Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 12-04-06

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

CONTENTS

[01] Greek PM: partition is no option for Cyprus

[01] Greek PM: partition is no option for Cyprus

Addressing the House plenary, during his two-day official visit to Cyprus, he also said that the solution must provide for the evolution of the Cypriot state and not its dissolution.

Papademos called on Turkey to undertake "decisive initiatives" towards the Turkish Cypriot side, if it really has the political will to work for a settlement in Cyprus.

"We believe that Cyprus' EU membership and exploitation of natural gas reserves can be positive factors towards a comprehensive and agreed settlement in Cyprus to the benefit of Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots," he said.

In his address, the Greek PM reaffirmed his unwavering and long-standing support of the Greek political leadership to efforts aiming at ending Turkey's occupation of Cyprus' northern part.

"Support to Cyprus unites Greece," he noted, adding that he also supports the ongoing UN-led peace talks between Cyprus President Demetris Christofias and Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu.

The solution must comply with Cyprus' status as an EU member and must restore the fundamental freedoms of all Cypriots.

On attempts to convene an international conference on Cyprus, Papademos stressed that unless the internal aspects of the question of Cyprus – territory, property and the issue of Turkish settlers – are resolved, there can be no constructive discussion on such a conference.

He criticized Ankara's approach on this, saying it has to contribute towards the resolution of these issues by acting on the Turkish Cypriot side.

"Greece looks forward to full normalization of Greco-Turkish relations. This however can only happen once a mutually acceptable solution in Cyprus is achieved, which will also give an impetus to Turkey's European aspirations, provided this candidate country meets EU criteria," he added.

Referring to the forthcoming EU presidency which Cyprus will hold in the second half of the year, he said it is high time that EU principles are applied throughout the territory of the Republic of Cyprus. Now implementation of the acquis communautaire has been suspended in the areas of the Republic under Turkish occupation, where the legal government of Cyprus is prevented from exercising its jurisdiction, as provided by protocol 10 of the accession treaty.

The Prime Minister criticized Turkey's unacceptable threats and other hostile moves with regard to Cyprus' sovereign right to explore its natural gas deposits in its exclusive economic zone. Large deposits have been discovered following exploratory drilling by US based Noble energy.

Concluding his address, he thanked Cyprus for its support during the trying times the country is facing as a result of the financial problems Greece it has to tackle.

Earlier today, Papademos met with House President Yiannakis Omirou.

Cyprus has been divided since Turkish troops invaded in 1974. The latest round of UN-led peace talks began in September 2008 with a view to finding a political settlement that would reunite the country, divided since the 1974 Turkish invasion.

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