Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 11-03-05

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

CONTENTS

[01] SPOKESMAN - UN REPORT

[02] LABOUR MINISTER - WOMEN - EMPLOYMENT

[01] SPOKESMAN - UN REPORT

Government Spokesman Stephanos Stephanou has said that Ban Ki moons report on his Good Offices Mission in Cyprus endorses the interlinking of negotiating chapters and the position that the talks are Cypriot owned and led.

Linking the issues of property, territorial adjustment and (Turkish) settlers will create the conditions to push forward the negotiation process, said Stephanou, noting that the SG adopts this position, which is also the position of the Greek Cypriot side.

He also pointed out that acceptance by the Turkish side of the balanced proposal of the Greek Cypriot side on the Turkish occupied city and port of Famagusta will also give a great impetus and momentum to the negotiations.

President Demetris Christofias has proposed the opening of the port of Famagusta, to be managed jointly by Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots, under EU auspices.

In a written statement, the Spokesman said that the UN Secretary General notes in his report the two joint statements on 23 May and 1 July, in which the leaders of the two communities agreed the basis of the negotiations and UN resolutions on Cyprus.

The basis of the negotiations is a bizonal, bicommunal federation with political equality as defined in the relevant UN resolutions, providing for a state with a single sovereignty, a single citizenship and a single international personality, he pointed out.

On the issue of an international conference on Cyprus, Stephanou noted that the UN Secretary will convene such a meeting after consultations with both parties and once there is sufficient progress in the core issues of the Cyprus problem which will warrant for an international conference. He added that the international conference will address security concerns and guarantees which are the international aspect of the Cyprus problem.

The Spokesman expressed the readiness and the willingness of the Greek Cypriot side to continue negotiations on the agreed basis to reach a solution as soon as possible.

If the Turkish Cypriot side shows the same willingness and the same consistency on the basis of the solution, then both sides can reach an agreement on the internal aspects of the Cyprus problem, he added.

This development, he added, will enable the convening of an international conference under UN auspices and with the participation of the five permanent members of the Security Council, the guarantor powers (Greece, Britain and Turkey) and the Republic of Cyprus and the Republic of Cyprus to solve the international aspects of the problem.

Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third. President of the Republic of Cyprus Demetris Christofias and Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu are currently engaged in UN-led direct negotiations, with an aim to reunify the island, under a federal roof.

[02] LABOUR MINISTER - WOMEN - EMPLOYMENT

The Minister said that the average participation of women aged 15-64 in the labour market in Cyprus is 62,4%, higher than the average figures in Europe (58,6%). She also said that a team of inspectors has been set up to investigate complaints sent to them by the Equality Commission.

The Ministry has issued a series of leaflets with guidelines and information on the rights of women relating to maternity leave, equal treatment and professional training and obligations and the rights of employers and women employees, she said.

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