Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 07-04-12

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

CONTENTS

[01] NATIONAL COUNCIL JULY 8 AGREEMENT

[02] MATSAKIS BRITISH BASES ARREST

[03] CYPRIOT FM STATEMENTS

[04] CYPRUS REACTION CoE INTERIM RESOLUTION

[01] NATIONAL COUNCIL JULY 8 AGREEMENT

Speaking after the council meeting, Pashiardis said the members were informed on the contents of the letter of Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat to the UN Secretary-General containing the observations of the Turkish Cypriot side regarding the procedure stipulated in the July 8 agreement.

Pashiardis said the Council members are unanimous in the view that the procedure, as provided by the July 8 agreement and the Gambari letter, is the only course to get out of todays deadlock and to promote an agreed solution to the Cyprus issue.

The Spokesman further said the Greek Cypriot side calls on all countries which are directly involved in the Cyprus problem, to contribute to the implementation of July 8 agreement.

Our side remains completely consistent and committed to this procedure, the Spokesman noted, adding that its implementation requires the cooperation of the Turkish Cypriot and Turkish side.

Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third.

Cypriot President Tassos Papadopoulos and Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat agreed on 8 July 2006, during a meeting in Nicosia in the presence of UN official Ibrahim Gambari, 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, both contributing to a comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus problem.

[02] MATSAKIS BRITISH BASES ARREST

Matsakis and members of the Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety of the European Parliament, were on their way to visit the Akrotiri British Base where gigantic antennas were erected by the Bases when their bus was halted by British Bases Police as it entered the Bases area.

Matsakis was arrested on the spot as two arrest warrants against him were pending since last year, for causing willful damage and writing slogans on cars and walls within the British Bases area.

He was taken to a court in the SBA areas which demanded that the MP pay a 500 Cyprus pound bail which he refused since, he said, he does not recognize the British Bases nor their Court or jurisdiction.

[03] CYPRIOT FM STATEMENTS

In statements at Larnaca airport, upon his return from Moscow, where he paid a three-day visit, Lillikas said that the government believes that the five permanent members of the Security Council must actively contribute to efforts for a Cyprus settlement.

Invited to say if he discussed with his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov the issue of the Turkish Cypriot sides back-out from the July 8 Agreement, Lillikas replied in the affirmative, adding that he briefed Lavrov in detail on recent developments on the issue.

We consider it particularly important that the five permanent members of the Security Council must be informed and be actively engaged in efforts to solve the Cyprus question, he noted, adding that this has been the long standing position of the Cyprus government.

Lillikas expressed satisfaction with the views expressed by Lavrov, both during their private discussions and in public.

[04] CYPRUS REACTION CoE INTERIM RESOLUTION

The Cypriot Foreign Ministry said in a statement that the determination of the CoE member states to take all necessary measures that will lead Turkey towards its full compliance with the ECHR ruling is reaffirmed through this resolution.

The resolution also sends an implicit message to promote human rights and fundamental freedoms which are violated in Cyprus, due to the repercussions of the Turkish invasion, the statement added.

Through this resolution, the CoE sends a clear message to Turkey to undertake its responsibilities and comply with the obligations deriving from the ECHR ruling. The non execution of rulings of the Court in Strasbourg cannot be accepted by any country, nor the taking of semi-measures on the part of Turkey attributes reliability to this country or can deceive the collective system for the protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms, the Foreign Ministry noted.

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