Cyprus News Agency: News in English (PM), 98-10-05

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

CONTENTS

[01] European Court - Vice President - Interview

[02] Government - Shuttle Talks

[03] Cyprus - Foreign Minister - European Conference

[04] EU - Cyprus - Accession Talks - November

[05] British - Argentinian Defence Ministers

[06] Central Bank - Nigeria - Con-men

[07] Vassiliou - EU Council of Ministers' decision

[08] Cyprus - Council of Ministers - EU

1550:CYPPRESS:01

[01] European Court - Vice President - Interview

Nicosia, Oct 5 (CNA) -- Turkey will be given more time beyond the original deadline of October 28 to pay damages to a Cypriot for human rights violations in accordance with a decision by the European Court of Human Rights, professor Christos Rozakis, one of the two vice-presidents of the new European Court of Human Rights which comes into effect on 1 November, has said.

Rozakis, a former Foreign Under-secretary in Greece, also said the Court could well give Turkey a grace period of two years to pay up 457.000 Cyprus pounds (one pound is about two US dollars) before it threatens Turkey with expulsion.

"It is certain that on the basis of current practice, a further deadline will be given to Turkey," he told CNA in an interview on the sidelines of a seminar on Human Rights and the European Union.

He explained that it would be difficult to suggest that the current pay- up deadline of October 29 will see sanctions imposed on Turkey.

"If this continues steadily, at some stage the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe will react, at first mildly applying some pressure which will increase and will become more austere," Rozakis said.

The professor said at some stage Turkey will be told that she is running the risk of possible expulsion from the Council of Europe.

"If, despite all this, nothing happens, then Turkey will be faced with possible expulsion from the Council because of its refusal to accept to execute the Court's decision," Rozakis said.

Asked to define a timetable within which action could be taken against Turkey, Rozakis said "this is a political issue, but I do not think that anything can happen before one or two years."

"I would be surprised if the Committee of Ministers were to move in greater speed than that," he added.

Commenting on possible repercussions of future cases Cypriots may bring before the new Court against Turkey, Rozakis noted the new Court will follow to a large degree the rules the current Court observes.

"This is not a revolution, it is a natural evolution of primarily procedural nature, which aims to continue the lifespan of the Court on better terms," Rozakis told CNA.

The new Court, he explained, will deal with all cases along these lines, including cases relating to Cyprus and Turkey.

"My assessment is that there will not be any serious changes," he added.

Replying to questions, he said the new Court will speed up procedures and the obligatory nature of the rulings.

The Court from now on will deal directly with a case, declared admissible, a development which does away with the European Commission of Human Rights.

The Committee of Ministers will no longer have any role in the decision- making process and will restrict itself in the execution of the court's decision.

The new Court will have 38 judges and two vice-presidents.

CNA MM/MCH/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1550:CYPPRESS:02

[02] Government - Shuttle Talks

Government Spokesman, Christos Stylianides, said today a UN-led "shuttle talks" process between Hercus and President Glafcos Clerides and Turkish Cypriot leader, Rauf Denktash, is expected to start as soon as the UN official returns to Cyprus from Turkey.

Stylianides told the press the Greek Cypriot side "accepts any discussion on the substance of the Cyprus problem, provided it is within the framework of the UN, which the five permanent members of the UN Security Council and the UN Secretary-General have reaffirmed".

He also said there was no point in discussing issues pertaining to an ongoing military dialogue (unmanning and unloading of weapons along the buffer zone and code of conduct).

"The government does not reject anything a priori, especially if that comes from the UN Secretary-General but considers that the agenda of the talks should be on the basis of UN resolutions," Stylianides said.

CNA MM/MCH/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1635:CYPPRESS:03

[03] Cyprus - Foreign Minister - European Conference

Participants in the session will be the fifteen European Union (EU) member-states and the eleven EU candidate-states.

The Austrian Presidency has also invited the Swiss Foreign Minister to participate as an observer due to the country's special relations with the EU.

On the contrary, Turkey refused to participate though invited. The session is to be focused on organised crime and cooperation on environmental issues.

The first Ministerial Session of the European Conference comes after the Conference's first Session of Heads of States and Governments which took place in March.

Cyprus along with other five countries began accession negotiations with the EU in March.

CNA GG/MCH/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1635:CYPPRESS:04

[04] EU - Cyprus - Accession Talks - November

The decision was taken today during a meeting of EU Foreign Ministers in Luxembourg.

Austrian Foreign Minister, Wolfgang Schussel, presiding this term over the EU, said negotiations will begin in seven fields on which the acquis communautaire screening has been completed.

Replying to a question on Cyprus, Schussel said the decision for accession talks with the six countries was unanimous and pointed out that in the case of Cyprus the EU moved on the basis of the Luxembourg European Council conclusions in December 1997.

He expressed the hope that accession talks will assist efforts for a Cyprus settlement and pointed out that the EU wishes for a solution based on UN resolutions for a bi-communal, bi-zonal federation.

CNA NB/MCH/GG/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1815:CYPPRESS:05

[05] British - Argentinian Defence Ministers

The two Defence Ministers will tomorrow inspect a joint British- Argentinian guard of honour of the UN Peace-keeping force (UNFICYP).

They will attend an UNFICYP brief, watch a mobile first reserve training exercise and visit the buffer zone in Nicosia

Dominguez, who came here through Larnaca airport, did not wish to make any statements to the press.

His British counterpart will arrive at Akrotiri British military base.

CNA MM/MCH/GG/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1910:CYPPRESS:06

[06] Central Bank - Nigeria - Con-men

There has been a huge increase in the number of letters which originate from Nigeria and offer easy and quick "profits" to prospective partners, the Central Bank of Cyprus warns in a written announcement, issued today.

The letters, usually offer vast sums of money, which may amount to millions of dollars, as "commission" in exchange for the recipient's acceptance to use his bank account for the laundering of money emanating from fraudulent transactions which supposedly have been committed at the expense of state companies in Nigeria.

The Central Bank points out that the phenomenon of the massive despatch of these deceitful letters from Nigeria has assumed international dimensions and there are hundreds of cases where unsuspected citizens have been deceived and lost substantial funds by way of payments in advance to cover "expenses".

The Central Bank stressed that "nobody has so far managed to secure any financial or other benefit out of these "business proposals".

CNA RM/MCH/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

2035:CYPPRESS:07

[07] Vassiliou - EU Council of Ministers' decision

Speaking to the press, George Vassiliou, said "another obstacle in Cyprus' accession course has been overcome" and stressed that the decision "should satisfy every Cypriot".

Vassiliou also made special reference to a statement by Austrian Foreign Minister, Wolfgang Schussel, whose country presides over the EU this term.

Schussel stressed today that the EU decision to start accession talks with Cyprus and five eastern European countries on November 10 was a unanimous decision.

He also pointed out that in the case of Cyprus the EU moved in the basis of the Luxembourg European Council conclusions in December 1997.

CNA SD/MCH/GG/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

2045:CYPPRESS:08

[08] Cyprus - Council of Ministers - EU

The EU Council of Ministers requests the beginning of substantive negotiations with Cyprus and the other five candidate states on 10 November 1998.

In today's conclusions on enlargement, the Council notes that because of Cyprus' political situation, the screening "could not cover Cyprus as a whole and that the invitation of the Cyprus government to include representatives of the Turkish Cypriot community in the negotiations had so far not been taken up".

The Council "regretted that it had not been possible to achieve a political solution to the continuing division of Cyprus in time for the accession negotiations".

"The Union believes that Cyprus' accession to the EU should benefit all communities, including the Turkish Cypriot community, and help to bring about civil peace and reconciliation on the island," it is noted in the Council's conclusions.

EU's objective "remains a bi-communal, bi-zonal federation on the basis of a comprehensive political settlement in accordance with UN Security Council resolutions," the Council stresses.

It notes that "a political settlement would allow the provisions of the Accession Treaty to be implemented throughout the island".

"Progress towards accession and towards a just and viable solution to the Cyprus problem will naturally reinforce each other", the Council says, adding that the EU "reaffirms its full support for the search for a solution under the aegis of the UN".

In its conclusions on enlargement, the Council reiterates EU's "strong willingness to carry forward the accession process along the lines mapped out by the European Council and in accordance with the Union's general position presented at the launching of each Accession Conference".

The Council requests "the convening of meetings of the Conferences on Accession at Ministerial level on 10 November 1998 and at the level of Deputies prior to that meeting in order to have substantive negotiations with Cyprus, Hungary, Poland, Estonia, the Czech Republic and Slovenia".

Referring to Turkey, the Council "recalled the importance it attaches to the implementation of the European strategy" for that country.

Referring to screening, the Council says 13 chapters have been screened so far, adding that "each of the applicant states will proceed at its own rate, depending on its degree of preparedness".

CNA NB/GG/MCH/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

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