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Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 09-11-18Cyprus News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Cyprus News Agency at <http://www.cyna.org.cy>CONTENTS
[01] PRESIDENT - TURKISH PROPOSALTurkish Prime Ministers proposal for a quintet summit (Greece-Turkey-Britain-Greek Cypriot side and Turkish Cypriot side) for the Cyprus problem is not something new, Cyprus President Demetris Christofias has said, reiterating that he will not accept strict timeframes and arbitration on the direct negotiation process.Speaking after the signing of the Book of Condolences for the death of the Patriarch of the Serbian Orthodox Church Pavle in Nicosia, and asked about Tayyip Erdogans proposal, President Christofias said that a quintet summit means downgrading of the Republic of Cyprus and this is something that cannot be accepted. I consider that Turkey has entered a communication game, appearing to seek solutions and to make proposals, and on the other hand, Turkish officials blame our side and me personally as the President of the Republic and as the negotiator, that we obstruct, and that we do not care for the solution of the Cyprus problem, he said. This is not true, President Christofias stressed, noting that the Republic of Cyprus will not give away the 37% of its territory. For us the most valuable good is our homeland and its freedom, he added. President Christofias called on Erdogan if he really wants to contribute to the solution of the Cyprus problem, to exert its influence in order the UN resolutions, the principles of the international law and the sovereignty and independence of the Republic of Cyprus to be respected. Turkey should also withdraw its occupying troops from Cyprus, give an end to the settling of the occupied areas and respect Cyprus and its people, he added. Replying to a question on a position raised by the Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat for a Camp David type process for the Cyprus issue, President Christofias said that this was a position of Ankara and not of Talat. They want a new Burgenstock and of course new arbitration in order pressures to be exerted on the Greek Cypriot side to accept solutions that are not new, he said underlining that he would not make past mistakes and accept past procedures. We will accept neither strict timeframes, nor arbitration, he concluded. [02] HOUSE PRESIDENT - TURKEY - EUPresident of the House of Representatives Marios Garoyian said on Wednesday that Turkey will have to be brought before its responsibilities in December, noting that the principle of community solidarity should be expressed in the case of Cyprus in December.Speaking after a meeting in Brussels with European Commissioner for Enlargement Olli Rehn, Garoyian said he briefed the Commission official on developments in the Cyprus problem and the talks between the leaders of the two communities to reach a settlement, and pointed out that the Greek Cypriot side is not satisfied with progress so far due to the Turkish side`s stance. Garoyian told Rehn that the key to the Cyprus problem is in Turkey and that ``pressure should be directed there.`` During their meeting, Garoyian and Rehn exchanged views on the evaluation of Turkey`s EU course in December. Garoyian said Cyprus supports Turkey`s EU accession course, as long as it meets its obligations towards the EU and the Republic of Cyprus. ``December cannot be business as usual,`` he pointed out, adding that it should be made clear to Turkey that it has a very narrow timeframe to meet its obligations. [03] CYPRIOT PARTIES - MEETINGGreek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot parties met on Wednesday in their regular meeting under the auspices of the Slovak embassy to Cyprus and discussed the issue ``Comprehensive solution of the Cyprus problem. Is this the last chance?`` as proposed by the hosting party, the Turkish Cypriot Republican Turkish Party.``They discussed that the primary principle regarding the Cyprus problem is to achieve the best possible solution on the basis of bizonal, bicommunal federation with political equality as defined by the relevant UN resolutions and with respect to the rights and freedoms of all Cypriots``, a joint communique issued after the meeting said. The communique, read out by Slovak Ambassador to Cyprus Anna Turenicova, adds that they also discussed ``further to ensure a common start for new generations by overcoming the prejudices of today set by the past, and lay the foundations for a better accomplished outcome within the context of the EU``. The next regular meeting of the leaders and representatives of the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot political parties will be held on the 16th of December 2009 at 10:30 at the Ledra Palace. [04] EASA - CYPRUS - SAFETYThe European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) announced that the results of its inspection of Cyprus Department of Civil Aviation are highly satisfactory.EASA visited Cyprus on November 9-13 and inspected the Safety Regulation Unit (SRU) of the Department of Civil Aviation, to determine the level and mode of implementation of European regulations in Cyprus. The European experts announced that the inspections made by the Cyprus Civil Aviation Department, fully meets the safety standards of the European Commission and that the level of qualifications, technical knowledge and training of inspectors / officers are among the highest in Europe. They also pointed out that the system and structure of the Safety Regulation Unit ensures with efficiency the operational requirements, without dependencies on foreign experts. The experts added that there was a huge improvement in the last three years. The concluding comment of the Head of the delegation was that the inspection exceeded expected results. Cyprus News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |