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Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 10-01-15Cyprus News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Cyprus News Agency at <http://www.cyna.org.cy>CONTENTS
[01] NATIONAL COUNCIL - MEETINGThe National Council, top advisory body to the President on the handling of the Cyprus problem, convenes on Friday under President of the Republic Demetris Christofias, to review the latest developments in the Cyprus problem.The meeting takes place in the light of the conclusion of the first round of UN-led intensive talks between the leaders of the two communities, President Christofias and Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat. Government Spokesman Stephanos Stephanou has stressed that a Turkish Cypriot document, conveyed to President Christofias outlining the positions of the Turkish Cypriot side, is not a basis for negotiations, as parliamentary party leaders, who make up the National Council, have agreed. The Greek Cypriot proposals President Christofias submitted - at the intensive talks on Tuesday - are not a response to the Turkish Cypriot document, nor are they new proposals, he added. The political leadership has rejected the Turkish Cypriot document as unacceptable. It provided for two FIR in Cyprus, after a solution, and rights to Turkish nationals which EU citizens enjoy. Commenting on documents submitted by the two sides at the talks, he said that discussions were being held on these proposals in order to find more convergences, on the basis agreed on before the talks began in September 2008. On Saturday, President Christofias will be flying to Athens for talks with the Greek leadership on the Cyprus problem, prior to the second round of intensive talks, which begins on January 25. [02] LONDON - CYPRUS SOLUTION - GUARANTEESBritish Minister of State Baroness Kinnock of Holyhead has said that the United Kingdom does not envisage being an obstacle to a solution of the Cyprus problem, proposed by the leaders of the two communities on the island. Asked by Lord Kilclooney on January 6 whether the British government proposed to transfer part of the sovereign base areas in Cyprus to assist a political settlement, Baroness Kinnock said that ``on 10 November 2009 the government made an offer to the UN Good Offices Mission to cede 45 square miles, almost 50 per cent, of its sovereign base area land to a unified Cyprus.````This offer would come into effect in the event of a solution, and it would be up to the two leaders to negotiate what happens to this land. The land transfer would have no adverse impact on the functioning of the sovereign base areas,`` she added. To another question by Lord Kilclooney whether the UK was considering ceasing to be a guarantor power in Cyprus, Baroness Kinnock said ``the government will be happy to discuss the issue of guarantees at the appropriate stage of the negotiations.`` ``We do not envisage being an obstacle to a solution proposed by the two leaders,`` she concluded. [03] HOUSE PRESIDENT - WORKING VISIT - LONDONPresident of the House of Representatives Marios Garoyian leaves on Friday for London on a four-day working visit, where he will discuss the Cyprus problem. Garoyian will meet on Monday morning with Shadow Minister for Europe Mark Francois.Later on he will meet the Speaker of the House of Commons John Bercow and afterwards the Minister for Europe Chris Bryant at the Foreign Office. On Saturday Garoyian will meet with Archbishop Gregorios of Thyateira and Great Britain and attend a special new year function at the Greek Community school in Manor Hill. The House President will also have meetings with members of the House of Commons, the President and Executive Council of the National Federation of Cypriots in the UK and other stakeholders of the Cypriot community in London. [04] 2009 TOP ATHLETES HONOUREDCypriot track and field athletes, Kyriakos Ioannou and Eleni Artimata, are the top Cypriot sports personalities on the island and APOEL football club was named team of the year for 2009, according to a poll conducted by the Union of Sports Writers. The awards were presented at a special ceremony on Thursday evening by President of the Republic Demetris Christofias, in the presence of members of the Cabinet, members of the House of Representatives, political party representatives, athletes, sports writers and other dignitaries.During the ceremony, President Christofias also presented awards to coach Panos Markovic and Greek basketball player Frangiskos Alvertis for their contribution to sports. The two expressed their gratitude for the awards. The Cyprus Olympic Committee was honoured for the excellent hosting of the XIII Games of the Small States of Europe held in June 2009. Its chairman, Ouranios Ioannides, said that 2009 was a golden year for sports and will lay the foundation for success for the years to come. Last nights ceremony was dedicated to volunteers. The 730 volunteers of the GSSE games were honoured for their contribution as well as sports writer Iakovos Kakouris for the running of the GSSE press office. In a speech, President Christofias said the athletes who were presented awards during the ceremony, are the perfect ambassadors of Cyprus. Cyprus News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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