Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 08-07-22

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

CONTENTS

[01] CYPRUS PRESIDENT - CYPRUS QUESTION

[02] EU COMMISSIONER FOR COMPETITION - CYPRUS

[03] CATHOLICOS OF CILICIA - ARCHBISHOP OF CYPRUS

[04] CYPRUS - BEIJING OLYMPIC GAMES

[01] CYPRUS PRESIDENT - CYPRUS QUESTION

Receiving the credentials of the new High Commissioner of Australia Evan John Williams, Christofias referred to the initiatives he assumed, after his election to the presidency in February this year, for a political settlement and namely his three meetings with the Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat.

According to Christofias, these meetings clarified and reaffirmed ``that the basis of the talks that will lead to the solution is a bizonal, bicommunal federation with a single sovereignty, single citizenship and single international personality in the framework of which there will be political equality, as defined by the relevant UN Security Council resolutions.``

He also said that his upcoming meeting with Talat, on the 25th of July, ``when the final review of the work achieved in the Working Groups and Technical Committees will be made, we shall decide whether substantial progress has been made so as to enable us to proceed with direct negotiations,`` adding that ``whatever has been achieved since the 21st of March is the outcome of mutual understanding between the two leaders.``

The working groups and the technical committees comprise bicommunal teams of experts who have been meeting in the past few months to prepare the ground for direct negotiations.

He added that despite the revived interest on Cyprus, ``a solution to the Cyprus problem continues to be very difficult and complicated and becomes even harder due to the situation in Turkey.``

``The obstacles we have to overcome to solve the Cyprus problem are numerous and complex,`` he said, adding that ``the positive fact that the UN and all interested parties in general accept that the solution will be found by the Cypriots and for the Cypriots, does not exonerate Turkey from its responsibilities.``

Christofias furthermore said that Cyprus is ready to deepen and expand its bilateral cooperation with Australia, adding ``in the framework of promoting the investment climate between our two countries, my Government would welcome the signing of an Agreement on the Avoidance of Double Taxation.``

Presenting its credentials, Williams said that his country closely ``follows the efforts that have been made in recent months towards reunification, and appreciate that the process is now moving towards a new phase.``

``We therefore wish to reaffirm our continued support for the peace process now under way, and the hope of all Australians that a lasting settlement will finally be achieved,`` he added.

He also referred to the various Special Envoys the Australian Government had appointed on Cyprus, with David Ritchie being the most recent, noting that ``these appointments reflect the hopes of the Government and people of Australia for a lasting settlement of the Cyprus question.``

Williams assured of his ``strong commitment to consolidate and expand the friendly relations between our two countries.``

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

[02] EU COMMISSIONER FOR COMPETITION - CYPRUS

During her visit, Kroes will have meetings with the Minister of Finance Charilaos Stavrakis, the Minister of Foreign Affairs Markos Kyprianou and the Minister of Commerce, Industry and Tourism Antonis Paschalides.

She will also talk to the President of the House of Representatives Marios Garoyian and the Chairman of the Cyprus Competition Authority Costakis Christoforou.

[03] CATHOLICOS OF CILICIA - ARCHBISHOP OF CYPRUS

In statements after a meeting here with Archbishop of Cyprus Chrysostomos II, Aram I said that his presence in this spiritual centre is concrete manifestation that we are committed to working together and deepening our fellowship as Churches that belong to the broader Orthodox tradition.

Chrysostomos noted the excellent relations between the two Churches and said that Armenians who live in Cyprus are our brothers.

He also said that Aram I will also visit Cyprus in September for the Conference of Middle East Churches and in November for the Inter-religious Conference.

The message we want to send to the world is that we want peace and we want the entire world to experience it, he added.

[04] CYPRUS - BEIJING OLYMPIC GAMES

Cyprus Olympic Committee (COC) President and International Olympic Committee (IOC) member Kikis Lazarides said Tuesday that the Beijing Olympic Games will constitute ``a landmark`` for Cyprus, as COC aspires to secure its first medal in the history of modern Olympic Games.

Cyprus will participate in the Beijing Olympiad with 18 athletes, including Giorgos Achilleos the world`s no 1 in ISSF`s Skeet rankings, Kyriakos Ioannou, the bronze medalist in the 2007 World Athletics Championships in Osaka and Marcos Baghdatis, 32nd in the Men`s World Tennis rankings and Pavlos Kontides a two-time gold medalist in the Laser in the International Sailing Federation`s (ISAF) Youth Sailing World Championship.

According to Lazarides, the Cypriot team, which participated in the Athens 2004 Olympic Games, included young and rather inexperienced athletes while in 2008 these athletes are more mature and experienced.

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