Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 07-02-20

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

CONTENTS

[01] CYPRUS PRESIDENT - ATHENS - 8 JULY AGREEMENT

[02] NEW EDUCATION MINISTER - SWORN IN

[03] PACE PRESIDENT - CYPRUS PRESIDENT

[04] MPB - CYPRUS HILTON - PURCHASE OF 64,28% OF SHARE CAPITAL

[01] CYPRUS PRESIDENT - ATHENS - 8 JULY AGREEMENT

He added that we insist and wish for the commencement of the work of both groups, committees, with a full observance of the July 8 agreement.

Papadopoulos was speaking to the press at Larnaca Airport before leaving for a visit to Greece, where he will meet with Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis, President of the Hellenic Republic Karolos Papoulias and leaders of political parties.

He also noted that the visit is being paid in the framework of the frequent briefing between the two governments and the exchange of views.

Invited to say if he will discuss with the Greek government the issue of research in the Eastern Mediterranean for oil deposits, President Papadopoulos said that this issue is not included in the agenda he has in mind.

He added though that every time that we meet with the Greek government, all current issues are discussed and it would be unnatural not to refer to this issue.

As regards the issue of the EU regulation on special conditions for trade with the areas of the Republic of Cyprus in which the government of the Republic of Cyprus does not exercise effective control, President Papadopoulos said that the government continues to make efforts to reach an acceptable settlement, that will allow the implementation of the second leg of the regulation, which says that its objective is to facilitate the reunification of Cyprus.

Replying to a question on the position of German Federal Chancellor Angela Merkel as regards the promotion of this regulation, President Papadopoulos recalled that this issue is pending since 2004.

He added that this issue surely is binding for us, adding that, according to the EU norms, a regulation that has been submitted by the European Commission needs unanimity of the member states to change it, therefore any member state can come up with an objection to the changing of the regulation, as it has been submitted by the EU, and in that case the veto lies with the other side and not with us.

The President assured that we continue efforts to reach an acceptable settlement, that will allow the second leg of the regulation, which some forget quite frequently, to come into force.

President Papadopoulos recalled that this leg says that ``the aim of the regulation is to achieve financial integration that will facilitate the reunification of the country, and not arrangements that will underline the diversity and divisive situations, pursued by the Turkish Cypriot side.

He referred to the decision of the General Affairs and External Relations Council, on 11 December 2006, which said that work regarding trade with areas of the Republic of Cyprus in which the government of the Republic of Cyprus does not exercise effective control, will continue.

On 8 July 2006, President Papadopoulos and Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat met in the presence of senior UN official Imbrahim Gambari and agreed to begin a process of bicommunal discussions on issues that affect the day-to-day life of the people and those that concern substantive issues.

Cyprus, which joined the EU in May 2004, has been divided since 1974, when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third.

[02] NEW EDUCATION MINISTER - SWORN IN

President Tassos Papadopoulos said that education and culture, which the new Minister is called to serve, have a special dimension and importance for Cyprus, the northern part of which is occupied by Turkey.

[03] PACE PRESIDENT - CYPRUS PRESIDENT

Van der Linden, who is currently visiting Cyprus at the invitation of House of Representatives President Demetris Christofias, said after his meeting with President Papadopoulos that ``we had a long exchange of views especially on how the Council of Europe can contribute to a process of encouraging the human dimension.``

He said he made some suggestions ``especially when it comes to students and also when it comes to the organising of a meeting of people from the two sides of Cyprus, the Turkish and the Greek side.``

[04] MPB - CYPRUS HILTON - PURCHASE OF 64,28% OF SHARE CAPITAL

According to a Marfin press release, in a letter to Cyprus Stock Exchange General Manager Nondas Metaxas, Securities & Exchange Commission Secretary Stelios Hadjiosif said that ``the agreement provides that the final buyers will be companies among the Marfin Popular Bank Group or the main shareholders, and is subject to due diligence satisfactory to the buyers as well as the approvals of the applicable supervisory authorities.``

``The Louis Group will keep 20% of the company since both sides consider the agreement as a first step of cooperation in the region of Southeastern Mediterranean,`` he added.

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