Cyprus News Agency: News in English (PM), 99-05-18

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

CONTENTS

[01] Parliamentary delegation - Iran

[02] President - Credentials - Estonia

[03] President - Credentials - Lebanon

[04] Greenpeace - Akamas

[05] Shandra - Press Conference

[06] Vassiliou - Brussels

[07] Spokesman - Hercus

[08] Kasoulides - Sweden

[09] Cyprus - UK - Air Transport

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[01] Parliamentary delegation - Iran

Habibi was briefed on recent developments in Cyprus by President of the House of Representatives, Spyros Kyprianou, who is on an official visit to Iran at the invitation of the Islamic Consultative Assembly.

The Iranian official expressed agreement with Kyprianou that the international community should not follow a double standards policy on human rights issues.

Referring to bilateral relations, Habibi said enhancing economic cooperation, investment, trade and tourism would be very constructive.

On his part, Kyprianou, who is heading a parliamentary delegation, briefed Habibi on the ethnic cleansing carried out by Turkey in Cyprus and Turkish attempts to change the demographic character of the territories it occupies since Turkey's troops invaded in 1974 through the influx of illegal settlers.

Kyprianou also referred to cooperation between the two countries in the Non-Aligned Movement, stressing that they should continue to promote world peace.

The Cyprus parliamentary delegation will conclude its meetings in Iran later today.

They will meet with former Iranian President, Hashemi Rafsanjani and deputy Foreign Minister, Moshen Amizadeh.

Assembly President Ali Akbar Nateq Nouri will host a dinner this evening in honour of the Cyprus delegation.

This is the first Cyprus parliamentary delegation to visit the Islamic Republic of Iran.

The delegation returns to Cyprus tomorrow.

CNA MCH/MM/1999

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[02] President - Credentials - Estonia

President Clerides was addressing the first Ambassador of Estonia to Cyprus, Jaak Joeruut, during the presentation of his credentials today.

Even though the Cyprus government has always been, and continues to be, firmly committed to a just, viable and lasting solution of the island's problem by peaceful means within the framework of the UN, all initiatives "have so far failed to crack Turkey's intransigent position", he noted.

He pointed out, however, that despite this deadlock, "we remain committed to realising the vision of a united and peaceful Cyprus, member of the EU".

Efforts to reunite the island, divided since Turkish troops invaded and occupied its northern part in 1974, have so far yielded no results.

An island where "the human rights of Greek and Turkish Cypriots alike will be fully protected in a country that will serve as the common home to both communities", he added.

Referring to both countries' common EU course, he expressed confidence that they will continue and intensify efforts to strengthen cooperation between them.

On his part, Joeruut referred to the "good relations" between the two countries, adding they "have much in common and are actually very close to each other".

As both Cyprus and Estonia are small and young states seeking EU membership, they are "in the same time-zone", he noted.

Cyprus and Estonia started substantive accession negotiations with the EU in November 1998.

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[03] President - Credentials - Lebanon

He was speaking at the presentation of the credentials of the new Lebanese Ambassador to Cyprus Samira Hanna El-Daher.

President Clerides referred to the tight historic links between Cyprus and Lebanon, adding the two countries are determined to forge an even stronger link between them.

He pointed out that "despite timeless efforts on the part of the international community and despite our own political will to solve the Cyprus problem, there is no sign of any progress made towards a solution, simply because Turkey is still lacking the necessary political will".

"For us", he said, "there is no alternative but to insist on our efforts for a peaceful solution within the framework of the good offices mission of the UN Secretary General".

Referring to the Middle East, President Clerides said as Cyprus is intimately connected with the region, it has "every reason to see the peace process bearing fruits so that peace, security and prosperity are established".

On her part, El-Daher pointed out that Cyprus "has been a haven of hospitality, shelter and friendship" when Lebanon was suffering from hostilities.

She said President Clerides' "personal involvement to better the life of the refugees" and "his stand on equality of treatment of all ethnic groups and religions" are only part of the list of what the Lebanese people owe Cyprus.

"The future is ahead enabling us to further strengthen and better a relationship that without interruption through the recent years of war, through the Cypriot Maronites down the centuries and through the Phoenician kingdoms have never failed for thousands of years", El- Daher said.

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1845:CYPPRESS:04

[04] Greenpeace - Akamas

Mediterranean Director of the international environmental organisation, Mario Damato, said the Cyprus government is not "serious regarding its plans and promises to protect Akamas" and added that Greenpeace "will be raising this issue worldwide and especially in Europe".

Damato said Agriculture, Environment and Natural Resources Minister, Costas Themistocleous, has declined a meeting with him. He also claimed that permits have been granted to relatives of government ministers to build hotels in Akamas.

"The Cyprus government should keep their promise of declaring Akamas a protected area," the Greenpeace official said, warning that European countries "will not favour such behaviour which is bad both on an environmental level and a democratic level when nepotism is used to this extent".

"So you can expect us to get more aggressive on the international front on this campaign from now on," Damato added.

Asked to comment on the NATO bombings against Yugoslavia, Damato said Greenpeace "condemns the strikes because there are (environmental) dangers here which they do not seem to be taken into consideration".

CNA MK/MCH/MM/1999

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2010:CYPPRESS:05

[05] Shandra - Press Conference

Speaking at a press conference here today, Shandra also stressed that "you cannot have a solution which does not guarantee demilitarisation, unity and non-alignment of Cyprus".

"These are the conditions and we put in every meeting," he added, stressing that "the Cyprus problem cannot be solved without the withdrawal of the Turkish troops and settlers from the island and without implementing UN resolutions".

"The Cyprus cause is a just one" Shandra said and pointed to the need for the International Committee of Solidarity to Cyprus to be revamped.

Referring to Cyprus' course for European Union membership, Shandra said joining the EU "should not be at the expense of your independence and sovereignty".

Referring to the crisis in Yugoslavia, Shandra said it was time to stop the NATO bombings and pointed to demonstrations all over the world calling for a peaceful solution.

"NATO is seeking to replace the UN," the Indian pacifist said and added that NATO wants to make "every government which does not fall to its knees to NATO to fall on its knees".

NATO's new strategy is aerial bombings, he said, giving as examples Iraq and Yugoslavia. "This danger of aerial bombing will spread to non- aligned countries," he added.

"We should act together all over the world against this growing danger to peace and justice, for our continent and for all the world" Shandra concluded.

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[06] Vassiliou - Brussels

Vassiliou referred to Cyprus as a stabilising factor in Europe both from a political and economic point of view at a meeting organised by the "European Policy Centre".

Replying to questions, Vassiliou pointed out that the EU will act as a catalyst on efforts for a solution to the Cyprus problem.

Vassiliou met with head of the EU negotiating team for Cyprus' accession, Leopold Maurer, with whom he discussed the course of harmonisation of the Republic's legislation with the acquis communautaire.

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[07] Spokesman - Hercus

Dame Ann Hercus, from New Zealand, is currently UN Secretary General's Resident Representatine in Cyprus, but the UN have proposed to upgrade her to the post of Special Representative to replace Diego Cordovez, who resigned from the post.

Asked whether the government has already submitted its reply on the issue, Serezis said "it must have been given late last night".

Serezis denounced press reports suggesting the reply is obscure and not clear, adding its content will be publicised "in due course".

He declined to reveal the contents of the reply, saying he was not authorised to do so.

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[08] Kasoulides - Sweden

Speaking to the press after the meeting, Kasoulides expressed his satisfaction for the understanding Sweeden shows on the Cyprus problem and the country's accession course to EU.

Earlier, the Foreign Minister had a meeting with the Committee of Foreign Affairs of the Sweedish Parliament and replied to questions.

Later today, Kasoulides will give a lecture at the Institute of Foreign Affairs in Stockholm on "Cyprus on the way to EU".

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[09] Cyprus - UK - Air Transport

The memorandum grants permission to a British company to fly from Stansted airport and increase the number of seat-only passengers on charter flights.

The memorandum also provides for the transport of fruit and vegetables on charter flights to all British airports.

CNA AA/MM/1999

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