Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 10-03-17

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

CONTENTS

[01] PRESIDENT - MEETING - ECHR RULING

[02] CHRISTOFIAS - GREECE VISIT

[03] US ASSISTANT SECRETARY CYPRUS

[04] CYPRUS TOURISM DECREASE

[01] PRESIDENT - MEETING - ECHR RULING

Present at the meeting were Foreign Minister Markos Kyprianou, Attorney General Petros Clerides, Deputy Attorney General Akis Papasavvas, Under Secretary to the President Titos Christofides and Presidential Commissioner George Iacovou.

Speaking after the meeting, Government Spokesman Stephanos Stephanou said that the discussion was based on a legal opinion from experts on the ECHR ruling. Final decisions will be taken after consultation with the political parties, he said.

Stephanou noted that it has been a very useful meeting which aimed at discussing and consulting on the basis of the legal opinion that we have taken, in order to be ready with concrete positions to further discuss with the political parties our future steps as regards the ECHR ruling.

Replying to a question on how the Government is consulting Greek Cypriot refugees to act, Stephanou suggested patience until the discussion with the political parties and the adoption of decisions are finalised.

I think we should be patient. We will inform refugees and Cypriots in general about our positions``, he pointed out.

In its ruling on March 5th, the ECHR said that the self-styled Immovable Property Commission set up in the Turkish occupied areas of Cyprus is an effective domestic remedy as far as property claims are concerned, and urged Greek Cypriots to address their claims to the Immovable Property Commission.

It also said that Greek Cypriots must first exhaust all domestic remedies before resorting to the ECHR, including applying to the so-called high administrative court in the occupied areas of Cyprus, if the Commission`s remedy is not to their satisfaction.

Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third.

President Christofias and Talat have been engaged in UN-led direct negotiations since September 2008, with an aim to reunify the island.

[02] CHRISTOFIAS - GREECE VISIT

According to the official programme of the visit, President Christofias leaves for Athens on Thursday evening from Larnaca International Airport.

On Friday morning, he will hold a meeting at Maximos Palace with Prime Minister George Papandreou and will later travel to Patra to attend the unveiling of the Monument of missing Sergeant Christos Griva at Achaia Square.

President Christofias will later be nominated Honorary Doctor of the Department of Primary Education of University of Patra.

[03] US ASSISTANT SECRETARY CYPRUS

Speaking at the Brookings Institution, in Washington, he said that a regional issue where Turkey can play a productive role is Cyprus.

The United States continues to encourage the negotiations between the two communities under the auspices of the UN Secretary General. Turkey and Greece can also play constructive roles in helping the Cypriot parties toward a lasting solution to their differences, he said.

Gordon said that the US commend both Cypriot leaders for their efforts and urge them to seize this window of opportunity to pursue negotiations leading to a settlement that reunifies Cyprus into a bi-zonal and bi-communal federation.

[04] CYPRUS TOURISM DECREASE

According to data by the Statistical Service of the Republic of Cyprus, the decrease reached 6.4%.

The Statistical Service notes that on the basis of the results of the Passenger Survey, revenue from tourism reached 33,9mn Euro in February 2010 compared to 36,3 mn Euro in the corresponding month of the previous year, recording a decrease of 6.4%.

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