Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 10-12-12

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

CONTENTS

[01] SPOKESMAN TURKEY BAGIS

[02] GOVERNMENT ECONOMY

[03] ARGYRIS CYPRUS GREEK PRIORITY

[04] TASSOS PAPADOPOULOS MEMORIAL SERVICE

[01] SPOKESMAN TURKEY BAGIS

The Spokesman, who was speaking after the memorial service for the late President of the Republic of Cyprus Tassos Papadopoulos, was invited to comment on the statements made in a Cypriot daily newspaper by Chief Negotiator of Turkeys EU accession, Egemen Bagis.

Noting that Bagis and other Turkish officials like to change the facts as regards Cyprus, he said that Turkey still refuses to meet the obligations it has undertaken towards the EU and its member states and for that reason the EU had decided in 2006 to freeze eight negotiating chapters.

Turkey still does not to fulfill its obligations and for this reason the Republic of Cyprus froze last year six more chapters, he went on to say, noting that it is up to Turkey to proceed with its EU negotiations, provided it meets its obligations.

Replying to questions, Stephanou said that for a long time now Turkey gives the impression that it will make a surprise move as regards the Cyprus problem.

Until now, we have seen nothing on behalf of Turkey, Stephanou said, noting that the only thing Turkey does is not to fulfill the obligations it has undertaken, as regards its EU accession course and the Cyprus problem.

He also pointed out the numerous UN Security Council resolutions, with which Turkey has not yet complied.

We hear that Turkey will make a surprise move. Until now, it has done nothing. The only thing Turkey does is not to fulfill its obligations regarding its EU accession course and the Cyprus issue. Let us not forget that there are UN resolutions which Turkey has not implemented yet, he said.

The Cypriot Spokesman said that Turkey, instead of obfuscating the issue, should meet its obligations in order to pave the way for the solution of the Cyprus problem.

Cyprus has been divided since 1974 when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third. Turkey refuses to recognise the Republic of Cyprus, an EU member state since 2004 or to open its ports and airports to the Republic of Cyprus, which constitute an obligation in the EU - Turkey negotiation framework signed by Turkey in October 2005.

[02] GOVERNMENT ECONOMY

The government will continue addressing the economic needs and challenges in a responsible manner, very cautiously and decisively, he said Sunday in statements after the memorial service for the late President of the Republic of Cyprus Tassos Papadopoulos.

Noting that the economy of Cyprus is among the best economies in the EU, he said that the government aims at bringing the country back to the path of economic growth.

Commenting on the reactions on behalf of some political parties and trade unions against the governments economic package, he said that Cyprus, in contrast to the rest of Europe, has not experienced salary cuts or massive demonstrations because the government had already taken the right measures to address the economic crisis.

[03] ARGYRIS CYPRUS GREEK PRIORITY

Argyris who is in Cyprus to represent Greeces ruling socialist party, PASOK, in a Congress organized by Cypriot Movement of Social democrats EDEK, expressed, on behalf of PASOK and the Greek government, full support to the efforts for achieving a peaceful, viable and functional solution of the Cyprus problem. He stressed that Greece will never compromise to the division of Cyprus.

Hellenic Parliaments Deputy Speaker also stated the readiness of both his party and the Greek government to offer every possible help in order to achieve a solution providing for a bicommunal bizonal federation with political equality as defined by UN resolutions and in line of the High Level Agreements, UN resolutions and the acquis communautaire.

[04] TASSOS PAPADOPOULOS MEMORIAL SERVICE

The memorial service was led by Archbishop of the Church of Cyprus Chrysostomos II, in the presence of the island`s leadership, including President of the House of Representatives Marios Garoyian, Government Spokesman Stephanos Stephanou, political party leaders, the late Presidents family and friends.

Secretary of the Political Committee of the Greek main opposition party, Nea Demokratia, Andreas Lykourenzos, delivered the memorial service address.

The memorial service was followed by a trisagion and the laying of wreaths at the grave of Tassos Papadopoulos.

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