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Cyprus News Agency: News in English (AM), 98-05-30Cyprus News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Cyprus News Agency at <http://www.cyna.org.cy>CONTENTS
0935:CYPPRESS:01[01] House President to address European meetingNicosia, May 30 (CNA) -- Spyros Kyprianou, President of the House of Representatives, will address a meeting of Speakers of the House of Mediterranean countries and the European Parliament, to take place in Palermo next week.Kyprianou, who leaves for Italy Sunday, will focus on the role of Mediterranean Parliaments in the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership. The meeting, on June 1, is organised by the Italian Parliament and will deal with the creation of a Euro-Mediterranean Parliamentary Forum and other issues pertaining cooperation in the Mediterranean basin. CNA MM/RG/1998ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY1120:CYPPRESS:02[02] Exhibition on Cyprus in House of CommonsNicosia, May 30 (CNA) -- Cyprus' history, culture and civilisation, along with a present-day perspective of this Eastern Mediterranean island, will be the focus of an exhibition which opens next week in the British House of Commons.The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Doug Henderson, will open the exhibition, which is organised by the Greek Cypriot Brotherhood and is under the auspices of the National Federation of Cypriots in Great Britain. The exhibition is divided into six units which portray Cyprus in antiquity, trade and industry, tourism, civilisation and Cyprus today, the country's contribution to World War II, the Cypriot community in Great Britain, Cyprus' cartography and the Republic's European perspective. The exhibition aims to inform the 659 deputies and others working at decision-making centres that Cyprus is worthy of becoming a member of the European Union as it will not only take from the EU but also offer a lot to the greater European family. CNA MM/RG/1998ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY1340:CYPPRESS:03[03] Deputies in CPA meetingNicosia, May 30 (CNA) -- A four-member parliamentary delegation leaves Sunday for Guernsey to participate in the 29th Meeting of the Commonwealth Parliamentary association from 1-5 June.The five-day meeting will focus on tourism, transport, the importance of well organised financial centres and the future of British dependencies. The four deputies who will represent Cyprus are Averof Neofytou, of the ruling rightwing Democratic Rally party, Kyriakos Tyrimos, of the main opposition left-wing AKEL party, Marios Matsakis, of the centre-right Democratic Party and Elias Myrianthous, of the socialist EDEK party. CNA MM/RG/1998ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY1705:CYPPRESS:04[04] Kasoulides reiterates stance on missiles, EULarnaca, May 30 (CNA) -- Foreign Minister, Ioannis Kasoulides, has reiterated the government's decision to deploy anti-aircraft missiles, unless the reasons for which they were ordered are eliminated.He stressed that Cyprus' course for membership of the European Union is not linked to either Turkey's bid for EU accession or efforts to settle the Cyprus question. The Minister, who was speaking on his return from talks in Dublin and Athens, said Turkey has so far rejected all the proposals put before her on the issue of demilitarisation. On the forthcoming EU summit, he said Turkey has not made any steps to enable the US or others to assist her in the Cardiff meeting. "If the reasons which have forced us to feel the need to order the missiles persist to exist - and we have offered many alternatives on this score but got no response at all - then we have no other choice but to bring in the missiles", Kasoulides said, replying to questions at Larnaca airport. He said the people of Cyprus are facing a problem with securing their safety from dangers arising from the Turkish air force. "Had we been engaged in productive talks which would have paved the way to peace or had we clinched an agreement on the demilitarisation of Cyprus, then we would reconsider our decision to deploy the missiles", the Foreign Minister explained. He said President Glafcos Clerides proposed, during last summer's UN- led talks, to the Turkish Cypriot leader "to enter a dialogue with a view to reduce forces and armaments and prohibit the import of new weapons as part of a plan for the demilitarisation of Cyprus." The President also put forward to the UN Secretary-General in December 1993 a proposal for the demilitarisation of Cyprus, providing for the disband of the National Guard and the Turkish Cypriot armed forces and the simultaneous withdrawal of the Turkish occupation forces. The Foreign Minister said his talks in Athens with his Greek counterpart, Theodoros Pangalos, focused on a review of developments in Cyprus, especially after a visit here of US envoy Richard Holbrooke. "I am very pleased with the understanding that exists between the Cypriot and the Greek governments and I will inform the President of the content of my discussions", Kasoulides added. Referring to his visit to Ireland, Kasoulides said "Cyprus should look towards Ireland for strong support of our position", noting that there is a "natural liking because of the many similarities in the history of our countries". He also said he exchanged experiences which emerge from the Good Friday Agreement on Northern Ireland. Commenting on the forthcoming EU summit, he said applicant countries have not been invited this time as the European Conference has replaced the meetings that took place on the sidelines of the summits. "We shall be briefed about Cardiff on 28 June in Luxembourg by the president of the EU Council, British Foreign Secretary Robin Cook", he said. Asked to comment on Turkey's position with regard to Cardiff, he noted that Turkey had not made any move at all to facilitate others to help her in Cardiff. "The EU decisions relating to Cyprus are well known and are in force. Neither the Cyprus problem, nor Turkey's course to Europe can be linked with Cyprus' accession course", he said. CNA MAN/MM/RG/1998ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY1710:CYPPRESS:05[05] Chief EU negotiator returnsLarnaca, May 30 (CNA) -- George Vassiliou, chief negotiator with the European Union for Cyprus' accession, said he had "a very successful trip to Paris and Athens" where he held talks with government officials.Speaking on his return, Vassiliou expressed the view that "France today backs the course of our accession negotiations" and said he outlined the Cypriot views on European matters. "We are ready to accept Turkish Cypriots in our delegation, as proposed by President Glafcos Clerides, and we hope and expect that at some point they will decide to return to the intercommunal dialogue", Vassiliou, former Cyprus President, said. He said that in Athens, talks aimed at an exchange of views with the Greek government to hear its experiences from membership negotiations and to agree on some mechanisms to ensure future close cooperation. Commenting on the purchase of Russian anti-aircraft missiles, Vassiliou said the missiles would provide protection in the event of a Turkish offensive and added that "they aim at reducing tension, not escalating tension". CNA MAN/MM/RG/1998ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCYCNA ENDSCyprus News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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