Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 12-04-08

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

CONTENTS

[01] President: Reunification is a one way street

[02] FM: Cyprus to protest attempts to upgrade status of illegal regime

[03] President to announce intentions for presidential elections in time

[04] Cyprus' largest dam overflows

[01] President: Reunification is a one way street

The President also said that Turkish intransigence has been, over the years, the main reason that repeated efforts to resolve the Cyprus problem have failed.

Paying tribute to a Greek Cypriot and a Turkish Cypriot, murdered in the mid 1960s for promoting rapprochement between the two island's communities, he said that chauvinism and nationalism cannot be the future of the country.

"There is another path – that of peaceful coexistence, security, cooperation, prosperity and development – which is difficult and full of obstacles," he said, reiterating his readiness to continue the UN-led talks on the agreed basis, without tight deadlines, arbitration or mediation and no international conference unless the terms set out by the UN are met.

Such a meeting can only be convened if the internal aspects of the question of Cyprus have been resolved, the two communities agree on its composition and define its agenda.

"The Turkish Cypriot leader refuses to cooperate with the agreed basis of the talks and this has led the negotiations to a standstill. He does not honour convergences achieved with his predecessor," the President said, noting that this behaviour, coupled with Turkish threats and provocations form the puzzle of responsibilities for the current situation at the talks.

Ankara has in the recent past leveled threats against the Republic of Cyprus, which it does not recognise, with regard to exploratory drilling in Cyprus' exclusive economic zone where massive natural gas reserves have been discovered and to the six monthly EU rotating presidency which Nicosia will assume in July this year.

"Turkish provocations have recently reached their peak. This arrogant behaviour is an affront to the Republic, the EU and the UN and cannot contribute to peace and stability in the region," he added.

Turkey, as the regional trouble-maker, cannot be of useful ally to anybody, he said, and urged the international community to address themselves to Ankara recommending a shift in its position on Cyprus.

"We shall continue our efforts towards a solution. Freeing Cyprus and reuniting the country is a one way street and the sacrifice of people like Mishiaoulis and Kavasoglu is a beacon for us to carry on this struggle," the President added.

The President was very critical of extreme nationalists in both communities, saying that such approaches have led the country to "unspeakable tragedies."

He also said that the agreed solution of a federal solution presupposes compromises which are the necessary cost Greek Cypriots had to pay to reverse Turkey's divisive designs and free the country from the continuing military occupation of its northern part.

[02] FM: Cyprus to protest attempts to upgrade status of illegal regime

Foreign Minister Erato Kozakou Markoulli has told the Athens News Agency that demarches will be made to the UN, the EU and the OIC if statements by the Organisation's General Secretary favouring such a moveare proven to be true.

The OIC General Secretary appeared positive to an application by the Turkish Cypriot regime to upgrade its status within the OIC and be given the status of a permanent representation, instead of observer.

"If these statements are true, then we are talking about a move originating not only from Ankara but also from the illegal regime to embark on a campaign to implement plan B with regard to a political settlement in Cyprus," she said, referring to recent threats against Cyprus that, unless there is a solution by July 1st, the Turkish side will seek recognition of the Turkish Cypriot regime, which at present is only recognized by Ankara and the UN have branded "legally invalid."

[03] President to announce intentions for presidential elections in time

Asked to comment on an article in a Sunday paper, affiliated with the main opposition party, saying that he will not run for reelection and that AKEL Secretary General Andros Kyprianou is the favourite as the party presidential candidate, Christofias said that he cannot say anything on the matter right now.

"I am pleased to see media interest in this but my interest in the elections will be expressed in time, in consultation with AKEL, just as I did in the past, in the previous presidential elections," the President told the press.

[04] Cyprus' largest dam overflows

The dam, on the north west of the southern coastal town of Limassol, has a storage capacity of 115 million cubic metres.

The Cyprus Water Development Department has proceeded to control the outflow of significant amounts of water from the dam, to help enrich the aquifer of Akrotiri, on the southern coast.

So far, 2 million cubic metres of water have enriched Akrotiri aquifer.

The dam, whose construction finished in 1988 in the Limassol area, overflowed for the first time in 2004.

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