Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 11-05-27

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

CONTENTS

[01] PRESIDENT - MELBOURNE - CYPRUS COMMUNITY

[02] EU TRIO PRESIDENCY - PROGRAMME

[03] UNFICYP - PHOTO EXHIBITION

[04] MARKOYLLIS - EU COUNCIL

[01] PRESIDENT - MELBOURNE - CYPRUS COMMUNITY

According to an official press release, issued here today, President Christofias visited the Cyprus Community Centre in Melbourne, accompanied by First Lady Elsi Christofia, the Government Spokesman and government officials.

Speaking to members of the Cyprus Community and referring to the ongoing direct talks witç Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglou, President Christofias said that the only progress we have had so far is in economy matters where basically we have reached an agreement.

He underlined that the Turkish Cypriot leadership works for two separate states.

Briefing the Cyprus community on the developments in the framework of the direct talks, President Christofias referred in detail to what was agreed with former Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat. He pointed out that they formed a common position as to the solution of the Cyprus problem, which would be a federal bicommunal, bizonal federation with political equality as provided by UN Security Councils relevant resolutions. He described the agreement on the form of the solution as a stable base on which a functionable and viable state serving all Cypriots, Greek and Turkish Cypriots, Maronites, Armenians and Latins, could be build.

He also referred to other issues on which they reached with Talat an agreement such as the demilitarization of Cyprus, pointing out however that the former Turkish Cypriot leader maintained its unacceptable by the Greek Cypriot side position for the continuation of guarantees. President Christofias reminded that Turkey, abusing its capacity as a guarantor invaded Cyprus in 1974 and occupied 37% of its territory.

Regarding the direct talks currently underway with Talats successor in the leadership of the Turkish Cypriot community, Dervis Eroglou, President Christofias said that Eroglou maintains a completely different philosophy as regards the solution of the Cyprus problem, insisting on a two separate state solution.

In his comments, President said that the key of the solution of the Cyprus problem lies with Ankara, stressing that only if Turkey changes its stance after the elections, we could be optimistic.

President called for unity in Cyprus, adding that the Cyprus issue is above all ideologies and political parties, Cyprus is a victim of invasion, occupation and illegal settling (of the territory under Turkish occupation) and is suffering due to all these.

He also referred to Turkish Cypriots, noting that they also fear the possibility of loosing their Cypriot identity.

President Christofias underlined that it is time we as Greek Cypriots to come to terms with the fact that Turkish Cypriots are also children of the same country and their leadership must realize that they have to respect our rights and we must all put an end to this division that accommodates the interests of others.

He referred to the foreign interventions that spread chauvinism and hate between Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots which led to the invasion and occupation of our country.

Cyprus has been divided since the Turkish invasion in 1974. UN led negotiations have been underway between President Christofias and the Turkish Cypriot leader in an effort to reunite the island under a federal roof.

[02] EU TRIO PRESIDENCY - PROGRAMME

In a joint press conference, the three Heads of delegations, the Coordinators of Poland, Denmark and Cyprus, have expressed their satisfaction on the smooth conclusion of a years long work between the three countries, in consultation with the Council of the EU and the European Commission.

Head of the Secretariat of Cyprus EU Council Presidency Andreas Moleskis, underlined that the goals set in the Presidency Framework are very ambitious and progressive but also attainable. The framework is very well balanced and reasonable and it reflects the major issues on the European agenda, as for example the EU Multiannual Financial Framework, Moleskis added.

We achieved a tremendous job today. We concluded the work on the trio program and this is something which is crucially important to kick off the work of the trio, Polish Minister for European Affairs Mikolaj Dowgielewicz said. Under-Secretary for European Affairs of Denmark Kim Jorgensen said that the drafting of the trio programme, on which they have concluded, was a very important task.

The EU trio presidency (Poland-Denmark-Cyprus) will exercise the presidency of the European Council from July 1st 2011 until the end of 2012. This will be the first time that the Republic of Cyprus, since it joined the EU in May 2004, will assume the EU presidency, in the latter part of 2012.

[03] UNFICYP - PHOTO EXHIBITION

Lisa Buttenheim, in her speech noted that at this very moment, more than 120.000 military, police and civilian personnel are serving in 15 peace operations around the globe. Referring to Cyprus, she said that since the inception of UNFICYP in March 1964, a total of 150.000 peacekeepers have served in the country. Buttenheim noted that since 1964 a total of 181 peacekeepers lost their lives while serving on duty across the island. Buttenheim also spoke of the role of the UN police officers who have been contributing to the maintenance and restoration of the law and order and they work closely with the Technical Committee on Crime and Criminal Matters.

George Iakovou, Representative of President Christofias , in his speech said that amongst all those that have acknowledged the importance of peace keeping are of course Cypriots, because UNFICYP has made a significant contribution to peace in Cyprus, adding that we are really hopeful that this particular effort over the last few months will yield the desired results that will bring peace on our island. Kudret Ozersay, Representative of Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu, said that we are here to thank the peacekeepers on behalf of the Turkish Cypriot side for all their efforts and contributions in order to maintain stability on the island.

In his speech, John Farelly, UNFICYP Senior Police Adviser said that UN Police has enjoyed good working relationships with the police services on both sides and there is a daily contact relative to matters of mutual interest. The International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers was established by the General Assembly in 2002 to pay tribute to all men and women serving in UN peacekeeping operations for their high level of professionalism, dedication and courage, and to honour the memory of those who have lost their lives in the cause of peace. The General Assembly designated 29 May as the Day, as it was the date in 1948 when the first UN peacekeeping mission, the United Nations Truce Supervision Organization (UNTSO), began operations in Palestine.

[04] MARKOYLLIS - EU COUNCIL

In addition, ministers held an exchange of views on critical information infrastructure protection and adopted conclusions on this topic. The Council adopted a rule concerning the creation and the function of the European Network and Information Security Agency (ENISA) stationed in Crete. Markoullis praised the role which ENISA plays and underlined the need of a permanent function and expansion of its responsibilities to respond effectively in the sensitive issue of network and information security.

The Cypriot Minister in her intervention referred to the serious problems regarding the coordination of the radio spectrum Cyprus faces due to the illegal interference from the Turkish occupied areas of the island. Markoullis expressed her appreciation to the Presidency and the Council for the satisfactory approach to the issue in its draft conclusion. The Cypriot Minister also referred to the need of coordination on various acts on a national, European, and international level as well as to the need of continuous information of all users of modern technology and services.

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