Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 09-05-20

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

CONTENTS

[01] CYPRUS TALKS - NEW MEETING

[02] UNFICYP - REPORT - AMENDMENTS

[03] MILIBAND - KYPRIANOU - MEETING

[04] MPB - GREECE - TRANSFER

[01] CYPRUS TALKS - NEW MEETING

UN Secretary Generals Special Adviser for Cyprus, Alexander Downer, will be attending the meeting.

During their last meeting, on May 14th, the leaders discussed economy issues. Tomorrow, they are expected to decide on joint papers on economic matters. They also exchanged views on the opening of a crossing point, at Limnitis, on the north east, to facilitate movement to and from the islands northern Turkish occupied areas.

In statements after the last leaders` meeting, President Christofias had said he expected an answer from the Turkish Cypriot leader concerning the opening of Limnitis crossing point, at their next meeting, on Thursday.

[02] UNFICYP - REPORT - AMENDMENTS

The report concerns the renewal of UNFICYP (UN peace-keeping force in Cyprus) mandate for a further six months, and was submitted to the Security Council members.

The first amendment is the removal of an entire paragraph which referred to the decision of the European Court of Justice on the Apostolides vs Orams case.

The ECJs ruling of 28th of April 2009 paves the way for Cypriot displaced people to defend in an effective manner their property rights against the usurpers of their properties in Turkish occupied Cyprus, before Cypriot and other European courts.

In the second amendment in the observations of the UNFICYP report, the paragraph which notes that the establishment of economic, social, cultural, sporting or similar ties and contacts will impact positively on the ongoing efforts and would help ease the sense of isolation felt by the Turkish Cypriots, the reference that such contacts would not amount to recognition was removed.

[03] MILIBAND - KYPRIANOU - MEETING

Miliband praised the determination Cyprus President Demetris Christofias and Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat have shown in the 28 meetings they have had so far since talks began in September last year.

Speaking at a press conference after a meeting with Cyprus Foreign Minister Markos Kyprianou in London and asked how his country could contribute to a positive outcome of the talks, given the good relations between Britain and Turkey, Miliband said the talks should be guided from Cyprus and not from abroad.

He said Britain supports a solution which will be the outcome of negotiations and added that London will apply itself from several positions in order to send messages of support towards a solution.

Kyprianou said that he discussed the Cyprus problem with Miliband and with the Minister for Europe at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office Caroline Flint. He acknowledged that it is a tough process which might last longer than anticipated.

[04] MPB - GREECE - TRANSFER

Addressing the Annual General Assembly, Vgenopoulos outlined the three objectives of the Marfin Popular Bank Group which contributed towards this decision, while he made it clear that Marfin will not leave Cyprus.

He went on to say that the first objective is to improve the strategic flexibility of the Group in view of potential expansion of its business in Greece and the region of Southeast Europe.

The second objective, he added, relates to the important enhancement of the Group`s capital base by around 10% with the ratio of the total regulatory capital rising from 11.3% to about 12%. This objective relates to the ability of the Group to become competitive on an international level in order to expand, he said.

Regarding the third objective, Vgenopoulos said that this has to do with the important flexibility the Banks shares in Greece would provide, since, as he explained, in Greece there is a possibility to purchase own shares.

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