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Cyprus PIO: News Update in English, 01-02-12Cyprus Press and Information Office: News Updates in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office Server at <http://www.pio.gov.cy/>Monday, 12 February 2001CONTENTS[01] Cyprus and Greek Foreign Ministers meet in AthensCyprus Foreign Minister Ioannis Kasoulides and his Greek counterpart George Papandreou had a meeting in Athens on 9 February to discuss the latestdevelopments in the Cyprus problem.In a statement after the two-hour meeting, Mr Papandreou reiterated that Greece supports the continuation of the efforts aimed at a just and overall solution of the Cyprus problem on the basis of the UN Security Council resolutions. Referring to Cyprus' European Union accession course the Greek Foreign Minister noted the decision of the European Council at Helsinki, which clearly stated that the solution of the Cyprus problem is not a precondition for Cyprus' EU accession. Mr Papandreou stressed that Cyprus' accession is a historic opportunity, which the Turkish and the Turkish Cypriot sides have to utilize. He also expressed regret at the Turkish side's refusal to realize this and take advantage of this opportunity. For his part, the Cyprus Foreign Minister underlined that the Turkish Cypriot leader Mr Rauf Denktash is obliged to return to the proximity talks as they had been agreed, so that the process of the talks can resume from where it was left last November. Mr Kasoulides also pointed out that Turkey was committed to supporting the talks under paragraph 9 of the Helsinki Summit conclusions and on the basis of the EU-Turkey partnership agreement. [02] Reference to Cyprus in the final declaration of the Euro-Mediterranean Parliamentary ForumThe Euro-Mediterranean Parliamentary Forum, which concluded its second session in Brussels on 9 February, included for the first time in its final declaration a reference to Cyprus. Specifically the Euro-Mediterranean Parliamentary Forum expressed its conviction of the need to find a solution to the Cyprus problem, which complies with the United Nations resolutions.It should be noted that all parliamentarians including the Turkish delegation unanimously adopted the declaration. [03] New Cyprus Ambassador to UzbekistanCyprus' ambassador to Russia Mr Charalambos Ioannides presented his credentials on 8 February to the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Mr Islam Karimof, as the island's new ambassador to Uzbekistan.Receiving the credentials of the new Cyprus ambassador President Karimof expressed the wish for further strengthening the existing friendly relations and cooperation between the two countries in the economic and trade fields. He also reiterated his country's support to for the efforts in finding ajust solution to the Cyprus problem, on the basis of the principles of international law and relevant UN Security Council resolutions. During his stay in Uzbekistan, Mr Ioannides also met with Foreign Affairs Minister Mr Abdulaziz Kamilov, with whom he discussed bilateral relations as well as the latest developments Cyprus problem. Mr Kamilov reiterated his country's wish to develop bilateral relations and to sign agreements for the Avoidance of Double Taxation and the Protection of Investments. [04] Cyprus signs UN protocols concerning children and womenThe Permanent Representative of Cyprus to the UN Mr Sotos Zackheos signed on behalf of the Republic of Cyprus two optional protocols concerning children and women.The first protocol is the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child concerning the Sale of Children, Child Prostitution and Child Pornography, which was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on 25 may 2000 and was signed by 71 countries. The second is the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, adopted by the UN General Assembly in October 1999 and signed by 64 countries. [05] News in briefGovernment's new industrial policyCyprus' Commerce, Industry and Tourism Minister Mr Nicos Rolandis, had a meeting on 8 February with the leadership of the Employers' and Industrialists' Federation during which they discussed the progress made concerning the implementation of the scheme envisaged in the government's new 12-chapter industrial policy aimed at revitalising the sector. A special reference was made to the action taken by the government in creating incubator industries. Already one of the two incubators is accepting applications from interested industries. Increase in tourist arrivals Tourist arrivals in Cyprus this year are expected to increase by a five to ten percent, while revenue from the tourism sector is expected to reach 1.3 billion Cyprus pounds*. *C£= approximately 1.6 US dollars From the Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office (PIO) Server at http://www.pio.gov.cy/Cyprus Press and Information Office: News Updates in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |