Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 11-12-12

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

CONTENTS

[01] President: meeting with Eroglu a failure

[02] Downer: Leaders meeting not productive

[03] All set for Sunday`s poll

[01] President: meeting with Eroglu a failure

Speaking on his return to the Presidential Palace, President Christofias said the meeting went ``badly, we discussed the issue of properties and there is nothing to say.``

``The meeting was a failure and we must let the people know, unfortunately,`` he said, noting that he was also echoing UN assessments.

Asked what impact this would have on the future course of the talks, President Christofias said ``it means we continue until Greentree,`` adding that ``we are trying.``

To other questions, President Christofias said the Greek Cypriot side was linking the issue of properties with that of territories, noting that at the last meeting at Greentree with the UN Secretary General it had been decided that a committee would be set up to look into this issue, however ``the Turkish Cypriot side is not responding.``

``We gave names, we are ready, we have found the necessary data for the issue of properties, we have data for the issue of territories, but unfortunately there is no response,`` he pointed out.

Asked about rumours from New York and especially the British side concerning an international summit on the Cyprus issue, President Christofias said that ``things have changed`` and expressed certainty that the UN resolution on Cyprus would be ``good`` and ``fair.``

Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third. The leaders of the two communities in Cyprus are currently engaged in UN-led negotiations with an aim to reunify the island.

[02] Downer: Leaders meeting not productive

In statements to the press after the meeting which lasted approximately one and a half hour Downer said that the two leaders spent time focusing their discussion on the issue of property. I think its fair to say the meeting was a fairly unsuccessful meeting, he said, adding that there was no progress made in terms of these discussions.

He also said that I will be meeting with the two leaders during the course of this week and officials from the United Nations will also be meeting with the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot officials as we work on some of these issues and see what progress they can make over the next week or so.

Asked how well the negotiations are going overall, Downer said overall it could be going better.

[03] All set for Sunday`s poll

The Municipal and community elections in Cyprus will take place on 18 December, at an estimated cost of 5,5 million euros.

Demetriou told CNA that the total number of registered voters is 546.111, of whom 12.343 are citizens from member states of the European Union. All citizens of the Republic of Cyprus as well as those of other EU member states aged 18 years and over, who normally reside in Cyprus, have the right to vote in the forthcoming local authority elections.

Most of the citizens from member states of the EU are Greeks and British. The number of voters from Greece is 4.382 and from Britain 4.639. Most of the EU citizens live in the district of Paphos, on the west. The new registered voters in these elections are approximately 12.000.

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