Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 12-01-09

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

CONTENTS

[01] Nothings changed, Christofias says after meeting with Eroglu

[02] Downer: Leaders preparing for Greentree

[03] Cyprus and Israel sign two defence agreements

[04] Cyprus in CoE campaign ``One in Five``

[01] Nothings changed, Christofias says after meeting with Eroglu

In statements to the press, on his return to the Presidential Palace after the meeting, Christofias said that they discussed procedural issues ahead of the meeting at Greentree Estate in New York with UN Secretary General at the end of the month.

Significant differences on governance, property and territory as well as details of other issues that may prove significant are still pending, he said.

He once again raised questions about the meaning of the new meeting at Greentree as well as the process to be followed in case no convergence is achieved in the next two weeks.

President Christofias also stressed that he made it clear to his interlocutors that the Greek - Cypriot side can not be forced to change its positions and underlined that Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu should return to the positions previously agreed during the direct talks, which he changed.

Representatives of the two leaders will meet during the next two weeks to discuss the issues of governance, property and territory with the Secretarys General Special Advisor on the Cyprus issue Alexander Downer.

The National Council will also convey on Monday January 16, in the afternoon to be a fully briefed about the process.

The President also said that the Greek Cypriot side will through these processes evaluate the situation.

Asked whether there will be another meeting between the leaders before the meeting in Greentree, President Christofias said that they didnt say anything for a new meeting of the leaders but if there is a reason to hold a new meeting he will gladly participate.

Asked about the letter the UN Secretary General has sent two the two leaders, Christofias explained that in his letter the UN Secretary General reiterated that he considered that the talks were entering a final stage and referred to July is a milestone, clarifying at the same time that the SG did not set a timetable until July.

He also said that the SG reiterated that both sides should agree on the internal aspects of the talks, before the convergence of an international conference for the Cyprus problem.

``He notes that there is a deadlock on these issues and invited the two leaders to work intensively in the remaining time to break this deadlock,`` he said.

Pointing out that in every negotiation there are risks, he said we are here to identify potential risks and to deal with them.

Noting that ``we can not refuse invitations from SG``, President Christofias assured the Cypriot people that ``we can not, we must not and we will not move from our positions of principle

Asked about his answer to the letter of the UN SG, he said that he will no just thank the SG for the invitation at the Greentree, but he will also make comments about the process.

President Christofias and Eroglu are set to have talks with the SG on 23-24 January in New York. This will be their third meeting with Ban, who has warned that the Cyprus talks cannot go on the way they are being conducted at present.

[02] Downer: Leaders preparing for Greentree

In a statement he made to the press after the meeting, Downer said that the leaders have met this morning for an hour and a half and this has been a meeting where we are preparing for the Green Tree meeting, which as you know is taking place from the 22nd to the 24th.

He noted that this may be the last meeting of the leaders before they move to the Green Tree meeting. Downer clarified that this is the last scheduled meeting, adding that when the meeting was set the exact date for the Green Tree meeting was not finalized. If the leaders wish to meet again before Green Tree they certainly can do that and we will be happy to facilitate that in the next couple of weeks, he pointed out.

Downer also said that it has been decided that the representatives and their officials will meet tomorrow to talk about the executive issue and they will meet on Wednesday or Thursday still working on the time, one of those two days - to talk about the issues of property and territory.

[03] Cyprus and Israel sign two defence agreements

The agreements were signed during the official visit to Israel by Cypriot Minister of Defence Demetris Eliades, at the invitation of Israel`s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence Ehud Barak, who said Cyprus and Israel share common values and wish for peace with their neighbouring countries. Barak also expressed his country`s will for close cooperation for peace in the broader region and said 2012 would be an historical year for strategic decisions.

Eliades referred to Cyprus` sovereign rights in its exclusive economic zone, noting that the international community recognises and supports Cyprus` rights. Regarding the Cyprus issue, he pointed out Turkey`s intransigence, which hinders a solution, noting that ``we insist on the procedure of negotiations and a solution in line with UN resolutions.``

He also said that the natural gas reserves found in the exclusive economic zones of Cyprus and Israel opened a new chapter in relations between the two countries.

[04] Cyprus in CoE campaign ``One in Five``

According to an official press release, the national coordinator of the campaign in Cyprus is the Ministry of Labor and Social Insurance. The first broad meeting of the Cypriot national committee took place Monday under the presidency of Minister of Labor and Social Insurance Soteroulla Charalambous.

In statements after the meeting, Minister Charalambous noted that the One in Five campaign has two main goals. The first goal is to achieve the ratification and implementation of the Council of Europe Convention on the Protection of Children against Sexual Exploitation and Sexual Abuse. She added that the second goal is to equip children, their families/careers and societies at large with the knowledge and tools to prevent and report sexual violence against children, thereby raising awareness of its extent.

According to data from the Council of Europe, about one in five children in Europe are victims of some form of sexual violence. It is estimated that in 70% to 85% of cases, the abuser is somebody the child knows and trusts. Child sexual violence can take many forms: sexual abuse within the family circle, child pornography and prostitution, corruption, solicitation via internet and sexual assault by peers, the Council of Europe notes.

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