Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 10-06-15

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

CONTENTS

[01] Leaders Cyprus Talks - Property issue

[02] President Ôwo sides - Positions submitted

[03] Security Council - UNFICYP mandate

[04] Minister of Commerce- Russia - Foreign investors

[01] Leaders Cyprus Talks - Property issue

As Lisa Buttenheim, the newly appointed UNSG`s Special Representative in Cyprus and Head of the UN Peacekeeping force in Cyprus (UNFICYP) said, the meeting of the two leaders lasted two hours. The leaders agreed to meet again on 23rd of June, 9th of July, 22nd of July and 28th of July. All the meetings will begin at 10 am.

The representatives of the two leaders, Presidential Commissioner, George Iacovou and T/c leaders advisor, Kudret Ozersay, will continue to meet, she added. Iacovou and Ozersay will also visit Limnitis area to observe the progress of the work.

Asked if at the coming meetings the leaders will continue the discussion on the property issue, Buttenheim said that this question should be raised to the two leaders. Upon a question if they were any new proposals in this meeting, she said that she can not come on what it was discussed but it was in a friendly atmosphere.

The last meeting on June 3, 2010, was postponed at Christofias initiative, after statements by Eroglu who questioned the basis of the talks.

Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third. President Christofias and former Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat began peace talks in September 2008. Talks now continue with the President and Eroglu.

[02] President Ôwo sides - Positions submitted

In his statements following his return to the Presidential Palace from the venue where the talks take place, President Christofias said we have started. Both sides submitted their positions.

He added that the meetings will continue on dates announced both at the level of the leaders and advisors.

Asked whether the positions submitted today are new ones, he said that today, the two sides have reiterated their positions.

In response to another question, he said that advisers to the two leaders will visit the Limnitis area ``to review the work carried out.

Asked whether he has raised the issue of territorial adjustments and settlers or he intends to do so, he replied: ``of course I have raised it and I will continue to do so.

Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third. President Christofias and former Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat began peace talks in September 2008. Talks now continue with the President and Eroglu.

[03] Security Council - UNFICYP mandate

The Security Council also urges full exploitation of this opportunity, including by intensifying the momentum of negotiations, preserving the current atmosphere of trust and goodwill, and engaging in the process in a constructive and open manner.

In its resolution, the Security Council ``welcomes the analysis of developments on the ground over the last six months in the Secretary-Generals reports, in accordance with his mandate,`` and also welcomes ``the progress made so far in the fully fledged negotiations, and the prospect of further progress in the near future towards a comprehensive and durable settlement that this has created.``

It ``urges full exploitation of this opportunity, including by intensifying the momentum of negotiations, preserving the current atmosphere of trust and goodwill, and engaging in the process in a constructive and open manner,`` and also urges ``the implementation of confidence-building measures, and looks forward to agreement on and implementation of further such steps, including the opening of other crossing points.``

The Security Council ``reaffirms all its relevant resolutions on Cyprus, in particular resolution 1251 (1999) of 29 June 1999 and subsequent resolutions, eexpresses its full support for UNFICYP and decides to extend its mandate for a further period ending 15 December 2010,`` and furthermore ``calls on both sides to continue to engage, as a matter of urgency and while respecting UNFICYPs mandate, in consultations with UNFICYP on the demarcation of the buffer zone, and on the United Nations 1989 aide-memoire, with a view to reaching early agreement on outstanding issues.``

It also ``calls on the Turkish Cypriot side and Turkish forces to restore in Strovilia the military status quo which existed there prior to 30 June 2000.``

[04] Minister of Commerce- Russia - Foreign investors

Addressing Tuesday the Moscow Business Forum, in Russia, the Minister said that the value of Russian investments in Cyprus reached 2 billion Euro in 2008, whereas the value of Cypriot investments in Russia during the same year was more than 1.5 billion Euro.

These investments, he went on to add, are mainly in real estate and business activities, trade and repairs, financial intermediation, and manufacturing.

Referring to trade, he said that exports of Cyprus products to Russia during the period 2005-2008 represented an increase of 55%, despite the small decline in 2009 which is due to the recent economic crisis.

``Total imports from Russia are nearly double our exports``, he added.

As regards tourism, Paschalides said that in 2009 150.000 Russians visited Cyprus, while in the same year 49.000 Cypriots visited Russia.

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