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Monday, 18 November 2024
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Cyprus News Agency: News in English (AM), 99-04-20Cyprus News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Cyprus News Agency at <http://www.cyna.org.cy>CONTENTS
1025:CYPPRESS:01[01] President - HercusNicosia, Apr 20 (CNA) -- UN-sponsored shuttle talks between the leaders of the Greek and Turkish Cypriot communities are continuing with no indication as yet to either their content or outcome so far.President Glafcos Clerides has an hour-long meeting here today with UN resident representative Dame Ann Hercus, who was accompanied by UNFICYP Senior Advisor Peter Schmidt. In her brief remarks after the meeting, Hercus said "the shuttle talks are continuing" and referred to last week's meeting with the leader of the Turkish Cypriot community, Rauf Denktash. She is due to meet him again early next week, she said. The talks began in mid-October with a view to reduce tension on the island and resume the intercommunal dialogue. Cyprus has been divided since 1974 when Turkish troops invaded and occupied 37 per cent of its territory. CNA MM/GP/1999ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY1230:CYPPRESS:02[02] British Conservative councillors - CyprusNicosia, Apr 20 (CNA) -- A five-member delegation of the London Borough of Barnet's conservative councillors will pay an independent fact-finding mission to Cyprus between 24-28 April.The delegation will have meetings with Foreign Minister Ioannis Kasoulides, the mayors of Nicosia, Larnaca, Famagusta, Morphou and Kyrenia as well as officials of the right-wing Democratic Rally party. It will also visit the cease-fire line. The group led by Conservative Group leader Liz Mammatt, includes Greek Cypriot Councillors Katia David-Harmanda and Andreas Tambourides, Lynne Hillan and former MP and Euro MP John Marshall. In a written statement, Mammatt said they wish to see for themselves at first hand what is happening in Cyprus "so that we may understand the position ever more clearly". She noted that "we are looking forward to meeting the people, seeing the places and learning about the issues in greater depth". Turkish troops have been occupying 37 per cent of Cyprus territory since 1974, in violation of repeated UN resolutions calling for their withdrawal. CNA MK/GP/1999ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY1355:CYPPRESS:03[03] Kasoulides - Cyprus - YugoslaviaNicosia, Apr 20 (CNA) -- Cyprus has a duty to present the truth as far as Yugoslavia is concerned, Foreign Minister, Ioannis Kasoulides said here Monday.Returning from Brussels last night, the minister presented the island's position on the Yugoslav crisis. He said Cyprus, on the one hand, has "quite rightly not approved of the (NATO) bombings and calls for their immediate end and for political efforts to resolve the problem". He also said Cyprus would like to see "a more active involvement by the UN Security Council. On the other hand, "it has supported human rights and the cultural identity" of the people of Kosovo and "their right to autonomy within the borders of Yugoslavia and the inviolability of borders and the territorial integrity of Yugoslavia", Kasoulides added. The Foreign Minister said that at the same time, "we have a duty to present, in parallel with these positions, the other side of the truth as is testified by the 700.000 refugees who have left Kosovo because of atrocities and attempts to carry out ethnic cleansing at the expense of the Albanian-speaking population". Kasoulides pointed out that "this does not stop us from condemning the bombings and from feeling sympathy for the victims among the Serbs and their suffering", noting that we cannot make distinctions according to who is suffering. "Our sympathy goes out to all who suffer and human rights are universal", adding "unfortunately, though, we are inclined in Cyprus to see only one side of the tragedy". CNA EC/GP/1999ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY1425:CYPPRESS:04[04] President Clerides - Italian AmbassadorNicosia, Apr 20 (CNA) -- The Cyprus question, the country's accession course for European Union membership and the crisis in Yugoslavia will be the focus of discussions Italy's deputy foreign minister, Umberto Ranieri, will have here next week.Italian Ambassador Francesco Bascone said today after a meeting with President Glafcos Clerides that Ranieri's visit, between 28-30 April, coincides with the opening of the Italian cultural month from 28 April to 30 May, which the visiting dignitary will open. "There is no agenda," Bascone said, referring to next week's talks, but noted that the Cyprus problem is always at the centre of discussions. "Even though there are some difficulties in progressing, there is some hope that some efforts can be developed," he added. He said the "international situation" which all bilateral talks around the world comment on will also be part of the discussions. "I suppose the President may have comments and Ranieri will listen," he said. Replying to questions, the Italian diplomat said the progress in accession negotiations will be on the agenda, especially at a meeting with Cyprus' chief negotiator George Vassiliou. "I am sure it will be a positive assessment of the ground covered already," he noted. Commenting on a recent visit to the Turkish-occupied part of Cyprus by Italian deputies, Bascone said this was a private affair and described it as "inopportune that they came via the north." This, he explained, means they only visit the north, and said the embassy here recommends that there are other procedures to visit Cyprus and "if they come to the Republic of Cyprus, the embassy organises visits to the north." He backed dialogue with everybody and pointed out nobody should be isolated whoever they are; Libyans, Iranians or Serbs. CNA MM/GP/1999ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCYCNA ENDSCyprus News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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