Cyprus News Agency: News in English (PM), 98-11-16

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

CONTENTS

[01] Students - Protests - End

[02] Health Minister - Commonwealth

[03] Greek House Speaker - Meeting

[04] Foreign Minister - Algeria

[05] UN envoy - Cyprus - Ireland

[06] British MPs - CPA - Cyprus

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[01] Students - Protests - End

"We, the young people of this island, live with the vision of a free and united Cyprus, the common home of all its people. Our country is not for sale," Nicos Violaris, president of the Pupils' Coordinating Committee, told a huge gathering.

His sentiments were echoed by the president of the Students' Federation, Loizos Constantinou, who told hundreds of young people that "we shall not compromise, we shall continue to fight until Cyprus is freed."

The students' demonstrations took place at the Ledra Palace check- point, near the UN controlled buffer zone, under stringent police surveillance, to condemn the 15th anniversary since Turkish Cypriots unilaterally declared the establishment of their regime, which the UN branded "legally invalid."

The area was sealed off by barbed wire and police presence was heavy in the vicinity to avert any incident.

Students and pupils, who were joined by protesting Kurds living in Cyprus temporarily, sang songs for freedom to the tunes of the orchestra of Greek singer Demetri Fani.

The Security Council has called on the international community not to recognise any Cypriot state other than the Republic of Cyprus and called for the withdrawal of the Turkish Cypriot declaration.

CNA AA/MM/EC/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

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[02] Health Minister - Commonwealth

During the meeting, the ministers will decide on a number of issues regarding the improvement of health and prevention of diseases, efforts to combat the use of drugs, educating health staff and women's health issues.

CNA EC/MM/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1655:CYPPRESS:03

[03] Greek House Speaker - Meeting

As he is winding up his two-day visit here, Kaklamanis met the Primate of the Church of Cyprus, Archbishop Chrysostomos, party leaders and toured the Green Line, which cuts the capital Nicosia in two.

"Our sole concern is to see the day when Cyprus is reunited, and as such it benefits all its citizens, Greek and Turkish Cypriots. Those living in this land should have the right to exist, work and cooperate for the common good," Kaklamanis said after his meeting with the Archbishop.

The Archbishop said he exchanged views with Kaklamanis about the Cyprus question and expressed the hope that Greece places the problem at the top of its list of priorities.

Earlier today Kaklamanis toured the demarcation line in the divided capital, accompanied by President of the House of Representatives Spyros Kyprianou, at whose invitation he is visiting Cyprus.

The Greek House speaker conferred also with parliamentary party leaders or representatives and discussed with him current issues, closer cooperation and coordination between the two parliaments and other matters of mutual interest.

Party leaders welcomed Kaklamanis' presence here as a symbolic gesture of support and solidarity and said such contacts are very useful.

Later today, Kaklamanis will visit the Army General Command. He leaves for Athens tonight.

CNA MM/EC/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

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[04] Foreign Minister - Algeria

The four-day official visit takes place at the invitation of Algerian Foreign Minister Ahmed Attaf.

Kasoulides will have separate meetings with Algerian President Liamine Zeroual, Prime Minister Ahmed Ouyahia and other officials.

Bilateral relations, the Cyprus problem, Euro-mediterranean cooperation and current regional issues will be on the agenda of the official talks Kasoulides will have in Algeria.

CNA MM/EC/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1935:CYPPRESS:05

[05] UN envoy - Cyprus - Ireland

She stressed her job on the island necessitates impartiality with the Greek and Turkish Cypriot sides and described her task as an attempt to "be a bridge" between the two.

She also said the tools she applies to carry out her duties are her "mandate, common sense and the power of persuasion."

Noting that "longstanding conflicts can be solved", she said the "compromise reached in the Northern Ireland agreement reflects the deeply felt convictions of the vast majority of people."

"Even though I have been here only for a little more than four months, I do believe that the same desire for a peaceful future exists on this island," she told a gathering of the Lion club here tonight.

She admitted that if she did not believe this was the case, she would not have accepted the job of Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary- General.

Dame Ann did not reveal anything of substance about the shuttle talks she has been conducting since mid-October with the leaders of the island's two communities.

"Both leaders and myself have made an oath of silence on the contents of these talks," she told her audience.

Referring to her work in Cyprus, she said as the head of UNFICYP she and her two-man team manage a force of about 1,500 staff, including more than 200 local staff.

She said UNFICYP is here "by consent from both sides" and the moment that consent is withdrawn, the force's mandate becomes invalidated.

"Both jobs (UNFICYP Chief of Mission and UN Deputy Special Representative) involve impartiality. We try to be even handed and impartial in everything we do, in our peace-keeping role," she said.

Dame Ann said her job is to "try to be a bridge, a door, a window of opportunity and explore ideas and options" and explained that if this does not happen then "the parties to a conflict will continue confronting each other with their well-entrenched positions."

Labels placed on issues, she pointed out, do not matter but what matters is whether the heart of the matter can bring a conflict closer to resolution.

Hercus referred to "a protocol" that has been developed to show impartiality, which entitled the leaders of both sides in exactly the same way at meetings which are part of her good offices mission.

She said UNFICYP is "tiny" in terms of numbers compared to the forces on either side of the buffer zone, which the UN patrols.

Turkey maintains a 30,000 strong military presence in the north of the island since its troops invaded and occupied Cyprus' third. Turkish Cypriots have another 4,500 troops, according to the UN.

The National Guard' strength is approximately 14,500. Hercus described the UN peace-keepers as the "neutral umpire" between two opposing forces which work to "contain any incidents on the line which could create tension and spiral out of control."

"What we have is our mandate, plus common sense, and the power of persuasion," she added, noting that for more than two decades the UN has kept the integrity of the buffer zone.

CNA MM/EC/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1945:CYPPRESS:06

[06] British MPs - CPA - Cyprus

The British MPs will be received Tuesday by the President of the House of Representatives, Spyros Kyprianou.

They will also have separate meetings with political party leaders or representatives, the Deputy Foreign Minister and the Mayors of Nicosia and Turkish occupied Famagusta.

The multiparty delegation comprises MPs John Maxton, Ian Bruce, Jeffrey Donaldson, John Horam and David Lepper.

Cyprus has been divided since 1974 when Turkish troops invaded and occupied 37 per cent of the island's territory.

CNA GG/EC/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

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