Cyprus News Agency: News in English (AM), 99-05-21

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

CONTENTS

[01] British Shadow Foreign Secretary - Cyprus

[02] House President - Iran

1015:CYPPRESS:01

[01] British Shadow Foreign Secretary - Cyprus

Speaking to the Cypriot community press at the party headquarters, Howard said a political settlement of the protracted Cyprus question is not a precondition for EU membership.

Howard said the Conservative party supports the negotiations for the accession of Cyprus to the EU and pointed out that a political solution, although desired, is not a prerequisite for accession.

He added Turkey cannot have the right of veto over this process and noted that "it would be quite wrong to give the right of veto to a country not a member of the Union for accession negotiations which relate to the EU."

Howard told the press he is pleased with the progress of the accession negotiations.

"It even comes a point in those negotiations when the Conservative party can play a useful role, we stand ready to do that," Howard added.

His comments were made after a meeting with the President of the National Federation of Cypriots, Haris Sofoclides, and chairman of the Democratic Rally party branch in the UK Andreas Papaevripides.

Present at the meeting were the party's candidates for London in the European elections Tereza Villiers and Ian Twinn.

CNA KT/MM/GP/1999

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1315:CYPPRESS:02

[02] House President - Iran

Speaking after a meeting today with House President Spyros Kyprianou, he said the visit was very fruitful and is considered a "turning point" in relations between Iran and Cyprus.

Azarazi expressed the hope that a joint parliamentary friendship group would be set up to further relations between the two countries.

The Cypriot delegation, he added, expressed thanks and appreciation to the Speaker of the Iranian parliament Ali Akbar Nateq Nouri.

Replying to questions, he said he had no additional information about an incident in Teheran, which involved a threatening letter against Cyprus' Ambassador there and the beating of an embassy security guard.

"As announced by both governments it was nothing serious and something very exaggerated," he said, adding that Iran has no evidence to blame anybody.

He hinted that somebody who did not favour this trip and enhanced bilateral relations might be behind the incident at the Cyprus embassy.

According to the Cyprus Foreign Ministry those who attacked the guard managed to escape before police got to the embassy. They found a small object there which was being examined.

Kyprianou headed a multi-party delegation to Teheran earlier this week for a series of meetings.

CNA MM/GP/1999

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

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