Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 08-10-12

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

CONTENTS

[01] PRESIDENT CHRISTOFIAS - DIRECT TALKS

[02] PEOPLE OF MORPHOU - PETITION

[03] WORLD CUP QUALIFYING - CYPRUS - DRAW

[01] PRESIDENT CHRISTOFIAS - DIRECT TALKS

In his address read out by Government Spokesman Stephanos Stephanou, during an anti-occupation rally organized by the refugees from the Turkish occupied town of Morphou, Christofias reiterated that a settlement of the Cyprus problem must come from the Cyprus people for the Cyprus people, noting however that at the same time we understand that the solution depends to a great extent on Turkeys political will.

Turkey must show good will, conciliation and to help to the achievement of a settlement on the basis of the international law principles, on the basis of EU principles and values. Turkey must behave as a European country if it wants to be considered as eligible to join the Union. In such a case it will have our consent as well, Christofias noted.

Furthermore, Christofias said that the way ahead will be full of obstacles, difficulties and pressure, adding that we are ready for an honest compromise, ready to exhaust all the potentials we have for a successful outcome of the talks.

We pursue to determine with our Turkish Cypriot compatriots the future of our homeland and to come to a settlement that will serve Cyprus, through a process with no tight deadlines and with no arbitration, Christofias said, adding that we expect from everyone to act with the same spirit of good will and compromise.

Furthermore Christofias noted that the Cyprus government has proved to the world its sincere political will to reunite Cyprus and that we are determined to show the necessary flexibility to create the appropriate preconditions that will lead to a mutually accepted settlement. He stressed however that this does not mean that we are ready to abrogate our principles and values.

President Christofias reiterated that the settlement of the Cyprus question must lift occupation, restore and safeguard the human rights and the fundamental freedoms of the people, including refugees right to return to their homes and properties.

We continue to struggle for a peaceful settlement, based on the UN relevant resolutions. A settlement providing for the termination of illegal settling, as well as for the demilitarization of the United Federal Republic of Cyprus, that will have political equality as provided by the relevant UN Security Council resolutions. A Federal Republic of Cyprus with a single and undivided sovereignty, a single personality and a single citizenship. We continue to struggle for a settlement that will comply with the EU principles and values, he added.

A settlement that will reunite our country, our people, the institutions and the economy, in the framework of a bizonal, bicommunal federation as provided by the high level agreements of 1977 and 1979, Christofias noted.

On his part, addressing the same event, House President Marios Garoyian said that it is obvious that the Turkish side is trying to undermine the basis of the negotiations and the framework for a settlement of the Cyprus question. He added that such positions and manoeuvres do not allow any optimism for the prospects of the direct negotiations.

If Turkey does not shift its positions and goals and continues to dictate and impose its policy to the Turkish Cypriot community, direct negotiations will reach a deadlock and will come to nothing, he added.

Garoyian said that we are looking for a settlement that will provide for the evolution of the Republic of Cyprus and we reject a settlement that will be a result of virgin birth or that will give Turkey guaranteeing or interventional rights.

Cyprus House President said that during direct talks underway since the beginning of September, between President Christofias and Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat, Christofias showed his clear political will for a Cyprus settlement on the basis of the UN principles and resolutions, the high level agreements and the EU principles and values.

He noted that unfortunately the Turkish Cypriot leader did not show the same political will and that his statements full confirm the negative and intransigent stance of the Turkish side.

Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkish troops invaded and occupied 37% of its territory.

[02] PEOPLE OF MORPHOU - PETITION

The people of Morphou asked for the UNSGs support in their struggle for justice, peace and unification of Cyprus and stressed that the Cyprus settlement should be based on the decisions of the United Nations and should be in accordance with the fundamental principles of the European Union.

Furthermore they said that the settlement should guarantee one single sovereignty, territorial unity and integrity of the legitimate Republic of Cyprus, the withdrawal of all Turkish troops and settlers, the right of all refugees to return to their homes and properties in safety, the safeguarding of the three basic freedoms, freedom of movement, settlement and the right to property, the ascertainment of the fate of all missing people and the restoration of the violated human rights of all the legitimate inhabitants of Cyprus.

They also underlined that the partial lifting of restrictions on movement does not constitute a solution of the Cyprus problem. We believe that a solution to the Cyprus problem should be acceptable to both communities on the island and that it is an issue that only Cypriots can decide, the people of Morphou noted.

They added that despite continuous Turkish aggression against Cyprus and the violation of human rights and international law by Turkey, the people of Cyprus firmly believe that the international community will not permit such an illegal situation to constitute the framework of a solution of the Cyprus issue. The principles of human rights and the rule of law and respect of human dignity must prevail.

We condemn the illegal sale and exploitation of our properties in the occupied area. We ask the UN Secretary General to take all necessary measures to protect the rights of the legal owners against any illegitimate utilization of our properties, which will eventually lead to the partition and not to the reunification of Cyprus, the resolution added.

[03] WORLD CUP QUALIFYING - CYPRUS - DRAW

Cyprus` National Football Team has gained a point in a very good performance against Georgia in Tbilisi for the 2010 World Cup Qualifying.

The Cypriot team took the lead through Michael Konstantinou`s strike on 66 minutes and might even have been 2-0 up had Konstantinou converted a penalty shortly after half-time.

Cyprus were made to pay for that wastefulness when, on 73 minutes, Levan Kobiashvili equalised for the hosts.

Cyprus started brightly and Konstantinou had a chance to break the deadlock on six minutes after a mistake by Georgia defender Zurab Khizanishvili. However, home goalkeeper Giorgi Lomaia was quickly off his line to make a save.

At the other end, Efstathios Aloneftis was proving a threat for Cyprus from the left wing. It was his run that earned the corner moments before half-time from which Konstantinou appeared to have scored with a header only for Lomaia to make an outstanding diving save. Aloneftis remained a menace into the second half and was brought down by Khizanishvili for Cyprus`s penalty. Once again, though, Lomaia was equal to Konstantinou`s effort.

Angelos Anastadiadis`s men finally took the lead when the same player converted an Aloneftis cross. That looked likely to decide matters until Kobiashvili struck with a long-range effort with 17 minutes remaining.

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