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Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 08-09-09
CONTENTS
[01] UN SG- CHRISTOFIAS - TALAT
[02] INTERIOR MINISTER EU - ASYLUM
[01] UN SG- CHRISTOFIAS - TALAT
Michele Montas, Spokeswoman of the UN Secretary General, has announced
that the Secretary General ``spoke by phone separately with Greek
Cypriot leader Demetris Christofias and Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet
Ali Talat to congratulate them personally on the formal launch last
week of full-fledged negotiations aimed at a comprehensive settlement
to the Cyprus problem.``
``The Secretary General also spoke with his special adviser on Cyprus
Alexander Downer who is currently in Athens, where he met earlier today
with top government officials, including Prime Minister Karamanlis and
Foreign Minister Bakoyiannis,`` she added.
Montas noted that ``Downer will visit Ankara on Wednesday, where he is
scheduled to meet President Gul, Prime Minister Erdogan and Foreign
Minister Babacan.``
``He is scheduled to then return to Cyprus Thursday morning to attend
the first substantive meeting between Mr. Christofias and Mr. Talat in
the context of the negotiations,`` she concluded.
[02] INTERIOR MINISTER EU - ASYLUM
Cypriot Minister of the Interior Neoclis Sylikiotis has urged the
European Union to take the necessary measures to further support its
member states whose asylum system is facing an increasing burden.
Such a move, the Minster pointed out, would on the one hand provide
protection to those who really need it and on the other it would help
curtail exploitation of the system, which puts at risk the efficient
functioning of the entire EU asylum system. Addressing an EU Ministers`
Council on Asylum, in Paris, Sylikiotis said that, according to EU
statistics, Cyprus has the highest number of asylum applications among
all 27 EU member states, in relation to its population.
He said that Cyprus, due to its geographical position, is under great
pressure from illegal immigrants from neighbouring countries facing
financial problems, political instability and armed conflicts.
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