Cyprus News Agency: News in English (PM), 98-02-26

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

CONTENTS

[01] American Cypriots to honour retired enclaved teacher

[02] Cypriot deputy to participate in conflict resolution meeting

[03] Fourteen countries to participate in International Education Fair

[04] Cyprus, Russian economic relations strengthened

[05] British envoy arrives

[06] Refugee associations meet foreign diplomats

1545:CYPPRESS:01

[01] American Cypriots to honour retired enclaved teacher

On the occasion of International Women's Day, March 8th, the women's branch of the New York association "Pancyprian" will hold a gathering to honour Yiannoula Vasiliou, who continues to live in Turkish occupied Rizokarpasso following her retirement.

An official announcement said a number of American public figures and politicians will attend the event.

Only three teachers remain in Turkish-occupied Rizokarpasso, educating 33 elementary school pupils.

There is also a Maronite teacher in Kormakitis who teaches only one pupil.

Some 500 Greek Cypriots and Maronites have remained in the northern part of Cyprus, occupied since the 1974 Turkish invasion of the island.

CNA EC/MA/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1555:CYPPRESS:02

[02] Cypriot deputy to participate in conflict resolution meeting

The meeting, entitled "Gender, politics, peace and conflict resolution", will be held in Brighton from March 1 to 7, with the participation of representatives from ten European and Asian countries.

CNA EC/MA/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1630:CYPPRESS:03

[03] Fourteen countries to participate in International Education Fair

The five-day fair, co-organised by the Cyprus State Fairs Authority and the Ministry of Education and Culture, aims at contributing to the upgrading and modernizing of the island's education system.

Apart from Cyprus, the participating countries are Greece, the UK, the US, France, Russia, Austria, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, Lebanon, Hungary, the Czech Republic and the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.

State Authority chairman, Dimitris Ioannou, told a press conference the Fair aims at informing youngsters, their parents, and teachers about the opportunities offered by both local and foreign educational institutions.

Managerial staff from the participating institutions will be on the spot to give full details of all their programmes, he said.

Ioannou added that 18 foreign universities and 13 colleges will participate, while foreign participation will reach 70 per cent of the total.

According to Ioannou, more than twenty thousand people are expected to visit the Fair. Entrance will be free.

He said that wax figures from the Museum of St Petersburg, Russia, including Einstein, Alexander the Great, and Hitler will also be on display.

On his part, Education Minister George Hadjinicolaou said the Ministry will participate with its own pavilion under the title "The European dimension of our education".

"Our education does not simply have a European dimension. It is European in its total", he said.

On the sidelines of the Fair the "Local Examinations Syndicate" of Cambridge University will give a lecture on its english language examinations and its diplomas offered through the British Council.

CNA GG/MA/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1815:CYPPRESS:04

[04] Cyprus, Russian economic relations strengthened

Addressing a seminar on "Russia Today", the Minister said "since its independence (in 1960) Cyprus has always had close links with Russia which today are evident in many fields and in particular the trade and financial sectors."

The seminar aims at exploring the opportunities available in doing business with Russia and the markets of the region, as well as the facilities and services that Cyprus can provide.

Michaelides described Russia as one of the Republic's major trading partners and said the volume of trade between the two countries has expanded considerably over the last few years.

The Minister referred to the island's geographical location, its excellent political and economic relations with its neighbours, its highly developed socioeconomic structure, its sophisticated banking system and the variety of services, which make it an ideal centre for business activities.

"The business contacts and experience of Cypriot businessmen, coupled with their knowledge of the Russian market is an added advantage for those who wish to use the island as a base for penetrating this market," he added.

Michaelides said that "at the government level, the various bilateral agreements Cyprus has signed with Russia provide a framework for the strengthening of economic relations."

He expressed certainty that the existing potential for enhancing bilateral trade and economic relations will be utilised.

CNA MA/GP/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1915:CYPPRESS:05

[05] British envoy arrives

Britain's representative for Cyprus, Sir David Hannay, was speaking on his arrival here Thursday for a 24-hour visit.

Tomorrow morning he will be received by President Glafcos Clerides and hold talks with Foreign Minister Ioannis Kasoulides. Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash has refused to meet him.

Hannay said now that the pre-election and the election period in Cyprus are behind, "it's time... to pick up the trail again and to continue with the search for a settlement in Cyprus".

He noted that one of the main objectives he will be pursuing, is "how to resume the UN process that began last June but unfortunately did not make any substantial progress as a result of the meetings in Troutbeck and Glyon".

Two rounds of UN-sponsored direct talks last summer failed to produce any results following the refusal of Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash to continue the talks in protest against a decision of the European Union to start membership talks with Cyprus.

"I think it's important now to get on, to create some forward momentum, to pick up the thread of this negotiation which has lasted for... many, many years now, and to see whether in the new circumstances of 1998 we can move forward with it", Sir David said.

Referring to Britain's presidency of the European Union, he said according to the Luxembourg European Council conclusions his country "will have to see whether a joint negotiating team can be constituted for the accession negotiations, due to start on March 31."

Cyprus is one of the six countries which will start accession negotiations with the EU in March.

"That is a task that has been given to the presidency and the Commission", he said, adding that EU External Relations Commissioner, Hans Van den Broek, will be in Cyprus next week.

The British diplomat acknowledged that the participation of the Turkish Cypriots is "a complex and sensitive subject".

For this reason, he said he wanted "to hear the views of the Cyprus government, what is their idea in these matters and how we can take this forward."

Sir David said his ideas on the issue "will be influenced by (President Clerides') ideas. After that I hope we will come to an agreed approach. That's what we would like to achieve", he added.

The Cyprus government has proposed Turkish Cypriot participation, provided that the Turkish Cypriot side accepts the principle of Cyprus' accession to the EU and the Turkish Cypriot representatives are part of the Republic's negotiating team.

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

Sir David avoided any comment on a letter sent by British Prime Minister, Tony Blair, to President Glafcos Clerides, which referred to "... legitimate desire of Turkish Cypriots to be treated on an equal basis", noting that it is confidential and he would not discuss it in front of tv cameras.

The British diplomat said he did not think he will meet Denktash, who has repeatedly said that he will not see Sir David.

"I am rather saddened by that, particularly since the explanation seems to me a rather inadequate one. But that's his choice", he added.

Denktash refuses to meet Sir David because of British government's decision to require visas for Turkish Cypriots travelling to Britain with travel documents issued by the occupation regime, a measure introduced after increased numbers of Turkish Cypriots asking for political asylum in Britain.

CNA MAN/EC/GP/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

2000:CYPPRESS:06

[06] Refugee associations meet foreign diplomats

President of the Karpass Coordinating Committee, Nicos Falas, told CNA all diplomats said they had made representations to the occupation regime over the issue.

The delegation comprising members of six organisations, including a Maronite youth group, met with Russian ambassador Georgi Mouradov, British High Commissioner David Madden and US embassy Charge d' affaires Deborah Graze.

Falas said the diplomats were "very understanding" and described the measures as "unacceptable".

"They will continue their efforts so that these measures are revoked, because they have negative effects on the Greek Cypriots and Maronites living in the Turkish-occupied areas and their relatives," he added.

Around 500 Greek Cypriots and Maronites have remained in the areas occupied by Turkey since it invaded the island in 1974.

Falas said the diplomats pointed out the measures are a blow to efforts to bring people from the Greek and Turkish Cypriot communities together.

Last December the illegal regime unilaterally established in the areas occupied by Turkey in 1983 decided to suspend most bicommunal events.

Earlier this month it imposed more measures aimed at gaining recognition for the puppet regime, recognised only by Turkey.

The occupation regime introduced these measures in retaliation to an European Union decision, reconfirmed during December's Luxembourg summit, to open accession talks with Cyprus end of March.

The measures include the issuing of illegal visas for Greek Cypriots, who want to cross into the occupied areas, at a fee of 15 pounds sterling, and a fee of four pounds sterling for people living in the occupied areas, who want to come to the government-controlled areas.

Foreign diplomats, UN personnel, and members of the British Forces in Cyprus, who want to cross into the occupied territory, do not have to pay, but they have to report their names and other personal details.

Tourists, who want to visit the Turkish-occupied areas, also have to pay four pounds sterling.

CNA MK/MA/GP/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

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