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Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 11-01-18
CONTENTS
[01] CYPRIOT PARTIES MEETING
[02] GOVERNMENT SOMALI PIRATES
[01] CYPRIOT PARTIES MEETING
Leaders and representatives of Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot
political parties will be meeting Wednesday at the Ledra Palace Hotel,
in the Nicosia UN controlled buffer zone, in the framework of their
regular meetings. The meetings are organised by the Embassy of the
Slovak Republic in Cyprus.
According to a press release by the Embassy, guest of honour at the
meeting will be Special Representative of the UN Secretary General and
Chief of Mission of the UNFICYP (UN Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus), Lisa
Buttenheim.
During their previous meeting, on the 15th of December 2010, the
political parties discussed about the environmental catastrophe of the
northern Turkish occupied Karpas area, a topic proposed by the Greek
Cypriot left-wing AKEL party. According to their joint communique, the
parties agreed that plans for further exploitation of the land in the
region endanger the environmentally protected area, which will be
included in the Natura 2000 European Union program following the
comprehensive solution of the Cyprus problem.
They also agreed that the solution of the Cyprus problem, the soonest
possible, will, among other initiatives, prevent further destruction to
the natural and cultural environment for the whole of Cyprus.
[02] GOVERNMENT SOMALI PIRATES
Negotiating with the Somali pirates, who hijacked on Monday the
Cyprus-flagged vessel MV Eagle, is not an option, says the Department
of Merchant Shipping, responsible for handling the case.
The bulk carrier was attacked and hijacked by pirates in the Gulf of
Aden, south of Oman, en route to India. The Director of the DMS,
Sergios Sergiou, told CNA that the official response of the Government,
as well as the usual practice in piracy cases, is not to negotiate for
ransoms. Otherwise, he added, this would encourage pirates, leading to
more such incidents.
Sergiou said that there are no Cypriots or Greeks amongst the crew,
which comprises solely Filipino nationals. He added that the Cyprus
Government is already in touch with the Government of the Philippines,
informing it about the incident.
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