Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 08-10-02

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

CONTENTS

[01] SPOKESMAN PACE CYPRUS

[02] HOUSE PRESIDENT PACE TALAT - SPEECH

[03] FINANCE MINISTER WORLD FINANCIAL CRISIS CYPRUS

[04] ARCHBISHOP OF ALBANIA OFFICIAL VISIT

[01] SPOKESMAN PACE CYPRUS

PACE adopted Wednesday a resolution in which it welcomes the resumption of fully-fledged negotiations between Cyprus President Demetris Christofias and Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat, with a view to reach a settlement of the protracted Cyprus question.

The government wishes to express satisfaction with the adoption of the resolution 1628 of PACE. This resolution constitutes a very important step forward, in comparison to the last resolution, 1376 of 2004, which praised the Turkish Cypriot community for its positive stance at the referendum and called on the international community to lift the so called international isolation, the Spokesman said Thursday.

He added that the resolution reflects a change of the stance of the international community in favor of the Greek Cypriot side and said that the international community praises the initiatives of the Cypriot President regarding the Cyprus issue.

The new resolution refers to various aspects of the Cyprus problem, with very satisfactory references on the stance of the Republic of Cyprus and the Greek Cypriot side on the Cyprus issue, Stephanou noted.

He explained that the resolution makes reference on the occupation of the northern part of Cyprus by Turkey, on the need to reach a solution of the Cyprus problem that would be based on the principles of the Council of Europe, including the case law of the European Court of Human Rights.

Stephanou said that it is also important that the resolution refers positively to the measures taken by the Republic of Cyprus to the benefit of Turkish Cypriots as well as the inclusion of such measures in the framework of UNSC resolutions 541 και 550, which refer to the illegal act of the proclamation of the so called state in Turkish occupied Cyprus and consider this Turkish action as legally invalid.

The Spokesman also referred to the call of the resolution towards the Republic of Cyprus to lift objections to the adoption of the Council of the European Unions direct trade regulation put forward by the European Commission allowing free direct trade between Turkish Cypriots and the EU through their own ports.

The above, which constitutes a negative point of the resolution, is in contradiction to point 9 of the resolution which says that the measures in favor of the Turkish Cypriots will not be used for serving political goals which will not comply with the goal of reunifying Cyprus, he stressed.

Stephanou added that the reference on direct trade was made orally by the rapporteur of the resolution at the time of the debate and the adoption of the resolution.

The Spokesman said that the resolution calls upon the Turkish Cypriot side to reaffirm its commitment for a Cyprus reunification and not to insist on the existence of a separate state, to stop the usurpation of Greek Cypriot properties in the occupied areas as well as to encourage illegal Turkish settlers to leave Cyprus through financial aid measures.

Stephanou said that the resolution calls upon Turkey to respect the UN resolutions on Cyprus and contribute constructively to negotiations, by reducing its troops in the occupied areas of Cyprus.

Turkey, he added, is also called upon to comply with its EU obligations especially the ones concerning the Republic of Cyprus and open its ports and airports to aircraft and vessels which carry the Cypriot flag.

The resolution also refers to the humanitarian issue of missing persons, whose fate is unknown after the Turkish invasion against Cyprus in 1974.

The Spokesman said that the resolution outlines Turkeys responsibilities and the need to comply with the decisions of the European Court of Human Rights on the issue, without delay.

[02] HOUSE PRESIDENT PACE TALAT - SPEECH

While all expected Talat to look at the future, to explain his policy and how the Turkish side thinks to negotiate at the current phase of the Cyprus talks, Talat, once more, reiterated the unacceptable positions of the Turkish side on two peoples, two states, co-sovereignty and virgin birth, Garoyian said.

He added that Talats speech was unacceptable and caused a bad impression on the parlamentarians, members of PACE as well as the international community.

On the other hand, he said, in his address at PACE, President of Cyprus Demetris Christofias talked about the future, with positions which are full in line with international law, the European acquis communautaire, positions which can pave the way to a just, viable and functional solution of the Cyprus problem`` and added that President Christofias speech was praised by the members of PACE.

It is for this reason that we call upon the international community, once more, to explain to Turkey that these positions will not help her proceed to the EU, nor pave the way to the liberation of Cyprus and the reunification of our country and its people.

[03] FINANCE MINISTER WORLD FINANCIAL CRISIS CYPRUS

In statements after a broad meeting held in the Ministry of Finance on the world financial crisis and its impact on the Cyprus economy, Stavrakis said that the government has the ability to use, instantly, up to 1,9 billion euro in case there is a financial crisis in Cyprus.

He added that the surplus of public finances and the decrease of public debt from 60% of GDP to 48,7% today, which has exceeded the governments goal of 49%, are very encouraging elements which give the opportunity to a government to make use of this liquidity in case of a financial crisis.

Stavrakis said that he is in constant contact with the Governor of the Central Bank of Cyprus to deal with any issues may occur.

[04] ARCHBISHOP OF ALBANIA OFFICIAL VISIT

Welcoming Archbishop Anastasios, Primate of the Greek Orthodox Church on the island, Archbishop Chrysostomos II said through him we welcome a special priest of orthodoxy, an academic and an experienced missionary.

In his remarks, Archbishop Anastasios said he is sincerely moved to be in Cyprus, noting for years we watch with deep pain the adversities that the noble people of Cyprus have been through as well as their creativity and resilience and we are proud of them.

Welcoming the Archbishop on behalf of the President of the Republic, Minister of Justice and Public Order Kypros Chrysostomides said Anastasios is a unique priest, academic and missionary.

Archbishop Chrysostomos said after his studies, Anastasios left Greece and headed to the Far East where he served for many years in Africa. He praised Anastasios for reconstructing the Orthodox Church in Albania.

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