Cyprus News Agency: News in English (AM), 98-06-12

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

CONTENTS

[01] Canadian MP opposes sale of CANDU nuclear reactors to Turkey

[02] Government not entirely pleased with UN report

1045:CYPPRESS:01

[01] Canadian MP opposes sale of CANDU nuclear reactors to Turkey

In his petition MP Demitris Karygiannis stresses that these reactors will be situated in a seismic area in southern Turkey, known for its frequent earthquakes.

"An accident would cause significant radiation leaks, affecting not only Turkey but also neighbouring countries, such as Greece, Cyprus, Israel and Syria", the petition says.

Karygiannis notes that "Turkey does not respect the human rights of its citizens, represses its minorities and has used force and military aggression against its smaller neighbours".

He added that giving nuclear technology to such a country would enable it to produce nuclear weapons of mass destruction and destabilise the whole region.

CNA MH/KN/GP/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1430:CYPPRESS:02

[02] Government not entirely pleased with UN report

"We would have liked to have seen in the report views closer to ours," Government Spokesman Christos Stylianides said here today, commenting on the report, released Thursday.

Noting that the eight-page report "moves within the traditional framework," he said it is descriptive for the period it reviews, 8 December 1997 to 8 June 1998.

"The report recommends a six-month extension of the mandate of the UN peace-keeping force. We would have liked the report to have reflected positions closer to ours, especially in certain issues, such as the plight of the enclaved and the town of Famagusta," Stylianides said.

He also said the government would have preferred to have seen "stronger criticism of the Turkish Cypriot side."

The government, he added, has noted Annan's position on the lack of cooperation by the Turkish side with UNFICYP and the fact that the report blames the Turkish side on bicommunal issues and the issue of missing persons.

The report said the Turkish Cypriot representative to the committee of missing persons said he was not prepared to discuss the necessary arrangements leading to the exhumation and return of the remains of Greek and Turkish Cypriots missing, unless the Greek Cypriot side dealt with the cases of victims of a military coup that preceded the 1974 Turkish invasion of Cyprus.

The report also notes that the Turkish Cypriot authorities prevent Turkish Cypriot participation in bicommunal contacts on the island.

"The government also noted Annan's position about a reduction of foreign troops and states that it is ready at any time to continue the military dialogue," Stylianides said.

Talks between the Turkish occupation troops and the National Guard with a view to adopting certain tension reducing measures along the demarcation line have not yielded any results.

"It must be made clear however that, as far as we are concerned, the key to this issue is the protection of built-up areas," the spokesman stressed.

CNA KN/MM/AP/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

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