Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 08-09-18

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

CONTENTS

[01] PRESIDENT CHRISTOFIAS : COMMON LANGUAGE IS NEEDED

[02] REHN: CYPRUS SOLUTION - EU

[03] UEFA : T/C TURNED DOWN PROPOSAL TO JOIN KOP

[01] PRESIDENT CHRISTOFIAS : COMMON LANGUAGE IS NEEDED

Christofias was speaking to the press before his meeting here with Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat, in the framework of direct negotiations which began this month.

Invited to say if discussion on the issue of governance will wrap up today, Christofias said if they reach an agreement it will wrap up, otherwise it will not. He also noted that the issue of governance has a lot of subsections. We are discussing about the powers of the central government. We also have to discuss about the legislative authority, the judicial authority, the mechanism for the resolution of disputes, there are a lot of issues, so it will take time, he added.

Invited to comment statements by Talat, Christofias said that Talat accepts other things during the talks and says other things in public. What counts for me is what he is pledging during that talks and I hope that he will abide by them, the President added.

Christofias expressed hope that the two sides will be able to find a common language and that there will be a co-understanding on the fundamental principles of the Cyprus question.

President Christofias and Talat began on September 3 direct negotiations with a view to reunite the country, divided since the 1974 Turkish invasion.

[02] REHN: CYPRUS SOLUTION - EU

The Finnish Commissioner referred to the Cyprus problem on Thursday in a speech titled ``The EU and the Western Balkans: The Critical Year of 2009``, at a conference on the EU and the Western Balkans, which was organised by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

``There is finally serious movement towards the reunification of Cyprus. The EU supports the efforts of the leaders of both communities to achieve a comprehensive settlement under the auspices of the UN. The Commission is ready to contribute to a UN settlement process with its expertise in matters of EU relevance,`` Rehn said.

He noted that ``the EU can accept any solution agreed by the two communities, as long as a united Cyprus respects the Union`s founding principles of liberty, democracy and the rule of law, and is able to carry the obligations of EU membership.``

``This implies a bizonal, bicommunal federation with political equality, as defined by relevant UN Security Council resolutions,`` he concluded.

[03] UEFA : T/C TURNED DOWN PROPOSAL TO JOIN KOP

Lefkaritis clarified that the proposal of FIFA and UEFA had not originated from KOP but was the result of many meetings and discussions.

He said the counterproposal of the Turkish Cypriots to create a new smaller federation or administrative committee until the solution of the Cyprus problem was something ``neither KOP nor FIFA can accept.``

In statements to CNA, Lefkaritis said FIFA`s proposal was ``a huge concession for KOP`` since the Federation would have to make various adjustments and statutory amendments, taking into account that KOP`s general assembly comprises clubs.

Asked if the Turkish Cypriot football clubs could join KOP, Lefkaritis said they could and that there were procedures in place that they would have to follow.

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

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