Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 12-01-12

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

CONTENTS

[01] Government condemns Turkish statements on two states solution

[02] Group of experts continues meetings in Cyprus on natural gas issue

[03] Spokesman: More measures to boost growth are under study

[04] Cyprus 28th in IFFHS world national football league rankings

[01] Government condemns Turkish statements on two states solution

Government Spokesman Stephanos Stephanou urged the international community to exert its pressure on Turkey so that Ankara finally respects the UN Security Council resolutions on Cyprus, who call for a reunified country and condemn any separatist actions.

``Turkish officials` statements on a plan B` and on a solution based on two separate states reveal once again the real intentions of the Turkish policy on Cyprus, which are not the solution and reunification of Cyprus, but the partition of the island``, he stressed.

Stephanou said that the government of Cyprus condemns Turkey`s policy, noting that Ankara violates the relevant UNSC resolutions on Cyprus, which provide for a solution that would reunify Cyprus and its people on the basis of a bizonal, bicommunal federation with political equality as defined in the UN resolutions, for one state with one sovereignty, one international personality and one citizenship.

The respond to the Turkish policy, he added, is the Greek Cypriot side`s commitment to a bizonal, bicommunal federation.

``We urge the international community to exert its pressure on Turkey so that Ankara understands that its policy on the Cyprus issue comes in conflict to the UN resolutions. We call upon the international community to exert its pressure on Ankara and indicate that it is time for Turkey to respect the UN resolutions on Cyprus``, he stressed.

The Spokesman was also invited to comment on an interview to CNA by UN Secretary General`s Special Advisor to Cyprus, Alexander Downer, who said that the UN believe that there cannot be a conclusion of the ongoing Cyprus peace process without an international conference.

Stephanou said that the Greek Cypriot side believes that the international aspects of the Cyprus problem can be solved in the framework of an international conference.

However, he underlined that ``before the international conference is convened, the internal aspects of the Cyprus problem must be solved. This is what we strive for but unfortunately we have not achieved that due to the negative stance of the Turkish side``.

Concluding, he recalled that the UN Security Council also believes that the internal aspects of the Cyprus issue must be first solved before an international conference takes place.

Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkish troops invaded and occupied its northern third.

UN led Cyprus talks are currently underway between the leaders of the two communities in Cyprus to find a negotiated settlement that will reunite the country, under a federal roof.

Cypriot President Demetris Christofias and Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu are set to have talks with the UNSG on 23-24 January in Greentree, New York. This will be their third meeting with Ban Ki - moon, who has warned that the Cyprus talks cannot go the way they are being conducted at present.

After more than three years of talks with the Turkish Cypriot community, President Christofias has expressed disappointment with the course of the negotiations, saying that little progress has been achieved and explaining that this is due to backtracking by Eroglu who has deviated from the agreed basis of a bizonal, bicommunal federation.

[02] Group of experts continues meetings in Cyprus on natural gas issue

In statements on the sidelines of a meeting at the Presidential Palace, Antoniadou said that they continued meetings with the group of experts, which advises President of the Republic Demetris Christofias and the government on the natural gas issue, in particular in the field of energy.

She noted that the group of experts, which is in Cyprus since the beginning of this week, had a series of meetings with the competent ministerial committee, Noble Energy and the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Tourism. She said that on Friday the experts will have a meeting with the working group which has been created at the Ministry of Commerce for the issue of hydrocarbons.

Antoniadou also said that Cyprus has also sent the announcement about the beginning of the second licensing round at the European Commission to be translated and be published at the EU gazette, adding that preparation of documents that will be published to invite interest by companies to participate in the 2nd round will soon be completed.

[03] Spokesman: More measures to boost growth are under study

In statements to journalists, Stephanou said that the government will continue its efforts to consolidate the economy, adding that more measures are underway, aiming at supporting growth.

``We express our satisfaction because the effectiveness of the economic measures adopted by the government have been accepted and acknowledged by the European Commission, which said that Cyprus has a strong commitment and ability to secure the viability of its public finances``, he stressed.

The Spokesman pointed out that the government is committed to continue implementing its plans to consolidate its public finances.

[04] Cyprus 28th in IFFHS world national football league rankings

According to a press release by Cyprus` Football Association, compared to 2010, Cyprus gained 81 points and seven places climbing from the 35th position to 28th place.

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