Cyprus News Agency: News in English (PM), 99-04-16

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

CONTENTS

[01] Cyprus - European left-wing parties - Meeting

[02] Socialist Party EDEK - New Social-democratic party

[03] Foreign Minister - EuroMediterranean Conference

[04] Government - UN envoy

1545:CYPPRESS:01

[01] Cyprus - European left-wing parties - Meeting

Speaking today at a press conference, Andros Kyprianou, of the party political bureau and in charge of international relations, said a number of parties have already accepted the invitation and will participate.

AKEL, a left-wing party, polled 33,0 per cent of the votes in the 1996 parliamentary elections.

Kyprianou said the meeting, to take place on April 21 and 22, will focus on the crisis in Yugoslavia and seek ways to put an end to NATO's air campaign and help find a peaceful solution to the conflict.

He said four parties will be represented at the meeting by their leaders. These are the Russian Communist Party with Gennadii Zyuganov, Germany's Party of Democratic Socialism with Lothar Bisky, Italy's Reconstructured Communism with Armando Cossuta and Greece's Coalition of the Left and Progress with Nicos Constantopoulos.

"We have already received a number of positive answers", Kyprianou noted, adding that two Turkish Cypriot parties, the Republican Turkish Party and the Patriotic Union Movement have also been invited.

He said all Greek Cypriot parties have been invited to attend the meeting as observers.

Kyprianou said during the meeting AKEL intends to make concrete proposals for a "collective initiative" on the Kosovo crisis on behalf of participating parties.

All political parties must take a stand on the issue and ask for an immediate end to the NATO bombing in order to render a peaceful settlement possible, Kyprianou pointed out.

Referring to Kosovo Albanians, he said their autonomy and their human and political rights should be safeguarded, but not by a NATO force but also pointed out that Yugoslavia's sovereignty, territorial integrity and borders should be respected.

CNA RM/GG/MM/1999

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1725:CYPPRESS:02

[02] Socialist Party EDEK - New Social-democratic party

Speaking today at a press conference, Vassos Lyssarides, leader of the Socialist Party EDEK, one of the parties which have launched the campaign for the new party, pointed out the process will go on "with those willing to participate".

Efforts to establish a social-democratic party began at the end of last year with the participation of three political parties and two movements.

Apart from EDEK, these are the United Democrats party, the New Horizons party, the Movement for Political Renewal and the movement for the Reformation of the Centre.

The centrist Democratic Party (DIKO) has also been invited to join the process, but it has not yet taken its final decision on its possible participation in the efforts.

Attempts to create a social-democratic party appear to have stalled after a decision by EDEK to cut off the dialogue with two of the five participants.

EDEK's decision not to carry on discussions with the United Democrats and New Horizons parties was taken by the party central committee Wednesday night after differences over a settlement in Cyprus were aired publicly.

The New Horizons party, led by Nicos Koutsou, believes that the positions on a settlement should not be confined to a bizonal, bicommunal federation.

The United Democrats, of former President George Vassiliou, strongly disagree with the New Horizons' position on the issue.

Lyssarides said the procedures for the new party "will be accelerated with those willing to participate", pointing out the aim is to hold its founding conference by the end of the year.

He said not only organised groups but also individuals believing in the ideas of social-democracy are invited to participate in the efforts.

"All indications are that a lot of people wish to be involved in this process," EDEK leader added.

Referring to the Movement for Political Renewal, he said its stance has not yet been clarified, pending a meeting of its leadership, but the movement for the Reformation of the Centre "seems to be coming along our way."

Asked whether Wednesday's decision to cut off the dialogue with those two parties facilitates DIKO's participation, Lyssarides said "the doors are always open for DIKO".

CNA AA/MA/GG/MM/1999

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

2035:CYPPRESS:03

[03] Foreign Minister - EuroMediterranean Conference

The proposals were made by Foreign Minister Ioannis Kasoulides at the third Euro-Mediterranean Conference, which ended in Stuttgart, Germany today.

The Bank, Kasoulides said in his intervention, could complement the work done by other financial institutions by financing the implementation of development and infrastructure projects in the region.

It could also help foster the most appropriate conditions for a stable and secure environment and act as an instrument for the mobilisation of resources and investment.

"Cyprus, in the light of its experience as a business and financial centre, could elaborate further with appropriate bodies and the countries concerned a detailed proposal on the modalities and the scope of the Euro- Med Bank that will be submitted for consideration at the ministerial meeting on investment in Portugal," Kasoulides explained.

On the question of human exchanges, Kasoulides proposed the establishment of a group of experts from all the Euro-Med countries to act as a steering committee for consultations.

The group, he added, could propose ways to encourage the positive forms of human exchanges, integration policies and measures for encountering the illegal trafficking and exploitation of human beings.

The minister said bilateral agreements could be negotiated between the EU and the Mediterranean countries or between these countries on a bilateral basis, for the readmission of persons entering or residing without authorisation.

Foreign Ministers of 27 countries (15 EU member-states and 12 Mediterranean states) participated in the meeting.

CNA MM/GG/1999

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

2050:CYPPRESS:04

[04] Government - UN envoy

"In the light of explanations given and clarifications made on both sides they concluded that there is no issue for any misunderstanding or wrong impressions nor that any useful purpose if served by pursuing further this issue," a statement by the Foreign Ministry said.

The UN issued an identical statement after today's meeting between Hercus and Permanent Secretary of the FM, Alecos Shiambos, on the matter.

The misunderstanding arose following Hercus's statement to the press that UNFICYP was deployed with the consent of the "leaders of the two communities at the time".

Government Spokesman Costas Serezis took exception to the remark and pointed out that the Security Council decided to deploy a UN peace-keeping force on the island in March 1964 on the application by the government of Cyprus.

The spokesman referred to some "inaccuracies" uttered by Hercus and noted these will be pointed out to her.

UNFICYP's mandate was amended following the 1974 Turkish invasion of the island and the Force, which numbers about 1,200 men from 12 countries, patrols the 180-kilometre long buffer zone in a bid to keep the peace.

CNA MM/GG/1999

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

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