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Foreign Minister replies to press questions The Minister of Foreign Affairs Mr Markos Kyprianou was invited yesterday by journalists to comment on the fact that Greece has achieved the entry of its nationals to the United Stated of America without a visa and was asked where Cyprus stands on this issue. Mr Kyprianou said that as far as Greece is concerned, this is a procedure that begun a long time ago and that a similar procedure has started between the Republic of Cyprus and the USA. “We are now in the last stages of the process of issuing biometric passports, which is a basic provision and prerequisite for the achievement of the relevant agreement, and after that some additional agreements have to be made with the USA and the necessary checks for security purposes regarding the issuing of passports”, the Minister explained. “The Government is at a continuous dialogue with the US on this issue, but our process has started later than Greece, therefore it will take a bit more time for Cyprus to conclude the relevant agreement”, he added. Finally, regarding the time of the completion of the relevant process, Mr Kyprianou said that there is no specific timeframe and that it may possibly take one or two years. He noted that at a political level, the issue was discussed during his meeting he had with his US counterpart the previous year and that there was also close contact with the US Ambassador in Nicosia. - 11.03.2010 Foreign Minister – Government’s handling of Famagusta issue The Minister of Foreign Affairs Markos Kyprianou informed the Parliamentary Committee of Foreign Affairs, yesterday, on the Government’s handling of the Famagusta issue. In statements after the meeting at the House of Representatives, Mr Kyprianou said he briefed MPs about the initiatives the President of the Republic had undertaken, making specific reference to the letter President Christofias sent last year to the UN Secretary-General raising the issue of Famagusta and also to his recent letter, sent just three days ago, to EU Heads of State, UN Security Council Permanent Members and EU officials. In this letter the President of the Republic re-introduces the issue of Famagusta and notes the need to give it priority and to allow experts to examine the issue of rebuilding the occupied town in order for its legal inhabitants to return the soonest possible. Mr Kyprianou added that such a thing would facilitate the mood at the ongoing peace talks and create a climate of trust of the Cypriot people vis-a-vis the attainment and implementation of an agreement to resolve the Cyprus problem. -11.3.2010 more... President Christofias inaugurated the “Michalis Kakoyiannis Foundation” in Athens. The President of the Republic Mr Demetris Christofias inaugurated last night, with the President of the Hellenic Republic Mr Karolos Papoulias, the “Michalis Kakoyiannis Foundation” in Athens. In his brief address President Christofias said: “I felt really proud, climbing up the steps of the entrance of this splendid building with the inscription “Michalis Kakoyiannis Foundation”, because I know, as you do also, that this name means love and passion for Cyprus and Greece. At the same time, it reaffirms that there are no limits to the success of a man, with a talent and a vision, who has an appetite for work”. President Christofias described Michalis Kakoyiannis as a prominent artist, a renowned director worldwide of whom Hellenism is very proud. Michalis Kakoyiannis’ creative work and contribution are continued with the establishment of the foundation, which is a remarkable place for study, research, promotion and support of the arts and culture, areas which Michalis Kakoyiannis has served with discipline and consistency for a lifetime, he added. The President made special reference to Michalis Kakoyiannis’ film “Attilas ’74, describing it as one of the most shocking documentations of the Cyprus tragedy. He thanked Michalis Kakoyiannis for his work which, as he said, honours Cyprus and Greece and is a contribution to humanity. “It honours Greece and Cyprus in a way that very few people managed to do,” he added. Referring to the President of the Hellenic Republic Mr Karolos Papoulias, President Christofias described him not only as an admirer of Michalis Kakoyiannis’ work, but also as a great friend of Cyprus, “a politician whose love and interest in the people of Cyprus is sincere, continuous and real” and thanked Mr Papoulias and the people of Greece for their firm support towards Cyprus. - 10.03.2010 President Christofias - ECHR decision The President of the Republic Mr Demetris Christofias, replying to press questions yesterday prior to his departure for Athens and invited to comment on the statements by Mr Mehmet Ali Talat that the ECHR decision shows the way on how the property issue will be solved during the negotiations for the solution of the Cyprus problem, stated the following: “When the courts were taking decisions that were not in the interest of the Turkish side both in interstate appeals and in individual appeals on the Orams case, Mr Talat kept stressing, and we also stressed at times, that these issues cannot be solved at a legal level. It is a process that I do not undermine under any circumstance, as I do not undermine the ECHR process; however, the property issue, as well as other aspects of the Cyprus problem, will be solved at the negotiating table. Mr Talat will try to exploit the decision of the recognition of the so called “Immovable Property Commission”. We have our arguments. The so called Commission was set up by Turkey, the occupation force, it is not a legal institution of the so called Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus and this is clear in the Court’s decision; However, such commission will not operate after the solution o the Cyprus problem”. - 10.03.2010 more... Harmonized index of Consumer Prices February 2010 2,8% rate of inflation in Cyprus, as measured by the HICP - The Statistical Service announces that the evolution of the HICP for February 2010 is as follows: · The rate of inflation for February 2010 rose to 2,8% compared to 2,5% in January 2010 and 0,6% in February 2009. The fluctuations of the Index during the last three months as well as the percentage change compared with last year are presented in the table below: - 10.3.2010 more...

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