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Monday, 18 November 2024
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Cyprus News Agency: News in English (PM), 98-11-09Cyprus News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Cyprus News Agency at <http://www.cyna.org.cy>CONTENTS
1740:CYPPRESS:01[01] Defence Minister - Israelis - EspionageLarnaca, Nov 9 (CNA) -- Minister of Defence, Yiannakis Omirou, expressed concern today about the arrest of two Israelis detained here on suspicion of spying and stressed the case will be decided on by the authorities of the Republic of Cyprus alone, and no third party outside the country."There are courts in this country, there is an independent judiciary authority, an Attorney-General, who is an independent officer of the Cyprus state, and there are police authorities, which are subject to a specific Ministry and which will carry out investigations to get to the bottom of this case," Omirou said, on arrival from a meeting in Europe. Furthermore, he stressed that one must be alert to deal with such circumstances "that put the national security of the country at risk and also relate to information about the armed forces of the Republic of Cyprus". Responding to relevant questions, Omirou said that measures are in effect at all times "to safeguard information that should not be made known even to the public, let alone to overseas recipients," adding that this applies to both friendly and unfriendly countries. Commenting on a statement by Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, that Israel will make sure the two Israelis return to their homeland, whether they are Mossad agents or not, Omirou said that he did not know exactly what Netanyahu meant. He said he would wait for Netanyahu to clarify the statement, adding that Cyprus respects the law, and that "the least we expect from third parties is to respect the international law, as we do". Omirou pointed out that Cyprus "has its own courts and the authority to try these cases". He added that the island seeks friendly relations with all the countries in the area and stressed that the invitation addressed to Israeli President, Ezer Weizman, who recently visited Cyprus, proves this point. Omirou also made reference to the strong objections and concerns regarding the military cooperation agreement Israel has with Turkey. CNA MK/RG/MM/1998ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY1935:CYPPRESS:02[02] EU - CyprusBrussels, Nov (CNA) -- A political solution to the division and partial occupation of Cyprus must be found as a matter of urgency as the only way which would resolve problems that will arise in the country's accession course, a statement by France, Germany and the Netherlands has said.The statement was submitted today at a meeting of the European Union General Affairs Council, one day prior to the start of substantive negotiations between the EU and six candidate countries, including Cyprus. The three member-states, whose point of view is also backed by Italy, tabled the declaration in anticipation of talks on the Union's Common Foreign and Security Policy the EU will have with the six candidate countries. "The course of the process of negotiations will give rise to a series of problems which originate from the specific situation in Cyprus. France, Germany and the Netherlands therefore believe that a political solution is imperative as urgent, because this is the only means which will enable the solution of these problems", the statement said. Welcoming the opening of negotiations on seven chapters of the acquis communautaire, the three state they are aware of the particular difficulties the specific situation in Cyprus has for the negotiations relating to these seven chapters. "They draw in particular attention to the fact that the division of the island poses fundamental problems for the operation and the coherence of the Common Foreign and Security Policy", the statement says. It also declares that member states note that it has not been possible so far to make progress towards a political solution which would end the continuing division of Cyprus. Responding to the joint statement, Greek Alternate Foreign Minister George Papandreou pointed out, in a statement he tabled, to the Council that any action or statements inconsistent with the EU Luxembourg decisions pose a threat to the entire process of accession. In Luxembourg, the EU said Cyprus' accession should benefit all communities and contribute to internal peace and reconciliation. He also calls on the EU to act in a positive manner to achieve Turkish Cypriot participation in the accession process and encourage the Cyprus peace effort. Papandreou reminds his EU partners that the government of Cyprus has put forward specific proposals to include Turkish Cypriots in the accession negotiations but "unfortunately these attempts have yielded no results so far." CNA NB/MM/RG/1998ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY1940:CYPPRESS:03[03] Foreign Minister - WEUBrussels, Nov 9 (CNA) -- Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ioannis Kasoulides, met here today with the Secretary-General of the Western European Union, Jose Cutileiro, and Italy's permanent representative to the WEU, Paolo Foresti, current president of the WEU Permanent Council.During the meeting, which took place in the context of the dialogue Cyprus has with the WEU since 1995, Kasoulides briefed Cutileiro and Foresti on the latest developments in the Cyprus problem and the island's EU accession course. The three also went over relations between Cyprus and the WEU and discussed ways to promote and enrich these relations. Cutileiro and Foresti briefed Kasoulides on the organisation's work during the Italian presidency, in view of the Council of Ministers' session, to take place in Rome on November 16 and 17. CNA NB/RG/MM/1998ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCYCNA ENDSCyprus News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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