Cyprus News Agency: News in English (PM), 97-07-15

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

CONTENTS

[01] WEU chief to pay official visit in Cyprus

[02] Papoutsis: Europe does not accept blackmail

[03] Ambassador reaffirms US strong support to UN efforts

[04] Britain reaffirms commitment to direct talks on Cyprus

[05] President Clerides meets British Premier

[06] EU confirms Cyprus in group for membership talks

1525:CYPPRESS:01

[01] WEU chief to pay official visit in Cyprus

During his stay in Cyprus, Cutileiro will be received by President Glafcos Clerides and meet with Foreign and Defence Ministers Ioannis Kasoulides and Costas Eliades.

The WEU Secretary-General will also meet with Acting President of the House of Representatives, Nicos Anastasiades and the House Standing Committees on Foreign Affairs and Defence.

On Thursday evening Cutileiro will attend a dinner given by the Foreign Minister, under whose auspices the WEU chief will give a lecture on "Western European Union after Amsterdam and Madrid".

Earlier on Thursday, Cutileiro will have a meeting with Nicosia, Mayor Lellos Demetriades.

The WEU Secretary-General will depart from Cyprus on Friday afternoon.

CNA AP/MCH/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1700:CYPPRESS:02

[02] Papoutsis: Europe does not accept blackmail

Papoutsis made the statement when invited by CNA to comment on threats expressed by Turkish officials for counter-measures in case the EU begins accession talks with Cyprus.

"Europe does not accept threats or blackmail, all the more regarding the Cyprus Republic's accession prospects", Papoutsis said, noting that Cyprus "is an independent UN member state, whose northern part has been under Turkish military occupation for the past 23 years."

Commenting on Turkey's efforts to join the EU, Papoutsis said a precondition is the respect of international law and human rights, as well as the implementation of UN resolutions.

"A further precondition is Turkey's active contribution towards a just and viable solution to the Cyprus problem, based on UN resolutions", he added.

Papoutsis reassured that "the European Commission adjudicates on its enlargement independently", based on the criteria set by the Copenhagen European Council in 1993.

Such criteria, he said, are the economic and political conditions of every candidate member, the operation of the democratic institutions, respect for human rights, the competitiveness of its economy and its capabilities of harmonising with the acquis communautaire.

"Within this framework, the Commission will propose that accession negotiations with the Cyprus Republic begin as scheduled in early 1998," he concluded.

The European Commission's decision on which countries will be included in the next phase of the EU enlargement will be made known tomorrow.

CNA NB/EC/MCH/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1800:CYPPRESS:03

[03] Ambassador reaffirms US strong support to UN efforts

Brill, who was visiting an American archaeological mission in Athienou, a town situated next to the cease-fire line some 30 kilometres south-east of Nicosia, also described the first round of direct talks between the two leaders as "a useful beginning.

Asked to comment on the direct talks the US Ambassador said "the overall outcome is a useful beginning. Now there is something to build on" he said, reaffirming that the US "certainly want to support that."

Brill also referred to statements made yesterday by Presidential Emissary for Cyprus, Richard Holbrooke, and State Department Spokesman, Nicholas Burns, that the US "strongly support the UN efforts," towards a Cyprus settlement.

"We are going to do what we can to help it succeed," he said.

The US diplomat also welcomed the convergence of a new round of direct talks, expected to take place near Geneva between August 11 and 16. A first round was held at Troutbeck rural retreat, north of New York, from July 9 to 12.

"We would like to see that continue and build on this useful beginning and we are hopeful we are in the beginning of a process that will take us through a solution of Cyprus," he added.

Asked to comment whether a US initiative will be launched, Brill said, "we will do what will be appropriate to help advance the process", noting that Presidential Emissary for Cyprus Richard Holbrooke "is closely in touch with those working on the Cyprus issue."

Brill added, however, that "it is too early to say" when Holbrooke will visit the region.

Holbrooke, who had a working breakfast with President Clerides in New York, yesterday, also refrained from saying when he intents to visit Cyprus, while the State Department Spokesman told his briefing yesterday, Holbrooke does not plan to travel to Cyprus "until at least the next round of talks."

Brill reaffirmed that "whatever we do is really geared towards trying to promote this process to support the UN efforts and help the two sides come together."

Noting that he is "hopeful" rather than "optimistic", the US Ambassador said "we have a long way to go", and cited a Chinese proverb saying that the journey of a thousand miles begins with a first step.

Brill had a meeting with Athienou Mayor, Panayiotis Koumis, and was guided to the area's archaeological sites where American students from the North Carolina University are currently taking part in an excavation mission. CNA MAN/KN/AP/MCH/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1900 CYPPRESS:04

[04] Britain reaffirms commitment to direct talks on Cyprus

These positions were outlined by a spokeswoman of Ten Downing Street, the Prime Minister's office, following President Glafcos Clerides meeting with the British Prime Minister in London.

Describing the meeting as friendly, the spokeswoman said President Clerides "set out his views on the UN talks" and pointed out that the British Prime Minister expressed his country's commitment to the talks.

The two men "discussed the possibility for progress" at the UN talks, as well as Cyprus' accession to the European Union.

"The Prime Minister said that he welcomed the prospect but it was clear it would be easier if there was a settlement to the political problem", the spokeswoman noted.

She also said that Blair "encouraged President Clerides to look at ways of reducing tension with the Turkish Cypriots".

Earlier today, the European Commission formally agreed to include Cyprus in the six nations to be included in the wave of EU entry talks.

CNA KT/EC/MCH/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1930:CYPPRESS:05

[05] President Clerides meets British Premier

In a brief statement after his 40-minute meeting with the British Premier, President Clerides said "we discussed the current phase of the Cyprus problem, the difficulties we face and ways to overcome these difficulties."

He described the meeting as "very friendly" and added they exchanged views on current developments concerning the Cyprus question.

Replying to questions, President Clerides said it was only "natural" that they also discussed Cyprus' course for accession to the European Union (EU).

He noted that the British government had publicly declared its firm support to the island's bid to join the EU.

Asked whether he expects Britain's active involvement before the next round of UN-sponsored direct talks on Cyprus, expected to take place between July 11 and 16 in Switzerland, President Clerides said he foresees some active involvement from all parties concerned both before and after these talks.

President Clerides also said he did not discuss with Blair the revised non-paper presented to the Greek and Turkish Cypriot sides by UN Secretary- General's Special Advisor on Cyprus, Diego Cordovez, during the first round of the talks, held at Troutbeck, New York, from July 9 to 12.

"This document will be discussed in Cyprus, we will decide on our position and then we will convey (to the UN) our views," he said.

President Clerides confirmed he had himself proposed to meet in Cyprus with Turkish Cypriot leader, Rauf Denktash, to discuss humanitarian issues, including that of missing persons.

Foreign Minister Ioannis Kasoulides and Under-Secretary to the President Pantelis Kouros were also present at the meeting, as well as Britain's Special Envoy on Cyprus, Sir David Hannay and British High Commissioner to Cyprus, David Madden.

Later today, President Clerides will receive a delegation from the National Federation of Greek Cypriot living in Britain.

The President returns to Cyprus on Wednesday. CNA KT/EC/AP/MCH/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

2040:CYPPRESS:06

[06] EU confirms Cyprus in group for membership talks

The Commission's "Agenda 2000" document recommends that Poland, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Slovenia and Estonia join Cyprus in the accession talks next year.

The document was formally agreed Tuesday without much discussion during a meeting of EU Commissioners in Strasbourg.

It will be made public Wednesday morning by the President of the Commission, Jacques Santers, when he will formally present the decision to the European Parliament.

The decision means that Latvia, Lithuania, Slovakia, Bulgaria and Rumania will have to wait for EU membership, although they will each have contractual accession partnerships allowing them to prepare at their own speed for joining the Union.

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

Last June's Amsterdam European Council had reiterated that accession talks with Cyprus should start as scheduled, that is in early 1998.

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

With regard to Turkey's bid to join the EU, both "Agenda 2000" and a special report for further cooperation between the EU and Turkey, point out this country is "eligible", but no commitment on a date for EU membership talks is made.

Instead, it calls for closer links to be developed between the EU and Ankara, extending beyond their current Customs Union.

CNA NB/AP/MCH/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

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