Cyprus News Agency: News in English (AM), 98-09-27

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

CONTENTS

[01] President Clerides - Medical Centre

[02] Albright - Cyprus message

[03] Russian official - Cyprus - Turkey - NATO

[04] Cyprus Rally - Italian in the lead

[05] Finance Minister - Overseas Meetings

[06] Deputy - EU meeting

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[01] President Clerides - Medical Centre

New York, Sep 27 (CNA) -- President of the Republic of Cyprus, Glafcos Clerides, will today visit the "Kyrenia Cardiovascular Center" of New York Hospital Medical Center of Queens.

The Centre, one of the top in the US for heart surgery, was given the name of a town in Turkish occupied Cyprus, after American Cypriot Philip Christopher pledged to raise 5 million dollars for its needs.

It is open to taking children from Cyprus for heart surgery. The Centre's medical director is Greek American William Tenant, brother of CIA chief.

Later today, President Clerides will meet Archbishop Spyridon of the Americas and will attend a dinner held in the honour of the President and the delegation accompanying him to New York.

The President departs from New York on Monday but his Foreign Minister Ioannis Kasoulides will remain here to continue meetings with his counterparts from a number of countries.

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[02] Albright - Cyprus message

New York, Sep 27 (CNA) -- US Secretary of State, Madeleine Albright, has reaffirmed that the US is working towards a bizonal, bicommunal federation in Cyprus and reassured that US commitment for a settlement to the Cyprus problem remains firm.

In a message to the annual awards gala of the Cyprus Federation of America, read by State Department Coordinator for Cyprus Thomas Miller, the US diplomatic chief described the division of Cyprus as an "anachronism", which "is unjust to the people of Cyprus".

"The continuing stalemate affects US security interests in the region and complicates relations between two important NATO allies", she said, adding that US President Bill Clinton has made the search for a solution a "high priority".

"Lest there by any doubt about our position. We seek a negotiated settlement under the UN framework that is based on a bizonal, bicommunal federation and that ensures security and prosperity for all Cypriots", Albright added in her message.

The Secretary of State assured Greek Americans and the Cypriot political leadership who attended the gala, that "we have and will continue to have a good deal of influence for a solution in Cyprus".

She pointed out the setbacks in the Bosnian and Irish peace effort and said "as we work for a Cyprus solution there will be similar setbacks... but I assure you this administration will not be deterred and our efforts will not flag".

In his address, President Glafcos Clerides said he stood for re- election as he felt he could contribute towards reaching a bizonal, bicommunal federation and believed his relationship with Denktash would have been a helpful element.

"I'm sorry to say it has not," he added, stressing that "Denktash, with guidance from Ankara, has taken the road that leads to partition, to two protectorates", a clear albeit indirect reference to Denktash's recent proposal for a Cyprus confederation on the basis of two sovereign and separate states.

The President underlined that "no Cypriot would sign a document that would partition Cyprus" and called on the international community to recongise this.

He expressed the appreciation of the people of Cyprus to Greek Americans and Cypriot Americans for their support to Cyprus' struggle and encouraged them to continue their efforts.

The gala ceremony was co-ordinated by US ambassador to Luxembourg, Clay Constantinou, who referred to Cyprus talks for accession to the European Union describing them as a catalyst which will benefit all Cypriots.

In his greeting, President of the International Coordinating Committee Justice for Cyprus, Philip Christopher, told Cyprus Americans attending that "their presence proves the struggle will continue, because we have promises to keep".

"We, as Americans, have a double obligation because the principles of our country must be enforced in Cyprus," he added.

President of the World Council of Hellenes Abroad, Andrew Athens, announced that after a decision with the Cyprus government next year's balance will have the promotion of a settlement in Cyprus as its highest priority and underlined the need for co-operation.

President of the Cyprus Federation of America, Peter Papanicolaou, expressed the Cyprus American community's gratitude to the Clinton administration for its interest in a Cyprus settlement. He also thanked the community for its efforts and called for unity.

In his greeting, new Greek Ambassador to the US Alexandros Filon expressed the pain he feels with the fact that the Cyprus problem remains unresolved and said a lot can be done beginning from the grassroots level. Filon described the Cyprus Republic's EU accession bid as "a major political step".

The Justice for Cyprus award was given to Senator Alfonse D' Amato, who backs a Cyprus settlement. The lifetime achievement award went to John Brademas, an academic and first native born American of Greek origin to be elected to Congress, and the Humanitarian and Philanthropic Award to the Rachel Cooper Foundation for its "Heal of Heart" programme.

Twenty-six children from Cyprus have undergone life-saving open heart surgery at the Montefiore Medical Centre in New York, within the framework of this programme.

The awards were presented by Clerides and Archbishop Spyridon of the Americas. In his address the Archbishop emphasised the need for justice, human rights and love, noting that these elements must guide all in every action they may take.

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[03] Russian official - Cyprus - Turkey - NATO

He also said that Turkey's expansionist designs should be curbed to avert problems and noted that strong NATO pressure on Turkey could contribute towards a Cyprus settlement.

Arbatov reiterated his government's view that any attack against Russian ships or aircraft, carrying Russian missiles to Cyprus, would be considered an act of war but was very cautious about the possibility of realising a military alliance between Cyprus and Russia.

The Russian deputy stressed that "divided Cyprus and divided Europe is of the past" and added that Turkey's defence cooperation agreement with Israel is of "no particular concern" to Russia.

Speaking at the annual dinner of the "Research and Development Centre" of a leading college "Intercollege", headed by Dr. Andreas Theophanous, Arbatov said "Turkey is an expansionist regional power in this part of the world, and if its expansionist designs go unchecked, problems will arise."

Noting that Russia wants to have "good relations" with Turkey, he regretted that "at present unfortunately Turkey shows no respect for international law."

He referred to the conflicting interests of the two countries in the northern Caucasus, Armenia and Azerbaijan and Turkish attempts to influence developments in these regions.

Turkey's occupation of part of Cyprus, he added, "has never met with any strong NATO action and the Alliance has proved ineffective in dealing with problems of two of its allies, Greece and Turkey."

"The importance of Cyprus for Russia is much bigger than the island's size may suggest," he remarked, and indicated that trade, economic, political and financial links with the Republic of Cyprus lie behind the island's importance.

The Russian deputy was critical of the position adopted by the West on the purchase of Russian anti-aircraft missiles by the government of Cyprus and called it "an anachronism of the cold war."

"The Russian S300 missile system is not a threat to peaceful airplanes but it is a threat to military aircraft threatening strikes," he said, warning Turkey at the same time that if it tries to prevent the delivery of the missiles to Cyprus, Russia would consider any such attempt "an act of war."

He also said that Russian combat naval ships or combat aircraft could provide cover when the missiles are being transferred to the island.

Replying to questions, after his address, Arbatov said "domestic revolution in Turkey or changes in ties between the West and Turkey could provide a situation in which NATO would exert pressure on Turkey" to help find a solution in Cyprus.

On the prospects of a joint Cyprus-Russia military alliance, he said "I doubt that it is probable or possible to have such a treaty", noting that although the Duma is likely to endorse such a move, a strong pro-Turkish lobby in the executive would oppose it.

Arbatov said Russia has to be "twice as active in foreign policy at times of crisis" and said his country's interests in the region are both economic and political and relate to security concerns.

He chastised the West for its attempts to exclude Russia from the world arms sales market and was critical of NATO's recent warning about the possibility of air strikes in Kossovo.

On the domestic front, Arbatov was confident Russia will rise to the occasion and emerge from its present predicament to become stronger.

Andreas Theophanous, Director of the Research and Development Centre, at Intercollege, said the tension in the situation in Cyprus is caused by the Turkish occupation of part of the island.

He argued that a collective security system framework can contribute towards a settlement in Cyprus and appealed to the government to allocate more funds to "strengthen and upgrade strategic policies" with the help of think tanks and experts.

The dinner was attended by foreign ambassadors, diplomats and other dignitaries.

CNA MM/AA/1998

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[04] Cyprus Rally - Italian in the lead

Cypriot Group N champion Andreas Peratikos is in second place, followed by Czech ace Emil Triner.

This morning 33 cars left the ramp for the final leg of the Rally. The 888 kilometre rally, one of the toughest in the European calendar and a coefficient 20 event of the European Championship, finishes Sunday afternoon.

CNA MM/AA/1998

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[05] Finance Minister - Overseas Meetings

From Canada, Christodoulou will go to Washington for the annual general meeting of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

Commonwealth ministers will look into measures that could be taken to strengthen proper administration and curb corruption in financial dealings.

They will also discuss the financial crisis in the South and Far East and examine ways to relieve the economic debts of low income states.

Christodoulou will address the AGM of the World Bank and the IMF and will meet with officials from both organisations as well as representatives of the European Investment Bank to discuss matters relating to their cooperation with Cyprus.

Governor of the Central Bank, Afxentis Afxentiou, will also attend the Washington meetings.

CNA MM/AA/1998

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[06] Deputy - EU meeting

Chairmen of House Foreign Affairs Committees from the 15 European Union member-states and the applicant countries will meet in the Austrian capital to discuss EU enlargement and foreign and security policy matters.

CNA MM/AA/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

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