Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 12-05-26

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

CONTENTS

[01] The President of the European Council on an official visit to Cyprus

[02] Turkey responsible for deadlocks in Cyprus, Government says

[03] Government: Rhetoric on ESM recourse not conducive

[04] House seminar on EU Parliament and national parliaments' cooperation

[01] The President of the European Council on an official visit to Cyprus

President Rompuy will be accompanied by his spouse Geertrui Van Rompuy and a European Council delegation.

According to an official announcement, the European Council President and his spouse will arrive in Cyprus on Monday, early in the afternoon, and at 4pm they will arrive be welcomed by President of the Republic Demetris Christofias and his spouse Elsie Christofia at the Presidential Palace.

Later on, the two Presidents will hold a tete-a-tete meeting followed by talks between the delegations of the two sides.

On behalf of the Republic of Cyprus, participants include Minister of Foreign Affairs Erato Kozakou-Marcoullis, Government Spokesman Stephanos Stephanou, Deputy Minister to the President for European Affairs Andreas Mavroyiannis, Director of the Diplomatic Office of the President Marios Ieronymides, and Permanent Representative to the EU Kornelios Korneliou.

Following the talks, President Christofias and President Rompuy will make joint statements to the Press, while later in the evening, President Christofias and his spouse will host an official dinner in honour of President Rompuy and his spouse at the Presidential Palace.

The Republic of Cyprus assumes on July 1st the Presidency of the Council of the EU throughout the second term of 2012, as part of a Trio Presidency along with Poland and Denmark.

[02] Turkey responsible for deadlocks in Cyprus, Government says

Addressing a seminar on political Islam in Turkey, Stephanou also said that the proposal put forward by President Christofias on Famagusta may present a breakthrough for a Cyprus solution.

In statements to the Press, Stephanou spoke about a negative and procrastinating approach employed by Ankara and added that Turkey wishes to conclude the Cyprus issue with a quadrilateral or five-party conference. Turkey means by that the creation of two states in Cyprus and the upgrade of the illegal pseudo-state, he said.

He further noted that Turkey is not aiming at a Cyprus solution, on the basis of UN resolutions but rather continues to violate them. He characterized this attitude a diversion of the agreed process of the bi-communal dialogue that is being followed.

While addressing the seminar, Stephanou characterized President Christofias' policy on the Cyprus problem as "proactive, and not a passive one". He said that the President aims through a series of initiatives and proposals to shift the climate, in order for Turkey to change its Cyprus policy and work for a solution.

Moreover, he noted that Turkey's EU accession course presents for Cyprus a leverage that may, under certain circumstances enhance the prospects for a solution. "The continuation of Turkey's European interest, means that the leverage and the ability to influence [Ankara] also continue to exist" he said.

[03] Government: Rhetoric on ESM recourse not conducive

Government policy, he went on, aims at further development. Stephanou suggested to stay calm, since it is unnecessary to sustain such unproportionate concerns or panic through daily statements.

The government, he added, continues its daily checks on fiscal policy, in order to stay within course. "The prime problem of the Cypriot economy right now is to secure the recapitalization of banks, not public finances" Stephanou said.

He noted that there is small diversion from the target, which will be addressed through balanced measures and social dialogue.

From a fiscal point of view, the Cypriot economy is in good standing compared to other European economies, Stephanou said, adding that the government aims at preserving this status.

[04] House seminar on EU Parliament and national parliaments' cooperation

Director of the Directorate for Relations with National Parliaments of the European Parliament, Christine Verger was one of the keynote speakers at the seminar.

According to an official Press release, Verger spoke about "the relations between the European Parliament and the national parliaments two years after the entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty: successes and challenges".

Head of the Institutional Cooperation Unit of the Directorate, Francisco Gomez Martos, also a keynote speaker at the seminar, referred to the inter-parliamentary cooperation during the Cyprus Presidency and the role of the European parliament and the national parliaments in international parliamentary organizations.

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