Cyprus News Agency: News in English (AM), 99-01-14

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

CONTENTS

[01] Police - Illegal immigrants

[02] Cyprus - Oldest remains unearthed

[03] UK Civil Aviation Authority - Cyprus office

[04] President Clerides - UN chief - Letter

0900:CYPPRESS:01

[01] Police - Illegal immigrants

The foreigners arrived by boat which left them in Konnos area, near the eastern tourist resort of Ayia Napa.

A police spokesman told CNA that the persons arrested, of which one was a woman from Sri Lanka, had no identification on them.

He said it is possible that there were two boats and pointed out that the illegal immigrants do not know each other.

Police have cut off roads in the region and are using a helicopter in their search. They have also informed taxi drivers to pass on any information on persons they believe may be suspects.

Over the past few months the number of foreigners illegally arriving in Cyprus has increased substantially. They mainly come here from Lebanon, by boat, on their way to other countries.

CNA RG/MA/GP/1999

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

0930:CYPPRESS:02

[02] Cyprus - Oldest remains unearthed

According to a Cyprus Antiquities Department press release the remains were found out at the Parekklisha -Shillourokambos Neolithic settlement, occupied between 8200 and 7000 BC.

The remains were found by the French archaeological mission in a trench which may have been used as a communal burial place.

"These skeletal remains constitute the earliest anthropological evidence to have been found in Cyprus to the present day," the Antiquities Department said.

It adds that the most interesting find is a small human figurine of clay with a cylindrical neck and incisions marking the eyes, which probably dates to the first half of the 8th MBC.

Four wells were also excavated, revealing a number of domestic material remains consisting a collection of stone percussion tools, tools for grinding, fragments of mudbricks, stone vessels and a basin carved in a grey type of rock.

CNA MA/GP/1999

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1015:CYPPRESS:03

[03] UK Civil Aviation Authority - Cyprus office

According to a CAA announcement, staff at the Cyprus office "will be tasked with assisting the Director of Civil Aviation in the areas of flight operations and airworthiness."

"Staff will also provide expert assistance to other clients in the Middle East," it adds.

The CAA will also establish a full time presence on the island of Mauritius in the Indian Ocean, increasing the total number of CAA overseas offices to eight.

Commenting on the establishment of the two new offices, Head of International Services at the UK CAA Safety Regulation Group (SRG), Tony Roome, said it is "part of an on-going strategy to spread the Authority's safety expertise worldwide and to provide a high quality service to all our customers."

The SRG ensures high safety standards are set and maintained for UK civil aviation.

CNA MA/GP/1999

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1100:CYPPRESS:04

[04] President Clerides - UN chief - Letter

In his letter dated January 7, revealed by "SIGMA" private TV channel Wednesday evening, the President expresses the hope that the Turkish side will also comply with the UN resolution within a reasonable time limit.

Clerides points out that he cannot postpone indefinitely the signing of certain agreements Cyprus has made for the purchase of arms and military necessary for the Republic's defence and the completion of other agreements.

The UN Security Council approved resolution 1218 on December 22, 1998, expressing support to a fresh UN initiative for promoting progress towards a just and lasting settlement in Cyprus and the reduction of tensions.

It requests the Secretary-General to work intensively with the two sides so that they undertake "to refrain from the threat or use of force or violence as a means to resolve the Cyprus problem" and "a staged process aimed at limiting and then substantially reducing the level of all troops and armaments on Cyprus".

It also calls for the implementation of a UN package of measures aimed at reducing tensions along the cease-fire line, established in 1974 after the Turkish troops invaded and occupied 37 per cent of the Republic's territory.

A few days after the resolutions were approved, President Clerides issued a statement announcing his decision not to deploy the Russian-made S300 missile system and to negotiate with Moscow its possible deployment in the southern Greek island of Crete.

The resolution was welcomed by the United States, Britain and the Austrian Presidency of the European Union.

In his letter to Annan, the Cyprus President refers to resolution 1218 and says that "in order to show my readiness to comply with its provisions I have taken unilaterally the decision not to import and deploy in Cyprus the S300 anti-aircraft missiles."

"I wish, however, to make it clear that in view of the fact that certain agreements for the purchase of arms and military equipment necessary for the defence of the Republic of Cyprus are ready for signature while others are waiting completion, I cannot postpone indefinitely their completion," he adds.

President Clerides says he therefore hopes that "I will within a reasonable time hear from Your Excellency that the other side has accepted in total and not selectively" the paragraphs in the resolution referring to the reduction of arms and tensions.

He concludes his letter, which is published today in "Simerini" daily newspaper, by saying that he also accepts the provisions of UN resolution 1217 approved the same day.

President Clerides says he is willing to negotiate with the Turkish Cypriot side for a settlement in Cyprus based on UN resolutions and two high level agreements reached in 1977 and 1979 stipulating for a bizonal, bicommunal federation.

Meanwhile, UN resident representative Dame Ann Hercus is in London to have talks later today with British Foreign Secretary Robin Cook.

After London, she will fly on to New York for discussions with the UN Chief.

According to an UNFICYP press release, both meetings "will focus on the UN's 1999 agenda of efforts to resolve the Cyprus problem." Dame Ann returns to Cyprus on Saturday.

CNA MA/GP/1999

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

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