Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 09-09-27

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

CONTENTS

[01] CHRISTOFIAS - CYPRUS QUESTION - TURKEY

[02] GAROYIAN - CYPRUS QUESTION

[03] CYPRUS - CONFERENCE - CLIMATE CHANGE

[01] CHRISTOFIAS - CYPRUS QUESTION - TURKEY

Speaking during the annual dinner of Cyprus Federation of America, which honored a veteran Greek Cypriot community leader, past Vice President and New York Governor Hambis Nicolaou, President Christofias stressed that ``we are struggling to persuade the world that the international law, the United Nations Charter, European Union values and all human rights conventions, international or European, are violated in Cyprus``.

Christofias said that the paradox is that Turkey which is the perpetrator in the case of Cyprus, appears, with the support of its powerful friends, to be the victim and us, who we are the victims, appear to be the perpetrators.

He also stressed that the fact that the Greek Cypriot side accepted the bizonal, bicommunal federation as the solution to the Cyprus problem has been a historic compromise and expressed regret that ``many of our interlocutors ask from us to make more concessions.``

Referring to the Annan plan he said that the Greek Cypriot side had to reject it even if it was prepared by the former UN Secretary General, noting that the plan was not fair or balanced and the solution would not be viable and functional.

President Christofias reassured that he will continue his struggle for the vindication of the people of Cyprus.

On Saturday night Christofias had a meeting with the board of Cyprus Federation of America and informed them about the ongoing negotiations for the Cyprus problem. They discussed also ways in which Cypriots living in the US could influence in a positive way Washington`s policy on Cyprus.

President of the Federation Panicos Papanicolaou stressed that they assured President Christofias that they will always be on his side and expressed hope that his efforts and their aid will bring some results.

Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third. President Christofias and Talat have been engaged in negotiations since September 2008, with a view to find a settlement that will reunite the island.

[02] GAROYIAN - CYPRUS QUESTION

Asked to comment statements by Turkish FM Ahmet Davutoglou that the door for a Cyprus settlement will not be open for ever, but until December, Garoyan said that we reject claims that this is the last opportunity for a settlement, adding that our experience from the past has shown that in periods like this, Turkey and the international community want to exert pressure or indicate that the Cyprus problem must be solved in any way.

Garoyian stressed that the Greek Cypriot side is interested in seing the human rights and political freedoms being protected in Cyprus and added: We will continue fighting for a viable and functional solution which will safeguard the interests of the people of Cyprus, their prospects and future.

[03] CYPRUS - CONFERENCE - CLIMATE CHANGE

The conference was organized by European Parliament Offices in Cyprus and Greece, the European Commission Representation in Cyprus, Cyprus Public and Information Office (PIO) and Paphos Municipality.

Speaking at the conference Agriculture, Environment and Natural Resources Minister Michalis Polynikis said that climate change is a unique worldwide phenomenon, and that humanity has never experienced a similar phenomenon in its modern history. He noted that the European Union is determined to play a leading role against climate changes through an agreement to be reached in Copenhagen in December, with an aim to reduce temperature change to less than 2 degrees celsius.

Polynikis also said that Cyprus bears its own share of responsiblity for the change of the environment and therefore it must contribute in solving this issue.

Ambassador of Sweden to Cyprus Ingemar Lindahl, whose country is holding the EU rotating presidency, said that in the framework of an international agreement, the EU has been engaged to reduce pollutants by 30% until 2020. He stressed that with a view to address this world challenge, all countries must take a courageous commitment at the Copenhagen summit, aiming to combat climate change radically.

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