Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 12-06-06

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

CONTENTS

[01] Spokesman: Struggle for justice in Cyprus will continue

[02] Korneliou: Cypriot presidency has no hidden agenda

[01] Spokesman: Struggle for justice in Cyprus will continue

Stefanou, who was addressing the Conference of the International Coordinating Committee "Justice for Cyprus" (PSEKA) in Washington on Wednesday, gave an up to date account of how things stand in the UN led negotiations to reunify Cyprus, divided since 1974 when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third.

"On the occasion of the PSEKA Conference, I want to assure you that irrespective of the difficulties and the obstacles, we will continue the struggle in order to do justice to our country, Cyprus, and to our people", he said.

He referred to a plan "B" which Turkey has put in place, which provides for increased efforts to gain recognition of the illegal Turkish Cypriot regime and create tension through the use of threats either with regard to natural gas exploration within Cyprus' Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) or the Cyprus EU Council rotating Presidency, due to begin on July 1.

The plan seeks to create a deadlock in the negotiations for the solution of the Cyprus problem, so that Turkey can achieve the derailing of the talks from the framework of the agreed procedure and the agreed basis for a solution, which is a bizonal, bicommunal federation.

"To face Turkish machinations, the government has undertaken very intensive steps, both in the direction of the UN as well as in the direction of the EU, but also toward other international organizations, denouncing Turkey's threats and provocations against Cyprus and exposing its illegal actions", he noted.

Stefanou further said that "with the well-formulated and targeted policy the Government has followed, it has been possible not only to move beyond Turkey's threats, but also to proceed in the implementation of our plans, having the entire international community on our side".

"Acting always within the framework of international legality, the government will continue to implement the plans that it has formulated on the energy issues".

Referring to Turkey's threats to freeze relations with the EU during Cyprus' EU Council rotating Presidency, the Spokesman highlighted the fact that "with this behaviour, the only thing that Turkey achieves is to cause even more problems than those it already faces in its accession process to the EU".

The Republic of Cyprus, he stressed, "will exercise the presidency of the Council of the EU with impartiality, and will operate as an honest broker, in order to achieve agreement on important issues that affect the present and the future of Europe".

So far, he added, "we have received high praise from our European partners". We are convinced, he noted, "that the Cypriot presidency will be successful and that this development will strengthen Cyprus as a sovereign state as well as enhance the importance and prestige of the Republic of Cyprus internationally".

"With regard to the procedure, we had agreed that it is of Cypriot ownership and leadership, something that means that it is the two sides that decide how they manage the process", he pointed out, referring to the negotiations which resumed in 2008. He added that "it was decided that the procedure does not provide for arbitration and stringent timetables".

He highlighted the importance of the clarification on procedure particularly during this period, when, as he noted, "the Turkish side tries to derail the procedure through various obstructions and by maintaining a negative stance in the negotiations".

"It is obvious that Turkey does not seek the reunification of Cyprus, but pursues a solution of two states, a solution of partition", he stressed.

Stefanou said that Turkey's policy "is being addressed effectively through our persistence and our consistency with regard to the resolutions on Cyprus and the basis of a solution that they provide".

He also referred to tactics applied by the Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu at the negotiating table, which raise obstacles to the peace effort, saying he has backtracked from convergences achieved by his predecessor Mehmet Ali Talat.

In addition, he noted, "the Turkish side refuses to continue the negotiations, whereas the UN, like the Greek Cypriot side, has made it clear that they want the continuation of the process".

"In view of this situation, the United Nations – and the international community in general – must turn with persistence and decisiveness towards Turkey, and demand from Turkey to cooperate for a solution based on the UN resolutions".

He reiterated the Greek Cypriot side's readiness for "the continuation of the negotiations, even during the time of the Cypriot presidency of the Council of the EU".

Stefanou referred to recent UN SG statements regarding the Cyprus issue, in which he said that the UN wants the continuation of the negotiations and that an international conference on the Cyprus problem cannot take place, since there is not enough progress.

"The Turkish side is trying to push for a four-party or a five-party conference without agreement on the internal aspects of the Cyprus problem, so that it can succeed in closing the problem rather than solving it", he said.

On the other hand, he pointed out, "the Greek Cypriot side tries to maintain and to continue the momentum for a solution, by reintroducing the proposal with regard to Famagusta, which the President of the Republic of Cyprus first put forward in the summer of 2010".

The proposal provides for the simultaneous opening of the port of Famagusta under the control of the EU and the return of the fenced off part of the city of Famagusta (Varosha) to its lawful residents under the auspices of the UN.

"Both the UN and the EU have an incentive to work for the promotion and the realization of the proposal", he noted.

The UN, he explained, "because its own resolutions that relate to Famagusta will be implemented, but also because there will be a thrust in the efforts for a solution to the Cyprus problem".

The EU, he added, "because its relations with the Turkish Cypriot community will develop, and Turkey will gain latitude for the advancement of its accession process".

Stefanou went on to stress that "the proposal of the President of the Republic of Cyprus for Famagusta is a classic example of what is known in international diplomacy as a ‘win-win situation'." In that sense, he added, "the international community should invest more resources and devote more time for the promotion and the realization of the proposal".

The Cypriot Spokesman thanked overseas Cypriots for their tireless efforts and their support of the government to find a negotiated settlement of the Cyprus issue.

[02] Korneliou: Cypriot presidency has no hidden agenda

``Cyprus will hold the Presidency of the EU as an honest broker, with clear guidelines and no hidden agenda`` Korneliou said, presenting the priorities of the Cypriot presidency at the European Policy Centre (EPC), in Brussels.

In relation to political and economic challenges, Korneliou said that the crisis in the eurozone, financial stability, the sovereign debt crisis and tackling unemployment, particularly of young people will be among the most serious issues that the Cypriot presidency will have to address.

Our response, he said, to all these challenges is not more or less Europe, it`s ``a better Europe`` which will be closer to its citizens and their daily problems.

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