Cyprus News Agency: News in English (AM), 98-01-19

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

CONTENTS

[01] More than one way to a solution, says Canadian official

[02] Meeting on migration starts

1320:CYPPRESS:01

[01] More than one way to a solution, says Canadian official

Asked after a meeting with President Glafcos Clerides, which he described as "very valuable" and "educational", to say whether there is a coordination of efforts between Canada and the US in regards to a solution to the Cyprus problem, McWhinney said:

"We are always in close contact with the US, they are our closest neighbour but we take the pluralist view that there are many roads to Rome and many ways of solving problems".

Pointing out that Canada pursues it own initiatives, he stressed "they are never in conflict with the UN initiatives or with those of the US".

The Canadian official expressed the view his country "can open up opportunities that perhaps are not always apparent to the other people. That has been our role in international relations", he added.

McWhinney also pointed to the close ties between Canada and Cyprus, noting his country's participation in the UN Peace-keeping force on the island (UNFICYP).

He also said the Canadian government was very grateful to President Clerides for signing the Land Mines Treaty, initiated by Canada.

"His support was very important within the Commonwealth, it is one of the reasons we got 121 countries to sign", he said.

Asked about the purpose of his meeting, McWhinney said he has a "continuing interest in Greece and Turkey and in Cyprus" adding he wants to "use a visit of this sort to build contacts and to renew old ones."

The Canadian Parliamentary Secretary together with Canadian Special Representative on Cyprus, Michael Bell, will later today meet with Turkish Cypriot leader, Rauf Denktash.

"We will be meeting with Mr Denktash and we will be very well informed at the end of this very concentrated series of meetings", McWhinney said.

Earlier today, the Canadian officials had a meeting with UN Resident Representative Gustave Feissel.

The two Canadian officials, who arrived here Saturday for a four-day visit, will meet Tuesday with House President Spyros Kyprianou, Foreign Minister Ioannis Kasoulides and UNFICYP Commander, Major General Evergisto De Vegara.

CNA MCH/GP/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1420:CYPPRESS:02

[02] Meeting on migration starts

The meeting is co-organised by the Statistcal Office of the European Union (EU), Eurostat, and the Department of Statistics and Research of Cyprus.

Participants include Eurostat officials and representatives of the national statistical offices of five countries; the UK, Italy, Spain, Morocco and Cyprus.

Cyprus is represented by Evros Demetriades, Director of the Department of Statistics and Research, the island's official statistical office.

The meeting is being held in the framework of the joint declaration of the Conference of Barcelona on the cooperation between Mediterranean and European countries, gathering 12 Mediterranean states and the 15 EU member- states

The aim of the meeting is to develop and harmonise the migration statistics of the participating countries, in order to facilitate monitoring of international migration.

Speaking to CNA, Demetriades said "migration has become an embarrassing problem worldwide, particularly in Europe and the Middle East".

Adequate data on migration is essential to policy-makers who are seeking a solution to the problem of migration, Demetriades pointed out.

CNA GG/GP/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

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