CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY, 96-05-15

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From: Panayiotis Zaphiris <pzaphiri@glue.umd.edu>

CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY, 96-05-15

CONTENTS

[01] SECURITY MATTERS DOMINATE BRUSSELS MEETING

[02] U.N. ENVOY TO VISIT CYPRUS NEXT MONTH

[03] INFORMATIVE SEMINAR FOR NEW U.S. AMBASSADOR TO CYPRUS

[04] CONCLUSION OF EU COUNCIL OF MINISTERS SATISFACTORY SAYS CLERIDES

[05] ARCHBISHOP CALLS FOR HALTING DESTRUCTION OF OCCUPIED CHURCHES

[06] CYPRUS AND MALTA THE FIRST TO JOIN THE EU

[07] RUSSIA ASKS THE U.N. TO TAKE ACTION ON CYPRUS

[01] SECURITY MATTERS DOMINATE BRUSSELS MEETING

MICHAELIDES, IN BRUSSELS TO ATTEND TODAY'S EUROPEAN UNION-CYPRUS ASSOCIATION COUNCIL MEETING, OUTLINED IN DETAIL THE DEMILITARISATION PROPOSAL, MADE BY CYPRUS PRESIDENT GLAFCOS CLERIDES TO THE U.N. IN DECEMBER 1993, WHICH PROVIDES FOR THE DISBAND OF THE NATIONAL GUARD AND THE TURKISH CYPRIOT ARMED FORCES AND THE DELIVERY OF THEIR WEAPONS TO THE U.N.

THESE MOVES, THE PROPOSAL ADDS, ARE CONDITIONAL TO THE SIMULTANEOUS WITHDRAWAL OF THE TURKISH OCCUPATION TROOPS FROM CYPRUS' NORTHERN OCCUPIED AREAS.

[02] U.N. ENVOY TO VISIT CYPRUS NEXT MONTH

GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN YIANNAKIS CASSOULIDES TOLD REPORTERS THAT THE CONFIRMATION WAS MADE BY THE SPOKESMAN OF THE U.N. PEACE-KEEPING FORCE IN CYPRUS (UNFICYP), WALDEMAR ROKOSZEWSKI, DURING A MEETING WITH HIM EARLIER TODAY.

IN AN INTERVIEW WITH CNA ON MONDAY, HAN SAID HE WOULD VISIT CYPRUS IN THE FIRST WEEK OF JUNE. HE WILL ALSO VISIT ATHENS AND PROBABLY ONE OR TWO OTHER CAPITALS. IT WILL BE HIS FIRST VISIT TO THE AREA SINCE TAKING UP HIS DUTIES TWO WEEKS AGO.

CYPRUS HAS BEEN DIVIDED SINCE 1974 WHEN TURKISH TROOPS INVADED AND OCCUPIED 37 PER CENT OF ITS TERRITORY. CNA/EC/GP/1996

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

[03] INFORMATIVE SEMINAR FOR NEW U.S. AMBASSADOR TO CYPRUS

THE SEMINAR TOOK PLACE AT THE MERIDIEN INTERNATIONAL CENTER, A NON-PROFIT EDUCATIONAL AND CULTURAL INSTITUTION THAT PROMOTES INTERNATIONAL UNDERSTANDING THROUGH THE EXCHANGE OF PEOPLE, IDEAS AND ARTS.

ACCORDING TO SOURCES HERE THE SEMINAR HAD EXCLUSIVELY INFORMATIVE CHARACTER AND ITS PURPOSE WAS TO GIVE TO THE NEW U.S. AMBASSADOR TO CYPRUS THE OPPORTUNITY TO RECEIVE A BROAD VIEW REGARDING CYPRUS.

IN NICOSIA, GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN YIANNAKIS CASSOULIDES CONFIRMED THAT THE CLOSED DOORS SEMINAR AIMED AT BRIEFING THE NEW U.S. AMBASSADOR TO CYPRUS ON THE CYPRUS PROBLEM AND OTHER DEVELOPMENTS AFFECTING CYPRUS.

HE RECALLED THAT A SIMILAR SEMINAR TOOK PLACE BEFORE THE ARRIVAL IN CYPRUS OF THE PRESENT U.S. AMBASSADOR IN NICOSIA RICHARD BOUTCHER, WHO WILL TAKE UP DUTIES IN HONG KONG.

MEMBERS OF THE ACADEMIC COMMUNITY, MEMBERS OF THE STATE DEPARTMENT'S FOREIGN SERVICE INSTITUTE AND OFFICIALS FROM THE WORLD BANK, THE U.S. TREASURY DEPARTMENT AND THE INTELLIGENCE COMMUNITY PARTICIPATED IN THE ONE-DAY SEMINAR.

DURING THE SEMINAR, PROFESSORS VAN COUFOUDAKIS, OF THE UNIVERSITY OF INDIANA, AND TOZUM BATHZALI, FROM KING COLLEGE, CANADA, MADE PRESENTATIONS ON THE INTERNAL POLITICS OF CYPRUS.

PROFESSORS THEODORE COULOUMBIS, OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ATHENS, AND SABRI SAYARI, DIRECTOR OF TURKISH STUDIES, GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY, SPOKE ON THE INTERNATIONAL IMPLICATIONS OF THE CYPRUS PROBLEM.

WILLIAM SHATCOTT, OF THE BRITISH EMBASSY IN WASHINGTON, MADE A PRESENTATION REGARDING THE EUROPEAN PERSPECTIVE OF CYPRUS.

SUMAN MEHRA, REPRESENTING THE WORLD BANK, BOWMAN MILLER AND KENDAL MEYERS, OF THE FOREIGN SERVICE INSTITUTE, STATE DEPARTMENT, MADE PRESENTATIONS ON ECONOMIC AND CULTURAL ISSUES.

CNA DA/GP/1996

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

[04] CONCLUSION OF EU COUNCIL OF MINISTERS SATISFACTORY SAYS CLERIDES

HE ADDED HE WAS BRIEFED ON THE COUNCIL OF MINISTERS' DECISION BY FOREIGN MINISTER ALECOS MICHAELIDES BUT NOTED THAT AS HE HAS NOT SEEN THE FULL TEXT YET HE COULD NOT COMMENT ON IT ANY FURTHER.

SPEAKING TO THE PRESS TODAY, CLERIDES ALSO CONFIRMED THAT HE WILL ATTEND THE EU SUMMIT IN FLORENCE, ITALY, IN JUNE.

MEANWHILE GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN YIANNAKIS CASSOULIDES ALSO SAID TODAY THE PROBLEMS THAT HAD APPEARED CONCERNING CYPRUS' ACCESSION TALKS HAVE BEEN OVERCOME.

A COMPROMISE WAS REACHED BETWEEN GREECE AND THE OTHER 14 EU MEMBER STATES WHO HAD HELD THE VIEW THAT CYPRUS-EU ACCESSION DISCUSSION SHOULD BE LINKED TO TURKEY'S CUSTOMS UNION AGREEMENT.

THE ''14'' ABANDONED THEIR VIEW PARTLY DUE TO GREECE'S SOFTENING OF ITS POSITION ON THE EU MEDA PROGRAMME, WHICH PROVIDES FINANCIAL AID TO 12 OF THE EU'S NEIGHBOURS BORDERING THE MEDITERRANEAN AND INCLUDING TURKEY.

THE SPOKESMAN SAID THAT DESPITE THE DIFFICULTIES FACED CYPRUS' ACCESSION TO THE EU IS NOT THREATENED. THE PROCESS OF EU ACCESSION REQUIRES A LOT OF CONSISTENT HARD WORK, CASSOULIDES ADDED, NOTING HOWEVER THAT GREECE'S SUPPORT FACILITATES THE PROCESS.

CYPRUS WHICH HAS BEEN DIVIDED SINCE THE 1974 TURKISH INVASION WILL START ACCESSION TALKS AFTER THE INTERGOVERNMENTAL CONFERENCE.

CNA MCH/KPK/1996

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

[05] ARCHBISHOP CALLS FOR HALTING DESTRUCTION OF OCCUPIED CHURCHES

ARCHBISHOP CHRYSOSTOMOS, IN HIS PROTEST LETTER, EXPRESSES ''DEEP DISAPPOINTMENT AT THE PASSIVE WAY IN WHICH ORGANISATIONS HAVE UNTIL NOW BEEN WATCHING ALL THE DETESTABLE AND LOATHSOME ACTS PERPETRATED IN THE TURKISH OCCUPIED PART OF CYPRUS AGAINST THE RELIGIOUS, CULTURAL AND NATIONAL HERITAGE.''

SPECIAL NOTE IS ALSO MADE OF A NOTICE IN TURKISH CYPRIOT DAILY ''CYPRUS TODAY'' AT THE OCCUPIED AREAS, ADVERTISING THAT THE 12TH CENTURY HOLY CHURCH OF TRIMITHI VILLAGE IN THE KYRENIA DISTRICT, DEDICATED TO HOLY VIRGIN MARY, ''IS BEING OFFERED FOR SALE BY KESKIN AND SMITH ESTATE AGENTS COMPANY.''

THE CYPRUS ARCHBISHOP ALSO URGES INTERNATIONAL ORGANISATIONS TO ''INTERVENE IN ORDER TO IMMEDIATELY STOP SUCH ACTS, WHICH VULGARLY PROVOKE NOT ONLY THE RELIGIOUS FEELINGS OF THE ORTHODOX CHRISTIANS BELONGING TO THE CHURCH OF CYPRUS BUT ALSO THE CONSCIENCE OF EVERY CIVILIZED MAN.''

THE LETTER IS ADDRESSED, AMONG OTHERS, TO THE U.N. SECRETARY GENERAL, THE U.S. PRESIDENT, THE COUNCIL OF EUROPE, THE POPE IN ROME, THE INTERNATIONAL CULTURAL ORGANISATION ICOMOS, THE WORLD COUNCIL OF CHURCHES, AND SEVERAL OTHER ECCLESIASTICAL FORUMS.

CNA MCH/KPK/1996

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

[06] CYPRUS AND MALTA THE FIRST TO JOIN THE EU

THE IMPORTANT PROGRESS IN THE HARMONISATION OF THE CYPRUS LEGISLATION WITH THE EU'S ACQUIS COMMUNAUTAIRE WAS ALSO NOTED.

IN THEIR COMMON POSITION THE 15 EU MEMBER STATES REAFFIRMED THAT EU-CYPRUS ACCESSION TALKS WILL START SIX MONTHS AFTER THE INTERGOVERNMENTAL CONFERENCE TO REVIEW THE MAASSTRICHT TREATY.

THE PRESENT STATUS QUO IN CYPRUS IS, ONCE MORE, DESCRIBED AS UNACCEPTABLE AND IT IS STRESSED THAT IN VIEW OF THE PROSPECT OF ACCESSION THE UNION WILL NOT REMAIN INDIFFERENT TO THE PROBLEM.

IN A STATEMENT TO THE MEETING, THE ISLAND'S FOREIGN MINISTER ALECOS MICHAELIDES SAID THAT ''CYPRUS HAS ENTERED IRREVERSIBLY INTO THE ACCESSION PROCESS''.

REFERRING TO THE FOURTH FINANCIAL PROTOCOL, MICHAELIDES SAID THAT CYPRUS IS NOW ''AT A STAGE OF COMMENCING DISCUSSIONS ON THE INDICATIVE PROGRAMME'', ADDING THAT THE CYPRUS GOVERNMENT ''SUBMITTED PROPOSALS TO THE COMMISSION LAST NOVEMBER '' AND NOTED THE SUBMISSION OF PROPOSALS FOR THE LOAN ELEMENT OF THIS PROTOCOL BY THE EUROPEAN INVESTMENT BANK AT THE BEGINNING OF THIS YEAR.

THE CYPRIOT MINISTER ALSO MADE TWO SUGGESTIONS CONCERNING THE ''FULL USE OF THE PROVISION ALREADY MADE FOR TECHNICAL LEVEL MEETINGS WITHIN THE CONTEXT OF THE STRUCTURED DIALOGUE'' AND ''THE SETTING UP OF AN APPROPRIATE MECHANISM WITHIN THE COMMISSION WHICH WOULD SERVE TO COORDINATE THE HARMONISATION PROCESS AND THE ACCESSION PREPARATIONS.''

REFERRING TO THE CONTINUING TURKISH OCCUPATION OF 37 PER CENT OF CYPRUS' TERRITORY, MICHAELIDES NOTED WITH SATISFACTION THE EFFORTS MADE BY THE UNION TOWARDS A SOLUTION OF THE CYPRUS PROBLEM, WHICH THE GOVERNMENT ALWAYS ENCOURAGES.

HE ALSO EXPRESSED ''A SPECIAL WORD OF APPRECIATION'' FOR THE INTEREST SHOWN BY THE ITALIAN PRESIDENCY NOTING THAT THE VISITS TO THE AREA OF ITALIAN EU PRESSIDENCY REPRESENTATIVE FOR CYPRUS, AMBASSADOR FEDERICO DI ROBERTO ''HAVE BEEN VERY CONSTRUCTIVE AND A GOOD BEGINNING.''

''WE BELIEVE THAT THE EU CAN PLAY A UNIQUE ROLE BECAUSE IT CAN PROVIDE ITS VALUABLE ADVICE IN DEFINING THE STRUCTURES AND FUNCTIONING OF THE SOLUTION'', MICHAELIDES SAID, ADDING THAT THE EU ''HAS A RIGHT TO PLAY A ROLE IN THE WHOLE EXERCISE, BEARING IN MIND THAT CYPRUS IS A PROSPECTIVE MEMBER OF THE UNION.''

FINALLY MICHAELIDES SAID THAT ''IT MUST BE RECOGNISED THAT THE EU WOULD WANT TO ENSURE THAT THE CONTENTS OF THE SOLUTION (OF THE CYPRUS PROBLEM) ARE IN LINE WITH THE ACQUIS COMMUNAUTAIRE AND THAT THE STRUCTURES OF THE SOLUTION ARE WORKABLE AND LASTING.''

CNA NB/MCH/KPK/1996

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

[07] RUSSIA ASKS THE U.N. TO TAKE ACTION ON CYPRUS

THIS WAS REVEALED TUESDAY IN MOSCOW BY THE RUSSIAN MINISTER AFTER A MEETING WITH THE GREEK PARLIAMENT PRESIDENT, APOSTOLOS KAKLAMANIS, WHO IS CURRENTLY ON A VISIT TO THE RUSSIAN CAPITAL.

ON HIS PART, KAKLAMANIS WELCOMED RUSSIAN'S RENEWED INTEREST IN THE CYPRUS PROBLEM, NOTING THAT DESPITE THE DIFFICULTIES RUSSIA IS FACING IT STILL REMAINS A GREAT COUNTRY OF STRATEGIC IMPORTANCE ESPECIALLY IN THE BALKANS AND THE MEDITERRANEAN.

CNA KPK/MCH/1996

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

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