Cyprus News Agency: News in English (AM), 98-10-01

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

CONTENTS

[01] UN statement - changed

[02] Cyprus - Independence Day

[03] President Clerides - Tsohatzopoulos

[04] Cyprus - Convention on Human Rights and Biomedicine

[05] Clerides - Tsohatzopoulos - Omirou - Parade

1045:CYPPRESS:01

[01] UN statement - changed

United Nations, Oct 1 (CNA) -- The United Nations yesterday changed their original statement on meetings the UN Secretary-General, Kofi Annan, had with President Glafcos Clerides and Turkish Cypriot leader, Rauf Denktash, so that it is in line with the UN Chief's good offices mission, a spokesman told CNA.

According to sources, the statement referring to Clerides as President of Cyprus and Denktash as leader of the Turkish Cypriot community, was withdrawn after pressure from the Turkish permanent mission to the UN.

The first statement, attributable to the Secretary-General's spokesman, read: "The Secretary-General met on 25 September with the President of the Republic of Cyprus Glafcos Clerides and then today (yesterday) with the leader of the Turkish Cypriot community Rauf Denktash".

However, a new statement issued a few hours later said: "Following his meeting with his excellency Mr Glafcos Clerides on 25 September, the Secretary-General met today (yesterday) with his excellency Mr Rauf Denktash".

Asked by CNA why a second statement was issued, UN Associate Spokesman, Hero Ueki, said "the original test had some errors and some inaccuracies" so they decided to reissue it.

Invited to elaborate, he said the changes are "self-evident" if the two texts are compared.

To a comment that President Clerides met Annan in his capacity as President of Cyprus, Ueki said "the statement was issued in the context of the good offices mission of the Secretary-General that treats both leaders equally".

President Clerides had met the UN chief after his address to the 53rd session of the UN General Assembly. Within the framework of the UN effort for a settlement in Cyprus and during negotiations, President Clerides and Denktash are considered as leaders of their respective communities.

According to the original statement, President Clerides and Rauf Denktash expressed support to a process for on island contacts with both parties developed by UN Chief's Resident Representative, Ann Hercus.

CNA MA/RG/MCH/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1205:CYPPRESS:02

[02] Cyprus - Independence Day

President Glafcos Clerides, President of the House of Representatives Spyros Kyprianou, Defence Minister Yiannakis Omirou, political party leaders and representatives, and other officials observed a military parade to mark the anniversary.

Greek Defence Minister, Akis Tsohatzopoulos, who arrived here yesterday, was also present.

Later today, an open reception will be held at the Presidential Palace on the occasion of Independence day.

Cyprus was proclaimed an independent state in 1960 on the basis of the Zurich and London Agreements which also provided for a Constitution which divided the people of the island into two communities on the basis of ethnic origin.

According to the Constitution, the President of the Republic would be elected by the Greek Cypriot community and the Vice-President - who also had the right of veto - by the Turkish Cypriot community, comprising only 18 per cent of the population.

In an effort to ensure the smooth functioning of the new state, Archbishop Makarios III, who was President at the time, suggested 13 amendments to the Constitution.

The Turkish Cypriot side claimed they were unacceptable and in 1964 then Vice President Fazil Kutchuk publicly declared that the Republic of Cyprus had ceased to exist and along with Turkish Cypriot Minister and MPs withdrew from the government.

The UN sent a peace-keeping force on the island (UNFICYP) which still remains stationed here. In August 1963 Turkey carried out air raids against the island.

In 1974, using as a pretext a coup committed by the Greek junta against the Republic's government, Turkey invaded the island occupying 37 per cent of its territory and causing the displacement of some 200.000 Greek Cypriots from their homes.

In 1983, the Turkish occupation regime unilaterally declared itself a "state" recognised by no other country but Turkey.

Despite repeated UN resolutions, calling for the withdrawal of Turkish troops from the island, Ankara retains some 40.000 soldiers on the island, while in an effort to change the demographic character of the country encourages the influx of Turkish settlers in the occupied north.

In a most recent new provocative act, Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash proposed a confederation of two states on the island, despite UN resolutions and high level agreements calling for a bi-zonal, bi-communal federation with one international identity.

CNA MCH/RG/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1205:CYPPRESS:03

[03] President Clerides - Tsohatzopoulos

Present at the meeting were Cypriot Minister of Defence, Yiannakis Omirou, Undersecretary to the President, Pantelis Kouros, National Guard Commander Lieutenant-General Demetrios Demou, and Greek Ambassador to Nicosia, Kyriacos Rodousakis.

On his arrival at the Presidential Palace, Tsohatzopoulos placed a wreath at the memorial statue of Archbishop Makarios, in the Palace's gardens.

No statements were made after the meeting.

CNA RG/MCH/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1300:CYPPRESS:04

[04] Cyprus - Convention on Human Rights and Biomedicine

The relevant texts were signed by Cyprus' Permanent Representative to the Council of Europe, Thalia Petrides, in the presence of Secretary- General of the organisation, Daniel Tarschys.

The Convention is the first internationally-binding text designed to protect people against the misuse of biological and medical advances. It aims at preserving human dignity and identity, rights and freedoms through a series of principles and rules.

CNA MCH/RG/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1300:CYPPRESS:05

[05] Clerides - Tsohatzopoulos - Omirou - Parade

Speaking after the parade, President Clerides welcomed the fact that Greek Minister of Defence, Akis Tsohatzopoulos, observed the parade, adding that Greece "contributed to the organising of our defence capabilities".

Tsohatzopoulos said that Greece "feels proud, because Cypriots and Greeks can guarantee the security, well-being, stability and calmness of the region", by participating in the joint defence pact reached between the two countries.

He added that the armed forces of Cyprus were well-organised and "effective" and that the people of Cyprus could "feel safe".

Cypriot Minister of Defence, Yiannakis Omirou, said that with today's parade, the armed forces of the Republic sent "a message of determination and readiness to face any aggressive threat".

CNA RG/MCH/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

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