Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 09-07-14

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

CONTENTS

[01] PRESIDENT CYPRUS ISSUE

[02] SPOKESMAN TURKEY

[03] DOWNER UN CYPRUS

[04] HOUSE - NEW MPs

[01] PRESIDENT CYPRUS ISSUE

Speaking to Cypriot children who live in the US and Australia, President Christofias said that we are trying together with the Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat to reunite our homeland.

He added that the solution of the problem should be acceptable by both communities, viable, functional and based on UN principles.

He explained that the solution aims to create a federal state, which will respect human rights. He added that while the central government will have increased responsibilities, the constituent states would not have greater powers than the federal government.

He also pointed out that the federal state will have a common economy and will safeguard human rights for all its citizens.

Referring to the ongoing UN-led direct talks, Christofias said that on some issues there is convergence of views while on others the leaders disagree.

We will continue the negotiations because the only way to find a solution to the Cyprus problem is through negotiations, he said.

President Christofias told the children who visited him at the Presidential Palace to assure their parents that the President is working on a solution that ensures the rights of all Cypriots, Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots, and that Cyprus does not need any guarantees or guarantors of its security.

[02] SPOKESMAN TURKEY

Stephanou, who was commenting on remarks by Turkish President Abdullah Gul on Cyprus, called on Turkey to change its stance and pointed out that he is not in a position to decide now whether the negotiations will have a happy ending, while assuring of the determination of the Greek Cypriot side to achieve an agreed solution.

As things stand at present and given the positions put forward at the negotiating table by the Turkish side if these do not change - we dont see how it would be possible by December to agree on a solution which will then be put to a referendum, he said. Thats why we call on the Turkish side to change its stance, he pointed out.

[03] DOWNER UN CYPRUS

In his remarks after meeting President of the Democratic Party Marios Garoyian, Downer said it is important for him and the UN to keep in touch with the political leaders in Cyprus and to hear their perspectives and points of view.

Asked if he shares the view expressed by Turkish President Abdullah Gul that negotiations should be concluded by the end of the year, Downer said that what we have always said at the UN is that there shouldnt be a specific timetables. But the important thing is for there to be momentum in the process, and I think there is momentum. I think the process is moving ahead steadily and when it will conclude is when the leaders determine that its concluded and at the point where the leaders finally reach an agreement. I have no idea what day that will be, or what month that will be, or when that will be, and thats importantly something that they themselves have to resolve between them, he remarked.

[04] HOUSE - NEW MPs

Panikos Champas of AKEL takes the seat of MEP Takis Hatzigeorgiou, Andreas Kyprianou of DISY replaces MEP Eleni Theocharous and Stelios Ieronymides of DIKO replaces MEP Antigoni Papadopoulou.

Champas and Ieronymides were declared members of parliament by the District Officer of Nicosia Argyris Papanastasiou in the presence of President of the House of Representatives Marios Garoyian. Kyprianou was proclaimed a MP by the District Officer of Limassol Anastasia Mavrelli.

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