Cyprus News Agency: News in English (AM), 99-06-27

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

CONTENTS

[01] Australia - Greek and Turkish Cypriots - Radio station

[02] AKEL delegation - Turkish Cypriot party conference

[03] Greek Cypriot parties - RTP conference

1130:CYPPRESS:01

[01] Australia - Greek and Turkish Cypriots - Radio station

According to an Athens New Agency dispatch from Melbourne, the proposal to the Australian government to fund the radio station was put to Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs Phillip Ruddock, during a meeting with the Committee.

This is the first committee of its kind to be set up in Australia and aims at finding ways of communication between the two communities of Cyprus.

Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot members of the committee say they want to bring the two communities together as there is little communication between them, despite the fact that they use to live together in the past.

The Agency says the Australian government is examining the proposal. The two communities of Cyprus have been estranged since Turkish troops invaded and occupied 37 per cent of the island's territory in the summer of 1974.

Around 1200 UN peace-keepers control the 180-kilometer-long buffer zone which crosses the island.

CNA MA/GG/1999

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1230:CYPPRESS:02

[02] AKEL delegation - Turkish Cypriot party conference

The three-member Greek Cypriot delegation is participating in the conference at the invitation of RTP leader Mehmet Ali Talat.

An AKEL Central Committee message to the conference underlines the need for Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots to find the elements that bring them together, with full respect to their different national backgrounds and traditions.

"We should focus our attention on our common characteristics which make us Cypriots, children of the same motherland, and compatriots," it says.

AKEL says the absence of a settlement to the Cyprus problem, the lack of communication between the two communities and the fact that there is no dialogue contribute towards maintaining the present unacceptable status quo.

"This is not and cannot be our future," it adds. The Greek Cypriot party says a settlement should guarantee the independence, territorial integrity, sovereignty and unity of a bicommunal federal Republic of Cyprus.

The party Central Committee adds that a solution should rule out the possibility of the island's partition, its unification with any other country or secession of any kind, provide for the demilitarisation of the island and address any feelings of insecurity.

It adds that equality and the rights and freedoms of all citizens, regardless of their ethnic background, should be safeguarded.

"For this to be achieved," it adds, "a substantive dialogue should be carried out within the UN framework and based on UN resolutions and international law."

The party Central Committee says AKEL and RTP, which are two progressive forces, have a special role to play to this end.

A new effort to reach a settlement in Cyprus, divided since Turkish troops invaded and occupied 37 per cent of its territory in 1974, is expected to be launched later this year.

CNA MA/GG/1999

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1340:CYPPRESS:03

[03] Greek Cypriot parties - RTP conference

A three member left-wing AKEL delegation headed by its Secretary- General Demetris Christofias, Democratic Party (DIKO) General Secretary Andreas Erotokritou and United Democrat Deputy President Michael Papapetrou and First Vice-President George Christofides are attending.

The invitations were extended by RTP President Mehmet Ali Talat. Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot political parties maintain contacts, despite efforts by Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash to ban all meetings between the two communities estranged since the 1974 Turkish invasion and occupation of 37 per cent of the island's territory.

Since December 1997 Denktash has not allowed Turkish Cypriots to participate in most bicommunal events or to cross into the government- controlled areas of the Republic in reaction to a European Union decision to open accession talks with Cyprus.

CNA MA/GG/1999

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

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