Cyprus News Agency: News in English (AM), 98-11-28

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

CONTENTS

[01] President Clerides - Patra

[02] Foreign Minister - Reduction of tension

[03] South Australian Opposition leader - Proposal - Cyprus problem

1010:CYPPRESS:01

[01] President Clerides - Patra

Before his return to Cyprus, Sunday evening, the President will also meet the local leaders of Patra, south-west of Athens.

The President is visiting the town at the invitation of the University of Patra.

Yesterday, President Clerides and Greek Premier, Costas Simitis, chaired a meeting on the Cyprus issue after which they expressed their full support to UN efforts for a settlement in Cyprus.

Later, President Clerides met main opposition New Democracy party leader, Costas Karamanlis, as well as the party's former leaders, Miltiades Evert and Costas Mitsotakis.

The New Democracy party leaders expressed their full support to cooperation between the governments of Cyprus and Greece on the Cyprus issue.

Replying to questions on a Cyprus government decision to purchase Russian-made surface-to-air missiles, they underlined that it is the Cyprus Republic's right to build its defences.

CNA MA/RG/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1110:CYPPRESS:02

[02] Foreign Minister - Reduction of tension

Speaking on his return from Athens where he took part in a meeting yesterday on the Cyprus issue, chaired by President Glafcos Clerides and Greek Premier, Costas Simitis, Kasoulides said the President would brief party leaders on its outcome.

Stressing that there is no problem in cooperation between the two governments, the Foreign Minister said President Clerides "will brief political party leaders on the content of the Athens meeting".

He added that "some conclusions have come out of the meeting which will be put before the National Council (top advisory body to the President on the Cyprus problem)".

"The emphasis given in Athens and what the two governments support, is our wish to see the reduction of tension in Cyprus with an aim to create the conditions through which negotiations for a settlement of the Cyprus problem could be carried out", the Foreign Minister said.

"This is our aim", he said, adding that "we are stating to the international community our readiness to cooperate to find mutual ways of reducing tension in Cyprus".

The reduction of tension is one the goals of meetings held here by UN resident representative, Dame Ann Hercus, with President Clerides and Turkish Cypriot leader, Rauf Denktash.

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

CNA MAN/MA/RG/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1130:CYPPRESS:03

[03] South Australian Opposition leader - Proposal - Cyprus problem

Rann, who was elected Leader of the Opposition in 1994 after four years as a minister in the Labour government, visited Cyprus in 1995 and said that his forthcoming visit here would help keep him "in touch with developments and with the application by Cyprus to join the European Union".

According to a Cyprus Mission announcement, Rann has already written to British Prime Minister, Tony Blair, suggesting that the Commonwealth should play "a more proactive role in trying to bring about a peaceful and just resolution to the Cyprus problem."

While in London, he will meet with Labour ministers and MPs in the Blair government, in an attempt to have the Cyprus issue made a priority at the 1999 Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting.

He said that he would "introduce the Labour Party in Britain to the Australian Labour Party's much tougher policy on Cyprus".

The South Australian opposition leader said he had suggested that "the Commonwealth establish an Eminent Persons Commission on Cyprus, comprised of former Commonwealth Prime Ministers and Presidents".

He added that "a similar group played a key role in ending apartheid and freeing Nelson Mandela" and that he had "written to President Mandela and other Commonwealth leaders, seeking support for a similar initiative on Cyprus".

Rann stressed that "twenty-five years after the illegal Turkish invasion of Cyprus, the Commonwealth can again prove its relevance in world affairs".

UN-led efforts to reach a settlement in Cyprus, divided since Turkish troops invaded the island in 1974, have so far failed due to the Turkish side's intransigence.

CNA MCH/RG/MA/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

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