Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 96-09-26

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CONTENTS

[01] Spring: EU wants peace in Cyprus, by Emilia Christofi

[02] US congressmen pledge to work for Cyprus settlement

[03] Clerides to visit Poland

[04] Cyprus Stock Exchange

[05] Clerides urges international community to help Cyprus solution

[06] Cypriot President meets UN Chief

[07] Clerides: Need to reform UN Security Council

[08] Clerides, Ghali discuss negotiations prospects

[09] Foreigners arrested for threats against French embassy

1020:CYPPRESS:01

[01] Spring: EU wants peace in Cyprus, by Emilia Christofi

New York, Sep 26 (CNA) -- The European Union wants to see peace and progress in Cyprus. At the same time it distances itself from statements made by Turkish Foreign Minister Tansu Ciller about Cyprus' entry into the EU together with Turkey.

In statements after meeting Cyprus President Glafcos Clerides in New York yesterday, Irish Foreign Minister Dick Spring, whose country holds the current six-month EU chairmanship, said it was ''very valuable'' to have an assessment from President Clerides, on the present situation on the island. He described it as a ''stock-taking meeting''.

Asked if there is any conclusion on the further stages of Cyprus' accession to the EU, Spring said the position is very clear. ''We have made that very clear to Cyprus and the Commission is working on the pre-accession situation''.

However, Spring noted it was extremely important ''that at the moment, there is peace and calm on the island after the difficulties during the summer''.

The EU is ''working with the parties concerned on a path and we want to do that and we believe very strongly that the accession is in the interest of both parts of the island and we will work towards that direction.''

Asked to comment on a statement made earlier yesterday in New York by Ciller, that Cyprus should join the EU only if Turkey is accepted at the same time, Spring replied, ''that is Mrs Ciller's position''.

He said there are ''different views, there are differences, different opinions in relation to it.''

The Irish Minister added the EU is also having discussions with the Cypriot government and the Turkish government in relation to the situation.

''We want to see progress, we want to see peace and we want to see a solution worked out on the lines of the (UN) Secretary-General's proposals'', he said.

Asked how the EU will convince the Turkish Cypriots to accept the European future of Cyprus, Spring said ''we are working in a process''.

He acknowledged that there are difficulties, noting that the EU's point of view is to ''work with the Cypriot people to bring about an accession, to bring about economic and political prosperity''.

Cyprus applied for full EU membership in 1990. It signed an association agreement with the European Community in 1972 and a customs union agreement in 1987.

Turkish troops have been occupying 37 per cent of Cyprus territory since 1974, in violation of repeated UN resolutions calling for their withdrawal. CNA/EC/GP/1996

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1100:CYPPRESS:02

[02] US congressmen pledge to work for Cyprus settlement

Their assurances were given yesterday, during the first day of the 12th Annual Hellenic Leadership Conference being held in Washington.

All congressmen, who attended the conference, pledged to continue to fight for a just and peaceful solution to the Cyprus problem and for progress in all issues that concern the Greek nation.

They told participants that it is out of any rational thought for a nation (Turkey), which is in clear violation of any rule regarding human rights, which has occupied part of an independent nation and democracy like Cyprus, and which threats the territorial integrity of an old and valuable ally like Greece, to receive billions of dollars of US foreign aid every year.

The congressmen recalled the recent agreement between Turkey and Iran, the recent murders of two Greek Cypriot unarmed demonstrators and Turkey's stand on the recent crisis between the United States and Iraq.

All of them agreed that the US Congress must continue its efforts to persuade the US administration to change its view about Turkey and start to impose sanctions on Turkey, a country which is everything else but a democracy.

Cyprus Government Spokesman Yiannakis Cassoulides conveyed to the Washington Conference a message from the Cyprus President Glafcos Clerides.

Cassoulides expressed the personal gratitude of President Clerides and the government and the people of Cyprus to the leaders of the Hellenes around the world for their efforts to promote a just and peaceful solution for Cyprus.

CNA DA/GP/1996

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1320:CYPPRESS:03

[03] Clerides to visit Poland

The invitation was conveyed to President Clerides by Poland's President Aleksander Kwasniewski.

The two leaders met yesterday in New York, on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly session.

President Clerides briefed the Polish leader on the latest developments in the Cyprus problem.

They also exchanged views on the two countries' applications for full membership of the European Union.

President Clerides had also a meeting with Latvia's Prime Minister Andris Skele, with whom he discussed the Cyprus problem and the EU accession course of the two countries.

The Cypriot President discussed with both leaders bilateral relations and ways to improve them further.

President Clerides will address today the General Assembly.

Earlier today, he will have meetings with UN Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali, and General Assembly President, Malaysian Ambassador Ismail Razali.

Meanwhile, Cyprus Foreign Minister Alecos Michaelides, who is accompanying President Clerides, had a series of meetings with counterparts, who are attending the General Assembly session.

The Cypriot Minister briefed his counterparts on the Cyprus problem and discussed bilateral matters.

Among others, he saw the Foreign Ministers Bjorn Tore Godal of Norway, Ali Akbar Velayati of Iran, Roberto Robaina Gonzalez of Cuba, Lim Hug Kiang of Singapore, and Theodor Melescanu of Romania.

Michaelides attended a ministerial meeting of the 77 Group and met leaders of the American-Jewish Committee.

CNA GP/1996

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1615 CYPPRESS:04

[04] Cyprus Stock Exchange

CSE All Share Index                    82.75 (-0.29)

Sectural Indices

Banks                                  89.86 (-0.03)
Approved Investment Companies          75.82 (+0.25)
Insurance Companies                    60.79 (-1.12)
Industrial Companies                   81.50 (+0.09)
Tourist Industries                     74.44 (-1.69)
Commercial Companies                   68.34 (-1.54)
Other Companies                        79.95 (-0.11)

Trading Volume                         CYP 393636.193

CNA AP/1996

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1845:CYPPRESS:05

[05] Clerides urges international community to help Cyprus solution

Addressing today the UN General Assembly session, the Cypriot President stressed that ''the time has come to make a further determined and sustained efforts to solve the Cyprus problem.''

He said he was ready to embark on face-to-face negotiations in 1997 ''once the ground has been sufficiently prepared to ensure success.

President Clerides said he was not willing, after 22 years of negotiations which have not yielded any result to embark on another round of fruitless talks.

Turkey, whose troops have been occupying 37 per cent of Cyprus territory since 1974, has blocked all UN efforts for a Cyprus settlement.

Clerides stressed that any settlement should be based on a state of Cyprus with a single sovereignty, an international personality and a single citizenship, with its independence and territorial integrity safeguarded.

He said the state of Cyprus should be comprised of two politically equal communities, as described in the relevant Security Council resolutions, in a bicommunal and bizonal federation. Such a settlement must exclude union in whole or in part with any other country or any form of partition or secession.

The Cypriot President pledged ''we, on our part, will continue to do everything in our power to help the Secretary-General to succeed in his renewed efforts through his newly appointed Special Representative in the search for a lasting solution to the Cyprus problem.''

At the same time, he stressed Cyprus will pursue its application for membership of the European Union, ''because such membership will have benefits for both communities.

''While we hope to keep accession negotiations to the timetable already foreseen, we earnestly desire to reach a solution of our problem before accession, he added.

President Clerides repeated his proposal for the island's demilitarisation, which could be an important contribution to the final solution.

''We have offered to disband the National Guard of Cyprus and hand over all weapons to an international force, in exchange for the complete withdrawal of all foreign troops, as demanded by the relevant United Nations resolutions'', he said.

He recalled the UN Secretary-General's report, which characterised the Turkish-occupied northern part of Cyprus as one of the most densely militarised areas in the world.

The presence of 35.000 Turkish troops and hundreds of tanks and other armaments ''constitute a clear and present danger to peace and security in Cyprus and in the region,'' Clerides added.

President Clerides stressed how essential it is to uphold the principles of the UN Charter and to hold to full account those who violate them.

He said the Cyprus question continues to be such a case of accountability, due to Turkey's refusal to implement solemn UN resolutions, calling for the respect of the sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity and unity of the Republic of Cyprus, for the withdrawal of all foreign troops, for the return of the refugees to their homes and lands, for the respect of the demographic composition of the Republic and the restoration of the basic human rights and fundamental freedoms of the people of Cyprus.

''As a matter of fact all these resolutions not only were not implemented by Turkey, but also were violated by her,'' President Clerides noted.

He said even the immense humanitarian problem of the missing persons remains unresolved and the tragedy of their relatives is perpetuated.

''All efforts should therefore be exerted by the Security Council and by all those in a position to do so, to bring about a real change to Turkey's attitude,'' he said.

President Clerides referred to last month's brutal killings of two Greek Cypriot unarmed demonstrators by Turkish troops and Turkish extremists imported from mainland Turkey to the occupied area of Cyprus.

He said it has become abundantly clear that the Turkish action was orchestrated well in advance, and involved the import from Turkey of 3.000 terrorists belonging to the islamic organisation ''Grey Wolves''.

He recalled two UN reports on these tragic events which state clearly that the responsibility lies with Turkey and the Turkish Cypriot illegal regime.

President Clerides revealed that the Turkish sinister plan aimed at demonstrating that the two communities cannot live peacefully together in Cyprus, therefore separatist and partitionist solution should be sought.

''The recent tragic events, however, will not waver us from our commitment to seek a peaceful solution of the Cyprus problem through negotiations, as provided by the UN resolutions,'' the Cypriot President said.

He said ''we are encouraged by the rekindled interest and more active engagement of the international community in the Cyprus problem, as witnessed by the appointment of the Secretary-General's Special Representative, Professor Han Sung-Joo.

''We welcome all initiatives set out to reinforce the United Nations in the search for a just and viable solution to the Cyprus problem,'' President Clerides added.

CNA EC/GP/1996

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1810:CYPPRESS:06

[06] Cypriot President meets UN Chief

The meeting, which lasted about 15 minutes, took place at UN Headquarters, ahead of President Clerides' address of the 51st General Assembly session.

President Clerides had also a brief meeting with General Assembly President, Malaysia's Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Ismail Razali. CNA/EC/GP/1996

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1920:CYPPRESS:07

[07] Clerides: Need to reform UN Security Council

President Clerides told the UN General Assembly session that ''we all understand and accept the need to reform and revitalise our organisation.

''Our responsibility then is quite clear: Let us make even more vigorous efforts and display the courage and political will required, to reach a successful conclusion on these issues by the 52nd session of the General Assembly,'' he said.

The Cypriot President said an area of particular concern in today's world is the persistent violation of human rights.

He said the human rights agenda has, for many years, been dominated by efforts to establish international standards.

''Our duty must be to implement these standards unequivocally and take a firm stand against all forms of human rights violations in all cases,'' Clerides added.

He said another area of particular concern to member-states is arms control and disarmament.

The Cypriot President warmly welcomed the adoption by the General Assembly of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty.

He said this represents the international community's determination to bring to completion one of the most sought-after nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament measures in the history of the United Nations.

But he noted that the treaty is not the end of the process. ''There is need for the further systematic and progressive effort in order to achieve our ultimate goal of the elimination of nuclear weapons and of general and complete disarmament under strict and effective international control,'' he said.

President Clerides told the General Assembly that another important development is progress achieved towards the entry into force of the Chemical Weapons Convention.

He said Cyprus is in the final stages of ratifying this Convention.

At the same time, Clerides noted that Cyprus is encouraged by the progress made during the review of the Conventional Weapons Treaty and the agreement on Guidelines on the International Transfer of Arms at this year's UN Disarmament Commission's session.

''We fully share the view espoused by many that arms control and disarmament, are and will continue to be an essential component of international security, contributing to confidence-building and conflict resolution,'' he said.

President Clerides added ''it is in this spirit that we proposed, as part of a comprehensive solution of the Cyprus problem, the complete demilitarisation of the Republic of Cyprus, in which we have offered to disband the National Guard of Cyprus, and hand over all weapons to an international force, in exchange for the complete withdrawal of all foreign troops, as demanded by the relevant UN resolutions.''

Turkish troops have been occupying 37 per cent of Cyprus territory since 1974 in violation of repeated UN resolutions calling for their withdrawal. CNA EC/GP/1994

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

2010:CYPPRESS:08

[08] Clerides, Ghali discuss negotiations prospects, by Emilia Christofi

United Nations, Sep 26 (CNA) -- Cyprus President Glafcos Clerides discussed the prospects for negotiations in the protracted Cyprus problem with UN Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali.

This was announced after today's meeting between the two men at UN Headquarters by the Secretary-General's Spokesperson Sylvana Foa.

She said ''the main theme they discussed, of course, were the prospects for negotiations''.

She said President Clerides emphasised the need for preparatory work before direct negotiations.

''He also emphasised the importance of negotiations being started and completed well before, what he described as pre-election fever, that is for the presidential elections (in Cyprus) which are expected in February 1998'', she said.

Foa said President Clerides spoke for the need of proper coordination amongst the various countries, who are supporting the Secretary General's good offices mission in Cyprus''.

Meanwhile, in statements after addressing the UN General Assembly session, President Clerides said he had briefed the UN Chief on the latest developments in Cyprus and prospects for Cyprus negotiations.

Clerides said he expressed his readiness to start negotiations in 1997, once the ground has been sufficiently prepared to ensure success.

The Cypriot President said that at his meeting with the UN Chief he raised the question of missing persons.

He said he urged the Secretary-General to speed up the process for the appointment of the third member of the tripartite Investigatory Committee for the Missing Persons set up by the UN in 1981 to investigate the whereabouts of 1.619 people missing since the 1974 Turkish invasion and occupation of Cyprus' northern third. CNA/EC/GP

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

2100:CYPPRESS:09

[09] URGENT: Foreigners arrested for threats against French embassy

A Police Spokesman told CNA that four Pakistanis and two Syrians were arrested in this southern port-town.

All six foreigners were staying in Cyprus illegally, according to information.

The Police spokesman said the foreigners had been arrested in connection with threats against a foreign embassy in Cyprus. He did not name it.

He said Police had found various documents and papers in the place where they were staying in Limassol.

Strict security measures have been taken around the French embassy, in the western suburban area of Engomi, very near to the embassies of the United States and the Russian Federation.

CNA GP/1996

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

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