Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 12-03-29

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

CONTENTS

[01] President: Aides discussing issue of property

[02] Downer: No new meeting scheduled in Cyprus talks

[03] French support towards Cyprus' EU Presidency

[04] President calls on Institute to sign contract for identifications

[01] President: Aides discussing issue of property

Depending on the outcome of these discussions, the UN Secretary General`s Special Adviser on Cyprus Alexander Downer will be drafting a short report for the UN chief, the President added.

Speaking after his meeting with Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu, in the context of the talks, President Christofias said it was now up to Downer and the UN Secretary General, who would be receiving Downer`s report on Friday.

Replying to questions, President Christofias said the Greek Cypriot side was ready to continue talks irrespective of Downer`s report.

He also said the leaders concluded their meeting on Thursday and their aides stayed on to discuss the issue of property with the UN.

Asked about the possibility of an international conference on the Cyprus problem, President Christofias said he did not believe the UN Secretary General would be convening such a meeting because there was nothing to justify it.

``None of the obligations and commitments undertaken before the Secretary General has been met,`` he said, adding that such a meeting on the international aspects of the Cyprus issue could take place if and when the internal aspects of the problem have been solved.

``The issue of governance is still open, the issue of citizenship is still open, the issue of property is still open, and the issue of territory is still open. These are important aspects of the Cyprus problem. So convening any meeting is not justified,`` he said.

Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third. UN-led talks are currently underway with an aim to reunify the island.

Turkey's EU accession chapters ---------------------------------- Meanwhile, President Christofias said that Cyprus cannot shift from its positions and accept the opening of chapters in Turkey`s EU accession negotiations, as long as Turkey does not meet its commitments.

Replying to questions, President Christofias said the Republic of Cyprus has its positions, which are well-known, and is in contact with European Enlargement Commissioner Stefan Fule and the Cypriot MEPs, ``so that things happen as they should.``

He explained that this meant that ``if Turkey does not meet its obligations, we cannot shift and accept the opening of chapters.``

[02] Downer: No new meeting scheduled in Cyprus talks

"The timing of the leaders' meeting is ultimately a matter for them because as I have often said this is a Cypriot-owned and Cypriot-led process. That was one of the bases for these negotiations laid down at the very beginning of this process", he said in statements after the meeting between President of Cyprus Demetris Christofias and Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu.

He was answering a question on whether today's meeting was the last for the year, following Eroglu's statements to the local press for such a possibility.

Secretary General's Special Advisor also said that he will brief by video, this afternoon, the United Nations Security Council, based on the report that the Secretary General produced for the Security Council earlier this month on Cyprus issue. He added that by Friday night, he needs to complete his report to the Secretary General on the state of the negotiations.

[03] French support towards Cyprus' EU Presidency

Eliades was speaking in Nicosia, following his meeting with the Chief of Staff of the French Army, General Berthand Ract-Madoux, who is paying Cyprus an official visit here.

Excellent relations between France and Cyprus in all areas were confirmed during the meeting, Eliades went on, adding that contacts were held in the framework of further developing ties between the Defence Ministries and the Armed Forces of the two countries.

General Ract-Madoux thanked the people of Cyprus for their warm welcome and expressed his confidence in the strengthening of cooperation between the two sides. "We will improve our excellent relations even in military matters", the French Chief of Staff said, adding that there are a lot of common points and common projects.

[04] President calls on Institute to sign contract for identifications

President Christofias said he has held meetings with the leadership of the Institute and members of the Committee on Missing Persons, in order to come to an arrangement, and pointed out that the UN were not obliged to sign a contract with the Institute but the government had intervened in that direction because the Institute was quite capable of carrying out the work.

The President said various difference have arisen among scientists and called on the Institute to sign the contract, in line with a majority decision by the Institute`s board of directors, because ``it is a matter of dignity for Cyprus to continue the effort through the Institute`` and that the UN would be justified in taking the work abroad in the end.

``I call on the Institute to implement the decision of the majority of the board and sign the contract`` because ``it would be a shame for this task to leave Cyprus,`` he said.

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