Cyprus News Agency: News in English (AM), 99-04-14

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

CONTENTS

[01] AKEL deputies - Belgrade - Strasbourg

[02] Kasoulides - Departure - Statements

1130:CYPPRESS:01

[01] AKEL deputies - Belgrade - Strasbourg

Nicos Katsourides and Doros Christodoulides left in the early hours today for Belgrade via Hungary to hold talks with the Yugoslav political leadership, Andros Kyprianou, the party's head of International Relations Bureau told CNA.

The two will meet the International Relations Committee of the Federal Assembly representatives of the Socialist Party of Serbia and the Yugoslav United Left.

Efforts are underway for the two to meet the Yugoslav Foreign Minister.

"The two deputies will convey AKEL's support and solidarity with the Yugoslav people, and express the party's condemnation of the NATO bombings, " Kyprianou added.

The deputies are already in Budapest and will go by car to Belgrade. They return to the island on Saturday.

Earlier today, AKEL member, Donis Christofinis left for Strasbourg to represent his party at a meeting of the Confederal Group of the European United Left-Nordic Green Left which will convene there.

The aim of the meeting will be to ascertain whether the Group can contribute to an end to the hostilities in Yugoslavia, Christofinis said.

He added that AKEL has already undertaken two initiatives, one is to send its two deputies to Belgrade and the other to organise an international conference between 21-22 April in Cyprus, in which all European and Mediterranean left parties will be invited to participate.

CNA EC/GP/1999

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1240:CYPPRESS:02

[02] Kasoulides - Departure - Statements

Kasoulides has underlined the significance which the Euro- Mediterranean cooperation and especially the Euro-Mediterranean conference has on Cyprus.

During the conference, the Cypriot FM will make suggestions in the fields of economic cooperation and illegal immigration.

From Stuttgart, Kasoulides will visit Brussels between April 17-18 to address a seminar on Cyprus organised by the European Commission. Ambassadors of Cyprus to European capitals will participate in the seminar.

"The aim will be to exchange views between ambassadors on issues concerning Cyprus and its European course", the FM said.

Asked about Cyprus' position regarding the Yugoslav crisis, Kasoulides said the government "has been very careful, bearing in mind its national interest".

"We always advised that the truth should be told towards all directions", Kasoulides said, referring to NATO.

"At the same time, we should tell the truth as far as the violation of the human rights of the Kosovo Albanians and acts of ethnic cleansing", Kasoulides added.

Asked whether an initiative by House President Spyros Kyprianou, would have repercussions on Cyprus, Kasoulides said "the mission had good intentions" and wondered why it should have consequences on Cyprus.

He added the mission would have produced positive results for Cyprus if Kyprianou had succeeded in securing the release of the three American servicemen held by Yugoslav forces.

Cyprus' accession process was launched in Brussels on March 30, 1998, as envisaged by the Luxembourg European Council summit.

The island applied for EU membership in 1990.

CNA SS/EC/GP/1999

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

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