Cyprus News Agency: News in English (AM), 98-06-16

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

CONTENTS

[01] EU spokesman notes Luxemburg conclusions are the base to work on

[02] Brill says US continues efforts in Cyprus and region

[03] NNA to take over AMAN chair in 1999

[04] Morocco Agency wins award

1020:CYPPRESS:01

[01] EU spokesman notes Luxemburg conclusions are the base to work on

Cardiff, Jun 16 (CNA) -- Cardiff is the right time to send a positive message to Turkey but the Luxembourg conclusions should be the base to work on, a spokesman for British Prime Minister, Tony Blair, has said.

Speaking at a press conference, Alistair Campbell said "Cardiff is the right time to send a positive message to Turkey and put relations with Turkey back on track."

He added, however, that "the Luxembourg conclusions should be the base to work on and the approach should be to see Turkey as part of the enlargement process, therefore to put relations with Turkey into a more positive perspective."

Replying to questions, he said that Turkey should be judged on the same basis as any other country.

In Luxebourg, last December, the European Council, stressed that strengthening of Turkey's links with the EU depended on its pursuit of political and economic reforms, improvement of human rights standards, satisfactory relations with Greece and support for a political settlement in Cyprus.

CNA KT/KN/MCH/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1040:CYPPRESS:02

[02] Brill says US continues efforts in Cyprus and region

Replying to questions, after a meeting with President Glafcos Clerides, Brill said there are no plans for a visit to Cyprus by US Presidential Emissary, Richard Holbrooke.

He disagreed, however, with views that the US initiative is at an impasse, stressing that:

"The US has a multi-dimensional diplomacy, which is geared to working on various facets and issues that relate to each other.

We work on Cyprus, we try to promote improvement between Greece and Turkey and between Turkey and the EU and generally in the region," he added.

Brill expressed hope for progress, pointing out that "just because Holbrooke is not here today it does not mean we are not working on things that will have some benefit to Cyprus."

Asked to comment on the view that the Cardiff EU Summit decision on Turkey seems to fall short of Holbrooke's expectations, Brill pointed out that "we have not seen the final results yet."

"I know there have been early reports, but they are not definite and I know that the presidency as well as the other members of the EU are working hard on the issues they are discussing," he added.

Replying to another question, Brill said he had no information concerning reports of import of parts of the Russian-made defensive missile system S-300 to Cyprus.

CNA MCH/AP/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1410:CYPPRESS:03

[03] NNA to take over AMAN chair in 1999

Yesterday the Cyprus News Agency (CNA) took over the one-year presidency of the Alliance, until the 8th General Assembly, to be held in Beirut in June 1999.

Meanwhile, the French News Agency, AFP, expressed readiness to take over the presidency of AMAN from June 2000 to June 2001. The suggestion was adopted.

The presidium of the Alliance, until 1999, when NNA will take over comprises CNA (President), the Egyptian News Agency MENA (first Vice- President), NNA (second Vice-President) and the Tunisian News Agency TAP (Secretary-General).

CNA RG/EC/MM/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1430:CYPPRESS:04

[04] Morocco Agency wins award

The announcement for the prize, awarded for the first time this year, was made during the second day of the 7th General Assembly of AMAN, which ends here today.

The article, which won the prize, was written by journalist Aarab Issiali of MAP and touches upon a real problem of relations between the southern and northern coasts of the Mediterranean and leaves an impact on all Mediterranean countries.

It is based on the results of the Barcelona Conference and examines the outcome of the Conference in a critical way.

Aarab Issiali vividly expresses the concerns of the peoples of the southern coast of the Mediterranean, in his own personal way.

The prize, comprising a diploma and a week-long stay in Cyprus, will be presented at a training seminar, to be organised by the French News Agency and CNA in Cyprus, in March 1999 for the members of the Alliance.

CNA RG/EC/MM/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

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