Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 10-04-22

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

CONTENTS

[01] FM DIRECT TRADE

[02] PRESIDENT - AMBASSADORS

[03] CYPRUS AIRWAYS FLIGHTS

[04] CYPRUS LASER MASTERS CHAMPIONSHIP

[01] FM DIRECT TRADE

``We will use all the institutional and political procedures we have at our disposal, and even if the regulation is promoted in the end, we will appeal to the Court of the European Communities,`` Kyprianou said after attending a meeting on Wednesday of the parliamentary Committees on Foreign and European Affairs.

Kyprianou briefed the members of the two committees on recent developments and reiterated that the proposed regulation was based on an incorrect legal basis.

He added that if its aim was to facilitate Turkey, then it would fail since it would have quite the opposite effect, and that promoting the regulation would undermine efforts to solve the Cyprus problem.

Speaking during the meeting, Kyprianou pointed out that the regulation was never withdrawn by the European Commission or dismissed by the Council, adding that proposals that are not adopted are usually withdrawn after three or four years.

However, he said, the proposed regulation for direct trade has been pending for six years, and expressed certainty that the Lisbon Treaty gave the European Parliament the opportunity to promote the regulation.

Kyprianou referred to the background of the regulation and pointed out that the Republic of Cyprus had never been actively briefed before or after the regulation was submitted, despite the fact that many objections had been raised.

Cyprus, which joined the EU in 2004, has been divided since 1974, when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third.

[02] PRESIDENT - AMBASSADORS

Government Spokesman Stephanos Stephanou said after the meeting at the Presidential Palace that the ambassadors shared the positions of the President and support his views regarding an international conference on the Cyprus problem.

On behalf of the ambassadors, US Ambassador to Cyprus Frank Urbancic said they congratulated the President on his decision to move forward from the point where the talks left off and confirmed that this was the right approach.

In his remarks, Stephanou said ``the President of the Republic met today with the ambassadors of the five permanent members of the Security Council to brief them on his positions and views concerning the Cyprus problem, in the light of the change in the leadership of the Turkish Cypriot community.``

[03] CYPRUS AIRWAYS FLIGHTS

CY Spokesman Kyriakos Kyriakou said the national airline is scheduling extra flights to ease the congestion, caused by the number of cancellations since the ash cloud began affecting flights. Thousands of passengers were stranded around the world due to the shutdown of airspace for nearly six days.

He said that from April 15-21, a total of 120 CA flights were cancelled and 12 thousand passengers could not travel.

He also said that Cyprus Airways has decided to schedule after 1400 local time, additional flights to and from Paris with the codes CY1386 - CY1387 on an Á330 aircraft to enable passengers who have been stranded in Paris and Larnaca to reach their final destinations.

Another two flights are also scheduled today for Paris.

[04] CYPRUS LASER MASTERS CHAMPIONSHIP

The event will attract 75 athletes from 22 countries, including New Zealand, Sweden, Spain, Brazil, Argentina, who will participate in three classes; Laser Standard, Laser Radial and Laser 4.7.

The opening ceremony is scheduled for April 25, while the closing ceremony and the award ceremony will take place on April 30.

President of the Cyprus Sailing Federation, Giannis Fotiou, said that due to the problems in air travel as a result of the volcanic ash, the Federation in cooperation with the International Laser Class Association has prepared an alternative plan which will be made public within the next two days, if deemed necessary.

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