Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 10-03-10

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

CONTENTS

[01] GREEK PM - TURKEY - CYPRUS ISSUE

[02] EU COMMISSION US VISAS CYPRUS

[03] MINISTER - BERLIN - TOURISM - CONTACTS

[01] GREEK PM - TURKEY - CYPRUS ISSUE

Speaking Wednesday at a press conference on the completion of his visit to Washington, Papandreou said he often hears concerns that the so-called elections in the Turkish occupied areas of Cyprus, to take place April, ``may create a new situation and problems.``

``To these concerns I reply that the deepest problem is the Turkish stance, if we are to proceed with what is necessary to reach a solution of a bi-zonal bi-communal federation, which would comply with the acquis communautaire`` he said adding ``we have not seen this will on behalf of Turkey yet.``

Noting that he is aware of the statements made by his Turkish counterpart, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, to Greek Cypriot journalists, Papandreou added he waits to see these statements being ``put into action.``

The Greek Premier said that he informed all his interlocutors of the Greek government`s support to the efforts of Cypriot President Demetris Christofias to reach a solution of the Cyprus problem.

Papandreou also said that he awaits the visit of Erdogan in Athens to examine ways to settle the disputes between the two countries in issues such as the continental shelf, adding he considers positive the fact that Turkey does not rule out an appeal to the International Court of Justice in The Hague.

President Christofias and Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat began on September 2008 UN-led direct negotiations aiming at reaching a mutually agreed solution to the problem of Cyprus, divided since the 1974 Turkish invasion.

[02] EU COMMISSION US VISAS CYPRUS

In a written statement Wednesday, European Commissioner for Justice and Home Affairs Cecilia Malmstrom welcomed the announcement on behalf of the US government regarding the abolition of visa requirement for Greek nationals, visiting the country.

She also called upon the US government to include the soonest possible in their program of abolishing visas, four more EU countries, Cyprus, Bulgaria, Romania and Poland.

[03] MINISTER - BERLIN - TOURISM - CONTACTS

According to an announcement of the Cyprus Tourism Organisation (CTO), the Cypriot delegation held contacts with tour operators in the Cypriot pavilion at the ITB Berlin exhibition.

Meanwhile, the Cypriot Minister held a meeting with Greek Deputy Minister of Culture and Tourism Angela Gerekou and President of the Hellenic Tourism Organization (EOT), during which they reviewed tourist relations between Cyprus and Greece and agreed on strengthening and broadening the cooperation between the two countries.

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