Cyprus News Agency: News in English (AM), 98-04-16

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

CONTENTS

[01] US urges Turkey to abandon threats

[02] Austria sees chance for movement

[03] Clerides receives new National Guard Commander

[04] Austrian Vice-Chancellor meets House President

[05] Austrian Minister satisfied with Cyprus economy

[06] President Clerides to meet Greek Premier

[07] Japanese terrorist in Cyprus

0820:CYPPRESS:01

[01] US urges Turkey to abandon threats

"The missile problem cannot be resolved by brandishing threats," James Rubin, US State Department spokesman has said.

The US, he added, "have urged Turkey to address the S-300 issue through diplomatic means and to refrain from threats to take the missiles out militarily."

Rubin reiterated US opposition to the purchase of the Russian missiles and said "the S-300 missile deal increases the danger of conflict in the island, and is a serious obstacle to our efforts to reach a settlement of the Cyprus dispute."

The Cyprus government intends to deploy the missiles later this year as a purely defensive weapon to combat the massive Turkish military presence in the northern part of the island and Turkey's superior air power.

The government has often said the missiles will not be deployed if there is sufficient progress towards an overall settlement leading to the demilitarisation of Cyprus.

Turkey has turned down President Glafcos Clerides' proposal for demilitarisation.

CNA DA/MM/GP/1998

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1030:CYPPRESS:02

[02] Austria sees chance for movement

He also praised President Glafcos Clerides' thinking in the sense that the President takes into account the views of the Turkish Cypriot community.

Speaking after a lengthy meeting with the Cypriot President here today, Schussel said "I think we are now entering in a very sensitive and interesting phase and a lot is possible if everybody agrees and joins in to find a permanent solution and think with the head of the other."

He said it was "very important and very interesting that the President tries not only to think with one head but also to think with the other community's head."

He described this as "the main message" of his meeting with Clerides, which lasted about an hour and 20 minutes.

The Austrian FM said President Clerides informed him about the situation and briefly the history of the island as well as his position of "strong support for the peace process, the necessity and the need for stability and security in the region for both communities."

The President, he added, informed him about recent developments in Cyprus, including a recent visit to the island by US presidential emissary Richard Holbrooke, who is due back in early May.

It will be interesting to see what the next weeks will bring, he said.

Schussel said that Cyprus' accession strategy for the European Union was also part of his talks with the President and will be the focus of discussions he will have later on at the Foreign Ministry.

Austria takes over the six-month presidency of the European Union on July 1, 1998.

He will also meet House of Representatives President Spyros Kyprianou and Finance Minister Christodoulos Christodoulou.

Later today, Schussel will cross into the Turkish-occupied part of Cyprus to meet with Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash before leaving at the end of his two-day visit here.

CNA MM/GP/1998

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1045:CYPPRESS:03

[03] Clerides receives new National Guard Commander

The Greek military head replaces Lieutenant-General Nicolaos Vorvolakos, also from Greece, who leaves after four years as National Guard Commander. Demou will assume office on April 25.

Demou had also a meeting with the island's Defence Minister Yiannakis Omerou, at the National Guard Headquarters in Nicosia.

Demou pledged to work hard to accomplish his mission.

The Defence Minister praised the work done by the outgoing Commander, adding that Cyprus honours the Greek officers serving with the National Guard.

The 10.000-men National Guard face a much superior heavily-armed Turkish force, occupying Cyprus' northern third since 1974.

Turkey has ignored repeated UN resolutions calling for the withdrawal of its occupation troops from Cyprus.

A 1.200-member UN force (UNFICYP) patrols the 180-kilometre long buffer zone across this east Mediterranean island.

CNA KK/GP/1998

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1145:CYPPRESS:04

[04] Austrian Vice-Chancellor meets House President

Speaking after the meeting, which he described as "very pleasant and good", Schussel said "the main priority was the relations between parliaments and governments in the accession talks" with the European Union, the Vice-Chancellor said.

"I welcome the strong cooperation between the Cyprus Parliament and the European Parliament", he stressed, pointing out that it will continue during the Austrian presidency of the EU, during the second half of 1998.

He said he informed the House President "on the climate and perception of the enlargement process in the EU and in Austria".

On his part, Kyprianou said the meeting was "constructive" and pointed out that it was made clear that Austria will make every effort to assist Cyprus' course of accession to the EU.

Cyprus started membership talks with the EU on March 31, 1998, during an official ceremony in Brussels.

CNA MCH/GP/1998

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1245:CYPPRESS:05

[05] Austrian Minister satisfied with Cyprus economy

Speaking after a meeting with Finance Minister, Christodoulos Christodoulou, he also pointed out that Cyprus is not the only country with a political problem.

"I am very pleased that the development in Cyprus on the economic level is good. You have political problems, but you are not the only country with political problems," he said.

The Austrian Minister said "the inflation, the currency situation, the interest rates and the economic growth are quite interesting and it is a good example how a small country is now integrating in the mainstream European countries."

Schussel, who served as Economic Affairs Minister for six years, also said they discussed "the acquis communautaire, the handling of offshore companies and taxation."

"This was very interesting for me and it will be part of the negotiations (for Cyprus' EU accession). I saw you are pretty well prepared, " he added.

The two ministers discussed the implementation of the European monetary unit, which Schussel described as a very optimistic prospect.

"We are now entering the new phase of creating for the first time, in a peaceful manner and in a peaceful way, the European Monetary Union," he said.

EU accession talks with Cyprus opened in Brussels on March 31, and the Austrian Minister's visit has been described as important as his country takes over the Union's rotating presidency in July.

The Finance Minister said they exchanged views on "serious and current issues" and he briefed the Austrian Minister on the Cyprus economy, especially its macroeconomic indexes.

He also outlined efforts made to harmonise the economy with the European acquis communautaire.

"I reassured him that Cyprus will continue to safeguard that it will fulfill all Maastricht criteria before its full accession to the EU," he added.

Christodoulou said the Austrian Minister put forward questions, some of which related to the economy in the Turkish-occupied part of Cyprus.

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1330:CYPPRESS:06

[06] President Clerides to meet Greek Premier

Government Spokesman, Christos Stylianides, today announced that President Clerides will meet Simitis on Friday, April 24.

He clarified that the meeting was arranged yesterday on the occasion of the President's visit to the Greek capital.

Stylianides pointed out that the meeting aims at further strengthening common understanding in view of renewed efforts to settle the protracted Cyprus problem.

The meeting between Clerides and Simitis will follow a visit here by US State Department Special Cyprus Coordinator Thomas Miller, who is expected to arrive on Monday.

Miller will be received by President Clerides on Monday evening.

The US official will also meet Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash, who will visit Turkey on April 22-23 for consultations with the Turkish government.

US Presidential Emissary for Cyprus, Richard Holbrooke, is expected to visit the island early next month, in a bid to get the Cyprus peace talks resumed.

The Turkish Cypriot leader has said he will not participate in negotiations to settle the Cyprus problem unless his illegal regime in the Turkish-occupied areas is recognised.

The illegal regime, unilaterally declared in 1983 in the areas occupied by Turkey since 1974, is recognised only by Ankara.

CNA MM/MA/GP/1998

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1350:CYPPRESS:07

[07] Japanese terrorist in Cyprus

Toshiyasu Ouchi arrived here on March 12 from Russia, from where, according to information, he was planning terrorist activities since 1992.

Speaking to CNA, Police Spokesman, Glafcos Xenos, said Cyprus Police cooperate closely with the Japanese authorities.

Cyprus authorities had been informed by Interpol about Ouchi at the request of the Japanese Police.

He pointed out, however, that there is no extradition agreement between Cyprus and Japan and for this reason Police in cooperation with the Attorney General's office were trying to find alternative measures of dealing with the matter.

He said Police were taking all necessary measures to make sure that Ouchi would not cross into the Turkish-occupied northern part of Cyprus.

Ouchi is wanted for the murder in 1989 of another member of the doomsday cult.

CNA DG/MCH/GP/1998

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