Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 12-05-10

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

CONTENTS

[01] President calls on UN and EU to promote his Famagusta proposal

[02] FinMin: Cyprus an international financial centre

[03] Cyprus presidency to promote energy dossiers, says Sylikiotis

[04] 37th Cyprus International Fair opens its doors next week

[01] President calls on UN and EU to promote his Famagusta proposal

The proposal provides for the opening of the closed off part of the town of Famagusta under UN aegis, which remains a ghost town since Turkey invaded and occupied the northern third part of Cyprus in 1974, the simultaneous opening of the Famagusta port under EU aegis and the opening of Turkey – EU accession chapters which have been frozen.

Addressing a Clergy and People's Assembly organised by the Diocese of Constantia – Famagusta, President Christofias noted that "if our proposal is adopted, our beloved city of Famagusta will be finally saved".

At the same time, he added, "in a completely different atmosphere between the two communities, a powerful dynamic will be formed as regards the solution of the Cyprus issue".

"The aim we have set for achieving a just, viable and functional solution of the Cyprus issue remains firm", he stressed.

Unfortunately, he added, "the key to the solution of the Cyprus issue is still in the hands of Ankara".

The Cyprus President called on Turkey "to prove with deeds rather than words that it works towards the direction of a solution".

Unfortunately, he noted, Turkish Cypriot behaviour so far during negotiations and Turkey's constant threats send the message that Turkey is not interested in achieving any progress in the Cyprus issue.

President Christofias further denounced "Turkey's provocative and aggressive behaviour and the promotion of the so called ‘plan B' to upgrade the pseudostate".

The only thing Turkish plans achieve is to keep the Cyprus issue unresolved and to victimize both Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots, the Cyprus people as a whole.

"We demand that Turkey ends its provocations and its threats against Cyprus and the EU itself", he stressed. Threats, he added that are expressed under the pretext of the Republic of Cyprus taking over the EU Council presidency on July 1 and the exercise on its part of its sovereign right to proceed with exploration within the Republic's Exclusive Economic Zone.

President Christofias expressed the Greek Cypriot sides' readiness "to continue the dialogue on the basis of a process which has been agreed upon during the period when the Republic of Cyprus will be undertaking its duty as presidency of the EU Council".

He further expressed his disagreement with Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu's and Ankara's approach to deny dialogue and to ask for meetings at a technocratic committee level to take place.

Referring to the Clergy and People Assembly which was inaugurated two years ago, he praised its significance.

He also spoke of the important spiritual work the Diocese of Constantia – Famagusta undertakes as well as of the help it gives to people in need.

In December 2011, President of the Republic of Cyprus Demetris Christofias announced that the results of the exploratory drilling in Cyprus` block 12 were positive, describing the discovery of hydrocarbons as historic for the island.

US company Noble Energy, which carried out the drilling, discovered 310 feet of net natural gas pay. The drilling reached a depth of 19,225 feet in water depth of about 5,540 feet.

The initial data that emerged from the exploratory drilling and the evaluation checks carried out indicate the existence of a natural gas reservoir ranging from 5 to 8 trillion cubic feet (tcf) with a gross mean of 7 tcf.

Cyprus has also launched a second licensing round for the 12 remaining blocks of its Exclusive Economic Zone.

Turkey that aspires to become an EU member state does not recognize the Republic of Cyprus, an EU member state since May 2004.

Cyprus has been divided since the Turkish invasion of the island in 1974.

[02] FinMin: Cyprus an international financial centre

In his opening address at the 2012 STEP CYPRUS International Conference, taking place in Limassol, on the south coast of Cyprus, for the first, Shiarly outlined the advantages of Cyprus as an international financial centre.

He noted, inter alia, that "with a long established reputation as a safe and secure location for commercial and business activities, Cyprus offers ease of doing business in a professional environment in the surroundings of a sophisticated culture and advanced quality of life, both for multinationals as well as small and medium enterprises", he added.

Minister stressed that "the competiveness of Cyprus as a business centre is reflected in independent assessments undertaken by reputable international organizations".

[03] Cyprus presidency to promote energy dossiers, says Sylikiotis

Sylikiotis, who was addressing an event organised by Cypriot NGO Terra Cypria and the European Environmental Bureau in Nicosia, assured all present that the Cyprus presidency will work towards the "successful completion of all dossiers it will handle at the second half of 2012 in the area of energy".

Referring to a regulation proposal for the safety of offshore oil and gas activities Sylikiotis said that Cyprus is trying to organize a meeting between the EU and neighbouring Mediterranean countries on the matter during its presidency.

Guidelines on inter-European energy infrastructure, aiming to implement EU decisions on the common energy market until 2014, to put an end to the isolation of EU member states by 2015 and to secure EU energy supply as well as increasing the use of Renewable Energy Sources is another dossier on the table. When these infrastructures are introduced, he noted, Cyprus and other isolated member states will be able to participate to the common energy market, which will be beneficial to both consumers and businesses.

[04] 37th Cyprus International Fair opens its doors next week

The state fair will be officially inaugurated by President of the Republic of Cyprus Demetris Christofias, at the presence of state officials, diplomats, and representatives of the political, social and economic life in Cyprus.

This year‘s innovation will be the Fishing & Boating Exhibition which will be part of the fair from 23rd of May, until the end of the Fair.

Speaking at a press conference, President of the Cyprus State Fairs Authority Loizos Constantinou said that the fair will showcase all sectors of trade, business and economic activities ranging from home appliances, machinery and tools to technology and services, as well as special thematic exhibitions such as Fishing & Boating Exhibition, the Domestic Tourism Exhibition «CYTOUR», the exhibition of prefabricated houses and the Classic Car Show.

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