Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 09-10-15

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

CONTENTS

[01] PRESIDENT CYPRUS TALKS

[02] LEADERS CYPRUS ISSUE - NGOs

[03] CYPRUS CANDIDATURE - EASO

[04] NEW AIRPORT HERMES PR INTERVIEW

[01] PRESIDENT CYPRUS TALKS

In statements after the conclusion of Thursdays meeting between himself and Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat in the framework of UN-led direct negotiations on the Cyprus problem, and asked whether progress had been achieved during the meeting, he said there are convergences, there are positive elements on the table regarding governance, but I cannot state that we have a final result.

President Christofias expressed the position that during their next meeting they will conclude the discussion on foreign relations and begin the second reading on the chapter on properties.

Invited to say what will happen in the event that they do not close the issue on the executive power, he said it will be referred to the package of issues which are not closed yet.

Replying to a question as to whether that means that there will be a new round of talks, he said that nothing can be excluded.

The President was also invited to elaborate further on the separate statements made earlier by himself and the Turkish Cypriot leader on the intervention of foreigners in the Cyprus problem.

He stressed that actions and interventions on behalf of foreign powers bear the greatest responsibility for Cyprus tragedy, the creation and complexity of the Cyprus problem.

On the other hand, he added, Talats position is known, not only does he favour the intervention of the international factor but also arbitration.

Asked whether the Turkish Cypriot side has accepted the Greek Cypriot sides revised proposals on the executive power, he said they did not reject it, they discussed it but I cannot state that they have accepted it.

President Christofias and Talat have been engaged in direct negotiations since September 2008, with a view to solve the problem of Cyprus, divided since the Turkish invasion of the island in 1974.

[02] LEADERS CYPRUS ISSUE - NGOs

The leaders were addressing the representatives of Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot non-governmental organisations, who had handed over to them a resolution of support to the ongoing peace process, prior to their meeting in the context of the UN-led direct talks. President Christofias and Talat, in their brief addresses, praised the role of the NGOs, while expressing different views on the role of the international community in the peace process.

President Christofias said we follow the same line with these organisations, adding that we are working intensively to achieve a solution, which will be final, viable, functional and will serve the interests of both communities and the whole of the people of Cyprus. He stressed that we need a Cyprus for the Cypriots, noting that unfortunately, the greatest part, the substance of our problem is foreign intervention. We want the foreigners to be helpful without intervening in internal affairs of the United Federal Republic of Cyprus, he pointed out and added that we want a Cyprus, which will belong to its children, both Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots.

Talat said that because we are confident that a solution will come by the support of the people, at the end we will ask the people, Turkish Cypriots and Greek Cypriots, to support the solution, to support the agreed solution in order to really establish a peaceful country, a peaceful United Cyprus.

The two leaders planted two olive tree saplings in the UN protected area at Nicosias old airport, where the talks are held, in the presence of bicommunal civil society organisations, the UN Secretary General`s Special Representative in Cyprus Tayie Brook Zerihoun, other representatives of the UN in Cyprus and the delegations of the two communities in the direct talks.

[03] CYPRUS CANDIDATURE - EASO

Minister of the Interior Neoclis Sylikiotis presented Cyprus candidature to Ambassadors and High Commissioners of the EU member states in Nicosia, and representatives of the European Commission and the European Parliament.

For Cyprus, the establishment of EASO is an issue of priority, given that Cyprus is faced with specific and disproportionate pressures due in particular to its geographic location and political and demographic situation, Sylikiotis said.

The Minister noted that the majority of asylum seekers arrive from the areas not effectively controlled by the Republic of Cyprus due to the Turkish occupation of 37% of Cyprus territory, the so called Green Line.

[04] NEW AIRPORT HERMES PR INTERVIEW

We are in the final stretch to start operating the new airport. There is great enthusiasm amongst the Hermes staff, its associates, various governmental services and organisations, he said, adding that a fourth operating trial has already been completed.

Hermes Airports Ltd assumed management and control of Larnaka and Pafos International Airports on 12 May 2006, under a 25 year BOT (Build-Operate-Transfer) concession agreement with the Republic of Cyprus. Hermes is a company registered in Cyprus - an international consortium of 9 shareholders, representing a mix of Cypriot and international partners

Hermes has planned a total of seven operating trials, the last one scheduled for 27 October, with a total participation of 3.500 volunteers. These trials allow the new systems and procedures to be assessed, enable staff to familiarise themselves with the new technology in real life situations, and test simultaneously the coordination between the various services and departments.

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