Cyprus News Agency: News in English (PM), 97-05-02

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

CONTENTS

[01] Communists gather in Cyprus

[02] Cyprus hopes Labour government will implement promises

[03] Israeli-Turkish-US exercises pose no danger for Cyprus

[04] Cypriot political leaders comment Labour victory

1705 CYPPRESS:01

[01] Communists gather in Cyprus

The two-day international meeting on "the leftist movement's contemporary stance and the need to combat neo-liberalism in the new world order", to take place between May 3 and 4, is organised by the main opposition left-wing AKEL party.

AKEL General Secretary, Demetris Christofias, told a press conference here, Friday, the meeting is dedicated to the 70th anniversary of the Cyprus Communist Party (CCP) and AKEL, which emerged from CCP after it was outlawed in 1941, following a British colonial order (Cyprus was then a British colony).

The meeting will be attended by 39 leftist parties from 27 countries. Participants include high-ranking officials from European, American, Asiatic and African parties, including 21 communist parties (from Russia, Cuba, France, Portugal, Greece, Sudan and Vietnam), and other left-wing parties. Seven of them are ruling parties.

Christofias expressed the conviction that the meeting will contribute towards greater coordination of action of left-wing parties, which, as he pointed out, will have "beneficial repercussion" for Cyprus and every other nation struggling for peace, as well as to the coordination of efforts of the left worldwide.

AKEL leader said a special session of the meeting will deal with the protracted Cyprus question to brief foreign delegations on efforts to resolve the problem and ask for their increased support and solidarity to the just struggle of the people of Cyprus.

Christofias said Cyprus has been affected "by the negative consequences of the new world order" and accused NATO and the US for using Turkey not only as an occupation power in Cyprus but as their "gendarme" in the region, especially now it is increasing its military cooperation with Israel.

Among key issues to be discussed at this leftists' forum will be ways to combat nationalism, chauvinism, racism and religious fundamentalism as neo-liberal trends in the new world order.

Asked whether AKEL had invited Britain's Labour party, which won yesterday's general election, Christofias was negative and noted that despite his party's efforts for closer relations with the Labour party "they failed to do so for reasons of their own."

The delegations of the communist and leftist parties will be received Saturday morning by President Glafcos Clerides.

CNA AP/MCH/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1840 CYPPRESS:02

[02] Cyprus hopes Labour government will implement promises

In a congratulatory telegram to Labour party leader Tony Blair his "impressive victory", President Glafcos Clerides expressed his confidence that the party's "declared positions on Cyprus will be effectively promoted" and that Blair's government "will pursue further the efforts for a just and viable solution to the long-standing Cyprus problem and the accession of Cyprus to the European Union.

Meanwhile, Government Spokesman, Manolis Christofides, said today, "we have been satisfied by the position of the British government but we expect the new Labour government to implement its pre-election promises."

Asked to define which pre-election promises he had in mind, Christofides referred to statements made by the Labour party calling for accession of Cyprus to the EU, irrespective of a solution to the Cyprus problem, and putting an end to the Turkish occupation of part of the Republic.

Noting that "we are at a very critical stage (of the Cyprus problem)", Christofides said everybody's assistance is necessary, especially that of Britain."

He also said that the government of Cyprus has always worked closely with Britain and pointed out the special ties between the two countries.

Britain is one of the three powers (the other two being Greece and Turkey) that in 1960 signed the Treaty of Guarantee, whereby they were given the right for joint or unilateral action to safeguard the independence and territorial integrity of the Republic of Cyprus.

Asked whether Sir David Haney will continue to be Britain's Special Representative for Cyprus under the new Labour government, the Spokesman said this seems to be the case.

Regarding the "ten points" proposed by former Conservative Foreign Secretary, Malcolm Rifkind, as "a basis for making progress" in the Cyprus problem, Christofides said it is up to the discretion of the new British government whether to adopt of improve the "ten points".

Rifkind had proposed a bi-zonal, bi-communal federation with a single international personality, the existence and powers of which would derive from separate referenda in the Greek and Turkish Cypriot communities in Cyprus.

Also commenting on the Labour Party victory, Foreign Minister Yiannakis Casoulides said Cyprus is looking forward to cooperation with the new British government and expressed the hope that pre-election promises on Cyprus will be implemented. (CNA/AZK/MCH)

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1930:CYPPRESS:03

[03] Israeli-Turkish-US exercises pose no danger for Cyprus

Asked to comment on the planned naval exercises by the three countries, Cyprus' Defence Minister Costas Eliades said "the Cyprus government had received assurances from the Israeli government", that the Israeli-Turkish military training agreement under which the exercises will take place, "is not directed, in any way, against the Republic of Cyprus."

Eliades did not comment on whether the Cypriot government had received any confirmation from the US government, that there will be no violations of the Cypriot airspace and the Nicosia Flight Information Region (FIR).

Asked to comment on the fact that violations of Cyprus' airspace and FIR by Turkish military planes have become more frequent recently because of the military agreement between Israel and Turkey, Eliades said these flights are a major concern for the Cyprus government, which has repeatedly protested to the United Nations.

A military training agreement Turkey and Israel last year drew an angry response from Iran and many in the Arab world.

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

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2025:CYPPRESS:04

[04] Cypriot political leaders comment Labour victory

Ruling right-wing Democratic Rally (DISY) Deputy President, Nicos Anastassiades, said the newly elected British government, with declared views which show to be objective, "gives a chance" for a solution to the protracted Cyprus question.

However, Anastassiades said we must be very "cautious", noting that British foreign policy is determined by Foreign Office officials.

Main opposition left-wing AKEL party General Secretary, Demetris Christofias, expects the Labour government to be more firm in issues like Cyprus' sovereignty and its bid to join the European Union.

At the same time, Christofias said it would be a mistake to give the impression there will be a dramatic change in Britain's policy on Cyprus. However, he said a Labour government can be more "positive" on the issue than the Conservatives.

Government coalition Democratic Party (DIKO) leader and House President, Spyros Kyprianou, said there might be some positive development on Cyprus, with the Labour in power.

He reminded that Turkey invaded and occupied 37 per cent of Cyprus territory in 1974, when a Labour government was in office, but described as "important" present Labour stance that a Cyprus solution should not be a prerequisite to the Republic's accession to the EU and that no third party should be allowed to veto this.

Socialist EDEK party leader, Vassos Lyssarides, said the Greek Cypriot side will have to strive hard to make sure that Labour will keep their pre- election promises for Cyprus.

He also pointed out that no drastic change in Britain's policy on Cyprus should be expected, but said there will be a "more positive" approach on behalf of the Labour government towards Cyprus' accession to the EU.

The United Democrats movement leader, George Vassiliou, said that despite a traditionally friendly inclination towards Cyprus a Labour government should not be expected to bring about dramatic changes.

In a congratulatory telegram to new British Prime Minister, Tony Blair, the New Horizon party said they hope and look forward to a new political approach on the part of Britain regarding a Cyprus solution.

AKEL and DIKO leaders have also sent new British Premier and other Labour officials congratulatory telegrams for their party's landslide victory, urging them for a more positive policy towards a Cyprus solution.

CNA AP/MCH/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

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