Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 09-01-12

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

CONTENTS

[01] LEADERS NEGOTIATIONS

[02] PRESIDENT CYPRUS TALKS

[03] ILLEGAL AIRPORT

[04] CFA FIFA T/C

[01] LEADERS NEGOTIATIONS

Speaking after the 15th meeting between the two leaders that took place at the UN protected area of the old Nicosia airport, Downer said that these discussions will continue again Friday, January 16, and that will be the last discussion, for the time being, between the leaders on governance and power sharing.

Downer also pointed out that after the leaders conclude their discussions on governance and power sharing, they will begin, in a meeting, which its date will be announced next Friday, the discussions on the property question.

The two leaders had also a tete-a-tete meeting, which lasted for approximately half an hour, Downer added.

President Christofias and Talat have been engaged in direct negotiations since early September last year, aiming at reunifying the island, divided since the Turkish invasion of 1974.

[02] PRESIDENT CYPRUS TALKS

Unfortunately, despite our intensive efforts, after four months of work I do not have real progress to report. A number of secondary issues have been agreed but there remain, however, significant differences of approach to the issue of the powers and functions of the central Government, the system of governance as well as to the issue of foreign relations, the Cypriot President said.

Receiving Monday the credentials of the new High Commissioner of the Republic of Malta Dr. Richard Vella Laurenti in Nicosia, President Christofias added the insistence of the Turkish side to weaken the role of the federal Government and to endow the federated units with most of the functions and powers, usually reserved for federal Governments, create concerns and suspicions that the Turkish side is aiming for an entity approaching confederation rather than federation, as prescribed in relevant UN Security Council resolutions on Cyprus.

He reaffirmed his commitment to achieve the vision of a reunified homeland for all Cypriots and to devote all his energies to make the negotiation process yield a successful outcome, but noted that equal goodwill is also necessary from the Turkish side if progress is to be achieved.

[03] ILLEGAL AIRPORT

``The whole air space of Cyprus is national and under the full control of the Republic of Cyprus, Leonidou said in statements to journalists on the sidelines of a seminar on flight safety, organized by the Cyprus Air Traffic Controllers Association in cooperation with the International Federation of Air Traffic Controllers` Associations and Eurocontrol.

Asked about the difficulties the Cypriot traffic controllers face due to the illegal operation of the airport in the Turkish occupied area of Tympou, Leonidou noted that the air traffic control area of the Republic of Cyprus is not divided, it still remains unified. But he added that ``there is interference due to the Turkish occupation and the illegal control center, the operation of which is illegal and falls outside the ICAO specifications and other flight safety organizations.

[04] CFA FIFA T/C

Loizides, as well as CFA Chairman Costakis Koutsokoumnis, Deputy Chairman Giogos Koumas and Marios Lefkaritis CFA honorary Chairman and UEFA Vice Chairman attended a meeting with representatives of FIFA (World Football Federation) and UEFA (European Football Federation) held in Zurich, Switzerland.

``The CFA completed its contacts on the accession of the Turkish Cypriots to the CFA and the development of football throughout Cyprus,`` Loizides said speaking to CNA from Zurich. He added that ``FIFA has presented its final document which has been accepted in principle and we expect FIFA to call for the signing of an agreement, provided that the other side accepts it (the document).``

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