Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 96-10-22

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CONTENTS

[01] Cyprus, Polish News Agencies sign cooperation agreement

[02] No previous agreement in military talks, the government says

[03] Government welcomes CNA Director's discussion with Clinton

1605 :CYPPRESS:01

[01] Cyprus, Polish News Agencies sign cooperation agreement

CNA Director Andreas Christofides and PAP President, Editor-in-Chief, Wlodzimierz Gogolek, who signed the agreement, said it would help enhance relations between the two countries and facilitate the flow of information between the two Agencies.

''I am very happy to have been authorised to sign this agreement which opens the door of cooperation between us,'' Christofides said during the signing ceremony here today.

Welcoming Gogolek to the island, CNA Director noted the traditionally friendly relations between Poland and Cyprus and added ''I am certain that our cooperation will be very productive and would contribute towards the understanding between peoples.''

The flow of information nowadays, he pointed out, lays the foundation for such understanding.

In his remarks, Gogolek said the agreement was ''something new'' for his agency in that this was the first time PAP had signed a cooperation agreement with a News Agency in this part of the world.

''I think the agreement offers the possibility for the immediate exchange of information through modern technology to the benefit of both sides,'' he said.

PAP President described the agreement as ''very important'' and expressed the hope that the flow of information from PAP to CNA and vice-versa would be ''interesting and useful.''

The Chairman of the CNA Board, Anthos Lykavgis, said information will be exchanged between the two Agencies on a daily basis.

''There will also be an exchange of staff to help both Agencies benefit from each other's know-how and experience,'' Lykavgis said.

The agreement, which comes into effect today, provides for the transmission of news items in English to and from PAP and CNA.

Both CNA and PAP have similar agreements with other News Agencies.

CNA MM/AP/1996

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1750:CYPPRESS:02

[02] No previous agreement in military talks, the government says

The statement was made here today by Government Spokesman Yiannakis Cassoulides, who explained that the dialogue is taking place in strict confidentiality and refused to make public the positions which are discussed in the military proximity talks.

However, the Spokesman noted that the Greek Cypriot side had agreed to enter into military talks but this did not imply that it would be bound by anything, nor anything was agreed beforehand, he added.

Cassoulides said the final consent in the dialogue belongs to the Commander of the National Guard, Nicolaos Vorvolakos, under the guidance of President Glafcos Clerides.

The proposal for the start of a military dialogue was first made by the US Permanent Representative at the UN, Madeleine Albright in July. Albright had announced that the commanders of the National Guard and the Turkish occupation forces would enter into a military dialogue to reduce tention on the island.

It stumbled due to the insistence of the Turkish Cypriot side to include in the talks the ''commander'' of the so called ''Turkish Cypriot forces.''

CNA EC/AP/1996

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1810 CYPPRESS:03

[03] Government welcomes CNA Director's discussion with Clinton

He made the statement when asked to comment on the participation of CNA Director, Andreas Christofides, in a dinner given on Saturday in Washington by the National Committee of the Democratic Party, in honour of US President Bill Clinton.

The Spokesman said that Christofides, in his capacity as Director of CNA, can offer any advice or contribution in efforts for a Cyprus settlement.

Furthermore, Cassoulides said that President Clinton repeated to CNA Director the assurances he (the US President) conveys to Greek Americans, which in turn also constitutes the professed position of the US administration.

Christofides, who was the only foreigner to attend the dinner, said yesterday that he sincerely believes Clinton wants to solve the Cyprus problem.

He quoted the US President as saying that he is committed and would feel personal humiliation if he did not solve the Cyprus problem.

Cyprus has been divided since 1974 when Turkish troops invaded and occupied 37 per cent of the island's territory.

CNA EC/AP/1996

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

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