Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 06-10-06

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

CONTENTS

[01] NEW DEFENCE MINISTER

[02] GREECE - TURKEY - EU

[03] BAKOYIANNIS - PAPADOPOULOS

[04] HOSPITAL - NEW PREMISES

[01] NEW DEFENCE MINISTER

Speaking at the ceremony, President Papadopoulos said that Symeonides` new post ``demands responsibility and constructive dynamism`` and expressed certainty that the new Minister of Defence would respond effectively to the serious and demanding duties he is assuming.

He added that ``the National Guard, with the highest responsibility to defend the integrity and freedom of our country, must always be unaffected and focused on bringing to fruition our great mission.``

``As long as the Turkish occupation and threat is there, we have the responsibility to strengthen our defence and the sense of security of our people, always looking towards a peaceful, dignified and functional solution of our national problem,`` the President pointed out.

Symeonides thanked the President for the honour of appointing him Minister of Defence and assured that his participation in the Council of Ministers would be ``substantive and constructive.``

He added that he wished to contribute as much as possible towards implementing the government policy and noted that the Ministry of Defence was ``the shield protecting the Republic of Cyprus and our state entity, strengthening our efforts to achieve a just, viable and functional settlement of our national problem.``

After being sworn in, Symeonides went to the Ministry to formally assume his duties. Receiving the Ministry from Acting Minister of Defence, Minister of Finance Michalis Sarris, Symeonides said his aim was to turn the National Guard into a centre of innovation, a hatchery of new ideas and technology, so that ``we can tell the enemy that we have quality of its own quantity.``

[02] GREECE - TURKEY - EU

Koumoutsakos pointed out that the next months were to be ones of intensive negotiations to avoid what has been called a ``train collision.``

``I believe that this expression about trains does not reflect reality. In the case of Turkey`s candidacy, there is a train and a station, which is accession to the EU,`` he said, adding that ``trains do not go off track when they follow the lines.``

[03] BAKOYIANNIS - PAPADOPOULOS

Bakoyianni will meet Papadopoulos during a private visit to Cyprus over the weekend.

Papadopoulos and Bakoyianni are expected to discuss the Cyprus question. She is set to brief Papadopoulos on her recent contacts in the US.

The Greek Foreign Minister returns to Athens Sunday afternoon.

[04] HOSPITAL - NEW PREMISES

The transfer of staff and equipment from the old premises, in the city centre, to the new, on the southern suburbs of the capital Nicosia, will be completed on Wednesday 18 October, but Casualty ward will start operating at the new premises on Tuesday, October 10.

Announcing the news, Health Minister Haris Haralambous said the new hospital takes up 63.000 square metres, it will employ 1.800 personnel (medics and paramedics and auxiliary staff) and 22 clinics will operate offering specialized medical care.

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