Cyprus News Agency: News in English (AM), 98-09-15

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

CONTENTS

[01] Cyprus - Turkey - Euro Court

[02] Cyprus House President - Israeli ambassador

[03] Cyprus - Iranian diplomats

[04] President Clerides - US ambassador

[05] SPORT: Commonwealth Games - Cyprus

0940:CYPPRESS:01

[01] Cyprus - Turkey - Euro Court

This was reiterated at a meeting in Strasbourg on Monday of permanent representatives of member-states of the Council of Europe, who outlined their views on the matter.

Turkey has until 28 October to pay up and discussions at the Council of Europe will continue on the eve of the deadline, set by the Court.

There is no precedent where a member-state has not complied with a Court decision in such matters. Turkey reacted angrily at the Court's decision.

In July, the Court ordered Turkey to pay nearly 800,000 US dollars to Titina Loizidou after it found Turkey responsible for continuing violation of human rights in the areas of the Republic of Cyprus it occupies since 1974.

During yesterday's session, chaired by Greece's representative Demetris Consta, Cyprus and Turkey presented their positions on the matter.

Cyprus was represented by its permanent representative to the Council Thalea Petridou, who argued that the Court decision must be complied with.

The deliberations of the session take place behind closed doors but it is understood that Turkey tried to divert the discussion to an earlier decision by the European Commission of Human Rights, which is contrary to the July decision.

Turkey also reiterated its view that it does not recognise the jurisdiction of the Court to try cases relating to the areas of the Republic of Cyprus it occupies. It contests that its puppet Turkish Cypriot regime in occupied Cyprus should deal with it.

CNA MM/GP/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1240:CYPPRESS:02

[02] Cyprus House President - Israeli ambassador

Israeli Ambassador in Nicosia, Shemi Tzur, speaking after a meeting today with House of Representatives President, Spyros Kyprianou, said his country wants stability in the eastern Mediterranean and would like to see a solution to the Cyprus problem.

Invited to comment on statements made yesterday by Arab ambassadors to Cyprus that they are worried over the Turkish - Israeli military alliance, Tzur said "Arab countries should be more worried how to proceed with the peace process with Israel and to leave this sort of things aside".

He said "their worries have nothing to do with Cyprus" and urged Arab diplomats to help "promote peace process with Israel, to convince Palestinians... to come forward to proceed with the peace".

Tzur said Kyprianou raised the issue of Israel's cooperation with Turkey during their meeting.

"He (Kyprianou) received all the explanation, he received again the assurances that this cooperation has nothing in it to harm Cyprus", he said.

Tzur added "Israel is a close friend of Cyprus, Israel won't harm Cyprus, there is nothing in that agreement to harm Cyprus".

He said his country "is looking for stability in the eastern Mediterranean, we want to see stability, we want to see the Cyprus problem being solved."

The diplomat added Cyprus "should live in peace, this country can be for the whole region, a base of cooperation which everybody will enjoy".

The Israeli - Cyprus friendship, he said, continues to be enhanced and this is clearly depicted by last week's visit to Cyprus of the Israeli Health Minister, next month's visit to Israel of Cyprus' Commerce Minister, and the official visit of Israeli President Ezer Weizman to Cyprus in November.

Tzur described Weizman's visit as a "significant visit", stressing that he would bring with him "a clear message of friendship towards Cyprus, of close relations with Cyprus, something which will go on... and will continue this for the benefit of both countries".

Referring to his meeting with Kyprianou, Tzur repeated the official invitation to the House President to visit Israel.

The two men also discussed cooperation between Cyprus and Israel "which is going very well in many fields: trade, economy, health, medicine, high tech", said Tzur, noting that Kyprianou was very pleased about it.

On his part, Kyprianou said he raised the issue of the military cooperation between Israel and Turkey because "it creates an atmosphere of concern to both Cyprus and Greece and to other countries in the region".

He said Tzur told him that the alliance is of a technical and commercial nature and has nothing to do with Cyprus, nor should it affect the very good relations between the two countries or the relations between Israel and Greece.

Kyprianou said he still questions the purpose of the agreement, especially during this period.

The House President said Cyprus does not oppose alliances between countries in the region but stressed that these should not affect issues which seriously concern Cyprus.

The House President also said Tzur renewed an invitation by the Knesset for him to visit Israel, and said it was indicated to him that the visit could be useful. However, he said he must first consult with the Cyprus government.

CNA EC/GP/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1330:CYPPRESS:03

[03] Cyprus - Iranian diplomats

An official press release issued today says "this brutal and abhorrent crime is an unprecedented and particularly serious violation of the immunity of diplomatic envoys".

The Cyprus government would like to "add its voice to that of the UN Secretary General, the European Union and all those other governments which have called for an immediate investigation into the crime to track down the inhuman and callous murderers and bring them to justice".

The Cyprus government expresses the hope that "restraint is exercised under the circumstances and the peaceful solution of the problems in the region is sought on the basis of the generally accepted principles of international law."

The government expresses "our sincere condolences and sympathy to the families of the victims and to the government and people of Iran."

Meanwhile, a book of condolences was opened at the Iranian embassy in Nicosia today for the murder of the Iranian diplomats and a correspondent of the Iranian news agency IRNA.

CNA EC/GP/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1430:CYPPRESS:04

[04] President Clerides - US ambassador

However, he stopped short from criticising a proposal by the Turkish side for the establishment of a confederation of two states in Cyprus, already rejected by the Greek Cypriot side.

Brill called on President Glafcos Clerides in view of the President's upcoming visit to New York for the UN General Assembly and in the light of his visit to South Africa, where he participated in the Non-Aligned Movement summit.

Asked what issues the US officials involved in the Cyprus problem are working on, the ambassador said they are "trying to get the parties back on the negotiations... on the basis we all understand."

He clarified this is "the UN Security Council resolutions, bizonal, bicommunal federation."

To a question if he rejects a proposal by Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash for a confederation, the US ambassador replied "we study this proposal, we look for ways to open doors, not ways to slam doors."

"I think it is important that we have political proposals not military proposals, it is important to get the focus on the Cyprus issue at political issues, on the core issues and not at things that distract, so that to the extent that people on either side making those kinds of proposals that is useful," he added.

Brill refrained from characterising any side's proposal, noting "we are trying to promote a serious political and diplomatic process."

He also said he expects President Clerides will have some meetings next week when he will be in New York for the UN General Assembly but they have not yet been arranged.

Brill also confirmed that Richard Holbrooke is still the US Presidential Emissary for Cyprus.

CNA MM/MA/GP/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1435:CYPPRESS:05

[05] SPORT: Commonwealth Games - Cyprus

Costas Stratis and Antonis Nicolaides won their gold medals when they scored 188, beating England's Drew Harvey and Andrew Austin by one point.

It is the third gold medal in Cyprus' history in the Commonwealth Games.

CNA EC/GP/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

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