Cyprus News Agency: News in English (AM), 97-05-08

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

CONTENTS

[01] Concert for friendship in UN-buffer zone

[02] Kasoulides to meet Albright in June

[03] Sweden hopes for Cyprus solution

[04] Efforts to solve missing persons' issue

1150:CYPPRESS:01

[01] Concert for friendship in UN-buffer zone

Greek and Turkish pop stars, Sakis Ruvas and Burak Kut, who are particularly popular both among the youth of the two countries and that of Cyprus, will sing for friendship free of charge for 6.000 Greek and Turkish Cypriots.

The concert, organised by Art Management of Athens and Ahmet San Productions of Constantinople (Istanbul) and is hosted by the United Nations operation in Cyprus will be held in a football field next to Ledra Palace (the only check point leading to the Turkish-occupied northern part of the island).

Tickets will be distributed free of charge to both sides of the division line by the UN, while the concert will be broadcast live by two TV channels in Greece and Turkey.

In a written announcement UN Peace-keeping Force (UNFICYP) Spokesman, Waldemar Rokoszewski, says "the UN Operation in Cyprus is making all the necessary arrangements to host the concert in the buffer zone and to take all the necessary measures required to ensure security."

CNA MCH/GP/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1200:CYPPRESS:02

[02] Kasoulides to meet Albright in June

This was announced by Kasoulides on his return from Athens, last night, where he had a meeting with Director for Southern European Affairs at the US State Department, Carey Cavanaugh.

Kasoulides described the timing of the meeting with Albright as "important".

He said it coincides with the time on-going UN-led proximity talks between President Glafcos Clerides and Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash, are expected to be concluded and that decisions on future action should be taken.

Describing the meeting with Cavanaugh as "very interesting", Kasoulides said the US official expressed his country's satisfaction with the Cyprus government decision to postpone overflights of Greek military aircraft during a Greek military exercise code-named "Toxotis", now under way.

Cavanaugh also welcomed steps taken by both sides in Cyprus aimed to create the suitable climate for negotiations.

The US official expressed his government's determination to be actively involved in efforts towards a Cyprus settlement to the benefit of stability and security in this part of the Eastern Mediterranean.

CNA MCH/GP/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1400:CYPPRESS:03

[03] Sweden hopes for Cyprus solution

In statements to the press after meeting President Glafcos Clerides, today, Swedish Deputy Foreign Minister, Jan Eliasson, noted the UN role in efforts to find a solution in Cyprus and expressed the hope that direct talks between the two sides for a settlement will be held.

The Swedish official is in Cyprus for meetings in view of his country's presidency of the UN Security Council, in July, as well as Cyprus' prospect to join the European Union (EU).

Referring to UN-led proximity talks between the Greek and Turkish Cypriot sides, Eliasson expressed the hope that they "will lead to direct talks and that at this crucial moment in the history of Europe we will see progress to this very important and difficult problem of Cyprus."

Asked if after his meetings he is optimistic a breakthrough can be achieved, Eliasson said he has seen "signs of an interest in finding a solution on both sides", but stressed it is up to the two parties, "to take the responsibility."

"This is a year when European security is at stake and the south- eastern part of Europe, the Balkans, the situation between Greece and Turkey, Cyprus, are the soft spots of security right now in Europe. And if we ought to move ahead in the post cold war era and really make peace then there has to be a solution," he added.

Expressing the hope "to see Cyprus among the family of EU countries" the Swedish Deputy Foreign Minister noted it was important for him to see what progress has been achieved here before EU accession talks with Cyprus, scheduled to start six months after the Intergovermental Conference.

Asked if he supports a more active EU role in efforts for a solution here, he said "we have an active interest" but "the main track for finding a comprehensive solution lies in the UN".

He noted the EU "will support the preparatory talks and hopefully soon the direct talks".

Replying to a question about some EU members' efforts to involve Turkish Cypriots in the accession negotiations with Cyprus, Eliasson said this issue "has to be discussed within the EU in the coming half year."

However, he said "we hope very much that we will find a formula that would make it possible for the Turkish Cypriots to take part in the negotiations, and this requires innovative, imaginative approaches by all concerned."

The Swedish official also expressed concern that countries in the region have "inward looking tendencies", and noted that "Europe has to deal with the Mediterranean area and there are religious, cultural, ethnic factors coming into conflict."

He pointed out that Cyprus, "with its role in history, could play a role, and that is why the solution that you will find, and you will find, will be important not only for your own people, but for this region and Europe as a whole."

The Swedish official also met Foreign Minister, Ioannis Kasoulides, and crossed into the Turkish-occupied part of the Republic, where he met Turkish Cypriot leader, Rauf Denktash.

Sweden is one of the countries that has maintained troops in the UN peace-keeping force on the island, since the 1960's.

CNA MA/GP/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1420:CYPPRESS:04

[04] Efforts to solve missing persons' issue

Speaking after a meeting between President Glafcos Clerides and the committees, Foreign Minister Ioannis Kasoulides announced that "a thorough discussion on the handling of the humanitarian issue of missing persons" was held today.

"We have agreed on a specific line which we will follow in the coming months", the Minister added.

Kasoulides said President Clerides handed to the committees a letter by UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, on the same line as that of former UN Chief, Boutros Boutros-Ghali.

The heads of the two committees, Father Christoforos, of the National Struggle Committee for the Missing, and Nicos Theodosiou, of the Pancyprian Committee of Relatives of Undeclared Prisoners of War and Missing Persons, agreed with Kasoulides.

Father Christoforos said "we are very satisfied because we have a breakthrough in the deadlock and together with the government, we shall proceed on the right track for a solution of the missing persons issue."

Kasoulides pointed out that the only way out of the missing persons issue is the ascertainment of the fate of these persons.

A UN Investigatory Committee for the Missing Persons was set up in 1981, and consists of a Greek Cypriot representative, a Turkish Cypriot representative and a third member appointed by the UN Secretary-General.

Since the retirement of Paul Wurth of the International Red Cross Society more than a year ago, no third member has been appointed to replace him.

A total of 1619 people were listed as missing persons soon after the Turkish invasion and occupation of Cyprus' northern third in 1974.

CNA EC/GP/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

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