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Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 11-10-15Cyprus News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Cyprus News Agency at <http://www.cyna.org.cy>CONTENTS
[01] DEFENCE MINISTER - TURKEY - LEGAL ORDERThe international community cannot and must not allow Turkey to jeopardize international legal order in the region of Cyprus, Defence Minister Demetris Eliades has said, pointing out that Turkeys behaviour exposes that country.He noted that Turkey continues its provocative actions in the area of Cyprus Exclusive Economic Zone, in international sea waters, as well as in the air space within Nicosia FIR. Eliades said that the government is monitoring developments in a calm, serious and responsible manner the moves of the Turkish air force and the Turkish navy. He added that Cyprus and Greece act in concert and take in full coordination all necessary measures at the diplomatic, political and operational level. International organisations and powerful states, he said, are interested in maintaining peace, security and stability in the region, adding that Cyprus acts in full compliance with international law. 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] CYPRUS EU PRESIDENCY HEAD - PARLIAMENTDeputy Minister to the President for European Affairs, Ambassador Andreas Mayroyiannis, has told a House committee that he expects all political parties and civil society to support Cyprus in the exercise of its duties during the EU presidency in the second half of 2012. Mavroyiannis, who has briefed the House Foreign and European Affairs Committee on preparations for the Presidency, pointed out that this is an opportunity for Cyprus to promote its potential and become more integrated in the core of European affairs.Cyprus is the only ĆU member, among the new 12, which is a net contributor, he said. Asked about current negotiations on the long-term EU fiscal framework, Mavroyiannis said this issue must be settled in a satisfactory way for Cyprus to allow the country to act as a reliable interim agent for an agreement on the matter. The cost of the Cypriot presidency is estimated at 61.6 million euro, the Committee heard. Infrastructure projects for the Presidency are progressing well and it is expected that 200 meetings and 3.500 working groups will take place in Cyprus from July to December 2012. [03] OCCUPIED AREAS - CULTURAL HERITAGEThe tragic events that occurred in 1974, when Turkey invaded Cyprus, exacerbated pillaging and destruction of the islands cultural heritage that continues to this day, Minister of Communications and Works, Efthymios Flourentzos, has stated. Addressing an International Workshop on «Protecting the Cultural Heritage of Cyprus: Joining Efforts in Preventing the Illicit Trafficking of Cultural Heritage», the Minister said that illicit trafficking is indeed a matter that is not only problematic in Cyprus but in many other countries with a rich cultural heritage.Noting that in Cyprus the problem has persisted for a long time, Flourentzos underlined that the tragic events that occurred in 1974 exacerbated pillaging and destruction of the cultural heritage of Cyprus that continues to this day. Many churches have been looted and desecrated, their ecclesiastical items, portable icons and even wall painting fragments have ended up on the market to be sold all round the world. Museums and archaeological sites in the north part of Cyprus have also been vandalized, demolished and looted. Since then, he added, tireless efforts have been made to locate these missing parts of our cultural heritage. Some have been repatriated through the kind efforts of private institutions or individuals; others through court battles. Other cases are still pending. [04] PRESIDENT - MEETING WITH UNSGPresident Demetris Christofias has stressed that he will attend a scheduled meeting, in late October in New York, with the UN Secretary General and Turkish Cypriot leader Dervish Eroglu. I state very clearly that we will go to New York, the President said in statements to the press after his talks with Eroglu in the framework of the UN-led negotiations, aiming at a solution that would reunite Cyprus, divided since 1974 Turkish invasion.We are very close on issues relating to the Parliament, of a federal Cyprus, he said, referring to the discussions with Eroglu. He noted however that there are still pending issues with regard to the chapter of governance, on which there is a shift in the position of the Turkish Cypriot side. We stand by the position that has been previously agreed, Christofias said. The Cypriot President pointed out that another meeting between the leaders is scheduled for Wednesday and that their last meeting, before going to New York, will take place on 21st October. I hope that by then (the New York meeting) we will make one more positive step forward, he added. Cyprus News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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