Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 12-04-25

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

CONTENTS

[01] Cyprus President: Serious backtracking in talks due to Eroglu

[02] UN envoy to hold press conference on the UN-backed talks` next steps

[03] FinMin optimistic about success of Cyprus EU presidency

[04] UN-backed talks on Cyprus should carry on, G/c and T/c parties say

[01] Cyprus President: Serious backtracking in talks due to Eroglu

He also deplored Turkey`s so-called ``plan B`` as a campaign to promote the upgrading of the illegal regime in the northern part of Cyprus occupied since the 1974 Turkish invasion.

In an adresss during a ceremony for the presentation of credentials by Equator`s new Ambassador to Cyprus, Christofias referred to the ongoing UN-backed talks which began in 2008 noting that since May 2010 when Dervis Eroglu took the leadership of the Turkish Cypriot community ``serious backtracking is being noted in the talks and progress delays.``

He recalled that Eroglu assumes the obligation, in the presence of the UN Secretary-General that he is bound by the convergences achieved during the negotiations between Christofias and his predecessor Mehmet Ali Talat and to continue the negotiations from the point left before he assumed the T/c leadership, adding that he fulfilled neither of these commitments.

The President also said that Eroglu`s proposals contradict the talks` agreed basis despite his assurances, pointing out that the Turkish Cypriot side denies discussing issues that are of paramount importance to a solution.

``We therefore face a situation in which Turkey and the Turkish Cypriot side oppose any progress in the talks and at the same time they are threatening for the implementation of a so-called `plan B`. This includes a campaign for the acknowledgement of a `turkish Cypriot state`,`` Christofias underlined.

Pointing out that Ankara`s `plan b` also include the opening of the fenced-off city of Famagustam under Tukrish Cypriot administration, the President underlined that is contrary to UN Security Council resolution 550 (1984) which explicitly calls for the transfer of this area to the United Nations.

``What will be advertised as a gesture of goodwill from the Turkish side in reality is but an attempt to create a fait accompli, while (Ankara) it tries to deceive the international community with a communications trick,`` he said.

Furthermore, Christofias described Turkish threats against Cyprus sovereign right to explore and exploit natural gas reserves in its exclusive economic zone as unacceptable while he said Ankara`s ``intimidations`` in view of Cyprus EU Presidency in the second half of 2012 are counterproductive and provocative as they come from a state which is candidate for EU accession.

Turkey has warned that it could deploy warships in the Eastern Mediterranean in response to moves by the Republic of Cyprus to carry out exploratory drilling for natural gas or oil. Ankara has also said it may sign a "bilateral agreement" with the illegal Turkish Cypriot regime, if these plans go ahead. Nicosia has pointed out that the Republic is doing nothing more than exercising its sovereign rights as a nation. Ankara also warned it would freeze its relations with the EU during the Cypriot presidency.

``The key for the solution to the Cyprus problem is Turkey which is not helpful and in reality it undermines the solution process,`` he stressed, adding that ``the insincere statements by certain Turkish officials concerning Turkey`s and Mr Eroglu`s will for a solution to the Cyprus problem are not sufficient especially when Turkey and the T/c leadership in reality are promoting a two-state solution.``.

Concluding, Christofias assured that ``the Greek Cypriot side will continue working in good faith for progress in the talks which is the only way for the achievement of a solution to the Cyprus problem and we hope that the same good faith will be shown by Turkey and the Turkish Cypriots.``

[02] UN envoy to hold press conference on the UN-backed talks` next steps

``Alexander Downer will brief the media on Friday 27 April at the Ledra Palace Hotel at 16:30. The news conference follows his meeting with the Secretary-General at United Nations Headquarters in New York last week,`` a press release issued by UNFICYP.

On Friday Downer will also hold separate meetings with President Christofias and Dervis Eroglu.

Downer was in New York where on Saturday he met with Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and discussed the way forward to the talks after a meeting between Ban and President of the Republic Demetris Christofias and Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu, met with the UN Secretary-General in New York last January.

[03] FinMin optimistic about success of Cyprus EU presidency

Speaking during a press conference where the main issues the Ministry of Finance will have to deal with during the Cyprus EU presidency were presented, Shiarly said that "it is an opportunity for the promotion our country and to prove that we can be successful not only in dealing with fiscal issues but also in handling a part of the EU".

He said that a basic aim of the presidency will be the effective implementation of decisions taken at EU level in order to deal with the global crisis, the fiscal adjustments that need to be made, the consolidation of the banking sector, rescue funds to be provided to vulnerable economies, the promotion of growth and the creation of jobs.

The Cyprus presidency will have to deal with all issues it ‘inherits' from the Danish presidency the exact nature of which will become clearer towards the end of the six monthly term combined with any initiatives Cyprus itself undertakes and the European Commission new initiatives.

Shiarly pointed out that nothing remains the same, highlighting the fact that the Cyprus presidency will have to show "flexibility so that we can adjust to circumstances as they evolve during our presidency".

[04] UN-backed talks on Cyprus should carry on, G/c and T/c parties say

A joint communique issued after today`s regular meeting in Ledra Palace in the buffer zone, Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriot parties exchanged opinions on the issue titled ``the Negotiations have come to a standstill, Cypriots are loosing, are you aware of this?`` as proposed by the hosting party the Turkish Cypriot Social Democratic Party.

``Currently, the negotiations came to a standstill, this situation cannot be accepted. The political parties agreed they should urge the negotiations to carry on under the U.N. parameters,`` the communique notes.

It adds that ``today the two sides should be able to find common denominators for the solution,`` noting, ``for this reason the political parties are inviting the two leaders to proceed with the negotiations in a proactive and intensified way.``

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