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Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 08-04-21Cyprus News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Cyprus News Agency at <http://www.cyna.org.cy>CONTENTS
[01] SPOKESMAN - CYPRUS TALKSBicommunal committees, set up as part of an agreement to help resume substantive negotiations on Cyprus, will meet on Tuesday and Thursday this week, Government Spokesman Stephanos Stephanou has announced. He said Presidential Commissioner George Iacovou will act as coordinator for the seven technical committees and the six working groups the Greek Cypriot community has set up to discuss, with their Turkish Cypriot counterparts, day to day concerns and substantive issues.The Spokesman clarified that President of the Republic Demetris Christofias will have overall responsibility on the part of the Greek Cypriot side. Ozdil Nami, adviser to Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat, will be in charge of the Turkish Cypriot teams, he noted. The Spokesman said that the composition of the working groups and that of the technical committees was well received and added that we need to concentrate on the work that needs to be done, which is important, hard and demanding. The members of the committees and groups, he added, are distinguished individuals, technocrats and experts, people who have dealt with the issues at hand and are ready to begin work. The government, Stephanou added, focuses on this and work actually starts tomorrow. According to the Government Spokesman, the UN will not put forward issues on the table. It is the work of the two communities, and we have our positions, our own data, we are going to these discussions fully prepared, he added. [02] FAMAGUSTA MAYOR - CYPRUS TALKSMayor of the Turkish occupied town of Famagusta Alexis Galanos believes that the issue of Famagusta should be part of talks to solve the Cyprus problem and this should be seen as a confidence building measure. Speaking after a meeting with Minister of Foreign Affairs Marcos Kyprianou, Galanos expressed hope that a Famagusta delegation would soon be meeting President of the Republic Demetris Christofias, who has the last word on the handling of issues relating to the Cyprus question.Galanos, who was heading a delegation at the meeting with the Foreign Minister, said they also discussed ways in which the government could help in informing the international community about the plight of the town. Referring to efforts to solve the Cyprus problem, Galanos pointed out that ``the issue should be part of the talks,`` adding that ``we have not seen it being raised in any way at the technical committees or at any other level. Famagusta Mayor said that ``we should in no way neglect the priority issue of Famagusta, because this issue, as a confidence building measure, must be discussed alongside any other development.`` Resolving the Famagusta question would help towards creating a better climate, he added. He said ``two months have passed and the impression that the issue of Famagusta is being left behind must not be given.`` Galanos noted that the first step would be for experts to enter the fenced-off town and prepare a report on the rebuilding of the town. [03] MOTOR VEHICLES - STATISTICSThe total registration of motor vehicles in Cyprus for the first three months of 2008 reached 17,024, recording an increase of 4.3% compared to 16,325 in the first quarter of 2007. According to Cyprus` Statistical Service, private saloon cars increased to 12,625, recording an increase of 3.0%, compared to 12,262 in JanuaryMarch 2007.Of the total private saloon cars, 5,899 vehicles or 46.7% were new and 6,726 vehicles or 53,3% were used cars. Commercial vehicles registration increased by 5.3% to 1,957 in 2008, compared to 1,859 in 2007. Light commercial registrations increased by 2.2% to 1,481, from 1.449 in 2007 and Heavy commercial increased by 16.1% to 476 in January-March 2008, from 410 in 2007. Motorcycle registration increased by 4.9% to 987 in 2008, compared to 941 in January-March 2007. - Cyprus News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |