Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 08-09-11

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

CONTENTS

[01] DOWNER DIRECT TALKS MEETING

[02] TALKS MEETING- CONCLUSION

[03] G/C-T/C-DEMONSTRATION - LIMNITIS

[04] INTERIOR MINISTER CHINA`S AMBASSADOR - MEETING

[01] DOWNER DIRECT TALKS MEETING

Speaking after the meeting, held in the context of direct talks to solve the Cyprus problem, Downer said ``the leaders have been negotiating on the subject of governance`` and that ``the talks have been productive and the talks have been fruitful.``

He added that the leaders of the two communities ``will continue the negotiations on September 18.``

Asked if there were any timeframes, Downer said the leaders were doing what they could to move the process forward.

Regarding the issue of governance, Downer noted that the leaders would be continuing the discussions on this issue at their next meeting.

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

[02] TALKS MEETING- CONCLUSION

President of the Republic of Cyprus Demetris Christofias, representing the Greek Cypriot community, and the leader of the Turkish Cypriot community Mehmet Ali Talat began their deliberations at 1000 this morning, in the context of substantive negotiations aimed at finding a solution to the Cyprus problem.

During the meeting, which was held in the presence of the UN Secretary General`s Special Advisor on Cyprus Alexander Downer, the leaders of the two communities discussed the issue of governance.

Present at the first substantive meeting between the leaders were Downer, the UN Secretary Generals Special Representative in Cyprus Taye Brook Zerihoun, Cibor Wlodzimierz, Senior Adviser to Zerihoun, and Timothy Alchin, political affairs officer.

President Christofias was accompanied by Presidential Commissioner George Iacovou, his aide Toumazos Tselepis, Head of the Turkish Bureau Nikos Moudouros, diplomat Menelaos Menelaou and head of the working group on governance Andreas Mavrommatis.

Talat was accompanied by his advisor Ozdil Nami and his aides Kudret Ozersay, Tufan Erhurman and Resat Caglar.

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

[03] G/C-T/C-DEMONSTRATION - LIMNITIS

During a joint demonstration, organised today at the entrance to the now defunct Nicosia airport, where the two leaders meet for talks, members of the Pancyprian Committee for the Opening of the Gates (PCOG) and inhabitants of Tilliria submitted a resolution to UN representatives calling on the two leaders to move ahead and take decisions with boldness and decisiveness and decide for the opening of Limnitis crossing point today, if possible.

We are here today to demand the opening of the crossing point at Limnitis and at other points as well, the representative of the Pyrgos- Limnitis- Kokkina Committee, Greek Cypriot Andreas Karos said.

Such a move, he added, will end the 44 year old isolation of the people of Tilliria and will revitilise the area.

The Turkish Cypriot member of Pyrgos Limnitis Kokkina Committe, Turkish Cypriot Mousa Seral noted that the desire of all the people of Tilliria is to open all crossing points.

[04] INTERIOR MINISTER CHINA`S AMBASSADOR - MEETING

During the meeting, the Chinese Ambassador extended an invitation to Silikiotis to visit China, after a visit of a Chinese delegation to Cyprus last year.

In statements after the meeting, Interior Minister said that during his visit to China he will discuss with his Chinese interlocutors cooperation between the two competent Ministries and state departments dealing with civil defence.

He added that Cyprus and China can exchange experiences in issues of mutual interest to the benefit of both countries.

We may be a small country but we are very well organised in civil defence, something which we have proved on several occasions, the most recent example being the crisis in Lebanon and the way our services have handled the situation. We will also discuss issues relating to local authorities, he added.

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