Cyprus News Agency: News in English (AM), 99-02-04

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

CONTENTS

[01] Kasoulides - Brussels - Athens

[02] SOCCER: Belgium - Greece

[03] DISY leader - EPP - Brussels

[04] UN envoy - Meetings

1030:CYPPRESS:01

[01] Kasoulides - Brussels - Athens

Meanwhile, according to the Athens News Agency, Kasoulides repeated, while in Brussels, a government proposal for a NATO international force to station on the island, within the framework of Cyprus' demilitarisation.

This provides for the withdrawal of Turkish occupation troops and a small Greek force stationed here in accordance with the 1960 Agreement of Guarantees, as well as the disbanding of the National Guard.

"This (NATO) force could be deployed on the island even before a solution to the Cyprus problem is reached. It should have a UN Security Council mandate and the consent of Turkey," Kasoulides specified.

He pointed out that this proposal, put forward some years ago, was again timely following the Cyprus government's decision not to deploy the Russian-made S-300 surface-to-air missiles.

Speaking after his meeting with Pangalos, yesterday in Athens, Kasoulides said they discussed developments in the Cyprus problem and Cyprus' course of accession to the European Union.

"We exchanged views on how to coordinate actions both concerning efforts for a Cyprus settlement and especially short-term actions, to be taken until Turkish elections (in April), aiming at the implementation of UN Security Council resolutions 1217 and 1218," Kasoulides said.

He refrained, however, from giving more details concerning short-term actions to be taken.

Resolutions 1217 and 1218 adopted last December reiterated grave concern at the continuing excessive levels of military forces and armaments in Cyprus as well as for the lack of progress towards an overall political settlement.

President Glafcos Clerides expressed in a letter to UN Secretary- General, Kofi Annan, dated January 7, his will to comply with the UN resolutions calling for a substantial reduction in the levels of troops and armaments, expressing at the same time the hope that the Turkish side would also comply within a reasonable time limit.

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

The Cypriot Minister returns early this afternoon.

CNA MCH/GP/1999

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1130:CYPPRESS:02

[02] SOCCER: Belgium - Greece

Belgium beat Cyprus 1 - 0 last night while Greece defeated Finland 2 - 1.

Tomorrow, Belgium will clash with Greece for the first place while Cyprus and Finland will play for the third place.

CNA/GP/1999

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1210:CYPPRESS:03

[03] DISY leader - EPP - Brussels

Anastasiades, will attend the 13th Ordinary Conference of EPP, which will focus on its course in the 21st century, while issues such as the "Agenda 2000", the social and economic policy of the European Union (EU), the Union's common foreign and security policy, and environment will also be discussed.

According to a DISY statement, during his stay in Brussels Anastasiades will brief the leaders and representatives of the European parties on the latest developments in the Cyprus question.

The leader of Cyprus' biggest political party, will fly to Athens Saturday to address a DISY conference for party members living in Greece.

He will return to Cyprus on Sunday.

CNA MAN/GG/GP/1999

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1245:CYPPRESS:04

[04] UN envoy - Meetings

Dame Ann met President Clerides at the Presidential Palace in the government-controlled southern part of the divided capital Nicosia and Denktash in the Turkish-occupied northern part.

The UN envoy said after meeting President Clerides that "there had been a small break in the timetable of the shuttle talks, largely because of Mr. Denktash's unavailability through illness".

She said that "we are now assuming, given his return to good health, that the shuttle talks will now proceed".

Dame Ann said that her next meeting with Denktash has been scheduled for next week.

The UN envoy is carrying out shuttle talks with the leaders of the two communities, in an effort to break the deadlock in finding a solution to the protracted Cyprus problem.

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

Efforts to reunite the island have so far been unsuccessful due to Turkish intransigence.

CNA RG/GP/1999

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

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