Cyprus News Agency: News in English (AM), 98-12-11

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

CONTENTS

[01] US envoy - UN envoy - Cyprus

[02] Kyprianou - Vassiliou - Irish delegation

1020:CYPPRESS:01

[01] US envoy - UN envoy - Cyprus

No statements were made after the one-and-a-half-hour meeting, which took place at the US embassy in Nicosia.

According to press information, the meeting was also attended by US Ambassador Kenneth Brill and British High Commissioner David Madden.

Miller, who arrived in Cyprus yesterday, leaves this afternoon for Constantinople (Istanbul) via Athens to join US Presidential Emissary on Cyprus Richard Holbrooke.

The US officials will attend this weekend a meeting of businessmen from Cyprus (Greek and Turkish Cypriots), Greece and Turkey.

Early next week, the US officials will be in Athens for talks with the Greek government.

Miller told the press on his arrival yesterday that a solution to the deployment of the Russian-made S300 surface-to-air missiles ordered by Cyprus could open opportunities towards an overall solution to the Cyprus problem.

"Clearly the S300s is an issue we are concerned about... we are working with the Cyprus government on this issue to find a solution that I think is mutually satisfactory."

The US, Britain and other western countries have opposed the purchase of the anti-aircraft missiles by Cyprus and were moving through diplomatic channels to achieve the cancellation of the deployment of those missiles to Cyprus.

The Cyprus government has ordered the S300s to bolster its air defence in case of a new Turkish offensive.

Turkish troops have been occupying 37 per cent of Cyprus territory since 1974, in violation of numerous UN resolutions calling for their immediate withdrawal.

UN, US, British and Canadian initiatives to solve the protracted Cyprus problem have failed because of the Turkish intransigence and negative attitude towards all efforts for a settlement.

CNA GP/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1400:CYPPRESS:02

[02] Kyprianou - Vassiliou - Irish delegation

This position was expressed by President of the Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs of the Irish Parliament Desmond O'Malley, after a meeting with Cyprus House of Representatives President Spyros Kyprianou.

The Irish official pointed out that Cyprus has a place among the nations of Europe and expressed his regret on the occupation of the northern part of the island.

"I like to think that the EU might be able to play a part in trying to bring about a resolution of that situation", O' Maley added.

The House President stressed that Cyprus is "counting on the support of Ireland and its efforts to promote and overcome difficulties which may arise in our accession course".

O' Malley is heading a delegation of Irish parliamentarians visiting Cyprus.

Later today the delegation had a meeting with Cyprus' chief negotiator in the EU accession talks George Vassiliou.

After the meeting Vassiliou said the Irish MPs expressed the view that Cyprus' accession course must continue and that no third country should have the right to veto the island's accession. This is the official position of the EU itself, Vassiliou added and he expressed satisfaction with the Irish parliamentarians' stance.

Responding to a question on how damaging for Cyprus' accession is the view that a solution to the island's political problem should be reached prior to EU accession, he said this view has never been officially expressed by any EU official.

He said, however, that "everybody say they want a solution and so do we".

If the solution were set out as a precondition for Cyprus' accession, that would give the "green light" to Turkey to keep being negative and prevent a solution to the Cyprus problem by all means, he explained.

The Irish parliamentarians leave the island Monday. Cyprus along with Slovenia, Estonia, Hungary, Poland and the Czech Republic started substantive accession negotiations with the EU last month.

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

CNA RG/RM/GG/GP/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

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