Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 11-11-06

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

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

CONTENTS

[01] PRESIDENT CYPRUS ISSUE

[02] DEPUTY MINISTER CYPRUS EU PRESIDENCY

[03] SPOKESMAN TURKEY - EU

[04] GOVERNMENT CYPRUS - EXPLORATIONS

[01] PRESIDENT CYPRUS ISSUE

In his speech, read out by Government Spokesman Stephanos Stephanou, during the unveiling ceremony of a monument in memory of people who gave their lives during the 1974 Turkish invasion of Cyprus, or have been missing since then, President Christofias reiterated that our struggle is full of obstacles and difficulties due to Turkish intransigence and provocations, which needs to be dealt with the greatest possible unity in the internal front.

Cyprus reunification and the end of Turkish occupation remains our highest priority and a life goal, he stressed, adding that therefore we strive consistently to achieve a just, viable and functional solution, under the circumstances, in the framework of a bi-zonal, bi-communal federation.

Christofias also stressed that we reject compromising with our countrys partition and handing out half of our homeland to Turkey. Instead, we will exhaust all possibilities available within the existing agreed process, to achieve liberation and reunification.

Referring to the meeting held in New York on October 30 -31, Christofias noted that the meeting unveiled the difficulties encountered by the Greek Cypriot side during the negotiation procedure and added that the SGs statement indicates that the progress achieved in major issues, that is governance, property, territory and citizenship, is either limited or non-existent. President Christofias noted that progress has been achieved in the issues of economy, internal security and European Union that were discussed here in Cyprus, and not in New York.

In his statement, the UN Secretary General, Christofias said, clearly stated once again that an international conference to deal with the international aspects of the Cyprus issue would only be possible when a solution is found on its internal aspects. At the meeting, President added, nothing was said about arbitration or tight timeframes. I want to underline this. In his statement SG expressed the wish or even the intention to reach end of game, something that can be interpreted as a final attempt to reach an agreed solution or a dead end.

Unfortunately, we are not close to a solution due to big differences separating the two sides Christofias stated. He also pointed out that despite difficulties the Creek Cypriot side declares that it will continue working in good will, as it has been doing until now, to bridge the gap and reach a solution based on the UNs resolutions on Cyprus, international and European law principles and values, and the high level agreements signed between the leaders of the two sides in 1977 and 1979.

Our goal is the transformation of Cyprus to a bi-zonal, bi-communal federal Cyprus, with a single sovereignty, single citizenship and single international personality, he added.

Furthermore, the Cypriot President said that to achieve this Turkey should abandon its policy of aggression and threats, and accept peaceful co-existence and cooperation with the federal Republic. To do so, he continued, international community must exert influence and pressure on Turkey. This is what Cyprus pleads the UN SG and Security Council for, the President said.

[02] DEPUTY MINISTER CYPRUS EU PRESIDENCY

Addressing a workshop organized Saturday by the ruling left-wing AKEL party on ``Cyprus Presidency of the EU Council in 2012, Mavroyiannis noted that with the assumption of the Presidency of the European Council, Cyprus will face a major challenges as an EU state and a unique opportunity to build the image of a credible, equal and responsible social European partner.

According to Mavroyiannis, a successful exercise of the EU Presidency would bring lasting benefits to Cyprus and project a positive image of the country in the world. It is also, he added said, a challenge for the state services, taking into accounts the efforts towards economic recovery.

[03] SPOKESMAN TURKEY - EU

Invited to comment on statements made by Turkeys Minister for EU Affairs and Chief Negotiator Egemen Bagis reiterating Turkeys position on the assumption of the EU Presidency by Cyprus, Stephanou said that the successful achievement of this national target would upgrade the status of Cyprus both within the EU and the wider international arena.``

The Republic of Cyprus will successfully exercise the Presidency of the European Council in the second half of 2012 thus proving that even small countries like Cyprus, can run EU presidency efficiently, he said.

Turkey has threatened to freeze relations with the European Union if Cyprus is given the EU presidency in 2012.

He added that the EU must deal with statements made by the Turkish officials in relation to Cyprus EU Presidency, noting that the EU must warn Turkey that such behaviour damages its own European perspective and that it acts in a way that causes tension in the region, which is trying to bring into the European area.

[04] GOVERNMENT CYPRUS - EXPLORATIONS

A second round of licensing for the commencement of explorations in other blocks of Cyprus EEZ, will soon be announced, the Spokesman said.

Speaking to the press on Saturday, Stephanou underlined that intensive work is underway relating to the second round of licensing, adding that it is not a simple issue, but rather one with many aspects, all of which are been considered and assessed by the Government, and there will be a second round of licensing.

However, the Government Spokesman refrained from giving further details as to the time the second round of licensing will be officially announced.

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