence of Cypriot President Demetris Christofias, Greek National Defence Minister Panayiotis Beglitis, representatives of the Hellenic Parliament and other officials.

An official memorial service was held at Faneromeni Church in Nicosia in the presence of President Christofias.

A series of other anti-occupation events took place during the day. Political parties have issued statements condemning the Turkish invasion and continuing occupation.

Turkish troops invaded Cyprus on 20 July 1974, following a coup that toppled the legal government of the Republic which was engineered with the Greek military junta. In a two-phase invasion and despite repeated calls by the UN Security Council, Turkey occupied 37% of the sovereign territory of the Republic.

Ankara continues to maintain some 40,000 troops in the northern areas of Cyprus it occupies, in complete disregard to appeals for their withdrawal and calls to contribute to a political settlement through peace talks.

The consequences of Turkeys illegal aggression were devastating and are still felt today by the people of this new EU member-state. Not least among these is the gross violation of human rights, with hundreds still listed as missing, Greek Cypriot refugees in anticipation of a solution that would allow them to return home, enclaved Greek Cypriots being deprived of fundamental rights and the islands 9,000 year old cultural heritage being pillaged.

President Christofias is engaged in UN-led peace talks with the leader of the Turkish Cypriot community since September 2008 in an effort to find a negotiated settlement that would reunite the country, under a federal roof. So far, little progress has been achieved, but talks will intensify in the coming months.

[02] HOUSE PRESIDENT - ERDOGAN`S STATEMENTS

Omirou was responding to questions, after a service held in memory of the officers and soldiers killed during Turkeys 1974 invasion, at the Memorial Makedonitissa Tomb, in Nicosia.

He said that 37 years after the events, our primary duty is to honor the heroes and martyrs of our peoples resistance to the treacherous coup and the Turkish invasion.

The House President added moreover that today is a day of national reflection, and should mark the start of drafting an effective strategy to contain Turkish expansionism and open the way for a democratic, just and viable solution of the Cyprus problem. Erdogans statements on Cyprus cause everybodys disillusionment, Omirou noted.

He spoke moreover of provocative, brass and audacious statements by the Turkish Prime Minister, who said that occupied towns of Morphou and Varosha will not be returned and that Greek Cypriot refugees should forget about going back to their lands, currently under occupation.

These statements, he said, should send a message to all; that the time has come to take our responsibilities, change our strategy and denounce Turkeys behavior to the UN.

[03] GERMAN MP - TURKEY - BERLIN

The systematic intimidation and threatening in Turkish domestic politics is being turned into the new doctrine of Turkeys foreign policy orientation, affecting Cyprus and the EU, German Federal MP of Kurdish origin Sevim Dagdelen says in a written announcement.

Dagdelen was commenting on Turkeys Premier Erdogan statements, who said that his country will freeze relations with the EU, if the Republic of Cyprus assumes the EU Presidency, during the second half of 2012, without a solution to the Cyprus problem.

The member of Germanys Left Party also noted that her country, Germany, needs to uphold international law and unambiguously stand by the side of the Republic of Cyprus.

[04] EAC - GENERATORS

The supply of electricity from generators is expected to reach 250 - 300 MW, meeting the current energy deficit after the naval base blast in Mari on July 11, which destroyed the biggest power station in Cyprus. As a result, electricity production has been reduced by more than 50%, causing daily electricity cuts all over Cyprus. EAC has urged the public to do its utmost to save energy.

Thrassou said that EAC had already begun evaluating tenders for the supply of more than 120 generators from Cyprus and abroad. He added that the assessment will continue Wednesday and perhaps Thursday morning, while EACs Board will convene Thursday to approve the criteria for the trading that will follow. He also said that by tomorrow, EAC will prepare a short - list of the suppliers.

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