Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 11-11-09

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

CONTENTS

[01] PRESIDENT - CYPRUS PROBLEM - SOLUTION

[02] SPOKESMAN - NATIONAL COUNCIL

[03] EDUCATION MINISTER - FRENCH-CYPRIOT SCHOOL

[01] PRESIDENT - CYPRUS PROBLEM - SOLUTION

Addressing the 27th Pancyprian Congress of the Cyprus Workers` Confederation (SEK), President Christofias said ``we continue efforts with all our might for a Cyprus settlement,`` noting that ``division would be destructive for the country, destructive for the people of Cyprus.``

President Christofias assured that ``a solution not based on fundamental principles, safeguarding the independence, territorial integrity, single sovereignty, single citizenship and international identity, the human rights and fundamental freedoms of all Cypriot citizens, cannot be accepted.``

``Reaching the end does not mean the imposition of any solution. We clarified this during our meeting with the UN Secretary General and I must say that the Secretary General himself was clear on this point. If Turkey and the Turkish Cypriot leadership continue their intransigent and dilatory stance, it is a visible possibility that the end of the road will mean a deadlock or the postponement of the process of direct talks,`` he said.

He added that ``this is not our pursuit`` and that the Greek Cypriot side sought a viable and functional solution of the problem.

President also referred to the role of the trade union movement and the global financial crisis, noting that ``we have difficult challenges ahead but we also have possibilities,`` which the government would utilise in order to solve the problems.

He also said the government would not decide on issues concerning the workers without prior consultation with the trade unions, adding that the government agreed with the trade union position that the burdens should be justly shared and wealth should contribute to tackling the financial crisis.

President Christofias referred to the problems arising from the crisis and noted that the government has implemented a series of measures to boost development, support sectors that bore the brunt of the crisis, support the vulnerable groups of the population, and enhance employment, in line with EU guidelines.

He added that safeguarding social cohesion, improving social protection, and supporting the financially weak groups of the population were reference points for the government.

Cyprus, which joined the EU in 2004, has been divided since 1974, when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third.

[02] SPOKESMAN - NATIONAL COUNCIL

Speaking after a meeting of the National Council, the top advisory body to the President on the handling of the Cyprus problem, Stephanou said that not everyone shares the same concept of a bizonal bicommunal federation provided by the 1977 and 1979 agreements between the Greek Cypriot and the Turkish Cypriot communities - so this needs to be discussed in order to reach a common understanding.

Stephanou said President Christofias briefed the National Council in depth on the meeting in New York between the leaders of the two communities in Cyprus and the UN Secretary General, and that the Council would continue to evaluate the course of negotiations until the next meeting in January with the UN chief, and will take the necessary decisions.

Commenting on concerns over possible dangers regarding a solution of the Cyprus problem, Stephanou pointed out that ``we cannot reach a bad solution for the simple reason that the President of the Republic will not accept a solution that will not meet specific preconditions, as stipulated in UN resolutions and the agreements of 1977 and 1979, a solution that is not based on the principles of international and European law.``

[03] EDUCATION MINISTER - FRENCH-CYPRIOT SCHOOL

The technical services of the Ministry of Education and the management of the French school Arthur Rimbaud in Nicosia have cooperated to prepare the plans of the new school, that were presented during todays visit. Students and all the human and material resources of the existing French school will be relocated to the new school next year. The income of the school will mainly come from student tuition fees.

However, according to the Cypriot Minister of Education, the agreement between Cyprus and France provides that Nicosia will offer the building that will house the French-Cypriot school, contribute a small amount towards operational expenses and the maintenance of the school and will also assume the cost to restore the building.

Demosthenous stated that the school will be managed jointly by the two governments. The new school, he said, is expected to be inaugurated next September and will accept the first 175 pupils from 18 months to 18 years old.

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