Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 09-11-16

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

CONTENTS

[01] PRESIDENT CHRISTOFIAS CNA CONFERENCE

[02] LONDON ILLEGAL UDI CONDEMNATION

[03] COMMUNITY LEADERS DIRECT TALKS MEETING

[04] CNA CHAIRMAN CONFERENCE

[01] PRESIDENT CHRISTOFIAS CNA CONFERENCE

In his address at an international conference on News Agencies: Concerns and Challenges, hosted by the Cyprus News Agency (CNA), President Christofias referred also to impartiality in news coverage.

High-ranking officials from more than 20 international and national news agencies from Europe, Africa, Asia and America are participating in the CNA conference, taking place today at a local hotel in the southern coastal town of Limassol.

In his a speech, read by Government Spokesman Stephanos Stephanou, the President said ``we are looking for a solution that is based on UN resolutions on Cyprus, international and EU principles and the High Level Agreements between the two Cypriot communities``, which provide for a bizonal bicommunal federation.

``I would urge you to convey this message to your countries through your news agencies: we cannot reconcile ourselves with the division of our country and Turkeys occupation, we are pressed for a solution and we will not stop working to achieve this goal,`` the President stressed.

He told delegates that for 35 years now, Cyprus, a small country, remains a victim of the Turkish invasion and division, adding that the Cypriot people deserve a better future.

``Our aim is to reach, the soonest possible, a solution that will end the occupation and stop the influx of illegal settlers. The solution must lead to the reunification of the territory, the people, the institutions and the economy of the country, securing human rights and fundamental freedoms, in the framework of a bizonal, bicommunal federation,`` he added.

Referring to the theme of the CNA conference, Stephanou noted the importance of impartiality in transmitting news. He cited as an example the war in Iraq, adding that ``it was based on lies and wrong information``, pointing out the significance of proper reporting.

On immigration, the President said this was a current issue that relates to one of the greatest challenges of our time. Cyprus, he noted, is an external border of the EU and is next to one of the most unstable areas in the world and has to handle strong immigration pressure, especially after its accession to the EU in 2004.

He said this pressure has increased as a result of the Turkish occupation and the fact that the legal government of the Republic is prevented, by virtue of the massive presence of Turkish troops, from exercising effective control in the northern Turkish occupied part of the country.

``As a matter of principle, we believe that immigration should not be viewed as a threat or as a destabilizing factor for the economy of the host country but on the contrary, it must be seen as a phenomenon that needs to be regulated``, he said.

Cyprus, he added, has a structured immigration policy which conforms with the European charter on immigration and asylum.

President Christofias also said that the Republic of Cyprus ``believes that with international cooperation and coordination, we can make use of the positive aspects of immigration and associate it with development and reduce any negative consequences``.

Cyprus, he added, is fully committed to cooperate on a regional and international level in this respect and according to the common EU policies to strengthen its policies, President Christofias concluded.

CNA Board Chairman Costakis Constantinou welcomed participants. George Eliopoulos, Deputy Head and Press Officer of the European Commission Representation in Cyprus also addressed the meeting.

The morning session of the conference will 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.

[02] LONDON ILLEGAL UDI CONDEMNATION

A delegation of the Federation, led by the President Peter Droussiotis, left at the entrance of the Turkish embassy since the diplomatic mission of the occupying force refuses to accept any document from Cyprus a letter addressed to the Ambassador Mehmet Yigit Alpogan, condemning the continuing Turkish military occupation of the islands northern part.

According to the letter, 26 years after the unilateral declaration of independence by the unrecognised administration created by your countrys government in occupied northern Cyprus, the Turkish state continues to stand obstinately in the way of numerous United Nations resolutions and international law. The Berlin Wall fell twenty years ago, the entire world has moved on but, shamefully, Turkeys intransigence over Cyprus remains as strong as it has always been, it notes.

[03] COMMUNITY LEADERS DIRECT TALKS MEETING

The meeting will start at 1000 local time (0800 GMT) at the UN Protected Area of the now defunct Nicosia international airport. In the last meeting, the UN Secretary General`s Special Adviser on Cyprus Alexander Downer said that every day they are inching along and noted that Friday`s session was a good opportunity to talk through the issues and continue to work through the property chapter.

Asked if he felt that once the leaders overcome the property issue, things will proceed faster, the UN official said that for every part of the negotiation where there is agreement, the process becomes easier.

[04] CNA CHAIRMAN CONFERENCE

Addressing the Cyprus News Agency (CNA) international conference on News Agencies: Concerns and Challenges, underway in Limassol, on the southern coast, he said the internet already has negative consequences on news agencies and other mass media, mainly newspapers.

He also said that at a time of important and rapid developments, news agencies are urged to safeguard their significant role in informing the public, adding that news agencies are the main source of reliable and credible information and act as reliable news source for all other mass media and the citizens, directly or indirectly. News agencies are called to protect this role, providing society with accurate, fast and impartial news. Constantinou said that nowadays, news agencies and the press should find a way to make their services and products available and more easily accessible to the citizens.

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