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Tuesday, 23 April 2024
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Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 10-12-20Cyprus News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Cyprus News Agency at <http://www.cyna.org.cy>CONTENTS
[01] SPOKESMAN EEC TURKEYIssues concerning the Republic of Cyprus and its sovereign rights do not fall within the competences of any other state, Government Spokesman Stephanos Stephanou stressed Monday.The Spokesman was replying to a question regarding Turkeys adverse reaction to an agreement Cyprus and Israel signed last week to delineate the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) between the two countries. The government of Cyprus has been working on this issue methodically and in a concrete way, he said. Stephanou stressed that the government works in a way that would safeguard the Republic of Cyprus sovereign rights in order to conclude agreements that would reinforce those rights. We are also working to make the most of the advantages that emanate from our sovereign rights, he added. He furthermore underlined that relations between two states concern those two states only. Concluding, he welcomed an announcement issued by the Israeli Foreign Ministry regarding Turkeys reaction to the agreement. Cyprus has already signed a similar agreement with Egypt with a view to exploit any possible natural gas and oil reserves in its EEZ. Cyprus has been divided since 1974 when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third. Turkey is the only state in the world which does not recognise the Republic of Cyprus. [02] GOVERNMENT UN TALKSThe government of the Republic of Cyprus is in contact with the United Nations, Government Spokesman has said, referring to the schedule of meetings in the framework of the ongoing UN-led direct negotiations between the leaders of the two communities. The meetings, which had been agreed on to take place on specific dates in December, need to be rescheduled, after the leader of the Turkish Cypriot community Dervis Eroglu underwent open heart surgery in Ankara on Sunday.Asked Monday if the schedule of the meetings is affected by this development, Stephanou said: We are not in position to say anything at the moment. We are in contact with the United Nations. If there is specific information and decisions, we will announce them, he said, adding that the tomorrows meeting between President Demetris Christofias and Eroglu has been cancelled. However, Stephanou said that meetings between the advisors of the two leaders, George Iacovou and Kudret Ozersay, will take place, as scheduled. Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third. Peace talks began in September 2008 between President Christofias and former Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat. Talks continue now with Eroglu, who succeeded Talat in April this year. [03] CYPRUS SLOVAKIA DEFENCECyprus and Slovakia are discussing the details of a cooperation agreement on defence and security matters, Defence Minister Costas Papacostas said Monday. Speaking during a press conference, together with his Slovak counterpart Lubomir Galko, in Nicosia, Papacostas noted that the agreement will include provisions for training cooperation and other issues. Our mutual goal is to strengthen and deepen our cooperation on a bilateral level, as well as within the EU, where we are both members since 2004 he said.Papacostas referred to the excellent state of bilateral relations between the two countries, which he said was underpinned by the recent visit of the President of the Republic, Demetris Christofias, to Bratislava. The Slovak Minster, speaking through an interpreter, said that his country fully supports a peaceful settlement of the Cyprus issue. He noted the participation of Slovak Armed Forces personnel in the UN Peace Force in Cyprus, as well as the bicommunal dialogue of political parties, which is being conducted under the aegis of the Slovak Embassy in Nicosia. He added that possible issues of defence cooperation were discussed with the Cypriot side, in view of the Cyprus EU Presidency during the second half of 2012. He went on to say that the details of the agreement will be further elaborated by the technocrats from both sides. I am confident that the areas of cooperation can be found in which we can be very efficient and assist the Republic of Cyprus, Galko said. The Minister repeated his invitation to Papacostas to visit Slovakia, which the Cypriot Minister readily accepted. [04] EU TRIO CYPRUS MEETINGDelegations of the Ministries of Labour and Social Insurance of Poland, Denmark and Cyprus, held a joint coordination meeting in Warsaw to exchange views on the 18-month program of the Trio Presidency.The meeting took place on December 14, between State Secretaries and Directors General of Ministries of Labour and Social Insurance of Poland, Denmark and Cyprus at the initiative of Minister of Labour and Social Policy of Poland Radoslaw Mleczko, whose country will assume EU Presidency during the second half of 2011. Cyprus was represented by Director General of the Ministry of Labour and Social Insurance, George Papageorgiou, head of a four-member delegation. The three delegations discussed ways of further cooperation and regular contacts in the coming months and the 18-month presidency of the Trio, from the second half of 2011 until the second half of 2012. They also discussed main principles for further promotion of the objectives of social policy, employment policy, measures to address the aging population and the priorities of the EU Strategy 2020. Cyprus News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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