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] Cyprus cannot remain the only divided country in Europe, Omirou says

[02] Cyprus will work constructively with EU partners during presidency

[03] Communications Minister presents Cypriot EU Presidency priorities

[01] Cyprus cannot remain the only divided country in Europe, Omirou says

Addressing the Plenary of the House of Representatives, attended by the Greek Premier Loukas Papademos, Omirou said that Europe must not tolerate the occupation of its member state by a foreign army.

The Plenary was also attended by the President of the republic Demetris Christofias, Ministers, state officials, former MPs and members of the diplomatic corps.

House President said that no blackmail, or threat, difficulties or pressure, will lead the people of Cyprus to consent to an unfair solution of the Cyprus issue.

Omirou welcomed the Greek Premier to Cyprus pointing out that his presence at a critical national juncture confirms Greek solidarity to the struggle of Cyprus for freedom.

Referring to the direct negotiations between the leaders of the two communities, Omirou stressed that the Turkish side remains intransigent, leading the talks to stagnation and stalemate, undermining at the same time any prospect for a solution.

On Ankara's negative position concerning the Cyprus Presidency of the EU, President of the House pointed out that Ankara violates its obligations deriving from its status as an EU candidate country.

Referring to the Turkish threats against Cyprus' sovereign rights to exploit hydrocarbon reserves located in its Exclusive Economic Zone, Omirou underlined that the Turkish stance must be denounced and called on Cyprus' European partners to understand that the establishment of security, peace, stability and cooperation in the region, demands the solution of the Cyprus problem on the basis of the UN Charter and resolutions, as well as the international and European law.

The government of Cyprus has protested to the UN and the EU Turkey's moves, saying it has a sovereign right to exploit its natural resources, pointing out that Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots will benefit from any benefits that may come from oil drilling.

Cyprus has signed an agreement to delineate the Exclusive Economic Zone with Egypt and Israel with a view to exploit any possible natural gas and oil reserves in its EEZ. A similar agreement has been signed with Lebanon but the Lebanese Parliament has not yet ratified it.

Omirou expressed solidarity to the people of Greece reiterating that Greece will overcome the financial crisis and get back to the path of development and progress.

[02] Cyprus will work constructively with EU partners during presidency

"During our EU presidency in the second half of the year we shall be representing the EU and we shall not serve our national goals," the Minister stressed.

He also said that Nicosia will cooperate with good will with candidate countries, including Turkey, which does not recognise the Republic of Cyprus and whose troops occupy for the past 38 years the Republic's northern part.

Addressing a seminar on the Cypriot presidency, he pointed out that "if Ankara does not response, it is not our problem but a problem between Turkey and European institutions and ultimately EU itself."

He explained that his Ministry has, since January this year, certain duties in defence matters, as Denmark, the current EU president, does not participate in EU defence and security matters.

"We are ready to manage with a sense of responsibility sensitive defence and security issues and serve Europe's collective security," he said, noting that Cyprus will host a series of meetings during its presidency, including informal ministerial councils.

The Minister said that developments in the Middle East will be highlighted during the six month presidency, in the conviction that the EU can and must help shaping modern and democratic states which will respect human rights.

Referring to Turkey, he said its provocative stance and threats to freeze its accession course during the Cypriot presidency of the EU Council are an affront to European institutions which Ankara wants to join.

In his remarks, the Minister noted that Cyprus does not have at its disposal an array of experts nor does it have previous experience, however this is no impediment to being a serious and impartial presidency.

[03] Communications Minister presents Cypriot EU Presidency priorities

During the press conference, the Ministry's Permanent Secretary Alekos Michaelides said that Cyprus has managed to promote the construction of the peripheral Nicosia highway with EU funding, in the framework of the 2014-2020 financial framework, as long as there will be a final adoption of a legal proposal by the Council and the European Parliament.

Flourentzos noted that at the initiative of Cyprus on the basis of the relevant proposals of the Ministry of Communications and Works they will pursue the redefinition of the EU Integrated Maritime Policy. He added that the Cypriot Presidency will organize a Ministerial Meeting in Cyprus, at the presence of Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso, aiming at the adoption of the "Limassol Declaration."

He also noted that they will purse the coupling of two fundamental policies of the EU, the EU Digital Agenda and Transport, by promoting the role of digital technology in the sustainable development of EU transport. The Cypriot Presidency will organize an informal EU Transport and Telecommunications Council in Cyprus to promote this coupling.

As regards the issue of transportation, he said that as the Presidency, Cyprus will undertake to manage the successful formation of the new guiding lines for the Intereuropean Transport Networks that will effectively serve the transport of goods and passengers. The ultimate goal is to secure the social, territorial and financial cohesion between the regions throughout Europe," he added.

As regards telecommunications, he noted that they will promote the formation of guiding lines for the financing of actions in the field of telecommunications and digital technology. Flourentzos said that the Cypriot EU Presidency will pursue to promote the social dimension, solidarity and cohesion, by promoting legal proposals of the Commission to promote the implementation of the Convention of the International Labour Organization Maritime Work which provide for the integration of fundamental stipulations of the Convention in the EU legislation.

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