Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 09-02-22

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

CONTENTS

[01] PRESIDENT CYPRUS ISSUE

[02] GIROD MISSING PERSONS

[03] CHRISTOFIAS AUSTRALIAN FIRE-VICTIMS

[04] CYPRIOT ENTERPRISES ENVIRONMENT EXPENDITURE

[01] PRESIDENT CYPRUS ISSUE

In an address to the 23rd conference of the Union of Cypriot Christian Scientists, read out by the Director of his office Vasos Georgiou, President Christofias said both he and his government pledge ``to exert with sincerity and consistency ever effort to bring resurrection in Cyprus.``

``The finding of a just, viable solution which would allow all Cypriots, Greek Cypriots, Turkish Cypriots, Maronites, Armenians and Latins, to live in conditions of freedom, security, equality, peace and justice in a united Cyprus, free of occupying and other troops,`` Christofias added.

He made clear that when he speaks of solution he does not mean ``any solution,`` adding that a solution should terminate occupation and settlement, to restore and safeguard human rights and fundamental freedoms of the people and should be functional and durable.

``We can reach this solution remaining consistent in the commitment assumed by the first President of the Republic Makarios and all the other Presidents of the Republic. ``A commitment for a bi-zonal bi-communal federation which we agreed with the Turkish Cypriot community in 1977 and was adopted by the UN in a series of resolutions,`` the President stressed.

``The aim for reunification in the framework of a bi-zonal, bi-communal federation with political equality, as defined in the relevant UN resolutions for the evolution of the unitary state to a federal one with a single sovereignty and nationality and one international personality is unwavering and irreplaceable,`` he concluded.

President Chstofias and Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat entered in UN-led direct negotiations since early September 2008 in a bid to achieve a solution which would reunify Cyprus, divided since 1974 when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third.

[02] GIROD MISSING PERSONS

In an interview with CNA, Girod highlighted the difficulties, practical and emotional, the CMP meets, the sensitivities that have to be taken into consideration in dealing with this humanitarian aspect of the Cyprus question, and stressed that the CMP mandate is to determine the fate of Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot missing persons.

The man who has helped expose to the world the horrors of Guantanamo prison, in Cuba, indicated that, regrettably, the remains of some of the missing might not be located, something which could lead the CMP to decide on the fate of missing persons on the basis of witnesses evidence, without actually proof. In this respect, he cited the conclusions of a 2006 CMP survey in which 63% of Greek Cypriots and 89% of Turkish Cypriots said they believed that all missing persons are dead.

Girod revealed that the Turkish army has given permission to dig in military areas and said the Committee cannot act in the direction of Turkey as far as implementation of the European Court of Human Rights judgments is concerned, as this does not fall within its mandate.

[03] CHRISTOFIAS AUSTRALIAN FIRE-VICTIMS

Speaking to the press after signing the book, Christofias said that the expression of solidarity to people and countries who are suffering is a matter of principle.

``That is why I deemed as necessary the signing of the book to express our condolences, sorrow and our solidarity for the loss of so many people and of course for the suffering caused by these large fires,`` he concluded.

[04] CYPRIOT ENTERPRISES ENVIRONMENT EXPENDITURE

The results of a survey carried out by the Statistical Service show that the total expenditure for environmental protection activities in industry in 2007 is estimated at 41.5 million euros, which corresponds to 0.27% of the Gross Domestic Product, compared to 29.5 million euros or 0.20% in 2006. This growth is mainly attributed to increased capital expenditures by the cement industry. The corresponding expenditures in the member states of the European Union are estimated at 0.44% of the Gross Domestic Product.

According to the results of the survey, by sector of economic activity, the manufacturing industries reported expenditures of 38.1 million euros, the mining and quarrying industries 2.9 million euros and the electricity and water enterprises 0.5 million euros. In the manufacturing sector, where the highest expenditure is recorded, manufacturing of other non-metallic mineral products accounts for 18.6 million euros, manufacturing of food products and beverages for 10,6 million euros and manufacturing of wood and products of wood (except furniture) for 3,0 million euros.

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