Cyprus News Agency: News in English (PM), 98-09-22

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

CONTENTS

[01] Ministers of Justice and the Interior - Brussels - EU

[02] Kasoulides - Reppas - Cyprus - EU

[03] President Clerides - Cyprus problem

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[01] Ministers of Justice and the Interior - Brussels - EU

Minister of Justice and Public Order Nicos Koshis and Minister of the Interior Dinos Michaelides will participate at a meeting of the Ministers of Justice and the Interior of the EU candidate - states, which will take place on Thursday.

The meeting, which has been called by the Austrian Presidency of the EU, will focus on the pre-accession agreement to fight against organised crime, which has been adopted by EU member - states and candidate - states.

Cyprus applied for EU membership in 1990. It began accession negotiations last March.

CNA GG/EC/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

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[02] Kasoulides - Reppas - Cyprus - EU

Cyprus Foreign Minister, Ioannis Kasoulides, told state radio CyBC today that EU External Affairs Commissioner, Hans Van den Broek, clarified during their meeting yesterday in New York that Cyprus' accession course was progressing uninhibited.

Greek Government Spokesman Demetris Reppas, invited to comment on reported objections to Cyprus' accession to the EU by Italy, France and Spain, said the framework for the accession of Cyprus and other countries to the EU "has been defined by the decisions of the Luxembourg and Cardiff summits and any change to this should be brought to the competent EU bodies".

Reppas said such a development "is not practically feasible and politically correct".

He added that Cyprus and Greece were "not prepared" to pay the price of the stand-off over finding a solution to the division of Cyprus, due to Turkey's intransigence.

Cyprus has been divided since 1974 when Turkish troops invaded and occupied 37 per cent of the island's territory.

The island applied for EU membership in 1990 and began accession negotiations in March.

CNA KI/EC/GG/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

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[03] President Clerides - Cyprus problem

New York, Sep 22 (CNA) -- President Glafcos Clerides underlined that he cannot accept a proposal from the Turkish side for a "confederation of two states" in Cyprus, as this would turn the island into a Greek and Turkish protectorate.

Speaking to some 50 members of the prestigious Council on Foreign Relations, the President called for increased guarantees of a future federal state and expressed his support to contacts between Greek and Turkish Cypriots.

"If you look at the proposals of Mr. Denktash, they begin by saying that there will be two sovereign states. Each state will make its own arrangements - them with Turkey and we with Greece - and he (Denktash) continues to tell me that the moment I sit at the table and before I negotiate I must recognise the existence and sovereignty of two separate states", he said.

Clerides added that "the conclusion is that they do not want a Republic of Cyprus, a federal Republic with one sovereignty. They want two separate states, one with special relations with Turkey, economic, military and foreign policy and another small state with the same relations with Greece."

He stressed that this would reduce Cyprus into a Greek and Turkish protectorate, adding "I want my country to be a federal, independent Republic."

President Clerides said that countries that guaranteed Cyprus' sovereignty and integrity when it gained its independence in 1960, namely Greece, Turkey and Britain, have failed to fulfill their obligations and added that "whatever solution we have to find must not contain the mistakes of the past."

The President explained that Cyprus must not become a protectorate and stressed that "a repetition of the treaties of the past will not prevent this to happen".

He referred to his proposal for the demilitarisation of Cyprus and the existence of an international force on the island "with the right to intervene" in case one of the parties breaks the agreements.

Clerides expressed certainty that the Cyprus problem could be solved provided that peace, prosperity and security are safeguarded within a bizonal, bicommunal federation.

Asked about contacts between the two communities, the President said his government has always "encouraged and promoted" meetings with the Turkish Cypriots whereas the Turkish side has always posed obstacles.

The President also referred to the increase of arms in the areas of the Republic occupied by Turkey since it invaded in 1974 and said the Turkish side rejects his proposal for the demilitarisation of the island.

Kati Marton, wife of US Presidential Emissary for Cyprus Richard Holbrooke and former President of the Committee to Protect Journalists, introduced the President, describing him a political personality of international fame with a long political history.

CNA MA/EC/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

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