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Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 11-09-25Cyprus News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Cyprus News Agency at <http://www.cyna.org.cy>CONTENTS
[01] HOUSE PRESIDENT TURKEY - EEZPresident of the House of Representatives, Yiannakis Omirou, stressed Saturday that Cyprus has the legitimate and sovereign right to explore any hydrocarbon reserves in its Exclusive Economic Zone, without any limitations.Omirou was commenting on Turkish actions in the Eastern Mediterranean, in response to moves by the Republic of Cyprus to proceed with exploratory drilling for natural gas or oil in its EEZ. `` We condemn and must continue to condemn Turkey for this invasive behavior, the behavior of a bully which dynamites security, stability, peace and cooperation in the region,`` he said addressing the Annual General Assembly of the Cyprus Youth Council in Nicosia. The House Speaker expressed satisfaction with the international and European responses to threats by Turkey, during the last weeks. ``Both the international community through the United Nation and the European Union through the competent institutions have given a clear and decisive message to Turkey, that it can not continue to behave like a new Ottoman Empire and that finally it has to understand that it ought to comply with the rules of international law, ``he said. He added that Turkeys behavior conflicts with the Convention on the Law of the Sea and other rules of international law. Omirou also said that the illegal agreement signed in response to Cyprus explorations, between Turkey and the Turkish Cypriot regime in occupied Cyprus to delineate what it calls continental shelf, conflicts directly with the UN Convention of 1982 on the Law of the Sea and is void and illegal. He added that the so-called agreement, conflicts with the resolutions 186 of 1964 of the Security Council, 541 of 1983 and 550 of 1985. These resolutions, he explained, clearly state that the Cyprus Republic and its lawful government is the only subject of international law, so the illegal state in the occupied territories has no right to appear as a subject of international law and sign any form of international agreements. Turkey, whose troops occupy Cyprus northern part since they invaded in 1974, is the only country in the world which 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. Drilling has already begun and is being carried out by Houston-based Noble Energy, off Cyprus south-eastern coast. The government of Cyprus has protested to the UN and the EU Turkeys moves, saying it has a sovereign right to exploit its natural resources, pointing out that Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots will benefit from any benefits that may come from oil drilling. 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 between the leaders of the two communities in Cyprus to reach a negotiated settlement that would reunify the island. [02] GREEK FM TURKISH THREATSGreek Foreign Minister, Stavros Lambrinides, expressed his concern over the Turkish threats and hostile acts`` against the Republic of Cyprus, in violation of international law as regards Cyprus exploration undersea drilling in its Exclusive Economic Zone.Addressing the UN General Assembly, Lambrinides condemned the war rhetoric of Turkey and reiterated Greece`s support to the negotiating process under UN auspices, to reunify Cyprus. [03] CYPRUS LEADERS TALKSPresident of the Republic Demetris Christofias and Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu will meet on Tuesday in the context of UN-led intensified direct talks to solve the Cyprus problem. The meeting will take place at the residence of the UN Secretary General`s Special Representative in Cyprus Liza Buttenheim, in the UN-protected area in Nicosia. The two leaders are due to discuss the chapter on the EU.According to a statement by UN Secretary General`s Special Representative in Cyprus Liza Buttenheim after their last meeting on September 16th, the two leaders discussed the economy chapter, exchanging ideas and views, with the aim of reaching further convergences. She added that the leaders authorized their experts on the economy to work on remaining outstanding issues and to report back to them upon their return from New York, where both went for the 66th United Nations General Assembly. House President stresses Cyprus sovereign right to explore its EEZ [04] CTO PRESIDENT - TOURISM REVENUEThis year`s tourist season was very good and arrivals reached a very satisfactory level, said Saturday Chairman of the Cyprus Tourism Organisation (CTO) Alecos Orountiotis. Speaking in Paphos, Orountiotis said that tourist arrivals in the first eight months of 2011 increased by 12.2%, while revenue rose by 17.5 %. He added that by the end of the year the additional income from tourism would exceed 240 million euros.He expressed the view that this is a great achievement considering the difficult economic conditions. Regarding projections for the winter season, Orountiotis said that according to all indications there will be a very good winter season much better than last year, since most hotels will remain open. He added that cooperation with tour operators was doing very well. Cyprus News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |