Cyprus News Agency: News in English (AM), 98-10-25

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

CONTENTS

[01] House President - Athens

[02] Cyprus - Egypt - Justice Ministers

[03] President - Military parade

[04] Immigrants - deportation

1255:CYPPRESS:01

[01] House President - Athens

Kyprianou will meet on Tuesday with Apostolos Kaklamanis, President of the Greek Parliament, whom he met earlier this month in the Greek capital.

On Wednesday, a national holiday commemorating Greece's contribution to World War II, Kyprianou will go to Patres at the invitation of the local University to talk about the Cyprus question and other national issues.

CNA MM/RM/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1530:CYPPRESS:02

[02] Cyprus - Egypt - Justice Ministers

Cyprus Justice and Public Order Minister Nicos Koshis, in Egypt on an official visit, discussed these matters on Saturday in Cairo with his Egyptian counterpart Farouk Sayf An-Nasr, who has accepted an invitation to visit Cyprus.

Welcoming Koshis, the An-Nasr said his government considers cooperation among countries to combat organised crime and in particular terrorism.

Koshis thanked Egypt for the support it grants Cyprus in international fora, especially at the UN, and said existing agreements between the two countries boost the effort to fight crime and form the basis for closer legal links.

The two Ministers signed a memorandum of consultations.

CNA MM/RM/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1545:CYPPRESS:03

[03] President - Military parade

Speaking after today's military parade, marking the end of the annual army manoeuvres code-named "Nikiforos '98", the President also said this year's exercises were the best in the past few years.

The parade, which lasted nearly two hours, included the participation of Greek F-16 and a Greek naval helicopter as well as French exocet missiles, Russian T80 tanks and Brazilian Caskavelle armoured personnel carriers.

"The political message of this year's exercises to all concerned is simple: we have repeatedly stressed that we shall defend our freedom, our independence and our territorial integrity," President Clerides, who took the salute of the parade, said afterwards.

The parade, he added, "was the culmination of an excellent exercise, which as I said yesterday is the best that has taken place in the past few years."

He said the parade showed the quality of the country's armed forces and their readiness.

"We can sleep in peace," he noted. Commenting on yesterday's interception of Turkish fighters by Greek aircraft from the Paphos air base, on the western coast of the island, Clerides pointed out that "the base was constructed for exactly that purpose, to allow refueling of Greek aircraft which will come to back our forces."

Defence Minister Yiannakis Omirou spoke in an upbeat mood about the morale and the readiness of the National Guard and stressed that Cyprus is preparing to deal with any eventuality.

Commenting on violations of Cyprus' air space and FIR (Flight Information Region) Nicosia during the six-day manoeuvres, Omirou said "The Turkish interferences were evident, are there and are likely to be there in the future."

"The issue at hand is that we are getting organised to face all eventualities," the minister added.

He also went on to note that "I think the exercises have spoken and the parade simply ratified that we can trust the unlimited power of our people and at the same time we can work with the Greek people and Greece to deal with the visible threat, the threat of Turkish expansionism."

The Commander of the National Guard, Lieutenant General Demetrios Demou, expressed satisfaction with the morale of the military units who participated in the manoeuvres.

He refrained from commenting on the continuous Turkish violations and interferences during the exercises and restricted himself in saying that the Turks provoke all the time.

Conscripts and reservists paraded today in the southern town of Larnaca, along with camouflaged vehicles, tanks, and armoured personnel carriers while fixed wing aircraft, police and army helicopters flew past.

One hour into the parade, four Greek F16 fighters flew in formation over the ground units marching in front of the island's political and religious leadership on three different occasions, with a five-minute interval between their appearance in Cyprus' skies.

CNA MM/RM/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1555:CYPPRESS:04

[04] Immigrants - deportation

Police told CNA today five of them may be on their way to Bulgaria later today, if visas are secured for them.

The riots began when immigrants started a fire in their cells to protest the deportation to Nigeria of five of the 48 immigrants detained in Larnaca police station.

The immigrants are part of a large group of people of different nationalities who ended up in Cyprus' shores in June. Some of them are still living in a hotel in the coastal town of Limassol, others are in police custody.

During Friday's riots, police special units used tear gas to dispel the riot and in the ensuing incidents eight of the immigrants were treated in hospital. Two of them were kept in hospital as a precaution.

One policeman was also injured during the riot.

CNA MM/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

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