Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 11-10-08

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

CONTENTS

[01] CYPRIOT FM - VISIT TO EGYPT AND LEBANON

[02] SYLIKIOTIS - EMPs - IMMIGRATION-ASYLUM

[03] EMPs - ANTHROPOLOGICAL LABORATORY OF CMP

[01] CYPRIOT FM - VISIT TO EGYPT AND LEBANON

In statements to the Press on Saturday, Markoullis said that a delegation of technocrats from Lebanon is expected to arrive in Cyprus next week to discuss issues concerning the exclusive economic zone. Later on, she will pay Lebanon an official visit.

Asked about the escalation of Turkish provocations towards Egypt and Lebanon to cancel agreements signed with the Cyprus government, Markoullis said that the Foreign Ministry has knowledge of this information and noted that Turkey is exerting pressure for the past six months at least.

She clarified though, that there is no problem in relation to the agreement with Egypt.

In Egypt, Markoullis will have contacts with the Prime Minister, the Foreign Minister and with all the political leaders of the country.

Markoullis said that the visit of the delegation from Lebanon was decided during a meeting she had with her Lebanese counterpart in New York. We have agreed that a delegation of experts will pay Cyprus a visit to discuss all issues regarding our relations and Exclusive Economic Zone.

Turkey, whose troops occupy Cyprus northern part since they invaded in 1974, does not recognise the Republic of Cyprus. Following a decision by Nicosia to begin natural gas and oil exploration in its exclusive economic zone, Ankara has deployed warships in the Eastern Mediterranean and has signed an illegal agreement with the Turkish Cypriot regime in occupied Cyprus to delineate what it calls continental shelf.

Drilling has already begun and is being carried out by Houston-based Noble Energy, off Cyprus south-eastern coast.

The government of Cyprus has protested to the UN and the EU Turkeys moves, saying it has a sovereign right to exploit its natural resources, pointing out that Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots will benefit from any benefits that may come from oil drilling.

Cyprus has signed an agreement to delineate the Exclusive Economic Zone with Egypt and Israel with a view to exploit any possible natural gas and oil reserves in its EEZ. A similar agreement has been signed with Lebanon but the Lebanese Parliament has not yet ratified it.

[02] SYLIKIOTIS - EMPs - IMMIGRATION-ASYLUM

In statements to the Press after a meeting he had with European MPs Cecilia Wikstrom, Claude Moraes and Antigoni Papadopoulou, Sylikiotis said that he briefed them on the targets set by the Cypriot Presidency regarding the issue of asylum and immigration. He also informed them on the situation prevailing in Cyprus.

Sylikiotis said that immigration and asylum are the most serious issues discussed today in the EU Council of Ministers of Justice and Home Affairs as well as the European Parliament.

[03] EMPs - ANTHROPOLOGICAL LABORATORY OF CMP

The two EMPs visiting Cyprus on the invitation of Cypriot EMP Antigoni Papadopoulou, said they were overwhelmed by what they have seen in the anthropological laboratory.

Wilkstrom said ``here we have seen again the bodies, the bones. I am moved, much touched and I feel great respect for the people working side by side in order to find the truth and in order to examine the bodies and give them back to their families to be properly buried in sacred soil``.

EMP Claude Moraes said ``this is a tragedy for every family, it is a tragedy of so many young people who had their whole lives ahead of them``.

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