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Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 11-08-01Cyprus News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Cyprus News Agency at <http://www.cyna.org.cy>CONTENTS
[01] UN - CYPRUS ISSUE - DIRECT TALKSUN SG Special Adviser on the Cyprus problem, Alexander Downer said on Monday that the UN work hard to try to help the parties in Cyprus to achieve a good agreement on the Cyprus problem, in consistence with Security Council resolutions.He added that if there is real progress between now and October 21st, this would have a positive impact on public confidence as well. President Christofias and Eroglu met UN SG Ban Ki-moon in Geneva, on July 7th, and according to Ban`s statement after the meeting, they agreed to enter into an intensive period of negotiations on the core issues of the Cyprus problem, to achieve convergences before meeting again in New York, in October. Speaking to the press after meeting with President of the Republic Demetris Christofias, ahead of tomorrows new round of intensive talks, Downer said that it is important that we really invest time and energy in the talks this week and we hope that these will be productive. Invited to comment on Turkish Prime Ministers recent statements on the Cyprus issue, Downer said that we don`t get into commentary on everything everybody says on the way through, adding that it wouldn`t make sense if we set our souls as commentators on everything every prime minister in the region says. During an illegal visit to the occupied areas of Cyprus on July 20, Turkish Premier ruled out the return to the Greek Cypriots the Turkish occupied areas of Morphou and Karpass, in the context of an overall political settlement. When we get to these issues of property and territory, all these questions will be discussed, Downer said. Commenting on the current economic and political situation in Cyprus and how it affects the course of the direct talks, Downer said that out of crisis comes an opportunity, adding that it is important when things do go wrong to try to turn that adversity into opportunity as best as you can. For Cyprus going through some difficult times, it would be a wonderful thing if people could feel that there is some real progress being made towards a solution, that`s where we put our energy, the UN, and we hope that as time goes on we can spread some good news about the talks and the negotiations for a solution to the Cyprus problem, Downer said. Asked whether President Christofias is capable of turning the crisis into an opportunity, given the domestic political situation, Downer expressed the opinion that if the talks can go well, if we can make some real progress over the next few weeks particularly between now and the 21st of October, then that would be very positive and it would have a positive impact on public confidence as well. He said that people are sad and depressed because of what happened on July 11 , saying that the President and the government has to try to solve the Cyprus problem. A solution has been elusive a long time and it is important that everything be done to try to achieve a successful solution to this problem, he noted. Thirteen people were killed and dozens were injured when a massive explosion occurred at the naval base, Evangelos Florakis, near Limassol, on the southern coast, in the early hours of July 11th. The blast badly damaged the islands main power plant, at Vasiliko, resulting in daily power cuts. The blast occurred in containers, full of munitions, which Cyprus had confiscated from ``Monchegorsk``, a vessel sailing from Iran to Syria in 2009. Nicosia was acting in accordance with UN sanctions against Teheran. Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkish troops invaded and occupied its northern third. Peace talks aim at a negotiated settlement that will reunite the country, under a federal roof. [02] CHRISTOFIAS CYPRUS ISSUE KUWAITPresident of the Republic Demetris Christofias has said Monday that for the Cyprus problem to be solved, all sides must show and act on the necessary good will, which is the basic element needed to achieve a solution.Receiving the credentials of the first resident Ambassador of the State of Kuwait to Cyprus, stationed in Nicosia, Ahmad Salem Ahmad Al-Wehaib, he also said the Government of Cyprus counts on the valuable support of the esteemed Government of Kuwait, in the framework of international organizations, towards finding a viable solution to the Cyprus problem on the basis of the United Nations Resolutions. Presenting his credentials, Al-Wehaib said the Kuwaiti people and the Government of the State of Kuwait are satisfied with the development of the friendly relationship and cooperation between the two countries during the past years and are looking forward to further developing and strengthening these relations in the interests of the two peoples and countries. I wish to assure Your Excellency that during the accomplishment of my mission, I wish to do my best to contribute to the consolidation and strengthening of the relations of friendship and cooperation which so happily exist between our two countries, he added. [03] CYPRUS - UNEMPLOYMENT - JUNEUnemployment in Cyprus reached in June 7.6%, compared to 6.5% in June 2010. The EU27 unemployment rate was 9.4% in June 2011, unchanged compared with May, recording a slight decrease compared with June 2010 when it was 9.7%.According to figures published by Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union, Cyprus recorded one of the highest increases, with its unemployment reaching 7.6% in June 2011 compared to 6.5% in June 2010. Compared with a year ago, the unemployment rate fell in nineteen Member States, increased in seven and remained stable in Luxembourg. The largest falls were observed in Estonia (18.8% to 13.8% between the first quarters of 2010 and 2011), Latvia (19.9% to 16.2% between the first quarters of 2010 and 2011) and Hungary (11.3% to 9.9%). The highest increases were registered in Greece (11.0% to 15.0% between the first quarters of 2010 and 2011), Bulgaria (10.1% to 11.4%), Cyprus (6.5% to 7.6%) and Slovenia (7.3% to 8.4%). [04] CYPRUS - BATHING WATERS - EU RATINGSCyprus has been rated as the top EU performer as regards the quality of its bathing waters for 2010 by the European Environment Agencys annual bathing waters report. According to the European Commissions official website, 100% of Cyprus bathing sites were rated as excellent.Cyprus is followed by Croatia (97,3), Malta (95,4%), Greece (94,2%), Ireland (90,1%), Bulgaria (85,1%), Portugal (83,9%), Finland (83,8%), United Kingdom (81,7%) and Latvia (80,9%). It is noted that results are based on regular samples taken from more than 21,000 coastal and inland bathing sites across Europe. The European Environment Agency has called on EU countries to do more to improve water quality across Europe. Cyprus News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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