Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 08-11-15

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

CONTENTS

[01] PRESIDENT - TURKEY - CYPRUS ISSUE

[02] NICOSIA - ILLEGAL UDI - STATEMENT

[03] NEW PAFOS AIRPORT - OPERATION

[01] PRESIDENT - TURKEY - CYPRUS ISSUE

President Christofias was speaking during an event organised here on Friday by ruling leftwing AKEL party to condemn the unilateral declaration of independence (UDI) by the Turkish Cypriots, in the Turkish occupied areas of the island, on 15 November 1983.

At the end of the day, it seems that Turkey is not working for a bizonal bicommunal federation in Cyprus but for the establishment of two states and a confederation of two states, the President said.

He described as devious attempts by the Turkish side to persuade the international community that there are two peoples in Cyprus instead of two communities, explaining that peoples have the right to self-determination and the right to establish their own state.

They created this secessionist regime and they also want to create the entity to justify the existence of supposedly a second state, in Cyprus, that of the self-styled regime, he pointed out.

Christofias expressed regret over statements by Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat that the illegal Turkish Cypriot regime was proof that the Turkish Cypriots back a solution of a bizonal bicommunal federation.

I wonder whether general Evren and Turkeys dictatorship in 1983 had no other concern but to see to it that Cyprus becomes a bizonal bicommunal federation, the President said.

The UDI, declared on 15 November 1983 by the Turkish Cypriots, was branded legally invalid by the UN Security Council, which called on all states not to recognise or facilitate it in any way. None but Turkey does.

Referring to the ongoing talks on Cyprus between him and Talat, he reiterated his determination to work for a solution which will rid the country of Turkeys occupation.

The objective is not simply to put Turkey in the corner but to liberate our people from the Turkish occupation through a Cyprus solution, a just solution under the circumstances, functional and viable, he underlined.

Christofias and Talat have been engaged in direct talks, began in early September, with the objective to find a mutually agreed solution to the Cyprus problem to reunite the island, divided since 1974, when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third.

[02] NICOSIA - ILLEGAL UDI - STATEMENT

Only such a solution, which serves the interests of all Cypriots, restores human rights and can reverse the fait accompli created by the illegal Turkish invasion and occupation, be functional and viable, the statement stresses. The statement was issued to denounce the unilateral declaration of independence by the Turkish Cypriots, on November 15, 1983.

This illegal act caused the immediate reaction of the international community, which, through the UN Security Council resolutions 541 and 550 condemned this unilateral act of Turkey, describing it as legally invalid, and calling for its immediate withdrawal, the Ministry statement said, which notes also that since 1983, no other country than Turkey has recognised this illegal entity.

[03] NEW PAFOS AIRPORT - OPERATION

It has 28 check in counters, three luggage conveyor belts, four security arches, a VIP lounge and specially equipped lounges for businesspeople, information systems for passengers and parking places with a capacity of 800 vehicles. It is estimated that around 1,800 persons will be employed.

Minister of Communications and Works Nicos Nicolaides has told CNA that the opening of the new Paphos Airport is a significant event for Cyprus` air transport, and that it will contribute to the effort to make Cyprus an important communications hub towards Europe and the neighbouring countries, due to its strategic position at the south-easternmost point of Europe.

Hermes Airports spokesman Adamos Aspris said that the transfer of services, departments and systems from the old to the new airport is proceeding intensively. Paphos Mayor Savvas Vergas told CNA that it was very important for the town and the district of Paphos to have a modern international airport, noting that the Municipality expects the Government to support the vision for a modern town in general.

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