Cyprus News Agency: News in English (AM), 98-11-03

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

CONTENTS

[01] Radiomarathon

[02] Weizman - Divided Nicosia

[03] Weizman - Cypriot party leaders

[04] House President - Israeli President

[05] Yilmaz - Denktash - Occupied areas

0935:CYPPRESS:01

[01] Radiomarathon

As of next year, this event will extend to Greece as well, according to Athens Mayor Demetris Avramopoulos, on the island to participate in this, the ninth Radiomarathon."

Organisers, the Cyprus Popular Bank and the Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation (CyBC), and hundreds of volunteers continue to work round the clock for the second consecutive day to raise as much money as possible.

So far, donations reached 540.000 pounds and a lot more is expected through the auction of items donated by President Glafcos Clerides, Italian tenor Luciano Pavarotti and Avramopoulos.

Clerides offered his personal presidential chair, Pavarotti a scarf and Avramopoulos the pen he has signed all the documents about the Olympic Games of 2004, which Athens will stage.

The latest offer for the presidential chair stood at 6.000 pounds and donors offered half this amount for Avramopoulos' pen.

Last year the Radiomarathon raised over 1,2 million pounds.

CNA MM/GP/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1315:CYPPRESS:02

[02] Weizman - Divided Nicosia

Weizman met with the Mayor of Nicosia, Lellos Demetriades, at the Town Hall and then visited the demarcation line, in Nicosia, the world's last divided capital.

The Israeli President said that the wall "reminded me of Jerusalem" and "like Jerusalem has a solution, I'm sure this will have a solution".

He pointed out that it cannot be known "how long you will have to wait for it", and stressed that "cities have a tendency of joining and not parting, like Jerusalem, like Berlin".

The Israeli President is paying a three-day state visit to Cyprus, at the invitation of President Glafcos Clerides. He leaves tomorrow.

CNA RG/GP/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1350:CYPPRESS:03

[03] Weizman - Cypriot party leaders

Speaking after a working breakfast he had with leaders and representatives of Cyprus political parties, Weizman answered negatively to a question about the possibility for a military agreement between Cyprus and Israel.

He added that Turkey is important for Israel "because it's the largest Islamic country even more than Iran which is secular, it's not fanatical and is fighting its fanatism, which is an interest of everybody, including Cyprus".

Replying to questions, he said he did not discuss with President Glafcos Clerides any eventuality of cooperation on military items between Israel and Cyprus.

Asked if he believes that this would be possible, the Israeli President said "we'll see".

Weizman acknowledged that he did not manage to persuade a hundred per cent President Clerides and party leaders that the military cooperation between Turkey and Israel does not affect Cyprus and the Cyprus issue.

"They are very concerned and I can understand it. I was trying to tell them for the last 24 hours that our agreement with Turkey is not an agreement concerning any third party. And not only Cyprus... Egypt, Syria or Iraq", he said.

He added that "this is an agreement between two countries that have mutual interest and it's not defence alliance" and as he explained "we are not going to help Turkey in case of war and they are not going to help us".

To question "in case of any conflict between Turkey and Cyprus what action will be taken by Israel", The Israeli President replied: "That's for my government to decide".

Furthermore Weizman expressed the view that Cyprus "can be far more quiet than she is and the hope that a norm and peaceful solution will be found whenever it is found".

Answering to questions on the military assistance that Israel gives Turkey, the Israeli President noted that Israel does not give equipment to Turkey but services for some of its airplanes "which is primarily a business thing".

He added that Turkey can get the means to reinforce its military power from other countries, such as the USA, France and England.

"I don't think", he said, "that the alliance with us makes a difference in the strength of Turkey".

Asked about the possibility for Israel to sell weapons to Cyprus, President Weizman said it depends, which these weapons are and that Israel will not give for example to Cyprus an F -16 or a Phantom.

Weizman said that "perhaps, unfortunately, for Cyprus she hasn't got a big military force" and that this does not mean that he doesn't like the island or that he didn't come here for the purpose of making better relations between Israel and Cyprus.

The Israeli President concludes tomorrow a three-day state visit to Cyprus.

CNA MK/GP/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1420:CYPPRESS:04

[04] House President - Israeli President

Speaking after a meeting with House of Representatives President Spyros Kyprianou, the Israeli President also said the two countries could cooperate in many fields.

Asked if Israel could share its political experiences with Cyprus, President Weizman pointed out that "no battle is similar to a previous one".

"Our situation is a different one, far more complicated, far more dangerous...", he said, adding that Israel now wants to have talks with Syria and Greece.

The Israeli President expressed the view that "there are lots of people in the world who should do something about the situation (in Cyprus) before we do... There are big boys in the world."

Replying to questions, he said there could be no military cooperation between his country and Cyprus and added "the problem you have with Turkey is a problem but is nothing compared to the problem we have with Syria or with Iraq or with Iran or not solving yet the Palestinian problems".

Asked if he has convinced the House President that Israel's military cooperation agreement with Turkey does not affect Cyprus, he replied "I tried".

"There was an attempted persuasion. How successful that attempt is I don't think we can say just now. The problem is not easy," he added.

On relations between the two countries, President Weizman said there is space for business and cooperation "on medical science, in agriculture, in irrigation, which you have a problem."

CNA MM/MA/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1430:CYPPRESS:05

[05] Yilmaz - Denktash - Occupied areas

Speaking on his arrival, Yilmaz threatened that the illegal regime unilaterally declared in the Turkish occupied north of the island will not abandon its so-called "independence" for an autonomous government or to be considered a community.

He also said that Turkey will "always be at the side of Turkish Cypriots."

Yilmaz, who is accompanied by State Minister for European Union and Cyprus Affairs, Sukru Sina Gurel, supported that the "two states", according to his expression, must be "equal" and that there should be trust between the two communities.

The illegal regime in the areas of Cyprus occupied by Turkey since 1974 is recognised only by Ankara, while UN resolutions call on all states not to facilitate it in any way.

Yilmaz said Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash's proposal for a confederation is on the table and called on the Greek Cypriot side to accept it and to return to the negotiating table.

Denktash, backed by Turkey, put forward a proposal for the establishment of a confederation of two states in Cyprus last August. The proposal was rejected by Cyprus and Greece as well as the UN and the five permanent members of the Security Council.

They all support the establishment of a bizonal, bicommunal federation, as envisaged by two high-level agreements reached between the two sides, signed by Denktash himself, as well as numerous UN Security Council resolutions.

Referring to Cyprus' accession to the EU, Yilmaz reiterated Turkish objections and supported that if relations between Cyprus and the EU progress differences on the island will be consolidated and the situation will worsen.

He also reiterated that if the Cyprus problem is not settled and balance between his country and Greece is not achieved Cyprus cannot join the EU.

The Turkish Premier said that after EU reconfirmation that it would open accession talks with Cyprus, his country has begun cooperating closer with the illegal regime.

Yilmaz threatened that Turkey will not make any "concessions" in the Aegean and will not allow anyone to touch the Turkish Cypriots.

Denktash, who welcomed Yilmaz, reiterated his positions on "two sovereign states" and claimed the Turkish side is working for peace.

Yilmaz will receive an honorary doctorate from the so called "university of eastern Mediterranean."

He will also lay the foundation stone of a so called "medical school" of the "university."

CNA EC/MA/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

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