Cyprus News Agency: News in English (AM), 98-07-29

Cyprus News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

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

CONTENTS

[01] US Pentagon - Moratorium

[02] Kasoulides - Kranidiotis - Athens meeting

0920:CYPPRESS:01

[01] US Pentagon - Moratorium

Washington, Jul 28 (CNA) -- The United States has reiterated its support for a moratorium of overflights in Cyprus and said it had discussed issues regarding Cyprus with a number of countries, including Israel.

"The US believes that some sort of an arrangement regarding the air picture for Cyprus would help to reduce tensions on the island and would contribute to an atmosphere which would be more conducive to settlement discussions," a Pentagon spokesman said.

He added that any "regime or effort in that regard would function with the cooperation of the concerned parties", pointing out that "the US would not enforce such an arrangement with Cyprus".

The Pentagon spokesman referred reporters to the State Department, which is handling the moratorium issue, for more clarifications.

"We've discussed our interest with regard to Cyprus with a number of countries, including Israel," he concluded.

CNA DA/MA/GP/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1400:CYPPRESS:02

[02] Kasoulides - Kranidiotis - Athens meeting

Kranidiotis told Cyprus radio that Greece's policy was reconfirmed during a meeting held on Tuesday night in the Greek capital, chaired by Prime Minister Costas Simitis.

Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos, Defence Minister Akis Tsohatzopoulos and Kranidiotis participated in the meeting, that discussed Greco-Turkish relations, the Cyprus problem and other Greek foreign policy issues.

Cyprus Foreign Minister, Ioannis Kasoulides, said he had an "initial communication with Kranidiotis" on the outcome of the meeting and the government will be briefed in more detail.

"The Cyprus government is in close contact with the government of Greece," Kasoulides said.

The two men also reiterated that there is no rift in relations between Greece and the US, after a war of words between officials from the two countries over Cyprus.

Last week Pangalos accused US President Bill Clinton of not keeping his pre-election promise to help settle the Cyprus problem, after White House spokesman Mike McCurry described the 1974 Turkish invasion of Cyprus as a "conflict".

Greco-Turkish relations go through different phases but are developing smoothly, Kranidiotis said.

The Greek official announced that the Greek Foreign Minister will meet US ambassador in Athens, Nicholas Burns, tomorrow. Kranidiotis will see Burns on Friday.

On his part, Kasoulides underlined that "statements made and bilateral relations are two completely different issues".

He said Nicosia expressed its dissatisfaction with statements by US officials to State Department Cyprus Coordinator Thomas Miller, who visited the island last week.

CNA RM/MA/GP/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

Cyprus News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article