Thursday, September 26, 2013

At UN, Cyprus Anastasiades Floats Famagusta Plan, ICP Asks on Central Bank & IMF, Thanks for Journos, But...


By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, September 26 -- When Cyprus president Nicos Anastasiades took questions at the UN on Thursday, Inner City Press asked him about his dispute with country's Central Bank chief, and if his speech had been coordinated in any way with Turkey, since it was so upbeat. Video here, from Minute 6:13.

Anastasiades said while he tries not to speak about things in Cyprus when he is out of the country, he respects its constitution and the rules and regulations of the Euro system and of the ECB.

On Cyprus we try to open new avenues, he said, "I have a vision to see that my country is going to be reunited... we are not ignoring the rights of Turkish Cypriots.

On Famagusta, he said we are in the process of negotiating: for the port to be open, under EU, Turkey to open airports and ports to ships and planes with Cyprus [flags], then Cyprus would raise veto [threat] on accession process of Turkey.

It was an interesting press conference. Inner City Press got the first question, but instead of thanking Anastasiades on behalf of the new Free UN Coalition for Access (which it does when the old UN Correspondents Association insists on pretending it represents all journalists at the UN), thanks was given for "the journalists here."
That's how it should and could be done. But later on Thursday, not only did UNCA's 2013 president Pamela Falk of CBS re-appear for the UNFCCC -- a person who lost election for the UNCA board again insisted on getting the first question at an ICC press conference. This means: first questions for sale. UNreal. Watch this site.