Cyprus News Agency: News in English (AM), 98-02-04

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

CONTENTS

[01] Clinton, Blair to discuss Cyprus

[02] US President asks Congress to maintain aid for Cyprus

[03] Reaction to Denktash's threats

1200:CYPPRESS:01

[01] Clinton, Blair to discuss Cyprus

The British Premier leaves this afternoon for a three-day official visit to the United States.

The meeting will focus on Iraq, but the two leaders are expected to discuss the Middle East peace process, the situation in Bosnia and bilateral issues.

According to British government sources the Cyprus problem will be discussed in the context of European issues.

In the same context, Clinton and Blair will also discuss relations between the European Union and Turkey.

CNA KT/MCH/GP/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1225:CYPPRESS:02

[02] US President asks Congress to maintain aid for Cyprus

A press release issued by the Washington-based National Coordinated Effort of Hellenes, said President Clinton sent the US Congress Monday a budget request for fiscal year 1999, asking the full 15 million dollars in economic aid to Cyprus.

Clinton also asked the Congress to send no military aid to Turkey and Greece and no economic aid to Turkey for the same year, the press release said.

"Despite continued efforts to cut overall US foreign aid, especially this year in offering the first balanced budget for 30 years, the full 15 million dollars in economic aid for Cyprus was maintained," it added.

The overseas Hellenes' organisation said "this symbol of support for a Cyprus settlement is particularly important in a year that many consider the best opportunity in decades to bring peace to Cyprus."

Its leaders expressed their strong support for this effort, which ends US military aid to Turkey, noting "this is a country using US military equipment to violate internationally accepted standards of conduct, including threatening US allies Greece and Cyprus and illegally occupying part of Cyprus."

This year marked the end of a process the US started six years ago to graduate Turkey and Greece from the annual foreign military financing programme, in the form of loans at a 10:7 ratio respectively.

The House International Relations Committee twice passed Foreign Aid Authorisation legislation which authorised no military aid for Turkey and Greece for 1997 and 1999.

Last year the Congress appropriated 150 million dollars in military loans to Turkey and 105 million to Greece.

With the requested budget for 1999, the annual foreign economic aid to Turkey would also be ended.

Each year, since 1994, the US Congress has cut this aid in an attempt to send a message of disapproval of Turkish actions with regard to Cyprus, Greece, Armenia and its Kurdish population, according to the press release.

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

CNA AP/GP/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1405:CYPPRESS:03

[03] Reaction to Denktash's threats

Meanwhile, Denktash's respond to a British ending of visa-free entry to Turkish Cypriots by demanding payment from British citizens visiting the Turkish-occupied areas of Cyprus has caused the reaction of party leaders in his own community.

The Turkish Cypriot press reported Wednesday that Denktash demanded from Cyprus Republic passport holders to hand over their passports.

Denktash warned those who would not obey that they would be denied "their right to vote or stand as candidates at any elections" in his breakaway state.

He claimed that Turkish Cypriots who apply for a Cyprus Republic passport, actually they refuse the Turkish Cypriot so-called citizenship.

Earlier Denktash's threats to levy and demand "visas" from British citizens travelling to his pseudostate and his refusal to meet with Britain's special representative on Cyprus, Sir David Hannay, until Britain allows entry to holders of Turkish Cypriot travel documents, have prompted strong reaction from Turkish Cypriot party leaders.

Britain's Home Office said last month it would end visa-free entry to holders of Turkish Cypriot travel documents, after a spate of unfounded asylum claims.

Leaders of the Republican Turkish Party and the Communal Liberation Party, Mehmet Ali Talat and Mustafa Akkinci, told the Turkish Cypriot press Denktash's decision was an "embargo Turkish Cypriots impose against themselves."

"New Cyprus" party leader Alpay Durduran, the press and hoteliers in the occupied areas accused Denktash of trying to force Turkish Cypriots to emigrate.

Turkish Cypriot holders of the Cyprus Republic passports do not need a visa to travel to the United Kingdom.

Next Monday Denktash's self-styled cabinet will decide on measures his illegal authorities would take regarding foreigners travelling to the Turkish-occupied part of Cyprus, Turkish Cypriot press reports said.

Only Turkey recognises the puppet regime. The UN has branded it "legally invalid" and called on all states "not to recognise" the self- styled entity and "not to facilitate or in any way assist the aforesaid secessionist entity."

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

CNA AP/GP/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

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