Cyprus News Agency: News in English (AM), 99-05-28

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

CONTENTS

[01] Cyprus - COST

[03] Cyprus - Turkish invasion

[04] EuroMP - Cyprus question

0810:CYPPRESS:01

[01] Cyprus - COST

The decision was taken at a meeting held in Warsaw yesterday. COST is a framework through which European Union member-states cooperate with third states on issues of research and technology.

Cyprus had applied for membership in December 1996, but until yesterday it had the status of an observer because of Turkey' objections.

Turkey, that maintains over 35 thousand troops in Cyprus since it invaded and occupied 37 per cent of the island's territory in 1974, claimed at the meeting that the internationally-recognised government of the Cyprus Republic does not represent all Cypriots.

CNA MA/GP/1999

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

0935:CYPPRESS:02

[02] Cyprus - Turkish invasion

The Council of Ministers yesterday decided about a series of events to denounce the July 15, 1974 coup that toppled the then President, Archbishop Makarios, and the July 20, 1974 Turkish invasion and occupation of 37 per cent of the Republic's territory that followed five days later.

They include a televised message by President Clerides on July 19, church services in memory of the people who lost their lives and the circulation of special posters and leaflets.

Sirens will sound at 0820 local time (0520 GMT) on July 15, when the coup engineered by the military junta then ruling Greece started, and at 0530 (0230 GMT) on July 20, the exact time when the Turkish invasion was launched.

According to an official announcement, President Clerides will invite the ambassadors of the "big five" and hand them a memorandum on the Turkish invasion and continuing occupation asking them to forward it to their governments.

Foreign Minister Ioannis Kasoulides will be present at these meetings.

CNA MA/GP/1999

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1120:CYPPRESS:03

[03] EuroMP - Cyprus question

Nicosia, May 28 (CNA) -- Dutch EuroMP Jan-Willem Bertens has said that there are no conditions for Cyprus' accession to the European Union and expressed the view that the accession process can back efforts for a settlement to the Cyprus problem.

In an interview with CNA, Bertens said Ankara's intransigent stance in efforts to settle the Cyprus question is due to the importance some countries place on Turkey.

He said Ankara has already benefited from the EU and should not be given more "trump cards" in its hands.

The Dutch EuroMP said while no comparison can be made between the situation in Kosovo, Cyprus or other countries, it is a matter of principle to protect human rights of one person or a hundred thousand persons.

Bertens was speaking to CNA during his recent trip here to prepare a report on Cyprus' EU accession course for the European Parliament.

"We said yes to Cyprus to become a member of the EU and we hope that through the accession negotiations that started a year ago we will perhaps give a push, get a catalyst reaction, so that there will also be a solution to the Cyprus problem."

The Dutch EuroMP said what he will point out in his report is that the EU Commission and the Council decision to open accession talks with Cyprus set "no conditions".

"The only thing that counts is what we are discussing and negotiating now, on finance, economics, social affairs and all the other chapters," he said.

"But there was no condition that first we have to clear the political sky and only then can Cyprus become a member of the EU. The two things are not linked," added.

Commenting on reservations some countries have expressed at times over Cyprus joining the EU before the political problem is settled, Bertens said one of the reasons could be that "they don't want to be nasty to Turkey".

He said this could be one of the reasons why the Cyprus problem has not been settled, adding that "Turkey is an important country."

Both Ankara and Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash oppose Cyprus' accession to the EU, before Turkey becomes an EU member.

Bertens recalled that the EU has placed conditions which have to be met for Turkey's membership application to be considered that include Ankara's backing of efforts for a Cyprus settlement, to address the Kurdish question and to safeguard human rights within the country itself.

"They didn't do a thing," he said, adding that "Turkey has a lot of trump cards in its hands but it's not fair to give them more cards."

A number of UN and EU resolutions call on Turkey to withdraw its troops, stationed in Cyprus since they invaded and occupied 37 per cent of the island in 1974.

Asked about the international community's interest in the human rights of the Kosovars while at the same time human rights are also violated in other countries such as Cyprus, Bertens said he doesn't "want to compare these things in magnitude, but the human rights of one person or a hundred thousand persons is the same."

He said that "apparently Cyprus is not number one on the agenda of a few countries, the countries dealing the cards."

However, he expressed the hope that "perhaps when we find a solution in Kosovo there will be a positive turn" for Cyprus.

The Dutch EuroMP noted that there are other places in the world where human rights are violated, adding that "it's the principle that counts."

"You can never compare things in one country and another but it's a tragedy for the people involved," he said, recalling that "the partial occupation of this island by Turkey has been going on for the last quarter of a century and is not solved."

Bertens told CNA that after ten years in office he has decided not to stand for the upcoming European Parliament elections, but will contest a place in his country's Senate.

However, he pledged he will remain active in various aspects of the Cyprus issue, such as the case of persons missing since the invasion and the fate of some 500 Greek Cypriots who have remained in the Turkish- occupied areas, through his involvement with non-governmental organisations.

Bertens said if he is elected in the Senate he will be a member of the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly through which he can also work for Cyprus.

CNA EC/RM/MA/1999

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

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