Cyprus News Agency: News in English (AM), 99-05-10

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

CONTENTS

[01] House - Chinese embassy

[02] President Clerides - Parliamentarians

[03] Cyprus - Protest - Air space

[04] Parliamentary Committees - Chairmen - EU - Meeting

[05] South Africa - Cyprus - Trade

[06] Cyprus - Chinese Embassy - Belgrade

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[01] House - Chinese embassy

Spyros Kyprianou, House President, on behalf of the House "condemned with abhorrence the outrageous action which violates flagrantly the UN Charter and international law," a House press release said here Sunday.

It also conveyed "sincere condolences and sympathy for the innocent and tragic victims."

Kyprianou, having heard the news about the bombing of the Chinese embassy, had telephone conversation with the Ambassador of China in Nicosia Yin Zuojin, who briefed him about the tragic incident.

CNA MM/GP/1999

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[02] President Clerides - Parliamentarians

Speaking through an interpreter, on behalf of his colleagues from the six EU candidate states after calling on President Glafcos Clerides, the Polish official also underlined the need for a peaceful settlement of the Cyprus problem.

Mazowiecki, along with his colleagues from the other five parliamentary committees on European Affairs of the applicant countries, are in Cyprus for their second meeting here today.

The other parliaments attending are Cyprus, Estonia, Hungary, the Czech Republic and Slovenia.

Mozowiecki said that "even though each of our countries will be judged on its individual merits" and added "cooperation between all the candidate states is very important."

"I think that if we had anything to say about that, Cyprus would be in the EU tomorrow and if it depended on Cyprus, we would join the Union shortly too," he added.

The Polish official said President Clerides briefed them on developments in efforts to settle the Cyprus question.

"Speaking for myself, I would like to say that I believe that at the end of the 20th century not military confrontation but political will is the tool for solving such problems," he said. "That is our heartfelt wish for Cyprus," he concluded.

The first meeting of the six countries included in the first wave of EU enlargement was held in Ljubljana, Slovenia.

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[03] Cyprus - Protest - Air space

In a letter to UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, Cyprus' Permanent Representative to the UN Sotos Zacheos points out that overflights by Turkey's military aircraft and the continuing Turkish military presence in the northern part of Cyprus are the reasons which create tension on the island.

The letter, which circulated as a UN document last week, also noted that flights, which are not regulated or controlled, violate international air traffick rules and are contrary to the provisions of UN resolutions.

Cyprus lodged a strong protest following the Turkish violations of its air space, which it considers a flagrant violation of international law, the UN Charter and UN decisions on Cyprus.

Such actions, the letter points out, do not contribute to a reduction of tension in the area.

Turkish aircraft often violate Cyprus' air space in complete disregard of safety regulations and the country's sovereignty.

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

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[04] Parliamentary Committees - Chairmen - EU - Meeting

Papadopoulos was speaking today at the 2nd Meeting of the Chairmen of the Parliamentary Committees on European Affairs of the EU Associated and Applicant Countries, which opened this morning in Nicosia.

Participating are the six applicant countries of the first wave of enlargement. These are Cyprus, Estonia, Slovenia, Hungary, Poland and the Czech Republic.

The list of speakers includes also the Head of the Delegation of the European Commission in Cyprus, Ambassador Donato Chiarini, and Cyprus' chief negotiator in the EU accession talks George Vassiliou.

In his welcome speech, Papadopoulos said the recent completion of the ratification process of the Amsterdam Treaty "creates the appropriate conditions and opens the way towards integration of an enlarged EU".

"The accession process is progressing in a satisfactory manner for all six applicant countries" of the first wave of enlargement, he pointed out, adding "it is of utmost importance that the timetable for accession is strictly kept".

The undertaken commitments concerning the timetable for accession "have to be fulfilled before or by the year 2003", Papadopoulos noted, as otherwise "the commitments undertaken by the applicant states may become a disproportionate burden if the benefits emerging from the accession are delayed".

The Committee Chairman expressed Cyprus' "appreciation to the German Presidency for the successful way it is handling the accession negotiations".

"Cyprus attaches the utmost importance to the accession negotiations and is taking all necessary measures for their successful conclusion", he pointed out.

Referring to national parliaments, Papadopoulos said they "have an important role to play in the accession process", stressing that parliaments of the applicant countries should strengthen relations with the European Parliament.

"It is certainly of equal importance that the cooperation between the Parliamentary Committees on European Affairs of the applicant states is further promoted and enhanced", he added.

The six applicant countries started substantive accession negotiations with the EU in November 1998.

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[05] South Africa - Cyprus - Trade

South Africa has exported goods worth 2.108.00 Cyprus pounds (one pound is trading at two US dollars) to Cyprus and has imported goods valued at 523.000 pounds in 1998.

Figures for 1997 were lower in both exports and imports. Exports to Cyprus in 1997 amounted to 1.559.000 pounds and imports from Cyprus stood at 246.000 pounds.

"Despite the fact that South Africa is Cyprus' most important trading partner on the African continent in terms of bilateral trade, there is, no doubt, scope for improvement," High Commissioner David Jacobs said in a press released here today.

The announcement was issued to mark South Africa's second consecutive participation in the 24th Cyprus International Trade Fair, which opens later this week.

Jacobs, based in Athens, notes that his country's participation "not only reflects the warm and healthy relations existing between South Africa and Cyprus but is also a reflection of his country's belief in the future stability and prosperity of Cyprus."

The focus of the participation is to further enhance bilateral trade and economic relations, he said.

The South African information stand at this year's Fair will be supplemented by four companies involved in trade and services between the two countries.

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[06] Cyprus - Chinese Embassy - Belgrade

It also calls on NATO to work towards restoring peace and stability worldwide.

A statement issued by the Cyprus Foreign Ministry here Monday says the government "unreservedly condemns the bombing of the Chinese Embassy in Belgrade".

"It also expresses its sympathy to the government and people of the Republic of China and to the families of the victims."

The Foreign Ministry expresses the hope that "the assumption of responsibility and the apology on the part of NATO will be followed by further actions on the part of the Alliance to restore international cooperation and understanding among states and mainly the big powers, with an aim to consolidate world peace and security".

CNA MA/EC/GP/1999

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