Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 08-10-14

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

CONTENTS

[01] CHRISTOFIAS - BARROSO

[02] GREEK PARLIAMENT - CYPRUS

[03] CYPRUS - RUSSIA - TOURISM

[01] CHRISTOFIAS - BARROSO

In statements to journalists after his meeting with Barosso, President Christofias said they agreed that Brussels would offer its expertise and know-how in issues concerning the implementation of the acquis communautaire in areas which will be under Turkish Cypriot administration in a federal reunited Cyprus, which is the goal of the current peace talks between Christofias and the leader of the Turkish Cypriot community.

``I agreed with Mr Barroso that when the talks reach a point of progress and before we begin discussions on EU issues and the implementation of the acquis communautaire in the area which is now occupied by Turkish troops, we will ask for their expertise``, President Christofias said.

He added that Protocol 10 of the EU Accession Treaty of the Republic of Cyprus offers the basis for that.

``The basis is Protocol 10. Cyprus has joined the EU (in 2004) and all its territory is part of the Union. The issue here is how to implement the acquis communautaire in the area which will be under Turkish Cypriot administration in the context of a federation``, he said.

President Christofias said ``Barroso is genuinely interested and I believe that when we ask for assistance - and I would like this to be done together with the Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat Barroso will have this help, this expertise, under his responsibility, regardless of which services will be involved``, President Christofias said.

He added that Barroso expressed his full support for the ongoing process.

``I briefed him about developments``, President Christofias said, adding that Barroso has expressed ``his interest in the course of the talks and reiterated his support to the process``.

President Christofias and Talat began direct negotiations in September this year with a view to find an agreed settlement that will reunite Cyprus, which has been divided since the 1974 Turkish invasion.

Christofias and Barroso also discussed the problems a severe drought has caused in Cyprus, including problems to the country`s ecosystem and the economy.

President Christofias asked Barroso for his help in dealing with the problem of drought, and said that the EU could contribute to the creation of the necessary infrastructure to deal with the consequences of the continuous drought.

``Our ecosystem is in danger. A plan should be prepared to deal with the problem``, he said, adding that the help of the EU in this is needed.

He noted that Cyprus is the first EU country which has come up with this request and expressed hope that the EU would respond positively.

[02] GREEK PARLIAMENT - CYPRUS

Speaking after a meeting with the Cyprus Minister of Education and Culture Andreas Demetriou, Sioufas reiterated the long term support of the Greek Parliament for a functional and viable solution to the Cyprus question, in the framework of UN decisions and the European acquis.

Sioufas also conveyed a message of support to the efforts by Cyprus President Demetris Christofias and the political leadership in Cyprus to reach a negotiated settlement.

The House of Representatives of Greece continues and will continue to support these efforts, until the last wall of partition in Europe that divides Cyprus collapses, so that all its inhabitants, Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots, live again together in the Republic of Cyprus, which is already a member of the European family, Sioufas said.

[03] CYPRUS - RUSSIA - TOURISM

The Memorandum formalises the agreement achieved between the Cyprus Tourism Organisation (CTO) and the hosts of the Russian Tourism Exhibition Intourmarket, and concerns the participation of Cyprus as an honorary participant and collaborator in the exhibition which will take place next March in Moscow.

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