Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 12-02-08

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

CONTENTS

[01] President Christofias has sent G/c sides positions to the parties

[02] House President: Greek Cypriot side will not accept timetables and

arbitration

[03] Second licensing round for Cyprus` EEZ in eight days

[04] Government seeks strategic investor for CY Airways

[01] President Christofias has sent G/c sides positions to the parties

In statement to the Press, Stephanou said that the general framework constitutes the positions the Greek Cypriot side has submitted to the negotiations so far, adding that the general framework has not been given to the Turkish Cypriot side and it has not been discussed during the meeting of the two leaders with UN Secretary General in Greentree.

Along with the general framework, the document with the convergences of January 29, 2010 has also been sent to the political parties. In addition, Stephanou said that prior to the Greentree meeting the convergences that have been achieved on secondary issues of the home security and economy chapters had also been sent to the parties.

Stephanou said that now, the political parties have all the documents. He noted that in 2009, the government gave to the political parties the document with the two sides convergences, which had been achieved in August 2009.

Asked about the content of the general framework of the Greek Cypriot positions, Stephanou pointed out the term of confidentiality, which should be observed during negotiations and noted that although many things are well known and the aforementioned documents could be in the agenda of all-day meetings of the National Council, the government wishes to maintain confidentiality.

Replying to a question if the general framework is an outline of the solution, Stephanou said that the general framework constitutes the positions that the Greek Cypriot side has submitted to the talks. Some call it the outline of the solution, but it is not, he added.

Invited to comment on an article published in the Turkish Cypriot Press saying that the Turkish Cypriot leader has changed his position on the issue of weighted-voting, Stephanou noted that the problem is not so much the Turkish Cypriot sides change of position on the weighted-voting, that on the cross-voting.

The problem is the cross-voting and it is very well know the position of the Greek Cypriot side that it does not discuss the rotating presidency without the cross-voting, he said and added: These two go together. There is no sense to discuss the rotating presidency without the cross-voting and off course, the weighted-voting, and this we have made it clear to the UN and to the Turkish Cypriot side as well.

Asked if a new meeting between the two leaders has been determined, Stephanou replied negatively. He also replied negatively to the question whether the two sides have concluded the exchange of positions on the chapter of property.

President Demetris Christofias briefed on February 2, 2012 the National Council, the top advisory body to the President on the Cyprus problem, on the results of his meetings with the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and the Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu in Greentree, New York on January 22-24. The body will convene again on February 15 and 17 for two all-day sessions to continue discussions on all issues of the Cyprus problem.

[02] House President: Greek Cypriot side will not accept timetables and arbitration

While addressing the members of the Cypriot community of Sunshine, in Melbourne, during an official visit in Australia, Omirou noted that Cyprus talks are heading towards a deadlock, a fact that also became evident during the last meeting at Greentree, in New York.

Omirou said that Eroglu insisted at Greentree to proceed with a multilateral conference, without going into discussion on the internal aspects of the Cyprus problem. The aim, he continued, is to impose an unbalanced solution, which might be even worse than the Anan Plan, rejected by the majority of Greek Cypriots during referendum in 2004. Moreover, the President of the House of Representatives said that the UN Secretary-General adopted at Greentree a formula of tight timetables, by deciding to proceed with the convention of an international conference on Cyprus before the commencement of the Cypriot Presidency of the European Council in the second term of 2012.

Our answer to this is very clear, Omirou said, adding that the Greek Cypriot side will never consent to the imposition of timetables and arbitration nor will agree to the convention of a multilateral conference. He said that the Republic of Cyprus insists on having an international conference instead, with the participation of the permanent members of the UN Security Council, the EU, the three guarantor powers and the Cypriot government, in order to discuss the international aspects of the Cyprus problem.

[03] Second licensing round for Cyprus` EEZ in eight days

We are only eight days away from the official announcement for the second round of licensing, Antoniadou, said speaking before the House Commerce Committee.

On her part, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Zeta Emileanidou, said that the Ministry was informed by the Cypriot Permanent Representation to the EU that the official announcement for the second round of licensing will be published in the EU gazette on February 13.

According to Antoniadou, companies interested in participating in the second licensing round for oil and gas exploration and exploitation will be given a period of 90 days to submit their proposals and the state will conclude assessment within six months.

The licensing round is an open invitation for expression of interest to the companies or entities interested in submitting an application for exploration and exploitation, Antoniadou noted, adding that the criteria upon which the offers submitted will be assessed concern the companies or entities technical adequacy, their ability to afford their activities and the financial proposal they will submit to the state.

The announcement also refers to the states right not to proceed to the licensing round in case circumstances or interest expressed are not in favor of the state.

[04] Government seeks strategic investor for CY Airways

Speaking to the Press, Stephanou noted that the decision of the Government haS been included in the package of measures aimed to address the problems of semi-public organizations, including Cyprus Airways.

What we are discussing now is to find a strategic investor or an investor. The way this is going to be done and what interest has been expressed until now is something the Finance Ministry is dealing with Stephanou said.

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