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Sunday, 22 December 2024
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Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 08-12-02Cyprus News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Cyprus News Agency at <http://www.cyna.org.cy>CONTENTS
[01] CHRISTOFIAS - TALAT - REPLYPresident of the Republic Demetris Christofias, highlighting the sovereign rights of the Republic of Cyprus and his own right to sign agreements with other countries, answered in writing on Tuesday to the objections of Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat regarding the signing of a political declaration between Cyprus and Russia.Speaking on his return to the Presidential Palace after a meeting with Talat, President Christofias said that in the discussion that followed the presentation of the written statement, Talat ``explained that he does not question the right of the President of the Republic of Cyprus to sign agreements with various countries but objects to what we call the evolution of the Republic of Cyprus to a federal bicommunal bizonal state.`` President Christofias said that Talat was not speaking about a ``virgin birth`` of a new state but did not accept the position on the evolution of the Republic of Cyprus from a single to a federal state. He said he replied to Talat`s objections ``clearly on the sovereignty of the Republic of Cyprus and the sovereign rights of Cyprus and the sea area that belongs to it and its absolute right to exploit the submarine wealth.`` On Tuesday`s agenda was the civil service and the civil service committee, on which the two sides share some views and disagree on others, President Christofias said. The next meting, scheduled for December 8, has been postponed for December 16 at the request of the UN, due to the fact that December 8 is UN Day. [02] ZERIHOUN - LEADERS - MEETINGPresident of the Republic of Cyprus Demetris Christofias and Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat have made advances in their discussions on the chapter of governance, said Tuesday UN Secretary Generals Special Representative in Cyprus Taye Brook Zerihoun.He was speaking at the end of the 11th meeting of the two leaders, in the framework of the direct negotiations, which began early September, under UN auspices, with a view to reach a solution of the Cyprus problem. The leaders had a good and friendly meeting, in a friendly atmosphere. They began with an hour of tete-a-tete and then they resumed the discussions on governance, focusing this time on the federal public service on which they identified a number of convergences, helped by bridging proposals from both sides, Zerihoun said. The UN Special Representative said the two leaders have called on their representatives to meet and Iacovou and Nami will meet tomorrow afternoon to carry forward discussions on some aspects of governance which have been referred to them by the leaders. [03] GAROYIAN - UN REPORTHouse of Representatives President Marios Garoyian has pointed out positive, negative and neutral elements in the report by UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon on the UN Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP), noting that among the negative elements is the non reference to the implacable stance of the Turkish Cypriot stance in the direct negotiations for a Cyprus settlement.Garoyian said he disagreed with the assessment, as recorded in the report, that there has been progress in the negotiations and that both sides are constructive, ``because in reality only the stance of our side is constructive, while the stance of the Turkish side is implacable, and the UN must admit this.`` He added that he understood the reasons for which the UN wanted to keep equal distance, noting however that one side should not be punished for behaving responsibly. Garoyian said he also disagreed with the fact that the phrase ``political equality`` was not followed by the explanation ``on the basis and as the UN interpret it in their resolutions.`` [04] ECOFIN - STAVRAKISThe EU Ministers of Finance agreed on Tuesday on the guidelines for the European Commission`s plan for the recovery of the European economy. The plan worth 200 billion euros translates into 1.5% of the GDP of each member state.Cypriot Minister of Finance Charilaos Stavrakis, who participated in Tuesday`s ECOFIN and Monday`s Eurozone meeting, said that the Ministers discussed questions whether the programme and the proposed sum was obligatory and how it would be implemented. Stavrakis said the view that prevailed was that the proposed sum of 200 billion euros was an aim and a wish, without any legal or other commitment of the states to follow. Referring to Cyprus, Stavrakis said that the economy was on a good course compared to the rest of the Eurozone, the growth rate would reach 3.7% for 2008, there are conditions of full employment, and inflation will drop below 5% by the end of the year, compared to 5.5% in the summer. Cyprus News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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