Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 12-01-29

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

CONTENTS

[01] Government sends message to those who cover Turkey`s intransigence

[02] President to participate in PES meeting and European Council

[03] Finance Ministry: Cypriot economy has excellent prospects for the

future

[04] Government looks for strategic investor for Cyprus Airways

[01] Government sends message to those who cover Turkey`s intransigence

Stephanou stressed that ``we will not accept that Turkey and Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu impose their positions for the creation of two states in Cyprus``.

``We will continue struggling for a solution that will free the country from the Turkish occupation, Turkey`s policy of illegally bringing to the occupied areas illegal immigrants, and we will continue struggling for a solution that will reunify our country and our people on the basis of a bicommunal, bizonal federation, as provided in the relevant UN Security Council resolutions``, he pointed out.

Furthermore, Stephanou said that ``the relevant UN Security Council resolutions on Cyprus should be the basis for all in efforts to reach a solution of the Cyprus problem,`` adding that ``this is our message to all``.

Stephanou condemned the statements made in Turkey by the Turkish Cypriot leader, describing them as ``unacceptable``. He noted that Eroglu, ``who receives instructions from Turkey, repeats the same allegations for the existence of two states in Cyprus`` in an attempt to consolidate the faits accomplis of the Turkish invasion and occupation of Cyprus.

As regards the convention of an international conference on Cyprus, Stephanou said that the recent resolution adopted by the UN Security Council in December clearly states that an international conference can only take place when there is an agreement on the internal aspects of the Cyprus issue and when the two sides agree that the international conference is convened.

Furthermore, he said that the National Council, top advisory body to the President on the Cyprus issue, will convene very soon to discuss recent developments.

Asked whether the government is concerned about recent statements by the UN Secretary General`s Special Advisor on Cyprus Alexander Downer, Stephanou said that the Cypriot President will soon have a meeting with Downer, and will discuss about all matters, including Downer`s role as the UN chief`s Special Advisor.

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

Since 1974, Turkey occupies 37% of Cyprus` territory in defiance of UN Security Council resolutions, European Parliament decisions and resolutions, European Council decisions and other resolutions of international fora, which condemn the Turkish invasion and occupation. Ankara has proclaimed a so-called `state` in the occupied areas of Cyprus, which the UN have called illegal and asked the international community not to recognise. The illegal state is only recognised by Ankara.

UN-led negotiations have been underway since 2008 between the leaders of the two communities in Cyprus with an aim to reunify the island under a federal roof.

A new meeting with the UN Secretary General took place early this week in New York between the UN chief and the leaders of the two communities in Cyprus, namely President Christofias and Eroglu.

In statements after the meeting, the UN Secretary General said that at the end of March he would be hearing about the process from Downer and, ``if his report is positive, consistent with the relevant Security Council resolutions and following consultations with the two sides, I intend to call a multilateral conference in late April or early May.``

[02] President to participate in PES meeting and European Council

Government Spokesman Stephanos Stephanou has said that the Cypriot President was invited to participate ``as a progressive European leader and the President of a country which will assume the presidency of the Council of the EU in the second half of 2012``.

Stephanou said that the European Council will discuss economic inter-governance and social policy, issues which are an EU priority in the light of the European Council meeting in March and the decisions that were taken about the financial crisis.

[03] Finance Ministry: Cypriot economy has excellent prospects for the future

Fitch Ratings concluded on Friday its review of the six Eurozone sovereigns (Belgium, Cyprus, Ireland, Italy, Slovenia and Spain) it placed on Rating Watch Negative (RWN) on 16 December 2011. Cyprus LT IDR was downgraded to `BBB-` from `BBB`, negative outlook ST IDR was affirmed at `F3`.

The Ministry of Finance in its announcement points out that despite Fitchs decision, Cyprus remains within the acceptable investment area.

[04] Government looks for strategic investor for Cyprus Airways

Asked whether the government would sell the majority stake it holds in Cyprus Airways to a strategic investor, Stephanou said that the Ministry of Finance in cooperation with Cyprus Airways are working in this direction.

Noting that the international airlines environment is not the most promising one, he said that despite that the government will continue efforts in this direction.

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