Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 12-01-14

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

CONTENTS

[01] President Christofias: We will not offer earth and water

[02] FinMin criticizes S&Ps downgrading of Cyprus

[03] Cyprus solution should be the result of an agreement

[04] UNSG and officials express sorrow for Denktas death

[01] President Christofias: We will not offer earth and water

We will not go to New York to offer earth and water, he said speaking during an event organized on Saturday by the Association of Craftsmen.

The Cypriot President also sent the message that in no case we will accept arbitration and deadlines, to which some indirectly are referring to.

He also pointed out that due to the crucial period for the Cyprus issue and the pressure expected to be exercised, he needs the support of all in the internal front.

UN Secretary General Ban Ki moon has extended a new invitation to the leaders of the two communities in Cyprus, President Demetris Christofias and Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu, to meet with him in New York 23-24 January in the framework of the UN backed direct talks for the Cyprus problem.

The first meeting between the two leaders and the UNSG took place in November 2010, followed by two more meetings held in Geneva on January 26 and July 7, 2011, during which both sides reaffirmed their commitment to finding a comprehensive solution as soon as possible, while in Geneva, on 26 January 2011, the sides agreed to intensify the negotiations.

After their October 2011 meeting in New York, the leaders continued the Cyprus talks as usual in the UN protected area in Nicosia.

Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkish troops invaded and occupied its northern third. Since 1974 Turkey occupies 37% of Cyprus` territory in defiance of UN Security Council resolutions, European Parliament decisions and resolutions, European Council decisions and other resolutions of international fora, which condemn the Turkish invasion and occupation.

Ankara has proclaimed a so called `state` in the occupied areas of Cyprus, which the UN have called illegal and asked the international community not to recognise it. The illegal state is only recognised by Ankara.

UN - led negotiations have been underway since 2008 between the leaders of the two communities in Cyprus with an aim to reunify the island under a federal roof.

The Republic of Cyprus is a full EU member state since May 2004.

Turkey aspires to join the EU but said it would not talk to Cyprus when Nicosia assumes the rotating EU presidency in the second half of 2012.

[02] FinMin criticizes S&Ps downgrading of Cyprus

In statements Saturday at the Ministry of Finance, Kazamias said that Standard and Poor`s decided yesterday to downgrade the credit rating of the Republic of Cyprus by 2 notches due to the following reasons: (a) the deep political, financial and monetary problems within the euro area and (b) the exposure of the Cypriot financial system to the Greek economy.

The Ministry of Finance, he noted, expressed its deep distress at the decision of S&Ps , noting that this decision can justifiably be considered arbitrary and unsubstantiated.

Kazamies raised questions on the time the Agency chose to take this decision just two days after the European Commission had welcomed the measures taken by Cyprus to consolidate its public its finances, completely ignoring this fact, which was considered an important negative factor in its previous assessments. `` He added that the Agency completely and arbitrarily ignored the fact that Cyprus is one of the few countries, which have met their financial needs for 2012.

He also said that it has completely ignore the positive momentum being built regarding the prospects of the Cyprus economy following the publication of the results demonstrating the existence of significant gas reserves in EEZ of Cyprus.`` Kazamias noted that the Agency completely and arbitrarily denied the right of the Republic of Cyprus to appeal the above decision, as its fixed practice was so far.``

Cyprus is one of the nine eurozone countries which have seen their credit ratings downgraded by Standard and Poor`s.

[03] Cyprus solution should be the result of an agreement

Stephanou made it clear that the Greek Cypriot side will not accept any arbitration and deadlines stressing that it is imperative to find a solution soon. A solution, he added, that will put an end to the occupation and colonisation and will reunite the island and its people under a bizonal, bicommunal federation, which will restore human rights and fundamental freedoms of all Cypriots.

``That is our aim and to achieve it we work with consistency to the principles of solution and demonstrating the necessary realism, said the Government Spokesman. He noted that the solution to the Cyprus problem would be the result of an agreement between the two sides and it will not being imposed from outside, adding that any solution be approved in two separate and simultaneous referenda by Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots.

He reiterated in view of the meeting in Greentree, that the Greek Cypriot side will not accept any arbitration, deadlines nor mediation to bridge positions. He stressed that President Christofias has the good will to enter a constructive dialogue with the UNSG at the meeting in New York defending principles the implementation of which will lead to a just solution under the circumstances as well as viable and functional.

[04] UNSG and officials express sorrow for Denktas death

Denktas, he said, was a long-serving and historic Turkish Cypriot leader with whom the United Nations had a long relationship in the framework of UN-facilitated talks for the reunification of Cyprus and related to its peacekeeping responsibilities on the island.

The Secretary-General, his Spokesperson said, expresses his condolences to the family of the late Mr. Denktas as well as to all Turkish Cypriots.

Meanwhile, Special Adviser of the Secretary-General Alexander Downer and the Special Representative of the Secretary-General in Cyprus Lisa M. Buttenheim, on behalf of the United Nations in Cyprus, they also extended their condolences to the family of Denktas and the Turkish Cypriot community. In a joint statement issued Saturday in Nicosia, they say it was with deep sorrow that they learned of the passing of Rauf Denktas.

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