Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 11-01-31

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

CONTENTS

[01] CHRISTOFIAS PISSARIDES HONOUR

[02] LARNAKA - EGYPT - EVACUEES

[03] SPOKESMAN BAGIS POSITIONS

[04] PRESIDENT GREECE VISIT

[01] CHRISTOFIAS PISSARIDES HONOUR

Speaking at the event, which took place at a local hotel, the President referred to Pissarides important work and service to the scientific community which granted him the Nobel prize for the economy last October.

He said that Professor Pissarides is a distinguished scientist and a prominent professor, adding that it is an honour to have him teaching at the University of Cyprus and a member of the Governing Board of the Cyprus University of Technology.

The Republics highest award is today presented to a top flight scientist whose contribution in science has already been acknowledged with the Nobel prize, President Christofias said.

In his speech, President Christofias also referred to the governments plan for academic reform, saying that this will give Cyprus the opportunity to successfully meet new challenges ahead, adding that people need to be more open-minded and tolerant to others.

The President of the Republic assured that the government very much supports the foundation of academic and research institutions to help Cyprus face current challenges, find solutions to everyday problems and be a reliable and equal member of the EU.

He also said that if Cyprus had founded academic institutions soon after independence, in 1960, the countrys course through history could have been different than the one which led to the coup by Greek junta, the 1974 Turkish invasion and Turkey`s occupation.

[02] LARNAKA - EGYPT - EVACUEES

The evacuees arrived on board a US Air Force military aircraft that departed on Monday morning from Larnaca to Egypt carrying personnel to reinforce the American embassy in Cairo.

One more flight from Cairo with about 180 people - most of them U.S. citizens - was due to arrive here in late afternoon while another 9 flights are to follow.

A Crisis Management Center has been established at Larnaca Airport to coordinate all action for the smooth reception of citizens fleeing unrest in Egypt, through the islands airports.

[03] SPOKESMAN BAGIS POSITIONS

Referring to Bagis` remarks that there were ``two states`` in Cyprus, Stephanou noted that the Turkish official was ``conveying the position of the Turkish leadership for two states and two peoples in Cyprus, which does not reflect reality and is outside the positions and decisions of the international community and especially the UN.``

``There is only one state in Cyprus, one people comprising two communities, the Greek Cypriot and the Turkish Cypriot community,`` Stephanou pointed out.

[04] PRESIDENT GREECE VISIT

Government Spokesman Stephanos Stephanou said today that the meeting would take place in the context of a frequent briefing and close coordination and cooperation between the two governments on the Cyprus issue and other issues of mutual interest.

The meeting is taking place following the Geneva meeting between President Christofias and Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu, with UN Secretary General Ban Ki - moon, in the framework of a process aiming at reaching a solution of

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