Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 11-12-15

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

CONTENTS

[01] Government welcomes UN resolution on UNFICYP

[02] Government assures that Sundays elections will take place

[03] Strike affects 79 flights to and from Cyprus airports

[04] European Commissioner Vassiliou on visit to Cyprus

[01] Government welcomes UN resolution on UNFICYP

In a written statement, which he read to the press on Thursday, Acting Government Spokesman Christos Christofides said we consider Security Council resolution 2026 on the renewal of UNFICYP sufficiently balanced, pointing out that it does not include the problematic provision to convene an international conference on the Cyprus issue without a prior agreement on the internal aspects of the problem.

The wording that was adopted and is included in the resolutions preamble, he said, is based on the Secretary-Generals statement at Greentree which sets as a precondition the resolution of all internal aspects of the problem before proceeding with a multilateral conference. At the same time, the consent of the two sides to convene such a conference is required, a position which we agree with.

Christofides said the resolution does not contain any form of deadline and that there is an appeal for further work in the next months, towards a solution to the Cyprus problem.

Resolution 2026, he added, confirms previous resolutions on Cyprus and especially resolution 1251, which clearly defines the basis for a solution of the Cyprus issue. It points out the significance of practical steps by the interested parties on Cyprus to help the leaders of the two communities in the negotiations, a reference which indirectly refers to Turkey.

At the same time, he said, the resolution adopts previous references to the role and presence of UNFICYP without adopting, under any circumstances, any threat to change UNFICYPs status in Cyprus, according to developments at the negotiating table.

He said that the resolution repeats the wording of previous resolutions where the Security Council urges the Turkish Cypriot side and the Turkish forces to restore the status quo at Strovilia, on the eastern part of the island, where years ago the Turkish occupation forces moved forward. It also urges the two sides to implement further confidence building measures and to facilitate the removal of the remaining mines in Cyprus within the buffer zone.

Assessing the resolution as positive, said the Spokesman, we would like to note that the coordinated, preventative and effective actions of the President of the Republic and the government at large, have significantly contributed towards this direction.

Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkish troops invaded and occupied its northern third.

Peace talks are currently underway to find a negotiated settlement that will reunite the country, under a federal roof.

President Christofias and Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu met on October 30-31, at Greentree, Long Island, with the Secretary-General. The UNSG said after the meeting that the leaders had assured him that they can finalize a deal, acknowledging that there is still work to be done.

UNFICYP, comprising over 800 military personnel from about seven troop contributing countries, arrived in Cyprus in March 1964 after inter-communal fighting broke out. The mandate of the force is renewed every six months by the Security Council. UNFICYPs mandate is to contribute to the restoration of normal conditions and entails the facilitation of an increasingly wide range of civilian activities.

[02] Government assures that Sundays elections will take place

Municipal and local elections will take place on Sunday, Interior Minister Neoklis Sylikiotis stressed here today, in the wake of a 12-hour strike the civil servants are staging today, who have also said they will not work on Sunday.

Sylikiotis was speaking after a meeting at the Ministry with representatives of political parties, the Chief Returning Officer and the District Returning officers, in response to the call of public sector trade union PASYDY to civil servants not to work for the local administration elections.

The Minister announced that there will be another meeting on the issue with the political parties, on Friday, while Chief Returning Officer Andreas Assiotis urged PASYDY to reconsider its position.

``We will make every effort to ensure that Sundays elections will take place without problems and to minimize any problems that may occur, the Minister stated.

[03] Strike affects 79 flights to and from Cyprus airports

The strike affects forty five departures and 34 arrivals.

Long queues of planes are expected Thursday night after the end of the strike at 21.00 local time (1900 GMT), when 26 flights will need to be serviced within one hour.

In statements on Wednesday, Public Relations and Communications Manager of Hermes Airports Adamos Aspris expressed regret for the fact that the hours of the air traffic controllers strikes had increased from 12 to 14, following a decision by civil servants trade union PASYDY. He explained that the strike will start at 7.00 (local time) rather than 9.00 and will end at 2100.

[04] European Commissioner Vassiliou on visit to Cyprus

According to an announcement by the European Commission Representation in Cyprus, the Commissioner will hold Friday, a press conference on the recently adopted Commission proposals on Erasmus for All, and Creative Europe`

It is added that the program Erasmus for All offers the opportunity for up to 5 million people to learn and study abroad over the period 2014-2020.

Moreover, it is noted that the new Creative Europe program, with a proposed budget of 1.8 bln euros for the period 2014-2020, will provide a much-needed boost for the cultural and creative industries, which are a major source of jobs and growth in Europe.

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