Cyprus News Agency: News in English (AM), 99-01-31

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

CONTENTS

[01] Papandreou - Cyprus

1320:CYPPRESS:01

[01] Papandreou - Cyprus

The Greek official wound up his visit to Cyprus with more meetings with Cypriot political leaders. He also addressed a gathering organised by a local think tank.

Papandreou stressed that all political powers in Greece and Cyprus should make a joint effort on a common course, adding that both countries are utilising the decision of President Glafcos Clerides not to deploy the S-300 missiles on the island.

"This is something that we will do and we are doing", he said, adding that both countries have goals, which include Cyprus' European Union membership.

Papandreou noted that there are two possibilities, either "Cyprus accedes (to the EU) with its political problem solved, or Cyprus accedes without having solved its problem". What is sure, he said, is that "Cyprus will accede."

Speaking after a meeting today with Socialist Party EDEK leader, Vassos Lyssarides, Papandreou said that they discussed the cooperation between Greece and Cyprus regarding the joint defence pact, initiated by his father, late Prime Minister Andreas Papandreou. He said the pact was "a given fact."

Earlier today, he visited the relatives of missing persons, who gather at the Ledra Palace check point every weekend to enlighten tourists wishing to cross into the Turkish-occupied areas, about the Cyprus problem.

Addressing the black-dressed relatives of persons missing since the 1974 Turkish invasion, Papandreou said "your pain is also my pain, it is the pain of the whole of Hellenism and of every person".

He reassured them that Greece continues to support the Cyprus people's just cause and reiterated that "the struggle will continue until its final vindication."

The Greek Minister had meetings yesterday afternoon with leading officials of the Democratic Party, the United Democrats, the Eurodemocratic Renewal Movement, and the Movement of Ecologists -Environmentalists.

Papandreou also addressed the 21st Session of the National Olympic Academy of Cyprus.

He told the audience that Greece's and Cyprus' priority is the solution of the political problem based on UN resolutions and the island's accession to the European Union.

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

The Turkish side has failed to abide by numerous UN resolutions calling for the withdrawal of the Turkish occupation troops from this East Mediterranean island and the establishment of a bizonal, bicommunal federation.

Cyprus applied for EU membership in July 1990. It signed an association agreement in 1972 and a customs union protocol in 1987. In November last year it started substantive talks for accession due to take place in the first phase of EU's enlargement.

CNA RG/GP/1999

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

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