Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 10-03-21

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

CONTENTS

[01] PRESIDENT - TURKEY - CYPRUS TALKS

[02] PRESIDENT - ATHENS - EMBASSY - NEW BUILDING

[03] SPOKESMAN - INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE

[04] MINISTER - ECONOMIC PACKAGE

[01] PRESIDENT - TURKEY - CYPRUS TALKS

Speaking at the University of Patra, where he was declared Honoured Doctorate Holder of the Department of Primary Education, President Christofias referred to Turkeys role, saying that Ankara has the motive to work for the solution of the Cyprus problem, since it aspires to become a full EU member state.

Noting that Turkey has not yet fulfilled its European obligations, including the ones concerning the Republic of Cyprus, he said despite that Cyprus supports Turkeys EU aspirations and its full EU membership, under conditions.

It is up to Turkey to facilitate its position and fulfill its European dreams. Turkey has to fulfill its obligations and cooperate for the achievement of a solution in Cyprus, he underlined.

Referring to the ongoing UN led Cyprus negotiations, which began September 2008, President Christofias said that they are being carried out on the basis of the principle that nothing is agreed until all is agreed.

This gives us the ability to discuss a series of chapters regarding the essence of the Cyprus problem, to record convergences and differences, to proceed to the discussion of other chapters, he went on to say.

In total, he said, the number of meetings in the framework of the Cyprus talks, including the intensified ones, reached 78.

President Christofias said that the Cyprus negotiations have had concrete results, despite the many difficulties.

There has been progress in the chapter of governance and executive power, a chapter which is very important for the state to function, he stressed.

There are, he added, still some important issues, which have not been fully agreed, like the executive power and foreign policy.

He went on to say that we have achieved less convergences in the chapters of economy and European affairs.

Regarding the rest of the chapters, he said that differences are more than convergences.

Furthermore, he expressed the conviction that despite difficulties and obstacles and problems, through hard negotiations and work, a solution can be reached.

There are prospects for a solution. But in order to bear fruit, the Turkish side has to proceed to the negotiations with more constructive positions, he pointed out.

The Cypriot President noted that Turkey has to decide to function towards the direction of the solution and leave room for the Turkish Cypriot leader to negotiate.

He pledged to continue negotiations with good will and realism, always based on principles.

President Christofias said that the Greek Cypriot side wants to have a solution as soon as possible, noting that time consolidates the fait accompli of the Turkish occupation and creates new problems.

Time is of crucial importance but for the sake of time we will not sacrifice the quality of the solution, he added.

He stressed that he would not accept any solution of the Cyprus problem that would not fulfill some basic principles of justice and functionality.

We do not accept a solution that will not restore human rights and basic freedoms of all our people. We are convinced that in the framework of a bizonal, bicommunal federation all the above can be safeguarded, he concluded.

The Cyprus problem, he said, is an international problem of invasion and occupation of an important part of the territory of the Republic of Cyprus by Turkey.

The Turkish occupation constitutes a violation of the International Law and the UN Charta, as noted in many UN resolutions and decisions, which Turkey refuses to respect and implement since 1974, he underlined.

President Christofias and Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat have been engaged in direct talks, under UN auspices, since September 2008 with a view to finding a negotiated settlement to reunite the country.

[02] PRESIDENT - ATHENS - EMBASSY - NEW BUILDING

The Cypriot President, who inaugurated Saturday the new building of the Cypriot Embassy in Athens, near the Syntagma Square, said that the Embassy`s role during the difficult times of the Cypriot history has been particularly important, especially during the years which followed the Turkish invasion in 1974.

Present at the inauguration ceremony were President of the Hellenic Republic Karolos Papoulias, Deputy Foreign Minister Demetris Droutsas, representing the Greek Prime Minister, Archbishop of Athens and All Greece Ieronymos and many others.

He noted that the Embassy plays also an important role in supporting the 70,000 Cypriots who live in Greece.

Cypriots in Greece, he said, may find it easier to adopt themselves in Greece, a country which has the same language and civilization, but they seek contact with their own homeland and this was particularly evident after the Turkish invasion in 1974.

[03] SPOKESMAN - INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE

Stephanou, who was commenting on criticism by main opposition leader, DISY President Nicos Anastasiades, said that the International Conference on the Cyprus problem must take place in the framework of the UN, explaining that the solution of the Cyprus problem will be achieved on the basis of the UN Secretary Generals good offices mission and the relevant UN resolutions on Cyprus.

The Spokesman said that President of the Republic of Cyprus wishes to achieve a solution the soonest possible and added that President Christofias would continue his efforts to reach a solution, based on principles and showing the necessary realism.

Referring to the EU, the Spokesman said that it could play an important role in changing Turkeys negative stance on Cyprus, noting that this is one of the basic pillars of our policy.

For this reason, he went on to say, the Cypriot President would like the EU to participate in any International Conference on Cyprus.

[04] MINISTER - ECONOMIC PACKAGE

Addressing an event entitled Present and Future of the Cypriot economy, the contribution of services, Stavrakis referred to the package of measures submitted by his Ministry to the political parties and social partners for discussion.

He said that the package aims to emphasise on economic growth, to attack tax avoidance, to limit non productive state expenses and state and salary costs.

Stavrakis expressed optimism that we will be able to reach solutions that would improve the diachronic fiscal problems which we have before us and ensure prosperity for the Cypriot economy and the Cypriot citizens for many years.

Referring to the Cypriot economy, he said that it is in a much better condition than other economies in the Eurozone adding that deficit will reach 9,6% in 2010.

This year we have a deficit of 9,6%, with surely a concerning trend, the public debt is at 54%, much better than in the rest Eurozone which has an average of 80%, he said.

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