Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 96-11-26

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

CONTENTS

[01] Cyprus-EU joint Parliamentary Committee meets

[02] Commission calls rejection of Turkey's bid to hold CSCE Summit

[03] Agreement expected on military dialogue soon, says Feissel

[04] Cypriot, Maltese applications unrelated, says EU Commissioner

[05] Cyprus Stock Exchange

[06] Take decisive steps on Cyprus, says spokesman

[07] Government denies arms sales to Rwanda

[08] Cyprus protests new Turkish violations

[09] Harmonisation process full steam ahead, says EU

[10] No agreed procedure for talks, says President

1230:CYPPRESS:01

[01] Cyprus-EU joint Parliamentary Committee meets

The session attended by a strong Cyprus parliamentary delegation started yesterday and among the issues raised were the recent murders of unarmed Greek Cypriots by the Turkish occupation troops and the recent European Parliament resolutions denouncing them.

Addressing the meeting German Euro-MP Mechtild Rothe made special reference both to the tragic murders and to the European Parliament resolutions.

Cypriot MP Tassos Papadopoulos expressed both gratitude for the European Parliament's consistency in supporting universal principles and ideals and the hope that this stance will continue until Cyprus' accession to the EU.

''Cyprus is looking forward to the start of accession talks and hopes they will be short and result in Cyprus' accession to the EU by the end of the 20th century, irrespective of whether the Cyprus problem is solved or not'', Papadopoulos said.

Meanwhile, Greek Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos stressed that Cyprus together with Luxembourg are the only two European countries meeting the Maastricht criteria.

Pangalos expressed regret for Malta's decision to withdraw from the membership process, citing economic reasons, but noted that this has no relation to the case of Cyprus.

Cyprus has harmonised with some 80 per cent of the acquis communautaire, Pangalos said, noting that accession talks should only take a few months and be the less difficult in the history of the EU.

Cyprus applied for membership in July 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 its territory since 1974, in violation of repeated UN resolutions calling for their withdrawal.

CNA NB/MCH/GP/1996

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1320:CYPPRESS:02

[02] Commission calls rejection of Turkey's bid to hold OSCE Summit

At the same time, it calls the US to officially reject Turkey as an appropriate venue for a future summit until Turkey's human rights record improves.

The letter was signed by Commission Chairman Rep. Christopher H. Smith (R-NJ) and Co-Chairman Sen. Alfonse D' Amato (R-NY).

In its letter, the Helsinki Commission emphasises that one of the main reason on which the United States should object the bid by Turkey is the illegal occupation, by Turkish forces, of Cypriot territory.

''Another key factor in our call for rejection of Turkey's proposal to host an OSCE Summit is Turkey's continuing illegal and forcible occupation of Cypriot territory in blatant violation of OSCE principles. A substantial force of 30,000 Turkish troops remains in Cyprus today in a clear breach of Cypriot sovereignty,'' the letter says.

The letter refers to the recent murders of innocent Cypriot civilians by Turkish troops and extremists.

It says ''in recent months, we have witnessed the worst violence against innocent civilians along the cease-fire line since the 1974 invasion, resulting in at least five deaths. In addition, Turkish and Turkish Cypriot authorities have failed to account for at least 1614 Greek Cypriots and five Americans missing since 1974''.

Concluding the letter, the Commission says that Turkey's desire to host an OSCE summit must be matched by concrete steps to improve its human rights record and to end its illegal occupation in Cyprus.

''Turkey's desire to host an OSCE Summit must be matched by concrete steps to improve its dismal human rights record, to end its illegal occupation of Cypriot territory, and to contribute to a reduction of tensions in the Eastern Mediterranean. Absent demonstrate progress in these areas, the United States should withhold consensus on any proposal to hold an OSCE Summit in Turkey''.

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

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1335:CYPPRESS:03

[03] Agreement expected on military dialogue soon, says Feissel

Speaking after a meeting with President Glafcos Clerides, Feissel said ''the two sides have now agreed to deal with the entire package of measures which the UN suggested.''

He said this package includes unmanning of the areas where the two sides are at close proximity with each other, the prohibition of loaded weapons along the cease-fire lines and the code of conduct for the military along the cease-fire line. ''All these three things are now being discussed and we are getting into the technical nitty gritty and hopefully we will be able to move things along rather quickly'', he said.

Feissel said ''we believe it would be possible to move things along rather quickly. It should be possible to complete the discussions and get to the implementation of these proposals rather quickly because they are very simple and do not in any way create any security problems to either civilian or military for either side.''

Asked whether results could be expected by the end of the year, Feissel said he could not give a specific date but stressed he certainly thought that ''it should not drug on''.

Commenting on his meeting with President Clerides, Feissel said it took place in anticipation of the visit to Cyprus on December 10-11 of the UN Secretary-General's Special Representative for Cyprus Han Sung Joo.

After Nicosia Han will visit Athens and Ankara while he is expected to visit the island again at a later stage.

Feissel said about his meeting with President Clerides: ''We had a good opportunity to review the situation before December,'' and noted that ''obviously in order to make progress you have to make efforts and this is part of our efforts to boost things along.''

Asked whether he would support a Dayton-type procedure for a solution to the Cyprus problem, Feissel said he was not sure about using terms to label procedure.

''We feel that when the two sides will get together in direct negotiations for on an overall settlement it is important they stay together until the job is done'', he said.

He added ''an ongoing process of negotiations and give and take'' is necessary for a solution.

Commenting on the letters President Clerides and Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash have recently exchanged, Feissel said ''public letters is probably not the best way of doing things'', but noted the ''need for contact'' to ''permit the two leaders to get together in the right negotiations.''

''Everybody has to keep in mind that the ultimate objective of what we are doing is to have one country in Cyprus, bi-communal, bi-zonal federation and anything that we do or is done on both sides must keep this in mind at all times'', he concluded.

Cyprus has been divided since 1974 when Turkish troops invaded and occupied 37 per cent of its territory.

CNA MCH/GP/1996

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1450 :CYPPRESS:04

[04] Cypriot, Maltese applications unrelated, says EU Commissioner

Cyprus and Malta are scheduled to start membership negotiations six months after the Intergovernmental Conference (IGC), in accordance to an EU decision in March 1995.

EU commitments to Cyprus shall not be altered by any means, the Commissioner said Tuesday in Brussels, after a meeting with Cyprus Foreign Minister Alecos Michaelides.

The two cases, Cyprus and Malta, are completely separate in that Malta's internal political situation has changed the country's accession prospects, a development which bears no relation to Cyprus, he added.

During Monday's EU Council meeting, the newly-elected Maltese government informed the EU that it is no longer interested in joining the Union but aims at securing special status.

Van den Broek and Michaelides met on the sidelines of the EU-Cyprus Joint Parliamentary Committee and reviewed Cyprus' accession course, the structured dialogue and matters relating to the fourth financial protocol.

Michaelides briefed the Commissioner on the latest developments in efforts to settle the Cyprus question and called on the EU to be more actively engaged in them.

CNA NB/MM/AP/1996

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1520:CYPPRESS:05

[05] Cyprus Stock Exchange

CSE All Share Index                    80.92 (-0.30)

Sectural Indices

Banks                                  89.84 (+0.06)
Approved Investment Companies          74.04 (-0.75)
Insurance Companies                    57.97 (-0.31)
Industrial Companies                   80.46 (-0.96)
Tourist Industries                     71.58 (-1.74)
Commercial Companies                   59.35 (-1.20)
Other Companies                        70.79 (+0.14)

Trading Volume                         CYP 549474.636

CNA MM/1996

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1700:CYPPRESS:06

[06] Take decisive steps on Cyprus, says spokesman

''If Turkey moves decisively in the direction of a Cyprus solution, any fears the country may have from the completion of a military air base on the island will be allayed,'' Government Spokesman Yiannakis Cassoulides told the press here Tuesday.

His comments were directed towards a statement by Turkish Foreign Ministry spokesman, Omer Akbel, that an air base in Paphos (on the western coast) will inevitably lead to increased tension on the island.

''All interested parties are given an opportunity in the coming months to move towards a resolution of the Cyprus problem with political will. Should this occur, there will be no need to complete the air base in Paphos, '' Cassoulides said.

He said work for the completion of the base is proceeding as planned and the base will be fully operational in 1997.

The Spokesman warned, indirectly albeit clearly, that should the Cyprus question remain pending, ''the air base shall be completed and shall be put into good use to protect the Republic of Cyprus from the presence of Turkish occupation troops in the island's northern areas.''

If direct negotiations move on the right track leading to a solution, then one of the issues under discussion will be the demilitarisation of Cyprus, he explained.

''A timetable for complete demilitarisation will include the issue of the air base as well,'' Cassoulides added.

CNA MM/AP/1996

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1745:CYPPRESS:07

[07] Government denies arms sales to Rwanda

''The Republic of Cyprus has not sold a single bullet or gun to anybody abroad since it was established,'' Cassoulides stressed categorically, dismissing press agency reports suggesting that Cyprus is one of 18 countries which have sold weapons to Rwanda.

The Spokesman said that old weapons are still being kept in storehouses.

CNA MM/AP/1996

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1800:CYPPRESS:08

[08] Cyprus protests new Turkish violations

A letter by the head of Cyprus' permanent mission to the UN, Ambassador Nicos Agathocleous, circulated on Monday as an official document of the UN General Assembly.

The letter concerned fresh violations of Cyprus' sovereign airspace and Nicosia FIR by six Turkish warplanes on November 15, which marks the 13th anniversary of a Turkish Cypriot unilateral declaration of independence in the Turkish occupied part of the island.

The UN has described the UDI as ''legally invalid'' and called on all states not to recognise any other state than the Republic of Cyprus.

Condemning these provocative acts, the letter said they violate the rules of international air traffic control and endanger civil aviation flights in the region.

Such actions tend to increase tension on the island, as it was clearly stated in the last UN Security Council's resolution on Cyprus, 1062 of 1996, the letter concluded.

CNA AP/MM/1996

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1945:CYPPRESS:09

[09] Harmonisation process full steam ahead, says EU

EU Commission has pointed out that Cyprus' application for membership is not affected by Malta's decision to withhold its own application to join the Union.

These are the conclusions of a Tuesday meeting here between Foreign Minister Alecos Michaelides and EU Commission officials, chaired by Irish Foreign Minister Dick Spring whose country holds the EU rotating six monthly presidency, as part of an ongoing structured dialogue between Cyprus and the Union.

The Dutch EU presidency, which will follow Ireland's presidency, announced its decision to retain Irish ambassador Kester Heaslip as its special representative for Cyprus, a move welcomed by Michaelides.

Heaslip is due in Cyprus on Wednesday for a week-long visit. He will be accompanied by EU official Serge Abou.

EU Commissioner responsible for external affairs Hans van den Broek noted ''the particularly positive results'' Cyprus has achieved in its attempts to harmonise its institutions with the EU.

He said 40 per cent of Cyprus' legislation has already been amended to fit with EU directives.

Cyprus Foreign Minister reassured the meeting that by the start of membership talks, estimated to take place beginning of 1998, Cyprus will have adjusted about 80 per cent of its legislation to meet EU law.

Van den Broek said the EU is willing to offer the necessary technical and financial assistance to facilitate the harmonisation effort.

He also said that meetings between Commission officials and the Turkish Cypriot community to outline the benefits of EU membership proved to be useful.

Michaelides, addressing a lunch, said Cyprus expects a lot in the beginning of next year from the EU and other countries wishing to facilitate a settlement in Cyprus.

The Minister called on all parties involved to coordinate their efforts towards this objective.

Michaelides said Cyprus expects the forthcoming Dublin EU Summit to reaffirm an EU Council decision to start accession negotiations six months after the end of the Intergovernmental Conference.

The EU Irish presidency has invited President Glafcos Clerides to Dublin for the summit, on 13-14 December.

CNA NB/MM/AP/1996

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2025:CYPPRESS:10

[10] No agreed procedure for talks, says President

Speaking to the press, the President said the first eight months of 1997 will be ''fruitful'' because after that period Cyprus will enter into a presidential election campaign.

The President was quoted by the Cyprus radio (CyBC) as saying that he had rejected a proposal by Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash for an exchange of letters.

Direct talks with the Turkish Cypriot side cannot be replaced by correspondence, the President pointed out and noted that talks are not taking place at present, because there is no common ground between the views of the Greek and Turkish Cypriot sides on fundamental aspects of the Cyprus problem.

Denktash has sent earlier this month a third letter to President Clerides in the space of a few months and indicated his backing for an exchange of views through correspondence.

Replying to questions, the President said the government will fulfill its duty to defend the country, irrespective of Turkish objections to such plans.

A spokesman for the Turkish Foreign Ministry has warned against the construction of a military air base in Cyprus, alleging this would increase tension on the island.

Referring to ongoing UN-sponsored military talks, the President said discussion have not entered into a substantive dialogue yet.

The talks are aimed to help reduce tension along the ceasefire line through the implementation of a UN package of proposals on the removal of loaded weapons from army posts in close proximity, extending the unammning agreement along the line and defining the code of conduct of soldiers serving in the area.

CNA MM/AP/1996

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