Cyprus News Agency: News in English (PM), 98-12-17

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

CONTENTS

[01] British Defence Ministry - Bases - Iraq

[02] Cyprus - Palestine - Agriculture

[03] Court - Suspects - Murder

[04] Cyprus - UN Security Council - Decisions

[05] Cyprus - Iraqi crisis

[06] Murder - Fourth arrest

[07] Defence Minister - Iraq - UN - Cyprus

1535:CYPPRESS:01

[01] British Defence Ministry - Bases - Iraq

"The Bases in Cyprus, although in emergency, have not been used until now even for transit purposes as they had been used before," he said.

Britain has retained two sovereign military bases on this East Mediterranean island since it granted Cyprus its independence from colonial rule in 1960.

The spokesperson said that the only bases being used by British military aircraft in the combined US - UK attack on Iraq are the ones in Kuwait.

A British Bases spokesman told CNA earlier today that they can be used to help support operations.

In Nicosia, Cyprus Government Spokesman Christos Stylianides told the press that the Cyprus government was in constant touch with anybody would like to use Cypriot territory and "takes decisions based on the Cyprus people's best interests."

He said for the time being the British bases on the island had not been used.

CNA KT/MA/GP/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1535:CYPPRESS:02

[02] Cyprus - Palestine - Agriculture

The Cyprus offer was set out by the island's Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environment Minister Costas Themistocleous, at a meeting here today with Palestinian Agriculture Minister, Hikmat Zaid, who is on a three- day private visit to Cyprus.

The Cypriot minister said his ministry was ready to provide any assistance to the corresponding Palestinian ministry, at the first steps of establishing a Palestinian state.

Themistocleous particularly mentioned the training of Palestinian experts in the field of agriculture. Already some of them had been trained in Cyprus.

Zaid said that they had reached a bilateral agreement "so that the Palestinians can benefit from Cyprus' experience and wide range of activities regarding agriculture and related issues".

The Palestinian minister expressed the wish for future cooperation between Cyprus and Palestine, and thanked the Cypriot government for its moral and financial support to the Palestinian people.

CNA DG/GP/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1740:CYPPRESS:03

[03] Court - Suspects - Murder

Police officer Christos Symianos, Sotiris Athinis and his sister Zoe Alexandrou, were being questioned for the murder of Aeroporos, 35, who is the second victim of assassination in his family in five months.

A police investigator told the Court that Police believe that the three suspects were connected with certain evidence found at the scene of the crime, in Ypsonas area, west of Limassol.

Justice and Public Order Minister Nicos Koshis said that Police were close to solving the case, adding it was too early to say more.

Aeroporos was acquitted earlier this year of the attempted murder of club owner Antonis Fanieros and in 1995 he was the victim of attempted murder himself.

Five months ago his brother Andros was gunned down while getting in his car outside a night club in Limassol.

CNA RM/GP/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1810:CYPPRESS:04

[04] Cyprus - UN Security Council - Decisions

Government Spokesman Christos Stylianides expressed the hope that whatever the international community decides the security of the people of Cyprus will be taken into account.

He told his daily press briefing that if security concerns were addressed then the government would be prepared to take concrete decisions, but did not elaborate.

Stylianides said the Greek Cypriot side was ready to assess any developments and decisions will be taken within the framework of the National Council (top advisory body to the President on the Cyprus problem), in cooperation with Greece.

"The Cyprus government is ready to take concrete decisions on whatever the international community decides, if it addresses and seriously takes into account the insecurity the people of the island feel," the Spokesman said.

Asked if there were any indications that the Security Council resolution would take security concerns into consideration, Stylianides expressed the hope that "at this crucial stage the international community will realise that for the people of Cyprus the security factor is the main problem after a settlement of the Cyprus issue."

He said that security should be seriously considered if solutions aiming at demilitarisation were to be reached.

The Cypriot official said "intense consultations" were taking place, but refrained from elaborating because of a blackout regarding a new UN initiative on the Cyprus problem and the reduction of tension as well as the issue of the anti-aircraft missile system ordered by the Cyprus government.

Noting that the UN Security Council permanent members always consult before approving a resolution, he said that current consultations were even more important.

UN General-Secretary Kofi Annan has already submitted his report on the UN operation in Cyprus for the period June 9 -December 6 as well as a letter to the Security Council on his good offices mission in Cyprus.

Commenting on Annan's report on the UN Operation, Stylianides said "the government believes it clearly implies that the basic responsibility for tensions in the region lies with the Turkish side."

Today, President Glafcos Clerides had separate meetings with political party leaders, whom he briefed on latest developments in the Cyprus problem.

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

CNA MM/MA/GP/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1845:CYPPRESS:05

[05] Cyprus - Iraqi crisis

In a written statement he read at his daily press briefing on the Iraqi crisis, Stylianides underlined that "Cyprus is strongly opposed to the production and use of weapons of mass destruction and stresses the need for compliance with the resolutions of the UN Security Council."

"We have established, according to the UN report, that Iraq has not complied with the Security Council resolutions as regards the weapons of mass destruction," he added.

The Spokesman also said the government wishes to reiterate its positions "as regards adherence to international law and the UN Charter."

Replying to questions, Stylianides said the government issued its statement after taking into consideration "all international political factors regarding the Cyprus problem and the UN Charter's principles."

He said it seriously takes into account the response from the UN Security Council and especially its permanent members.

Asked if developments in Iraq and the Security Council's preoccupation with the issue is expected to have a negative effect on UN consultations on the Cyprus issue, he said that "any instability in our region does not have a positive impact on the Cyprus problem."

However, he expressed the hope the Iraqi crisis would not affect developments at the Security Council, which is expected to approve a resolution on the Cyprus problem later this month.

UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan has already submitted to the Security Council his report on the UN Operation in Cyprus as well as a letter on his good offices mission.

Meanwhile, political parties in Cyprus have issued statements criticising the combined US - British attacks against Iraq, noting that a policy of double standards is being followed.

They point out that numerous UN resolutions on Cyprus, which has been divided since Turkish troops invaded and occupied 37 per cent of its territory in 1974, have not been implemented.

CNA MM/MA/GP/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1940:CYPPRESS:06

[06] Murder - Fourth arrest

Savvas Ioannou, 33, a special police officer who serves with the Police Air Wing, is the fourth to be arrested.

Today, three other persons were remanded in custody for eight days, including a police officer who also serves with the Police Air Wing.

Sotiris Athinis, his sister Zoe Alexandrou and police officer Christos Symianos were arrested yesterday.

Hambis was killed by three gunmen in broad daylight yesterday in Ypsonas area, west of the southern coastal town of Limassol.

In 1995 he was seriously wounded during an attempted murder. His brother, Andros, was gunned down five months ago outside a night club in the Germasogia area.

CNA RM/GP/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

2015:CYPPRESS:07

[07] Defence Minister - Iraq - UN - Cyprus

"I do not believe this incident could create conditions of insecurity among the people of Cyprus," he said, during a visit to National Guard outposts on the occasion of Christmas and the New Year.

The Defence Minister said the combined US-British attack against Iraq "reconfirms the policy of double standards", followed by the two countries.

"Why are they not as sensitive to the drama of the people of Cyprus and the outright violation of international law here. Why didn't they use the same measures towards Turkey," he asked.

Turkey invaded and occupied 37 per cent of Cyprus' territory in the summer of 1974 and still maintains some 35 thousand heavily-armed troops on the island, despite numerous UN resolutions calling for their withdrawal.

The Defence Minister also expressed the wish that a UN Security Council resolution on Cyprus, expected to be approved this month, "will not suffice itself to expressing support to the reduction of tension on the island".

"It would not be satisfactory if the UN simply say they are in favour of the reduction of arms," he added, and wondered whether Turkey would agree not to launch another offensive against the Cyprus Republic.

Omirou reiterated that the government does not support the increase of arms and tension on the island and aims at a peaceful settlement of the Cyprus problem.

At the same time he made it clear the government would not agree to the unmanning of military outposts in areas where people's lives may be endangered.

The Defence Minister reminded that the Greek Cypriot side has put forward its proposals regarding the unmanning of outposts, the unloading of weapons and the code of conduct, but did not elaborate.

The UN had unsuccessfully tried to achieve an agreement on these three issues, in a bid to reduce tension along the cease-fire line.

CNA MA/RG/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

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