Cyprus News Agency: News in English (AM), 98-04-23

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

CONTENTS

[01] Evidence given in case against Turkey

[02] Pauline Green to work towards EU momentum

[03] Polish ambassador supports Cyprus' WEU bid

[04] President Clerides praises Karamanlis' contribution

[05] Euro MPs warn Turkey

[06] Greek army chief meets House President, Defence Minister

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[01] Evidence given in case against Turkey

Alecos Markides is in London with a team of lawyers and talked to a number of witnesses in connection with the case, which is before the Commission of Human Rights of the Council of Europe.

The case against Turkey was brought by the Republic as a result of continuing human rights violations by Turkey, whose troops have been occupying Cyprus' northern part since they invaded in 1974.

In a different case, brought against Turkey by a Greek Cypriot, the European Court of Human Rights found Turkey guilty of continuing human rights violations with regard to the European Convention on Human Rights.

The court also established that Turkey is accountable for what happens in the areas it occupies taking into account the presence of its troops there and dismissed suggestions that there exist a so-called Turkish Cypriot "state" in the occupied part of the island.

Markides refrained from revealing any details about the work and restricted himself in saying "we have concluded the process of hearing witnesses and we may not hear any more."

He said on 7 July the plenary of the Commission will hear the evidence about the case.

Invited to evaluate the work done, Markides said "I believe we have all worked hard for this inter-state case and we shall continue to work until we bring this process to a conclusion."

The Attorney General returns to Cyprus on Sunday.

CNA KT/MM/GP/1998

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[02] Pauline Green to work towards EU momentum

She also described the Republic's EU course as a "new card" in efforts to settle the protracted Cyprus problem and welcomed US involvement here.

Green called on President Glafcos Clerides, who briefed her on the latest developments in the Cyprus issue.

"I have spoken to him about maintaining the momentum on the negotiations for Cyprus to join the EU. That's the political phase which we are now in," she said.

Green noted that she can "actually make a contribution as a member of the European Parliament and leader of the largest group", adding "that of course I am determined to do."

Asked to comment on the differentiation made by US Presidential Emissary, Richard Holbrooke, during his visit here earlier this month, between Cyprus and the Cyprus Republic, as the EU interlocutor, she said "as far as we in the EU are concerned there is one Cyprus."

The British Labour EuroMP stressed that the EU is negotiating with the Republic of Cyprus and President Clerides as its head, noting "that's the formal position and it's the right position."

However, Green pointed out that "Mr. Holbrooke is trying to support and work towards a solution to the Cyprus problem."

"In that context of course we support him," she said, adding that "to solve the Cyprus problem we want anyone who is genuinely wanting to solve the problem and to actually have the political muscle as well to support a solution."

"The Americans certainly have that and I think of course we must welcome their involvement."

Asked if Holbrooke is using Cyprus' EU course to gain more for Turkey's relations with the Union, Green noted that "Cyprus' application and its acceptance by the EU to join is the card that has opened up the present round of discussions."

"We know it's one of the few things that has changed the international environment (for Cyprus) in recent years, so in that context of course it is a factor that everybody is using."

Green described Cyprus' accession as "one of the major cards in the hands of those who are negotiating a solution" and said "everybody is playing on that."

With regard to Turkey's relationship with the EU, the British Labour EuroMP said it is "a very controversial and sensitive one at this moment."

Expressing regret with the fact that Turkey reacted badly to the EU Luxembourg summit's conclusions, she said "I think what was on offer to Turkey was actually very good and if we had been able to encourage them beforehand I think they would have understood it in a different context."

In Luxembourg, last December, the EU set preconditions for the improvement of its relations with Turkey, that included respect of human rights, an effort on its part to settle the Cyprus problem and the Kurdish question as well as the improvement of its relations with Greece.

Turkey reacted strongly and turned down an EU invitation to participate in the EU meeting held in London in March.

CNA MA/GP/1998

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[03] Polish ambassador supports Cyprus' WEU bid

Lamentowicz, who is based in Athens, called on President Glafcos Clerides, with whom he discussed the role of the WEU, the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) and the US in efforts to settle the protracted Cyprus question.

He described the timing of Cyprus' application to the WEU as "very good", in view of the WEU summit next month where it could be discussed by member countries and associate members.

The Polish ambassador expressed the view the WEU is "an important step leading to the successful membership of Cyprus to the European Union, as well."

He added that even though Poland, as an WEU associate member, does not have the right to vote, it will express its positive stance towards Cyprus' application.

Lamentowicz said he discussed with President Clerides "about American efforts to contribute to the solution of the Cyprus problem and about some initiatives that will be taken in the near future."

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

CNA MA/GP/1998

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[04] President Clerides praises Karamanlis' contribution

In a written statement the President describes Karamanlis, who passed away in the early hours today, as one of Greece's great political figures in the country's modern history.

He also refers to Karamanli's role in paving the way for his country's entry into the 21st century.

President Clerides' statement reads as follows:

"Constantinos Karamanlis, who towered over the political life of Greece for fourty years, was one of the great political figures in modern Greek history.

Constantinos Karamanlis made a valuable contribution to the Greek people's colossal effort to reconstruct Greece after the destruction and great catastrophes brought about by the Italian and German occupation and the Greek civil war.

Also invaluable was his contribution as regards the restoration and consolidation of democracy in Greece after the fall of the junta and as regards Greece's accession to what is today the European Union.

Constantinos Karamanlis' historic decision to make Greece a member of the European Economic Community, as it was called then, was a landmark in modern Greek history. The importance of this decision was borne out by subsequent developments in the international political scene.

At the same time Karamanlis worked systematically and persistently, with patriotism and political wisdom, in tackling the national issues of Greece.

He was involved in the Cyprus problem since the start of the EOKA liberation struggle as Prime Minister and later as President of Greece.

From time to time he had the opportunity to participate decisively in charting the strategy and handling of the Cyprus problem. He always had the political courage to speak his mind without resorting to demagogy, guided by the national interest.

Constantinos Karamanlis was a great visionary with a realistic approach to problems, who steadily tried to obtain the best possible results under the circumstances.

He was a statesman with a European stature, who paved the way for Greece's entry into the 21st century."

CNA MA/GP/1998

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1300:CYPPRESS:05

[05] Euro MPs warn Turkey

European Parliament deputies have also warned that Turkey cannot be allowed to raise obstacles in Cyprus' EU membership bid.

Deputies urged Turkey and the Turkish Cypriots to reconsider their stance towards Cyprus' prospects for accession or face the possibility of having the Republic of Cyprus, as the internationally recognised state, join the Union.

Cyprus, on its part, has repeated its invitation to the Turkish Cypriot to participate in the Cypriot negotiating team and reiterated it will continue to work towards a settlement.

"Negotiations with Cyprus depend neither on the eventual solution of the Cyprus question nor on the pre-accession negotiations with Turkey," Phillippe Monfils, co-chairman of the EU-Cyprus Joint Parliamentary Committee, told its opening session.

He stressed that "we cannot accept that an army of occupation prevents a state recognised by international law to choose freely its European destiny."

Monfils pointed out that "enlargement negotiations could be a catalyst for a resolution of the Cyprus question", noting that Turkey's obvious wish for closer links with the Union is another element which could help in this direction.

The Belgian MP expressed the conviction that Cyprus' entry into the Union without any strings attached could lead the Turkish Cypriots and Turkey to adopt European principles.

"If the Turkish Cypriot leadership continues to refuse to negotiate, if Turkey continues to link Cyprus' entry to the Union with its own, we have to declare that there can be no backing down and admit the Republic of Cyprus into the Union as it is recognised by international law" he said.

Cyprus Foreign Minister Ioannis Kasoulides stressed that the government's proposal for Turkish Cypriot participation in the accession talks "is still on the table and the door will remain open for their participation, whenever they ask for it."

Any effort to link accession talks and peace negotiations would give Turkey not only a veto over Cyprus' European aspirations but also provide a pretext to Turkey to continue being intransigent, Kasoulides said.

"EU persistence on the continuation of the accession negotiations would act as a catalyst on the peace effort," he said.

Expressing regret about the absence of progress towards a negotiated settlement, he called on the international community to focus their efforts on "the resumption of direct talks as soon as possible on the same legal and political basis as in the past."

"These negotiations should be substantive, intensive and should last as long as it takes to yield some positive result," the Minister said.

Kasoulides called on the Turkish side to return to the negotiating table and abandon its preconditions for the resumption of the intercommunal dialogue.

Co-chairman of the JPC, Cypriot deputy Tassos Papadopoulos, said "neither the start of accession talks, nor Cyprus' EU membership can or should depend on terms and preconditions relating to a Cyprus solution."

"The rejection of the proposal for Turkish Cypriot participation in the accession negotiations is entirely due to Turkey's political expediencies against Cyprus," Papadopoulos said.

On harmonisation efforts with the acquis communautaire, he said "no country is justified in expecting a favourable exemption from its obligations" to meet European rules and regulations, governing the Union, including democracy and human rights.

EU presidency representative, Britain's High Commissioner David Madden, said "progress towards accession and a solution will reinforce each other" and reiterated the Union's backing for UN efforts in finding a negotiated settlement in Cyprus.

He expressed EU regret about the Turkish Cypriot negative response to President Glafcos Clerides' proposal for a joint negotiating team and said the EU and the Commission will pursue their contacts with the Turkish Cypriots.

Philippe Combescot, acting head of the delegation of the EU Commission in Cyprus, said he hopes peace talks will resume and reiterated, in his turn, the Union's position on the Turkish Cypriot participation in the talks and contact with them.

CNA MM/GP/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1340:CYPPRESS:06

[06] Greek army chief meets House President, Defence Minister

Speaking after his meeting with Air Marshall Tzoganis, the House President expressed satisfaction with the efforts made to reenforce Cyprus' defence capability.

Kyprianou said Cyprus must be in able to defend itself and described a joint defence pact agreed with Greece in 1993 as important in efforts to settle the Cyprus problem.

"A lot of work has been done in the defence field and we have reached a very good level. This does not mean, however, that there is no room for improvement," he said.

He pointed out that Cyprus' aim is not to engage itself in a military confrontation.

"We must be in a position to defend ourselves, if the need arises. The strengthening of our defence, within the framework of the joint defence pact, is a strong negotiating weapon," Kyprianou remarked.

Tzoganis described the meeting as "useful" and said "we discussed, to a certain extent, the present capability of Cyprus' defence and cooperation with Greece in the military field."

After his meeting with the Defence Minister, the Greek military chief said they discussed issues concerning the defence capabilities of the two countries.

"We discussed the joint defence pact in depth and the stage it has reached today and agreed on the need to further develop this cooperation," Tzoganis added.

He stressed that Greece and Cyprus should continue to build their military defence until agreements safeguarding their sovereignty and national interests are reached.

Tzoganis also pointed to the ties between the two countries "which make us undertake every effort to safeguard peace and stability in the region."

On his part, the Defence Minister described the Greek army chief's visit as both symbolic and substantive.

Tzoganis is the first Greek military chief to visit Cyprus.

"His visit underlines and reconfirms once more the bonds of brotherhood between Greece and Cyprus, and Greece's resolve to stand by Cyprus against Turkish expansionism which is still a threat to us," Omirou said.

He added that they decided to strengthen further the joint defence pact agreed by the two countries, providing for Cyprus' air and sea protection in the case of a new offensive against the government-controlled areas of the Republic.

Heavily armed Turkish troops have been occupying 37 per cent of Cyprus' territory since they invaded the island in 1974.

CNA SD/MA/GP/1998

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