Cyprus News Agency: News in English (PM), 99-06-01

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

CONTENTS

[01] European Waterpark Association - Meeting

[02] Spokesman - Exhumations - Statement

[03] Exhumations - Foreign expert

[04] DISI party - Candidacies

[05] Cyprus - Vietnam

[06] Cyprus - NATO

[07] Cyprus problem - US State Department geographer

[08] Cyprus - Afghanistan

[09] Cyprus - Egypt - Trade agreement

1515:CYPPRESS:01

[01] European Waterpark Association - Meeting

A press release by the "Waterworld Waterpark", which is based at the tourist resort of Ayia Napa on Cyprus' southeast coast, promises "fantastic two days with various events".

Around 100 representatives from European waterparks, including EWA President Harold Frisch, will participate. World Waterpark Association (WWA) President Al Turner will also be present.

Waterworld Waterpark, which is a member of the WWA since 1996, has won three major WWA awards.

These are the "Best Brochure" and "Best Radio Commercial" awards in 1997 and in the following year "The Executive Board Award", which is the highest award for outstanding achievement.

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1610:CYPPRESS:02

[02] Spokesman - Exhumations - Statement

He stressed the process of exhumation of war dead of the 1974 Turkish invasion of Cyprus is not related to a 1997 agreement on the missing persons and expressed the government's hopes that the process will lead the Turkish Cypriot side to implement the said agreement.

Serezis also stressed the government places the issue of the missing at the top of the list of its priorities and pointed out that this can only be resolved if convincing evidence about the fate of each of the 1618 persons listed as missing in 1974 is provided.

The government acknowledges that the exhumation process is "particularly painful" and calls for sensitivity and respect for the dead and their families.

"The government of the Republic took the decision to proceed with exhumation at this period because the scientific and technological progress made in the field of exhumations and examination of remains, creates sound expectations that it will be possible to establish, through scientific means, the identity of those buried," an official written statement said here today.

It notes that the procedure of exhumations, already underway, concerns a "small number of persons who were buried without establishing their identity" according to existing evidence.

Efforts to identify remains in the two cemeteries in and around Nicosia "do not relate to the agreement of 31 July 1997 on the missing and the exhumations provided by the said agreement."

The July deal was struck between President Glafcos Clerides and Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash under the aegis of the then UN resident representative.

"The government hopes that this procedure will contribute to creating the appropriate climate so that the Turkish side will take the necessary decisions to implement the humanitarian provisions of the July agreement," the statement added.

The government, the statement notes, "wishes to stress once more that the solution of the wider humanitarian issue of the missing is a high priority."

However, it points out that the resolution of the issue "can only be achieved through convincing proof for the fate of each missing person."

The statement reiterates the government's resolve to press on with the effort to establish the fate of the missing.

"To this end, it is necessary that everybody who can contribute to the solution of the problem shows political and humanitarian will," it said.

The government said the "reactivation of the Committee of Missing Persons on the basis of agreed objectives and terms of reference as well as the implementation of the July 31 agreement on the missing can contribute greatly to the resolution of this humanitarian problem."

The exhumations will be carried out by the international, non governmental, non profit organisation "Physicians for Human Rights" who have signed an agreement with the government for this purpose.

The organisation has set up a team of experts from around the globe, including Canada, Israel, the Honduras, Korea, Sri Lanka, Greece and the US.

There will be Cypriot scientists participating in the team as well. Cyprus provides all the necessary administrative, technical and material support to the team.

Exhumations will take place in two cemeteries, one in Nicosia and one in the suburb of Lakatamia.

The statement points out that the government is taking seriously into account the inalienable right of the relatives of the missing to be informed about the fate of their loved ones with convincing proof and have the remains of the dead returned to them for proper burial.

"The government considers the process of exhumation as a particularly painful experience for Cypriot society in general but especially for the relatives of missing and war dead," it adds, calling on everybody to show the necessary respect and sensitivity to the families and society at large.

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[03] Exhumations - Foreign expert

Haglund stressed the process is neither a circus nor a public spectacle and called on everybody to respect the relatives of the dead, who have been suffering for the past 25 years.

The American professor, who has worked in Bosnia and Rwanda, said preliminary work continues today and he will take note of what he finds, when he finds it.

He also warned the media he would not allow any photographing of bones or dead people but assured them he would be briefing them regularly.

Speaking to the press outside Lakatamia cemetery, he said preliminary work on site is continuing and today there will be no moving of bones or bodies.

"It will probably take us at least three to four weeks to be finished here and when we finish with the back part of the cemetery, that will probably be next week, we will go to the front," Haglund explained.

Replying to questions, he said a test trench the working team has dug up will provide them with leads about the exact location and depth of graves, the soil and what to look for.

"I take nothing for granted, we have all the information about the history of these bodies but what we find is what we will believe," he said.

He said the Office of the Presidential Commissioner for Humanitarian Affairs and others have supplied him with all necessary information for the task ahead.

Haglund said he was very pleased with the facilities provided for him, noting this is the first time he has running water and electricity on site, where his team of experts is working.

He called on the media to show respect to the relatives of the dead, who have gone through "much trials in the past 25 years" and described this task as "a community project" in the sense that many people (families, government representatives and the Commission) are involved.

"This is not a circus, this is not a public spectacle, it is something we are trying to be respectful for and we are all in this together," he said.

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1745:CYPPRESS:04

[04] DISI party - Candidacies

The only two women candidates are automatically elected to the post of members of the party Political Bureau, according to the party Charter allocating two of the Bureau's 12 posts to women candidates.

DISI president Nicos Anastasiades and party Youth Organisation (NEDISI) leader Yiannis Ioannou will assume office tomorrow. The two women candidates, Eleni Vrahimi and Kaiti Kleridou, will also be declared Bureau members Wednesday.

"DISI is a party of progress and we have proved that we are moving ahead with the times and monitor developments," Anastasiades said today.

Looking to the future, the DISI leader said he will seek to improve party mechanisms and be ready to submit political proposals in line with party decisions.

"I am very honoured for the trust and support you have showed in me to carry the party forward in the next four years," Anastasiades added.

Party elections will take place on June 20 and more than 7,000 DISI members will participate in the conference.

Three persons are contesting the post of Acting President, incumbent Panayiotis Demetriou, press spokesman Prodromos Prodromou and party member George Christodoulou.

Twenty persons will contest the 12 seats of the DISI political bureau.

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1750:CYPPRESS:05

[05] Cyprus - Vietnam

Receiving today the credentials of the new ambassador of Vietnam to Cyprus, Do Cong Minh, President Clerides said Nicosia remained committed to a peaceful solution of the Cyprus problem.

"We will continue our efforts to bring about a just, viable and lasting solution to the problem, always within the framework of the continuing good offices mission of the UN Secretary-General," the Cypriot President pledged.

He said the Cyprus problem "remains, unfortunately, still unresolved despite so many efforts on the part of the international community and the UN Secretary-General..."

President Clerides said "the continuing lack of political will on the part of the Turkish side to proceed to a solution of the Cyprus problem, as well as the continuing Turkish intransigence and negative approach, do not leave much room for optimism, for a solution in the near future".

Presenting his credentials, the Vietnamese diplomat said his country welcomed the goodwill of the Cypriot government to reduce tensions on the island.

He said Vietnam "supports the peaceful settlement of the Cyprus problem, on the basis of the UN resolutions on Cyprus, among those is to withdraw all foreign troops and military bases from Cyprus and non - interference into Cyprus' internal affairs".

Do Cong Minh added Vietnam "supports also the unity and integrity of Cyprus with two communities and two zones".

Turkish troops have been occupying 37 per cent of Cyprus territory since 1974, in violation of repeated UN resolutions calling for their withdrawal.

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[06] Cyprus - NATO

Replying to questions during his daily press briefing, Serezis said "the government will not develop any initiative in this direction."

Invited to comment on a statement made by Greek Foreign Undersecretary Gregoris Niotis that NATO could participate in an international force on the island after an agreement is reached, the Spokesman said "the government supports the deployment of a multi-national force."

He clarified that this force should "have a mandate from the UN Security Council that will also decide on its composition."

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

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[07] Cyprus problem - US State Department geographer

He said the State Department specialist, whom he did not name, has collected information regarding the cartography of the island and other data with the consent of the government.

Replying to questions, the Spokesman said the American specialist "has carried out research into the territorial aspect but will not submit proposals for the resolution of the matter."

He explained that the information collected by the US specialist "could be put forward when discussions on territorial issues begins."

Serezis said the American geographer "came here with the consent of the government of the Republic of Cyprus, met with technocrats and collected information that might be useful during negotiations."

The Spokesman said this information is useful as it does not only refer to the issue of refugees but also to existing infrastructure, installations and natural resources.

"During negotiations, the parties will make use of this cartographical and demographical data to decide whether they agree on the issues," he added.

Serezis said the American geographer collected information from the Land Registry, the Department of Statistics and Research and other government departments.

Replying to other questions, the Spokesman said "no proposals for a settlement have been submitted to the Cyprus government, either from the UN or other parties interested in a solution."

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2000:CYPPRESS:08

[08] Cyprus - Afghanistan

Receiving the credentials of the new ambassador of Afghanistan to Cyprus, Abdul Wanhab Assefi, President Clerides said the problem remains unresolved due to "the continuing lack of political will on the part of the Turkish side to solve the problem, as well as the exacerbated as of late, Turkish intransigence and negative approach".

"We remain committed to a peaceful solution of the problem of Cyprus" President Clerides said, adding that "we will continue our efforts to bring about a peaceful reunification of our country within the framework" of the continuing good offices mission of the UN Secretary General.

Cyprus has been divided since 1974 when Turkish troops invaded and occupied its northern part.

Presenting his credentials, the Afghan Ambassador said his country was grateful "for the friendly position" of Cyprus in efforts to find peace.

He also promised to do all he can "to expand the good relations" between Cypriots and Afghans, adding that there are further grounds "to strengthen these ties in different fields, including the trade and economy".

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2010:CYPPRESS:09

[09] Cyprus - Egypt - Trade agreement

The agreement provides for setting up a department in each of the two organisations which will deal with commercial matters of the two countries.

It will also promote contacts between business persons in industry, trade and services.

KEBE chairman Vasilis Rologis said the agreement will facilitate trade transactions and will offer new prospects for Cypriot exports to Egypt.

The agreement was signed by Rologis and the president of the Egyptian Federation Mahmound El Araby.

CNA MM/MA/1999

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