Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 11-03-01

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

CONTENTS

[01] SPOKESMAN - CYPRUS TALKS

[02] CYPRUS - RAF - JETS

[03] ELECTIONS - PREPARATIONS

[04] EUROSTAT - UNEMPLOYMENT

[01] SPOKESMAN - CYPRUS TALKS

The Spokesmans comments came in response to statements by UN Secretary General Special Adviser on Cyprus Alexander Downer that the leaders of the islands two communities agreed during their meeting on Monday that the talks would continue on the agreed United Nations basis.

The agreed basis of the talks on Cyprus is included in the two communiques of May 23rd and July 1st, which provide for a bizonal, bicommunal federation with political equality as defined by the relevant UN resolutions for a single state with a single sovereignty, one citizenship and a single personality, Stephanou said.

This basis of negotiations, he noted, is consistent with and based on various UN resolutions, adding that this basis is also provided in the most recent UN Security Resolutions on Cyprus.

He said that what needs to be done is for both sides to respect the agreed basis and work within this framework with a view to reach an agreed basis of the Cyprus problem. Stephanou also said that the Greek Cypriot side always complies with this framework and expects the other side to follow suit, in order to be able to reach a settlement.

Invited to comment on statements by the leader of the Turkish Cypriot community Dervis Eroglu that the negotiations take place on the basis of UN parameters, the Spokesman said that it is clear what the agreed basis is, adding that this has been noted by the UN Secretary General himself in at least the two most recent UN resolutions, through a reference to the joint communiques of May 23rd and July 1st, which outline this basis.

Responding to another question, Stephanou said that the government expects an impartial description of efforts for a political settlement by the UN Secretary General in his forthcoming report on Cyprus.

Weve been working to this end during our contacts internationally, both within the UN and the UN, he noted.

[02] CYPRUS - RAF - JETS

Invited to comment on relevant reports by British media, Stephanou said that after we saw this information in the media, weve had some contacts and we are expecting to get some information on this issue. We still have nothing, he said.

Asked if Britain is obliged to give information and ask for the Republic of Cyprus permission, Stephanou said there are certain Treaties regarding the operation of the British Bases in Cyprus. As far as I know information must be given on this issue, he noted.

Britain has retained two military bases in Cyprus after the country gained its independence in 1960 from British colonial rule.

[03] ELECTIONS - PREPARATIONS

In an interview with CNA, Demetriou said that on April 14 a decision will be taken on the dissolution of the House of Representatives and one day later the Interior Minister will issue a decree announcing officially the elections, while the Chief Returning Officer and the District Returning officers and their deputies will be appointed.

Demetriou said that candidacies will be submitted on May 3rd and on May 6th a decree will be issued listing the election centres.

On May 13 the allocation of voters to election centres will be published.

The Elections Service of the Ministry of the Interior has called on all citizens of the Republic of Cyprus, aged 18 and over, who have been residing in Cyprus for the past six months, to submit their applications to register in the electoral list before April 2, in order to be able to vote in the parliamentary elections of May 22. Persons who will have their 18th birthday by May 22 will also be able to vote.

After the deadline of April 2, no registrations or amendments will be made to the electoral list.

[04] EUROSTAT - UNEMPLOYMENT

According to figures released in Brussels, male unemployment in January was 6.9%, recording no variation as to December 2010, whereas female unemployment recorded an increase and was estimated to 7.9% compared to 7.7% in December 2010. Unemployment among young people (under 25) in December 2010 was 20.4%.

Eurostat estimates that 23,048 million men and women in the EU27, of whom 15,775 million were in the Euro area, were unemployed in January 2011.

Among the Member States, the lowest unemployment rates were recorded in the Netherlands and Austria (both 4.3%) and Luxembourg (4.7%), and the highest in Spain (20.4%), Latvia (18.3% in the third quarter of 2010) and Lithuania (17.4% in the fourth quarter of 2010).

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