Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 12-01-23

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

CONTENTS

[01] Greentree meeting begins on Monday

[02] Justice Minister in Brussels and Copenhagen

[03] Cyprus and Israel to sign search and rescue agreement

[04] Second round of licensing end of January

[01] Greentree meeting begins on Monday

The talks begin at 0900 local time (1600 Cyprus time) and a breakfast will be preceded by the SG with the leaders. A photo opportunity will also take place with the leaders and their representatives as well as UNSGs Special Adviser, Alexander Downer.

A Greek Cypriot source said that by Sunday night, no outline of the positions of the Greek Cypriot side was handed over, as asked by the UN. The same source said the President of the Republic will first listen to what the SG will say and then submit the view of the Greek Cypriot side as to where things are. He will also point out the delaying tactics of the Turkish Cypriot side, which did not submit the information that was agreed to be provided on the territorial issue and settlers, thus making a consistent discussion on the Cyprus problem difficult.

Regarding the issue of the document that was prepared by the UN with views that, according to the UN, bridge the gaps that exist, the same source said that it has become clear that tabling it will not be allowed as it does not comply with the mandate of the SG.

This was conveyed to the UN in a letter by President Christofias to the Secretary General and during a meeting, which the Presidents envoys, Nicos Emiliou and Toumazos Tselepis had with Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations for Political Affairs, Lynn Pascoe.

The Greek Cypriot side went to Greentree last night and dined with Downer and the UN team. The source said the discussions during the dinner were social. The Turkish Cypriot side went to Greentree later in the evening.

Journalists will be briefed by Downer on the outcome of the first day of the talks later this evening.

Ban will host a dinner for the two leaders and their spouses on Tuesday, once the talks are over.

The official end of the talks will take place on Wednesday morning (New York time) at UN headquarters, with the UN SG reading out a statement, in the presence of the two leaders.

The first meeting between the two leaders and the UNSG took place in November 2010, followed by two more meetings in Geneva on January 26 and July 7, 2011, during which both sides reaffirmed their commitment to finding a comprehensive solution as soon as possible, while in Geneva, on 26 January 2011, the sides agreed to intensify the negotiations.

Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkish troops invaded and occupied its northern third. Since 1974 Turkey occupies 37% of Cyprus` territory in defiance of UN Security Council resolutions, European Parliament decisions and resolutions, European Council decisions and other resolutions of international fora, which condemn the Turkish invasion and occupation.

Ankara has proclaimed a self-styled `state` in the occupied areas of Cyprus, which the UN have called legally invalid and asked the international community not to recognise or facilitate it. The illegal state is only recognised by Ankara.

The latest round of UN - led negotiations have been underway since 2008 between the leaders of the two communities in Cyprus with an aim to reunify the island under a federal roof.

[02] Justice Minister in Brussels and Copenhagen

On January 25, Louca will meet with Chairman of the Committee on Legal Affairs Lehne Klaus-Heiner, Chairman of the Committee on the Rights of Women and Gender Equality Gustafsson Mikael, and Cypriot MEPs Antigoni Papadopoulou and Eleni Theocharous. He will also meet with Chairman of the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Internal Affairs Lopez Aguilar Juan Fernando.

In the evening of the same day, Louca will depart for Copenhagen to participate in the Informal Council of Ministers of Justice and Home Affairs.

The Council will discuss the funding of the European PNR System, the recognition and implementation of decisions in civil and commercial cases, the Directive regarding the penalties for the abuse of confidential information and the market, and the transfer of convicts and social rehabilitation.

[03] Cyprus and Israel to sign search and rescue agreement

The agreement is expected to be signed during a visit to Cyprus by Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu next month.

Speaking at Larnaca Airport on Sunday before departing for a trip to Brussels and London, Minister of Foreign Affairs Erato Kozakou Markoullis said ``we are at the final stages of signing the agreement`` and expressed certainty that it could be signed during Netanyahu`s visit.

[04] Second round of licensing end of January

Antoniadou was speaking to CNA on the occasion of her visit to Israel on Tuesday where she will attend a Business Forum in Tel Aviv organised by the Cyprus Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Ministry of Commerce, in cooperation with the Cyprus-Israel Business Association, the Enterprise Europe Network and the Chamber of Israel.

The Minister said that the aim of a multi-Cypriot delegations visit to Israel is to promote investments in Cyprus and broader cooperation between enterprises of both countries.

She said that in the context of the Business Forum she would deliver a speech on the prospects that are created by the discovery of natural gas in the region.

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