Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 06-07-27

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

CONTENTS

[01] CABINET - LEBANON

[02] DOCTORS - LEBANON

[03] GOVERNMENT - TECHNICAL DISCUSSIONS

[04] UK - ARMS EXPORT

[01] CABINET - LEBANON

Deputy Minster to the President and Government Spokesman Christodoulos Pashiardes said that the Cabinet, presided by Cypriot President Tassos Papadopoulos, discussed the measures taken to handle the problems that emerge from the continuous arrivals of thousands of foreign nationals in Cyprus.

The Cabinet, he said, also expressed its full content for the efficiency of the measures taken so far, as well as its appreciation to all services and volunteers, who have contributed to the huge humanitarian effort.

``Cyprus capabilities to continue and even upgrade its humanitarian help, are increasing due to the decrease of the number of foreign nationals arriving in Cyprus, Pashiardes pointed out.

Asked whether the government is satisfied with the financial aid allocated by the European Union to deal with the consequences of the crisis in Lebanon and the temporary accommodation of foreign refugees to the island, Pashiardes clarified that Cyprus had not asked for any financial help from the EU.

``The EU, on its own, decided to grant the amount. The issue will be discussed at todays meeting of the Permanent Representatives of the EU countries, as well as at the Foreign Affairs Council next Tuesday.

``We will not send any expenses bill to the EU. We can handle the financial repercussions resulting from the humanitarian contribution offered by Cyprus, he clarified.

[02] DOCTORS - LEBANON

Speaking to CNA, honorary President of the Doctors of the World- Cyprus, childrens surgeon and MP, Eleni Theocharous, said that the discussions are on the right track, adding that the aid reaching Lebanon from Cyprus will be distributed to the Lebanese people according to their needs, as identified by the Cypriot representatives of Doctors of the World.

Meanwhile, President of Doctors of the World-Cyprus Elias Papadopoulos said that the Cypriot team of doctors was the first one to visit the war torn areas of Lebanon.

He added that two and a half million people are expelled from their homes for the second time in their lives, and appealed to the people of Cyprus for help to be send to Lebanon, as well as for volunteer psychologists, sociologists and other experts to take care of the children who arrive in Cyprus, most of them unescorted.

[03] GOVERNMENT - TECHNICAL DISCUSSIONS

On July 8 Cypriot President Tassos Papadopoulos and Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat, met at the presence of UN Undesecretary-General for political affairs Ibrahim Gambari and agreed to begin a process of bicommunal discussions on issues that affect the day to day life of the people and concurrently those that concern substantive issues.

``Our side will timely respond to the provisions of the July 8 agreement,`` Pashiardis said replying to questions after a meeting of the Ministerial Council and added that ``our side is ready to engage both in discussions regarding day to day issues on a technical level and regarding the substantive issues on the level of experts.``

[04] UK - ARMS EXPORT

This was stated by Deputy Minister to the President and Government Spokesman Christodoulos Pashiardes, invited to comment on statements by British Minister for Europe Geoffrey Hoon that his government has reviewed the application of its arms export licensing policy for Cyprus.

``Apart from this vague statement of the British Minister, we have so far no concrete and official information by the British government, he said.

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