Cyprus News Agency: News in English (PM), 99-07-21

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

CONTENTS

[01] New US ambassador - Swearing in

[02] Women - Cyprus

[03] Cyprus - New European Left Forum

[04] EDEK - Vienna meeting

[05] President - Missing persons

[06] President Clerides - Cyprus question

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[01] New US ambassador - Swearing in

Yesterday outgoing US ambassador in Nicosia Kenneth Brill called on President Glafcos Clerides to say farewell.

Bandler is expected to arrive in Cyprus to present his credentials to President Glafcos Clerides in mid-August, according to the office of the State Department Spokesman.

It says the new American ambassador "will advance US efforts to negotiate a comprehensive settlement based on a bizonal, bicommunal federation."

"He will also work to represent US interests on a variety of economic, security and political issues," it adds.

From 1997 to January 1999 Bandler served as the special assistant to the President and Senior Director for European Affairs on the National Security Council.

He was principal advisor to the president and National Security Adviser on US relations with the countries of Western Europe, Canada, NATO and the European Union.

Bandler was director of Israel and Arab-Israeli Affairs at the State Department from 1994 to 1995 and was an active participant in the Middle East Peace Process negotiations.

He has also served in the US embassies in Paris and Bonn. The new US ambassador to Cyprus holds a degree in Political Science and Law.

CNA MA/GP/1999

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

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[02] Women - Cyprus

The nature of the forthcoming event has not yet been decided and will not necessarily be in the form of a march.

Speaking at a press conference on behalf of the movement, Eleni Vrahimi said the memory of the dynamic march ten years ago at Ayios Kassianos, during which the Turks arrested 98 women and 10 men, is still alive, adding that the women over the past decade have participated in all anti-occupation demonstrations.

Vrahimi said "the unity of the people is needed", adding that "Epistrofi" will prepare for the new demonstration "very well".

She said that working groups will be set up to make the preparations and that soon an open gathering will take place, so that all interested women can offer their assistance.

"We do not want to be passive spectators of our own drama. Women can give a response to those who want to promote painful, divisive solutions which will allow Turkey to have sovereign rights over Cyprus," Louiza Mavrommati, member of the movement said.

She also said the planned event need not necessarily aim at entry into the Turkish occupied areas of Cyprus but it should convey certain messages to foreigners which could back the Greek Cypriot side in the anticipated negotiations.

Vrahimi also announced that the movement has opened a special account, called the "Fund for the restoration of the Church of Saint George in the Chrysaliniotissa area" in Nicosia.

Seven thousand pounds (one Cyprus pound is about two US dollars) from the ten thousand in the account have already been allocated towards this end.

Mass was held in the church, for the first time since the 1974 Turkish invasion of Cyprus in 1989, during the women's anti-occupation march, before the Turks began arresting people.

Vrahimi said the movement "will appeal to all those who can help" and will also make "representations to the United Nations and UNESCO", so that the church may come to life again.

CNA RG/MM/1999

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[03] Cyprus - New European Left Forum

Left-wing AKEL party, which participated in the meeting, said in a statement that speakers referred "extensively" to the island's political problem, and they "reaffirmed their solidarity with the struggle of the Cyprus people".

In a declaration adopted by the Meeting, the members express their "deep concern over the fact that the Cyprus problem remains unsolved for 25 years now, an open wound for the whole of the people of Cyprus and a risk for peace in the region".

The declaration urges the UN Security Council to "intensify and strengthen its efforts to promote and reach a just and viable solution to the Cyprus problem" and condemn the insistence of Turkey and Turkish Cypriot leader, Rauf Denktash, on a confederation settlement.

Participating parties urge the European Union to support UN efforts and call on governments to exert their influence so that the US Administration may play a "positive role in finding a just and viable solution."

They furthermore say that the Cyprus problem "can and must be solved peacefully" and that a settlement must be found within UN resolutions, the high level agreements on 1977 and 1979, international law and human rights.

The parties stress that a solution must provide for a bizonal, bicommunal federation, as stipulated in UN resolutions.

CNA RG/MM/1999

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[04] EDEK - Vienna meeting

The conference will discuss stability, security and the development of the Balkan countries, as well as ways to consolidate democracy and respect of human rights in the region.

Representing EDEK are the First Vice President of the party, Yiannakis Omirou, and the member of the Political Office, George Kamilaris.

The conference will be attended by prime ministers and leaders of European socialist parties.

During their stay in Vienna, Omirou and Kamilaris will discuss the Cyprus problem during the conference and at various meetings with other delegations.

CNA RG/MM/1999

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[05] President - Missing persons

In his address to a rally held tonight in Nicosia for the missing persons, read out by Presidential Commissioner for Humanitarian Affairs Takis Christopoulos, the President said that the issue cannot go on for ever.

He said that "it is our obligation, and especially that of the international community, to undertake our obligations regarding this unacceptable situation".

President Clerides added that a special working group has been set up to examine all possibilities that could help promote and solve the problem, and stressed the need to implement a 1997 agreement reached with the Turkish Cypriot side to help end the suffering of relatives of the missing.

"We stand in awe before the patience of the families and we shall make every effort to meet their justified right to be informed the fate of their loved ones," the President said.

Referring to the ongoing process of exhumation and identification of remains of Greek and Greek Cypriot war dead of the Turkish invasion of 1974, he said "we expect this process will be appreciated and will point to the need for initiatives leading to substantial progress on this humanitarian matter."

Speaking at the same rally, Acting President of the House of Representatives, Nicos Anastasiades, said that all Greek Cypriot political parties consider the issue of missing persons a priority.

Anastasiades stressed the need for unity, which will serve as a "shield against threats and perils".

The demonstration was also addressed by Archbishop Chrysostomos, the Vice President of the Greek committee of relatives of missing persons, Nicos Papadopoulos, and the co-chairmen of the Cyprus Committee, Nicos Theodosiou and Agapios Chiratos.

Present at the demonstration were also relatives of Greek missing persons.

CNA RG/MM/1999

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

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[06] President Clerides - Cyprus question

In an interview last night with television channel ANT1, President Clerides said the Turkish side will take part in talks on the substance of the problem, adding that these would not be proximity talks.

The President said the Greek Cypriot side is "ready to participate in talks, as provided for in UN resolutions, between the representatives of the two communities and not between two separate, sovereign states".

He said that talks should aim at a bizonal, bicommunal federation, with one sovereignty, a single international identity and a single citizenship.

The Turkish Cypriot side insists on state to state negotiations, demanding international recognition of its self declared regime in Turkish occupied Cyprus and calls for the withdrawal of Cyprus' application for membership of the European Union.

Referring to the anticipated UN initiative, President Clerides said he has "reassurances that the UN will insist and proceed with the talks", which is to take place around the end of October or early November.

Replying to questions, President Clerides said that it is the Greek Cypriot side that requested that all issues be on the negotiating table, adding that this means "all aspects" of the problem.

He said that "all aspects" does not include the Turkish demand for confederation because "it is not in the UN resolutions".

Asked if the international community was prepared to help move the Turkish side away from its intransigent views, the President said "the US and Britain reassured me through their ambassadors that they had pointed out to Turkish Cypriot leader, Rauf Denktash, and Turkey that they must forget the issue of recognition".

He said he received assurances that the secessionist regime in the Turkish-occupied areas, unilaterally declared in 1983 and recognised only by Turkey, "will not be recognised" and that the Turkish Cypriot side must take part in "talks based on the provisions of the UN resolutions".

Referring to Cyprus' EU accession course, President Clerides said that it is common knowledge in Europe that Cyprus is ahead of the other six candidate countries, currently negotiating with the Union.

He also said that Cyprus can enter the EU prior to finding a solution to the political problem.

CNA EC/RG/MM/1999

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

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