Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 09-11-15

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

CONTENTS

[01] PRESIDENT CHRISTOFIAS - CYPRUS PROBLEM

[02] CYPRUS FM - ARAB LEAGUE

[03] CNA - INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE

[04] GOVERNMENT - ILLEGAL UDI - CONDEMNATION

[01] PRESIDENT CHRISTOFIAS - CYPRUS PROBLEM

Noting that the primary responsibility for a solution rests with the Cypriots, he nevertheless stressed that unless Turkey contributes to the resolution of the international aspect of the question of Cyprus, it would be very difficult to reach a negotiated settlement.

On the question of Cyprus, he said for the first time the Turkish Cypriot community has accepted that the solution will provide for one state, with a single sovereignty, one citizenship and one international personality.

In his address at a special ceremony in Salonica, Greece, he explained that the notion of solution for the Cypriots by the Cypriots means that the two communities have the primary responsibility to solve the problem, through negotiations.

What is unprecedented in the current effort to find a negotiated settlement is the fact that there is no solution plan, nor ideas nor indicators from third parties on the negotiating table. We have on the table the basis which has been agreed with Mr Talat, he added.

He said that as the Cypriots assume their own responsibilities, Turkey, which maintains occupation troops in the islands northern part and has changed its demographic character through the massive influx of Turkish settlers, is faced with its own responsibilities as far as Cyprus is concerned.

We shall never stop pestering Turkey until it decides to solve these problems and cooperate for a solution, he said, noting that the international aspects of the Cyprus question relate to Ankara.

On the ongoing UN-led peace talks, President Christofias said the progress achieved so far does not satisfy us, we had anticipated more progress and more convergence, which unfortunately has not happened.

He said there is convergence on governance and European affairs but previously achieved convergence on the economy has dissipated after the Turkish Cypriot side has reneged.

Fending off criticism about his proposal for a rotating presidency, in an agreed settlement, he said this could act as a unifying factor since it creates mutual responsibility for the islands two communities on how their country would be governed.

On the issue of Turkish settlers and their future in a solution, Christofias said that it had been agreed in the past that a certain number of Turkish settlers will remain on the island after the solution. The President had previously talked about 50,000 Turkish settlers staying on after a solution.

The submission on our part of such proposals proves our sincere desire for a solution and strengthens our credibility, he said, stressing that the Turkish Cypriot side now has to follow suit in response to these proposals by the Greek Cypriot side.

The President recalled also that as far as the talks are concerned, nothing is agreed until everything is agreed.

On the issue of property, he said that due to the big gap in the positions of the two sides, it has been agreed to classify the properties concerned to have a full picture of the situation.

Our good will is not enough to lead us to a solution. We have to have the will and the sincere effort of the other side. We continue to stretch out our hand to them, in anticipation of their constructive response, the President added.

He pointed out that Turkey, whose role is decisive in finding a negotiated settlement, must also respond accordingly and has to understand that a solution would serve its own interests as well.

The Cyprus solution can be a win-win situation for all parties involved, as long as they take the necessary decisions and solve the problem on the basis of UN resolutions, he remarked.

On Turkeys EU accession course, he had this to say: Turkey will either meet its EU obligations or it will not continue its European accession course without paying a price, adding at the same time that Nicosia neither wants nor seeks to punish Ankara.

Turkey, he continued, cannot ignore on one hand its EU commitments and on the other expect to sail through its membership talks.

Ankara, he noted, has made no positive steps towards meetings its EU obligations and in addition to that, it provokes through public statements by its officials and moves against the Republic of Cyprus.

He said that in December the EU will assess Turkeys compliance with the commitments it has undertaken towards Brussels, noting that Ankaras European aspirations can and must act as an incentive for Turkey itself and as a pressure lever for the EU to convince Ankara to change its stand on Cyprus.

The President recalled that the Greek Cypriot side has already accepted a difficult and painful compromise the bizonal bicommunal federation which, as he pointed out, was a solution of necessity to rid the country of the Turkish occupation and reunite the country.

Christofias and the leader of the Turkish Cypriot community Mehmet Ali Talat began peace talks in September 2008, under UN auspices to find a mutually acceptable solution.

[02] CYPRUS FM - ARAB LEAGUE

Referring to Cyprus accession to the European Union in 2004, Kyprianou underlined that Cyprus has a clear and transparent voice in the EU when it comes to issues related to the Arab world and the Middle East. And this is not only due to the fact that Cyprus does not have a hidden national agenda vis-a-vis the Middle East, nor any other interest or motive apart from collective peace, security and stability, he added. Cyprus is an avid supporter of the enhancement and institutionalisation of the relations and dialogue between the two regions, he added.

Referring to the situation in Middle East, the Cypriot FM expressed his confidence that the formation of the new government of national unity in Lebanon, under President Michel Sleiman and Prime Minister Saad Hariri, will herald the dawn of a new era for Lebanon, adding that the international community ought to exert the right pressures and undertake serious initiatives that would resolve the thorny issues of the Shebaa Farms and of the Syrian Golan, and their restoration to their rightful owners.

[03] CNA - INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE

CNA Board Chairman Costakis Constantinou will welcome participants. George Eliopoulos, Deputy Head and Press Officer of the European Commission Representation in Cyprus will also address the meeting. Government Spokesman Stefanos Stefanou will address the opening ceremony, on behalf of the President of the Republic of Cyprus Demetris Christofias.

The morning session of the conference will deal with the international issue of migration in relation to the role of news agencies. The issue will be presented by five speakers from the International Organisation of Migration, the Research Centre in Applied Economy for Development in Algeria, the Department of Social and Educational Policy, School of Social Sciences of the University of Peloponnese, in Greece, the United Nations High Commission for Refugees and the European Commission. A panel discussion will follow. The afternoon session will deal with specialised issues concerning news agency business, such as technology, new content, internet, multimedia, digital journalism and digital strategy.

[04] GOVERNMENT - ILLEGAL UDI - CONDEMNATION

We call on the international community to contribute in a substantive manner to current efforts aiming at an agreed settlement, which will rid Cyprus from Turkeys occupation and will reunite the country under conditions of peace, freedom and democracy, on the basis of UN resolution and international and European law, the Minister of Education and Culture Andreas Demetriou has said in a message for Sundays anniversary.

In his message to students and pupils, he said the Greek Cypriot side is seeking a solution which will restore the unity, the territorial integrity and the sovereignty of the Republic of Cyprus without any dependencies on foreign states and which will also restore human rights, including the right to return to ones home and the right to property.

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