Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 09-11-24

Cyprus News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

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

CONTENTS

[01] CYPRUS LEADERS - MEETING

[02] UK OFFICIAL - CYPRUS

[03] ESS - CONFERENCE - UNITY

[04] CHURCH - ECHR - TURKEY

[01] CYPRUS LEADERS - MEETING

According to the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General in Cyprus Taye-Brook Zerihoun, the two leaders had on Tuesday a tete-a-tete meeting and after that, they said they had had a very fruitful discussion and decided to continue talks on the subject of aliens, citizenship, immigration and asylum.

Zerihoun said that the two leaders have agreed that in the next meeting on the 1st of December in the afternoon they will discuss the schedule of the meetings from 3rd of December and beyond.

The leaders agreed that their representatives will meet on the 2nd and the 4th of December to discuss the issues of economy and property at each of these meetings.

Replying to a question about references in the Turkish media that there was progress in many issues, Zerihoun said that he couldnt characterize statements made by one party or the other.

He recalled that there were two or three joint statements of the parties very early in the negotiating process, including that the basis of the agreement will be a bicommunal and bizonal federation with political equality.

Beyond those statements on which the two parties had agreed and had authorized us to announce, I can not characterize the statements made by one party or the other. You have to ask the parties about this, he said.

He added that it would be useful to go back in the history of these negotiations and see what have been the standing items of discussion in the agenda.

Asked about the issue of demilitarization, he said that it was a subject of discussion from the beginning but he couldn`t say whether there was a full agreement between the two parties.

Asked about a possible visit of Secretary General Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to the island, Zerihoun said that the Secretary General is prepared to come when he can be helpful to the process. He pointed out that the dates are not yet fixed, but assured that this will be decided fairly soon.

Asked whether there will be any intensification in the peace process, he said that he will know on the 1st of December when the leaders schedule their next meetings. He added that the UN are at the leaders disposal to facilitate the process if the two leaders agree to do so.

[02] UK OFFICIAL - CYPRUS

Speaking at a press conference in Nicosia after a series of contacts on the island, Bryant compared the process for a settlement with a marathon. ``I think that in this process it will be a marathon because it already has been a marathon but it is the energy that is put into the last sprint that I think will be the most important part of it, and that is why the intensification of the talks is very important,`` he said.

He assured that the UK would be doing everything possible to help reach a solution and noted that Turkey`s EU accession course should not be halted in December so that it can act as a motive to meet its commitments towards Cyprus.

``I was anxious and nervous and felt depressed about the prospects for a solution to the Cyprus problem. But I have to say that, after a series of meetings on Sunday evening and throughout yesterday, in particular having met with the two leaders and with key figures in the negotiations, now I feel much more optimistic,`` he said.

[03] ESS - CONFERENCE - UNITY

In statements during a press conference, Cyprus House President Marios Garoyian described the 4th meeting as very substantial, noting that they had a very useful discussion. I am thoroughly satisfied with the results of this very significant conference which has become a tradition, he said.

The contribution of the small states of Europe, he said, should be highlighted worldwide because the principles, values and ideals which they serve with so much dedication, are very clear.

Referring to their common positions in the declaration, Garoyian said that the small states stress the significance of efforts in formulating common positions on issues of common interest, on the basis of international principles and values, adding that we believe that the illegal influx of illegal immigrants in the small states of Europe, despite the wide difference in numbers at each state, is an unprecedented provocation.

[04] CHURCH - ECHR - TURKEY

According to a Holy Synod press release, the Church of Cyprus, as a legal entity and on behalf of its fold, through its appeal, maintains that for any violation of rights, as defined in the European Human Rights Convention, Turkey is solely to blame.

In this respect, the Church of Cyprus notes the violation of the right to ownership, the right to the free exercise of religion and religious worship at religious sites in the Turkish occupied areas of the Republic, and the destruction of religious heritage and monuments.

Furthermore, the Church reports the violation of the right of association, due to the fact that visits to religious sites are hindered, the violation of the right to equal treatment, and the violation of the right of every person not to be submitted to any form of offensive, humiliating and degrading treatment.

Cyprus News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article