Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 11-07-15

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

CONTENTS

[01] PARLIAMENT MILITARY COUP - TURKISH INVASION

[02] PRESIDENT BLAST - APOLOGIES

[03] EU EXPERTS VASSILIKOS

[01] PARLIAMENT MILITARY COUP - TURKISH INVASION

President of the House of Representatives Yiannakis Omirou called on the MPs to observe one-minute`s silence in memory of the heroes and martyrs, killed during the summer of 1974.

The session took place in the light of the tragic events in the Naval Base Evaggelos Florakis near Limmassol, when Monday an explosion resulted to the death of 13 people and destroyed Cyprus` main power plant.

The session, which was also attended by Ministers and other officials, began with an opening speech by Omirou and was followed by speeches by leaders or representatives of political parties.

In his speech, Omirou referred to the tragic events in the Naval Base, saying that the 13 victims showed self sacrifice, adding that the tragedy is the result of a criminal and inexcusable negligence.

Responsibilities must be apportioned and taken, he said, adding that a full and objective investigation into the causes of the deadly incident must take place.

The investigation, he noted, must satisfy the people`s sense of justice.

Referring to the Cyprus problem, Omirou expressed the view that the UNSGs statement after his meeting in Geneva on the 7th of July with the leaders of the two communities in Cyprus, shows signs that there are efforts to change the agreed Cyprus procedure and to impose timeframes for a solution in Cyprus until October.

The international community, he stressed, should realise that the Greek Cypriot side will not accept any arbitration in the sense of an International Conference, nor timeframes or blackmails.

The Cyprus problem, he underlined, is nothing more than an issue of invasion and occupation of an independent state by Turkey and called upon all those who are interested in seeing a just and viable solution in Cyprus, to exert their pressure on the occupation power, which is Turkey.

Omriou also referred the heroes who lost their lives during the 1974 Turkish invasion, to the enclaved people in the Turkish occupied areas, to the families of the missing persons and to the refugees who still suffer the consequences of the Turkish invasion and occupation.

In his speech, President of the main opposition party, right wing DISY, Nicos Anastasiades, said that it is time for everyone to undertake their responsibilities.

He noted that Cyprus economy has entered its biggest crisis after the destruction of 1974, when Turkey invaded Cyprus and urged all to be ready to take daring decisions.

General Secretary of the left wing AKEL ruling party, Andros Kyprianou, said that everybodys goal should be to investigate all aspects of the tragedy in the Naval Base Evaggelos Florakis and apportion responsibilities.

He added that the deadly blast and the los of lives should not affect the efforts to reach consensus and address the economic issues, which, as he said, are deteriorating.

President of the Democratic Party, Marios Garoyian, referring to the Cyprus problem, he said that recently, Turkish intransigence is increasing and some actions on behalf of the UN and the international community cause justified concerns.

We believe that the time is ripe for all leadership of the Cypriot Hellenism to address and undertake its historic responsibilities, he noted.

MP of the Socialists Movement EDEK, Giorgos Varnava, said that unfortunately we are obliged to grieve today as well the death of the 13 victims of the deadly blast in the Naval Base near Limassol, which was a result of a criminal negligence.

We honor their memory and demand the purge of this tragedy, he pointed out.

President of the European Party, Demetris Syllouris, said that the 11 of July 2011 when the unprecedented tragedy took place at the Naval Base Evaggelos Florakis is one more tragic day in the history of the Republic of Cyprus, along with those days in the summer of 1974.

Referring to the tragedy in the Naval Base, he described the incident as a criminal negligence and an unprecedented incapability on behalf of those who committed this huge crime.

MP of the Ecologists and Environmentalists Movement Giorgos Perdikis said that the people of Cyprus were not defeated in 1974, they were, he noted, the victims of a betrayal.

The people of Cyprus go through a new tragedy these days, they are betrayed anew, and look for justice, he said.

After the conclusion of the session, President Christofias and members of the Council of Ministers, accompanied by the House President, visited the photo exhibition on the coup detat and the Turkish invasion, situated in the Parliaments patio.

Present at the plenary session were also Minister of the Interior Neoclis Sylikiotis, Minister of Agriculture, Natural Resources and the Environment Demetris Eliades, Minister of Communication and Works Erato Kozakou Markoullis, Minister of Labour and Social Insurance Soteroulla Charalambous, and Minister of Commerce, Industry and Tourism Antonis Paschalides.

[02] PRESIDENT BLAST - APOLOGIES

Speaking to the press on the sidelines of the official memorial service held in Nicosia, for those who lost their lives during the 1974 military coup in Cyprus, President Christofias commented on the statements made after his televised address to the nation yesterday, underlining that the apologies on behalf of myself and my government are granted.

Furthermore, he added, I wish to call on everybody to keep a low profile and to restrain from any statements of animosity. President said that this is the time for everyone to stay reasonable and to reflect on the events, the time for unity and collective work in order to cope with the tragic consequences of the incident.

He reassured that on behalf of the government, we assume responsibility accounted to us, however nobody has the right to set public courts, to judge and to convict people.

[03] EU EXPERTS VASSILIKOS

Speaking during a press conference, on the launch of the Polish EU Presidency, at the EU House in Nicosia, Head of the European Commission Representation in Cyprus, Androulla Kaminara, said that a Commission expert on Civil Protection is already in the site, and will be joined by a team of experts on Sunday or Monday the latest. She added that experts specialize in damage assessment, health and safety and on the economic assessment of the crisis.

Kaminara said that this is the response of the Commissions Monitoring and Information Center mechanism, which calls on aid from member states, after it was notified by the Cypriot authorities, asking for expertise and technical support.

Experts from the Commission and the member states are arriving in Cyprus, but the call for technical support and certain equipment is in the process of being evaluated, Kaminara said. She also noted that a video conference will take place on Saturday, with participants from all member states and Brussels, in order to coordinate the assistance mechanism.

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