Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 11-04-15

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

CONTENTS

[01] PRESIDENT - SHIPPING CHAMBER

[02] SPOKESMAN - INTERNATIONAL TREATIES

[03] ARCHBISHOP - CYPRUS FILE

[01] PRESIDENT - SHIPPING CHAMBER

Addressing the General Assembly of the Cyprus Shipping Chamber, President Christofias said that the government exerts particular and continued efforts against the Turkish embargo, adding that these efforts have been stepped up recently.

In his address, read out by Undersecretary to the President, Titos Christofides, Christofias pointed out that 2010 was marked by a significant success, namely the approval of Cyprus tax framework on shipping, which yields additional competitiveness and attractiveness to the Cypriot maritime.

``This is a very important achievement which constitutes the culmination of our policy,`` he said.

He underlined that ``the establishment of Cyprus as a global maritime power and as a quality registry is now an undisputable fact.``

The President also pointed out that the Cypriot registry would rank even higher among international fleets, if Turkey did not impose restrictive measures, which negatively affect both the development of the Cypriot shipping, as well as the interests of the European Union.

Turkey, which invaded Cyprus in 1974 and has been occupying 37 per cent of the island`s territory ever since, imposed restrictive measures on Cypriot-flagged vessels and vessels serving the Cyprus trade by not allowing them to call at Turkish ports.

Noting that these measures not only affect the Cypriot shipping, but also vessels bearing flags of other EU member-states, which approach Cypriot ports or are based in Cyprus, Christofias said ``the Turkish embargo obstructs the implementation of the principles of the international law and free competition in maritime trade with the EU.``

``We exert particular and continued efforts for the lifting of Turkey`s prohibition, something which is demanded by the country`s conventional obligations towards the EU,`` he said, adding that these efforts have been stepped up recently.

The President also expressed satisfaction over that fact that the Cypriot shipping industry, following timely and well-planned actions, has mitigated the adverse consequences from the global financial crisis.

``The Cypriot shipping has absorbed the negative results of the crisis and it is on recovery course,`` he added.

Describing the shipping sector as ``an important pillar of the Cypriot economy,`` Christofias added that the government aims at providing all necessary incentives that are eligible under EU rules in a bid to preserve and improve Cyprus` position in global maritime even further.

``We deem that with coordinated efforts, the will for further progress and development and by utilising the existing infrastructure and expertise developed through the years, the Cypriot shipping has a bright future,`` he concluded.

[02] SPOKESMAN - INTERNATIONAL TREATIES

He added that what has been agreed is the procedure for the discussion of the issue and particularly the terms of reference of the relevant sub-committee.

UN-backed direct negotiations for a solution to the Cyprus problem began in September 2008. Cyprus has been divided since 1974 when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third.

President of the Republic Demetris Christofias and Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu held a working dinner Thursday evening at the residence of the UNSG`s Special Representative in Cyprus, Liza Buttenheim, in the United Nations Protected Area in Nicosia. Following the dinner statements were made that the two leaders had reached an agreement on the issue of international treaties.

[03] ARCHBISHOP - CYPRUS FILE

Archbishop Chrysostomos congratulated the House Committee for its work, expressing his belief that by reading the report and through their experience, the Cypriot people could understand more and clarify how the betrayal of Cyprus has happened.

``At last long, after 37 years that we were all in the dark, not knowing the facts, your work sheds light on them for our people to know,`` he said.

On his part, Chairman of the Committee Marinos Sizopoulos said that the delivery of the findings to the Primate of the Church of Cyprus is a significant moment, because of the role he has played over the years.

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