Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 09-06-18

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

CONTENTS

[01] PRESIDENT - POLICE CHIEF`S RESIGNATION

[02] CHRISTOFIAS - TURKISH CLAIMS

[03] NETHERLANDS - CMP - DONATION

[04] CNA - QNA - AGREEMENT

[01] PRESIDENT - POLICE CHIEF`S RESIGNATION

Speaking to reporters before departing for Brussels to take part in the European Council, the President said that Papacostas visited him this morning and submitted his resignation, which the police chief said was final.

He said Papacostas had submitted his resignation when investigations began surrounding the case of Antonis Prokopiou Kita, sentenced to life imprisonment for rape and murder. Kitas was in a private hospital last summer when he escaped on December 12, 2008 but was arrested on January 5 2009. At that time, the President did not accept the resignation.

Two lengthy reports were prepared by investigators who handed them to the Attorney General Petros Clerides last month. During a press conference on May 25, Clerides stated he would give his final decision in June. It is expected that Clerides will make his announcements on Friday.

The uproar surrounding Kitas lengthy stay at the private hospital as well as the circumstances surrounding his escape led to the resignation last year of Justice and Public Order Minister Kypros Chrysostomides.

In a statement, Papacostas said his resignation is final and aims at making it easier for the President of the Republic and the government to handle the Kitas case.

Today, with a full conscience and with the knowledge of the obligations that derive from my position as Chief of Police, I submitted by resignation to the President of the Republic of Cyprus, the statement said.

My resignation was at the Presidents disposal immediately after the police unsuccessful operation to arrest the escapee Antonis Prokopiou Kita. Despite this, however, and respecting the work of the investigators, I remained in the position of Police Chief to provide every possible assistance in the investigations into the case until the report was concluded, he added.

Since the criminal investigation has been concluded and the Attorney General is expected to announce tomorrow his decision, I submitted again my resignation to the President, Papacostas added.

My decision is final and aims at facilitating the President of the Republic and the government in the future handling of the issue, Papacostas concluded.

[02] CHRISTOFIAS - TURKISH CLAIMS

Invited to comment on statements by a representative of the Turkish Foreign Ministry that Turkey has legitimate rights and interests in the Eastern Mediterranean, which are safeguarded by the UN, President Christofias replied: I have seen no Security Council resolution which establishes legitimate rights for Turkey that are related to the occupation of 37 percent of Cypriot territory and the violation of the sovereignty and the territorial integrity of the Republic of Cyprus.

Speaking to reporters before departing for Brussels to attend the European Council, President Christofias further questioned the existence of UN decision that justifies the occupation and presence of 40,000 Turkish troops, the ejection of one third of Greek Cypriots from their homes and properties, the transfer of one third of Turkish Cypriots to the northern Turkish occupied areas and the exploitation of property.

All these are condemned in numerous UN Security Council resolutions and many other international and regional organisations, he pointed out.

[03] NETHERLANDS - CMP - DONATION

This is the second donation of its kind by the government of the Netherlands in support of the CMP project on the exhumation, identification and return of remains of missing persons in Cyprus. The Netherlands have so far donated half a million euro.

My country wishes to express its solidarity with all Cypriots who suffer the consequences of the unpleasant events of the past. We hope that healing the wounds of the past can somehow contribute to open the doors to the future, said van den Berg addressing the media.

The three members of the CMP, Turkish Cypriot Gulden Plumer Kucuk, Greek Cypriot Elias Georgiades and third member Christophe Girod, thanked the Dutch government for its generous and continuing support for the work of the CMP.

[04] CNA - QNA - AGREEMENT

The agreement was signed by Constantinou and QNA Director General Sheikh Jabor Yousuf Jassim J. Al-Thani, in the presence of Cyprus Ambassador to Qatar Panicos Kyriacou.

Both Constantinou and Al-Thani stated that the cooperation agreement will contribute to the development of relations between the two news agencies and the two countries.

The agreement provides, inter alia, for the exchange of news in English, photographs, visits by officials, journalists and technicians and cooperation in international fora and organisations to which the two news agencies belong.

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