Cyprus News Agency: News in English (AM), 99-02-02

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

CONTENTS

[01] Norwegian Deputy FM - Visit

[02] Cyprus - WFDY - 15th Assembly - Resolutions

[03] Israelis - Media coverage - Lawyer

[04] Youth Federation - Conclusions

1010:CYPPRESS:01

[01] Norwegian Deputy FM - Visit

The primary purpose of her visit is to promote the bicommunal meetings of Greek and Turkish Cypriot businessmen, diplomatic sources have told CNA.

"Ms Haga will be the official guest of the government of Cyprus and this is important for bilateral relations," they added.

According to the draft programme of meetings, Haga will have talks with Foreign Minister Ioannis Kasoulides, meet politicians on both sides of the divide and businessmen involved in the US-Norwegian sponsored businessmen forum, due to meet again in Athens in March.

The Norwegian Deputy FM is also expected to be received by President Glafcos Clerides, even though at this stage no firm date or time for such a meeting has been set.

Haga will cross into the Turkish-occupied northern part of the island to meet Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash and she is scheduled to see UN resident representative Dame Ann Hercus.

The diplomatic sources noted that a planned visit by Haga to Cyprus in the Autumn of last year did not take place "for various reasons" but did not elaborate on the matter.

They pointed out however that this forthcoming visit is important in that it comes after the business forum met in Turkey and before the Athens meeting.

CNA MM/GP/1999

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1020:CYPPRESS:02

[02] Cyprus - WFDY - 15th Assembly - Resolutions

The WFDY 15th Assembly, hosted by the local youth organisation EDON which is affiliated to left-wing AKEL party, opened on January 28 with the participation of some 150 participants from 80 countries.

In its resolution on the Cyprus problem, the Assembly points out that "the Cyprus problem is primarily one of foreign invasion and occupation of an independent state, member of the UN in violation of its sovereignty and territorial integrity".

The Assembly "demands the immediate withdrawal of the Turkish occupation forces and settlers from the territory of the Republic of Cyprus" and "the restoration and respect of the fundamental freedoms and human rights of all Cypriots, including the right of all refugees to return to their homes and properties".

In its resolution, the WFDY 15th Assembly expresses its support for the "independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity and unity of the Republic of Cyprus", as well as the "complete demilitarisation" of the island.

It also "condemns the continuation of the policy of partition by Turkey and the Denktash regime, as was recently expressed by the latter in a statement that denounces the agreed federal framework as a solution, and favours a confederal settlement".

The WFDY 15th Assembly "appeals to the international community and especially those states which are in a position to influence Ankara, to support actively the current UN efforts to find a just and workable federal solution based on the provisions of the UN resolutions on Cyprus and the high level agreements".

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

In a resolution on environment and development, the Assembly stresses the importance of the two issues and the fact that they "are inseparably linked and should be faced in an integrated and balanced manner".

Among other measures, the WFDY proposes "the financial and technological assistance to the developing countries in order to achieve a decrease in the destruction of forests, the preservation of natural resources and better standards of living".

In a resolution on racism, the WFDY expresses concern about "the rising trend of racism, chauvinism and ultra-nationalism", adding that instead of bringing peoples together, globalisation "has generated widespread nationalism, racism and xenophobia".

CNA GG/GP/1999

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1100:CYPPRESS:03

[03] Israelis - Media coverage - Lawyer

The widely-publicised case from both the local media and the foreign media is covered under the banners "Israelis says sentence too severe", "Three years to the agents", "Netanyahu hopes to persuade Cyprus to let them free" all of which are accompanied by photographs of the two taken to court and clad in smart suits.

Defence Lawyer Constantinos Demetriades told CNA today that the defence team is "considering the possibility to appeal against the sentence and we have ten days from Monday's conviction to submit our appeal, if we decide to go ahead with it."

He said the appeal, if we decide to file one, would have to be lodged with the Supreme Court which will have three months to hear the appeal and rule on it.

"The Court will examine the events as these would be outlined in the appeal and either reject or accept it. It is however very rare to have an appeal rejected," he explained.

Replying to questions, he said the three-year sentence should start from the day of their arrest, since there was no mention of a date in the Court's decision.

The two Israelis were also convicted to six months' imprisonment for possession of banned listening equipment without the permission of the Cypriot authorities.

The press carries comments by Attorney General Alecos Markides, who dismissed suggestions that there were political expediencies behind the decision to drop the spying charges.

"The three-year jail sentence speaks for itself," he told CyBC radio. He said there is no agreement between Cyprus and Israel to enable the convicted men to serve their sentence at home.

Markides criticised the leak to the press of a map, found in the possession of the two men.

On Monday, Israeli Prime Minister said "we will do everything to bring back our men, according to the Cypriot laws."

Cyprus Government Spokesman Christos Stylianides admitted Monday there have been some interventions on the matter but these were not communicated nor did they influence Markides' decision to drop the initial spying charges.

CNA MM/GP/1999

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1110:CYPPRESS:04

[04] Youth Federation - Conclusions

At the close of their four-day deliberations in Larnaca, Assembly members said they would campaign against privatisation of any communications and stressed that "only the public, not private corporations, should monopolize the media."

In their final conclusions, they pointed out that "the private monopoly of media can lead to a media dictatorship of the bourgeoisie."

WFDY calls for strong condemnation of "the scenario where certain parts of the world are portrayed in the Mass Media as disastrous areas, a case, which is often devoid of any truth."

The meeting, hosted by EDON, the youth branch of the main opposition left-wing AKEL party, was attended by some 150 participants from 80 countries, representing 85 organisations.

Delegates to the meeting stressed the need for "face to face" communication as the "best way for progressive youth organisations" to communicate.

There were also calls against the use of communication as a means of transacting child pornography via the internet and against other negative factors such as the promotion of cultural imperialism through communications and the same time promote people-centered culture.

CNA MM/GP/1999

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

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