Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 11-09-22

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

CONTENTS

[01] CYPRUS PRESIDENT - GREEK FM - UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

[02] US PRESIDENT - TURKISH PM - CYPRUS PROBLEM

[03] EU COMMISSIONER FOR ENERGY - CYPRUS

[04] UEFA EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE - MEETING

[01] CYPRUS PRESIDENT - GREEK FM - UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

Even if there is no political settlement to reunite the country - if Turkey does not show good will - and we do have an income from oil exploitation, we will use it for the common good of both communities, the President said in statements after a meeting in New York with Greek Foreign Minister Stavros Lambrinides.

President Christofias, scheduled to address the UN General Assembly later today, is set to denounce the illegal agreement on what Turkey calls continental shelf, signed Wednesday between Turkey and the illegal Turkish Cypriot regime, in occupied Cyprus.

Speaking to the press after his meting with Lambrinides, he described the agreement as a provocation.

Turkeys response to our sovereign right to explore for hydrocarbons in our Exclusive Economic Zone is a provocation and illegal, the President stressed, recalling that the UN have branded the regime as legally invalid. He also referred to UN resolutions 541 and 550, adopted when the illegal Turkish Cypriot regime was unilaterally declared in November 1983, which deplore the UDI and call on all states not to recognise or facilitate it.

President Christofias said he is going to call on Turkey to contribute to a solution to the Cyprus problem which would enable Turkish Cypriots benefit from hydrocarbons reserves.

I can assure the Turkish Cypriots that they have nothing to lose, on the contrary they will gain a great deal, because all these issues relating to the exploitation of hydrocarbons will be handled by the central government in a federal Cyprus, he explained, adding that the central government will then distribute all income from the exploitation to the two constituent states.

The Greek FM said that the agreement is an illegal and provocative act that has no merit and no validity.

This act clearly shows that Turkey is not in line with international law and order and the role it is supposed to play in the region, which is to act as a stability power, Lambrinides underlined.

He reaffirmed Greeces support to Cyprus and efforts for the solution of the Cyprus problem on the basis of UN resolutions.

President Christofias thanked the Greek FM for his countrys support, noting that Greece is our greatest support in these difficult times for both our countries and we must stand together.

Houston-based Noble Energy, whose drilling rig is already in place, off the islands southern coast, has begun drilling in Cyprus EEZ. The company has a concession to explore for hydrocarbons in an offshore field, south of Cyprus, known as Block 12.

Turkey, whose troops occupy Cyprus northern part since they invaded in 1974, does not recognise the Republic of Cyprus. Following a decision by Nicosia to begin natural gas and oil exploration in its exclusive economic zone, Ankara has deployed warships in the Eastern Mediterranean and has signed an illegal agreement with the Turkish Cypriot regime in occupied Cyprus to delineate what they call continental shelf.

Cyprus has signed an agreement to delineate the Exclusive Economic Zone with Egypt and Israel with a view to exploit any possible natural gas and oil reserves in its EEZ. A similar agreement has been signed with Lebanon but the Lebanese Parliament has not yet ratified it.

UN-led talks are currently underway to reach a negotiated settlement that would reunify the island.

[02] US PRESIDENT - TURKISH PM - CYPRUS PROBLEM

According to Senior director for European Affairs at the National Security Council, Elizabeth Sherwood-Randall, Barack Obama expressed his countrys commitment to seeing through the efforts of the United Nations to achieve a resolution to the divided island.

Obama and Erdogan also talked about a few additional matters, including the issue of reopening the Halki Seminary.

[03] EU COMMISSIONER FOR ENERGY - CYPRUS

According to an announcement by the European Commission Representation in Cyprus, Oettinger will meet with Minister of Commerce, Industry and Tourism Praxoulla Antoniadou, as well as Minister of Finance Kikis Kazamias.

Additionally, Oettinger will meet the Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Trade and Industry Lefteris Christoforou, the Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Financial and Budgetary Affairs Nikolas Papadopoulos and with the Under Secretary to the President Titos Christofides.

[04] UEFA EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE - MEETING

According to UEFA website, the Executive Committee, under the chairmanship of UEFA President Michel Platini, will hear an update on this week`s strategy meeting in Cyprus, where UEFA has met with presidents and general secretaries of UEFA member associations to discuss a variety of issues relating to European football.

A press conference will follow the Limassol meeting in late afternoon, to be attended by Michel Platini and UEFA General Secretary Gianni Infantino.

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