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Cyprus News Agency: News in English (PM), 99-06-11Cyprus News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Cyprus News Agency at <http://www.cyna.org.cy>CONTENTS
1530:CYPPRESS:01[01] UN Secretary-General - UNFICYP ReportNicosia, Jun 11 (CNA) -- The UN Secretary-General has described the situation along the ceasefire line in Cyprus during the past six months as "stable" and has suggested that more direct contact between the two communities would influence the atmosphere positively.In his report on UN operations in Cyprus for the period of 9 December 1998 to 9 June 1999, Kofi Annan says the presence of the UN peace-keeping force on the island (UNFICYP) "remains indispensable for the maintenance of the ceasefire between the two sides". The UN Chief recommends that the Security Council extend the mandate of the UN Force in Cyprus for a further period of six months, until 31 December 1999. The UN Chief says "the situation along the ceasefire lines remained essentially stable" but points that "the routine replacement by the Turkish forces of marker buoys off the shore south of Famagusta led to several days of tension in May, in part because one buoy was placed in the wrong position for a short while". He says that as regards Varosha, the new town of Famagusta, Turkish Cypriot suggestions that they might open it up for settlement "provoked a strong public reaction on the Greek Cypriot side". Noting that the "UNFICYP continued to monitor the fenced area of Varosha", he says, the peace-keeping force "did not observe any significant change in the status quo in that area, for which the UN holds the government of Turkey responsible. The UN Chief points to "the suspension of bi-communal contacts imposed by the Turkish Cypriot authorities", noting that an UNFICYP event on May 6 in the buffer zone, to mark International Women's Day "had to go ahead without the presence of Turkish Cypriots". He suggests that "more direct contact between Greek and Turkish Cypriots on the island would also influence the atmosphere positively." Referring to the humanitarian issue of missing persons, the UN Chief says the tripartite Committee, comprising a Greek Cypriot, a Turkish Cypriot and a UN representative, "was once again unable to proceed to its substantive work, despite the vigorous efforts of its third member". Annan says this was because of "continuing disagreement between the two sides" and expresses the hope they "will assess the implications of this situation with due urgency and seriousness, with a view of overcoming the stalemate on this humanitarian issue". In his report the UN Chief also notes that during the period under review seven Turkish citizens and five Turkish Cypriot crossed the buffer zone from the Turkish-occupied areas to the government-controlled areas of the Republic, and three Greek Cypriots and three Greeks, "were detained after crossing northward". He says the UNFICYP facilitated the release of the "prisoners" and adds that "both sides returned impounded items more expeditiously than in the past'. The UN Chief makes note of the resignation of his Special Adviser for Cyprus, Diego Cordovez, noting that "his advice has been invaluable", particularly in connection with the last direct meetings between President Glafcos Clerides and Turkish Cypriot leader, Rauf Denktash in Troutbeck and Glion in 1997. Turkish troops have been occupying 37 per cent of Cyprus territory since 1974, in violation of repeated UN resolutions calling for their withdrawal. The 1.200-strong UNFICYP patrols the 180-kilometre buffer zone across the island. CNA MCH/GP/1999ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY1820:CYPPRESS:02[02] Health Minister - List - DioxinNicosia, Jun 11 (CNA) -- Health Minister Christos Solomis today made public a list of 108 Belgian products which have been removed from store shelves pending investigation into the issue of cancer causing dioxin.Speaking at a press conference, Solomis presented the list of 108 trade names which have been banned by the government health departments. He stressed, however, that the appearance of a product in the list does not imply the existence of dioxin in its composition. It only means the product "is under investigation", he explained. The list comprises 69 trade names of chocolate and another 39 mainly of mayonnaise, sauce, butter and margarine, confectionery and baby food. Solomis said after the conclusion of the investigation, which will be carried out as soon as possible, contaminated products will be destroyed while those proven dioxin-free will be on sale again. Health Ministry Permanent Secretary Achilleas Patzinakos last week urged consumers not to use the Belgian mayonnaise or sauces they had already purchased. CNA AA/GG/MCH/1999ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY1900:CYPPRESS:03[03] Defence Minister - ParisNicosia, Jun 11 (CNA) -- Defence Minister, Yiannakis Chrysostomis, leaves on Sunday for Paris, to visit the military Air Fair "Le Bourget".On Tuesday, he will meet with his French counterpart, Alain Richard. The Minister will be accompanied by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Defence Petros Kareklas and the Commander of the National Guard, Demetrios Dimou. CNA MCH/GG/1999ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY2050:CYPPRESS:04[04] President Clerides - G8 Foreign Ministersby Myria AntoniadouHong Kong, Jun 11 (CNA) -- President Glafcos Clerides, said here today a reference by the Foreign Ministers of the G8 (seven most industrialised countries plus Russia) on the Cyprus problem, was a proposal to their leaders, meeting next week in Cologne, Germany. Commenting on the statement by the G8 Foreign Ministers, Clerides, who concluded a state visit to China, pointed out that the one to invite the sides for talks on the Cyprus problem is the UN Secretary-General. "The statement by the G8 Foreign Ministers is their proposal to the leaders of their governments..." Clerides said. The President said the Cyprus government's firm position was that "we are ready to proceed to a dialogue without preconditions, based on UN resolutions. Besides, we have never set preconditions." The G8 Foreign Ministers reiterated their "support for UN efforts to reach a comprehensive settlement on the Cyprus problem on the basis of the relevant resolutions of the UN Security Council". They also recommended that "the G8 Summit leaders urge the UN Secretary-General to invite the leaders of both parties to enter into comprehensive negotiations without preconditions". CNA MA/MCH/GP/1999ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY2050:CYPPRESS:05[05] Acting President - Cypriot parties - G8Nicosia, Jun 11 (CNA) -- Acting Cyprus President Spyros Kyprianou, who is the President of the House of Representatives, described today a statement by the G8 Foreign Ministers on Cyprus as "a positive development".He pointed out, however, that "what is of particular importance is whether the UN Secretary-General will call for talks for a solution (to the Cyprus problem) based on UN resolutions". Although he said he could not call this development as an "initiative" of the G8, Kyprianou, leader of the centre-right Democratic Party, described it as "positive", but warned "we should not rejoice but continue our efforts". Nicos Anastasiades, leader of the ruling right-wing Democratic Rally party (DISI), welcomed the G8 Foreign Ministers' statement and said there was "a clear reference that any solution (to the Cyprus problem) will be based on UN Security Council resolutions". Andreas Christou, parliamentary spokesman of the opposition leftwing AKEL party, said the G8 reference to the Cyprus problem only "partly" satisfied his party. The G8 Foreign Ministers reiterated their support to UN efforts for a comprehensive settlement to the Cyprus problem on the basis of relevant UN Security Council resolutions and urge the UN Secretary-General to invite the two sides on the island to negotiations without preconditions. CNA MCH/GP/1999ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY2140:CYPPRESS:06[06] US Embassy - Cypriot partiesNicosia, Jun 11 (CNA) -- Two Cypriot political parties expressed today their dissatisfaction with a statement by the US Embassy in Nicosia, which said party members had not accepted invitations to embassy-sponsored events and instead demonstrated against NATO bombings of Yugoslavia, outside the embassy.Left-wing AKEL Parliamentary Spokesman, Andreas Christou, said he expects that diplomatic missions in Cyprus should respect political parties and leaders and rejected claims that AKEL members intentionally refused to attend US Embassy functions. "However, relations with foreign missions could not remain unaffected when some of those countries bomb a country friendly to the people of Cyprus," Christou added. On his part, centre-right Democratic Party (DIKO) President, Spyros Kyprianou said "we are neither anti-American nor anti-British nor against anybody else but we are for Cyprus". Meanwhile leader of ruling right-wing Democratic Rally, Nicos Anastasiades, when invited to comment on the US stance towards AKEL and DIKO, said if that was true "I strongly denounce it". He said political parties have the right to their opinions and are not "answerable to any embassy". The US embassy statement said "members of AKEL and DIKO have not accepted invitations to embassy-sponsored events in recent weeks". It added, "our impression is that AKEL and DIKO members have only come to the embassy recently to demonstrate against NATO's efforts to stop the Serbian regime's criminal actions in Kosovo". CNA MCH/GP/1999ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCYCNA ENDSCyprus News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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