Cyprus News Agency: News in English (PM), 99-06-07

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

CONTENTS

[01] Cyprus - China - Foreign Ministers

[02] President Clerides - Chinese President

[03] Cyprus - Dioxin - Ban

[04] Government - Rally

[05] Exhumation Process

[06] Rally - Yugoslavia

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[01] Cyprus - China - Foreign Ministers

Beijing, Jun 7 (CNA) -- Chinese Foreign Minister, Tang Jia Xuan, has reiterated his country's support for the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of Cyprus.

During a meeting with his Cypriot counterpart, Ioannis Kasoulides, here today, Xuan also said UN principles and Security Council resolutions should be respected.

The meeting took place on the sidelines of an official visit to China by Cyprus President Glafcos Clerides.

The two Ministers discussed the Cyprus problem, current international developments and bilateral relations in the political and economic fields, as well as bilateral cooperation in international organisations.

Kasoulides thanked his Chinese counterpart for his country's steady support to Cyprus and extended an official invitation to him to visit the island.

Chinese Ambassador to Cyprus, Yin Zuojin, and Cyprus Ambassador to China, Loria Markides, were also present at the meeting.

CNA MA/MCH/MM/1999

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

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[02] President Clerides - Chinese President

Beijing, Jun 7 (CNA) -- The People's Republic of China has stressed that a solution to the Cyprus problem should be based on UN resolutions, President Glafcos Clerides, on a state visit to China, said here today.

Speaking after official talks with his Chinese counterpart, Jiang Zemin, Clerides said Jiang noted that "a solution should be based on UN resolutions." The Cypriot President expressed satisfaction with the positions upheld by Chinese officials on the Cyprus problem.

Clerides had private talks with Jiang in the presence of Cyprus Foreign, Finance and Commerce, Industry and Tourism Ministers as well as Cyprus' Ambassador to China. The private talks were followed by extended discussions.

"On many issues relating to the international situation, we found out that our assessment and views coincide," Clerides said.

During the talks the Cypriot side said it was necessary to respect borders and expressed its opposition to interference in the internal affairs of other countries and to solution of international problems through the use of force.

The Cypriot delegation said that human rights in every country as well as democratic values should be respected.

At the Beijing talks, Cyprus and China said they shared the same views on many issues and in particular on how the new world order should be formulated in the new millennium.

Cyprus and China said they would like to see their bilateral economic and trade relations develop further. Economic and trade links will be the topic of a seminar taking place in Beijing tomorrow, which will be addressed by President Clerides.

The Cypriot delegation to the talks with Chinese officials comprises Foreign Ministry officials, high ranking officials of the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Tourism and the Director of Exchange Control and Foreign Investments Department at the Cyprus Central Bank.

On the part of the People's Republic of China, the talks were attended by the State Counsellor, the Finance Minister, the Vice Minister for Economic Cooperation and Trade and the Director General of State Tourism Administration.

The official welcome of President Clerides by his Chinese counterpart was held at the Great Hall of the People.

The Chinese President hosted a dinner for the Cyprus delegation.

CNA MA/MCH/MM/1999

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

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[03] Cyprus - Dioxin - Ban

A coordinating committee for public health met today and decided that the list of banned products will include meat, dairy products, baby food and chocolate.

Mayonnaise and sauces have already been withdrawn from supermarket shelves by the Health authorities.

The committee decided to continue its check on foodstuff from Belgium and to set up a sub-committee to monitor this issue and make sure it destroys any dangerous products.

The Health Ministry has also urged consumers who may have already purchased such foodstuffs not to consume them as a precaution.

Health Minister Christos Solomis said in the past few days some products, mainly dairy and chocolate, have already been confiscated by the authorities.

He said however that there was no reason for alarm and reminded Cypriot consumers that Cyprus does not import poultry, port or beef products from Belgium.

CNA MCH/MM/1999

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

2000:CYPPRESS:04

[04] Government - Rally

Ruling rightwing Democratic Rally and the United Democrats, also a government partner, are the only parties not to participate in the rally tonight in downtown Nicosia.

In a written statement, Deputy Government Spokesman, Spyros Arotis, said the various messages such events send out abroad "do not serve but on the contrary pose a threat to the vital interests of the Republic of Cyprus and its people which are related to Cyprus' European Union accession course".

He said "Cyprus needs the Common Foreign and Security Policy the EU is trying to formulate."

Arotis added "it is not right that we should give anyone reason to doubt our readiness to undertake all our responsibilities and obligations when we become a full member by organising such rallies".

The Deputy Spokesman said "such rallies do not help the friendly people of Yugoslavia," noting that "delicate and crucial talks are now underway for the implementation of the agreement and there are indications that the countdown for the end of military operations is imminent".

He said the Cyprus government will continue with determination its "well-known policy on the Yugoslav question, as dictated by the vital interests of Cyprus and its people."

Tonight's rally in Eleftheria (Freedom) Square in central Nicosia is organised by the leftwing AKEL party, the centre-right Democratic Party, the Socialist EDEK and other political groups.

The rally is organised under the slogan "Stop bombings now - Give peace a chance."

CNA MCH/GP/1999

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

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[05] Exhumation Process

Speaking to the press today, he said "we have started analysis and inventory of the remains from the memorial at Makedonitissa Tomb."

He also said work on site at one of the two cemeteries, where remains are to be exhumed, has moved into the front of the cemetery.

Work in the back area of the cemetery is expected to finish by the end of the week, he added.

The American professor, who leads an international team of experts from various countries including the US, Guatemala, the Honduras, the Philippines, Israel, Greece and Cyprus, said as from today remains will start being removed from Lakatamia cemetery.

Haglund and a member of the working team, dealing with the issue of exhumations, visited relatives of Greek missing in Athens and met with representatives of the Panhellenic Committee of Relatives of missing persons.

The professor, from the Nobel peace prize winner Physicians for Human Rights, also met the Cypriot Committee of Relatives of Missing Persons and briefed them about the work so far.

CNA MM/MCH/1999

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

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[06] Rally - Yugoslavia

More than 1,000 people, holding Cypriot, Greek and Yugoslav flags, gathered in downtown Eleftheria Square in the capital Nicosia to express their grievances against attempts by the US-led alliance to bring Yugoslavia to its knees and force it to capitulate to their demands.

"US, NATO, war criminals" read one banner, while another said "Stop the genocide of the Yugoslav people" and "We say no to the new world order, we say yes to international law."

Participating parties, the leftwing AKEL, the Democratic Party (DIKO), the socialist EDEK, New Horizons, the Party for Eurodemocratic Renewal (KEA) and the Environmentalists, drew parallels between the situation in Yugoslavia and the continuing injustice in Cyprus, which suffered and continues to be subjected to ethnic cleansing in 1974 when Turkish troops invaded and occupied its northern part.

AKEL General Secretary, Demetris Christofias, called for an end to the bombing, the restoration of peace, the settlement of the problem in Kosovo and the safeguard of the human rights of its people.

"NATO allies do not want peace, they want an unconditional surrender of Yugoslavia, they want to send the message that they are the rulers of this planet," Christofias said.

Deputy president of the Democratic Party, Nicos Kleanthous, said "the people of Cyprus refuse to become an accomplice to the annihilation of the people of Yugoslavia."

"We raise our voices in support of justice, peace and respect of international law because the people of Cyprus themselves are living with the injustice brought about by the Turkish invasion," he added.

Socialist EDEK leader, Vasos Lyssarides, said Cyprus is "particularly sensitive to refugee issues and ethnic cleansing" and described NATO bombing as "a crime against humanity."

Not only has Turkey escaped punishment for its crimes against Cyprus but it is also rewarded for them, he said.

Nicos Koutsou, leader of the New Horizons party, said "today we say yes to peace, justice and human rights and we say no to new barbarity."

"Cyprus is the victim of barbarity and double standards policies," he added.

Vice President of KEA, Antonis Paschalides, condemned unreservedly the murders of innocent civilians in Yugoslavia and added "the imbalance of power on the international arena has rendered the US and its allies even stronger and led them down the road of exercising absolute authority and implementing the law of the jungle."

Kyriakos Tsimillis, representing the Environmentalist Movement, said "we cannot have peace without justice, and there is no justice without respect for human and political rights of all people."

He questioned whether NATO could be a protector of Cyprus, after the island's political problem is settled.

Protesters marched towards the US embassy here to protest peacefully against the continuing NATO air raids.

CNA MM/FZ/1999

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

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