Cyprus News Agency: News in English (AM), 99-07-24

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

CONTENTS

[01] Greek-Americans - Fact-finding mission

[02] House President - Italian President

[03] AKEL - Card - Cyprus problem

1105:CYPPRESS:01

[01] Greek-Americans - Fact-finding mission

The Coalition delegation will meet representatives of the two governments and other organisations and will also seek to meet Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash.

The delegation, lead by Rhode Island State Senator Leonidas Raptakis, Connecticut State Representative Demetrios Giannaros and New Hampshire State Representative William Tsiros, is scheduled to arrive in Athens on July 26 and depart for Cyprus the same day. It will return to Greece on July 29.

According to a press release from Raptakis' office the delegation will have meetings with Cypriot and Greek government officials, representatives of organisations of families of persons missing since the 1974 Turkish invasion of Cyprus and representatives of the US embassies in the two countries.

"With the exciting changes going on in Europe, I hope there will be a renewed effort to find a peaceful settlement to the Cyprus problem," Raptakis said.

He added that "the Hellenic-American Coalition of New England is committed to that end and this visit will give us a first-hand look at the current circumstances."

In a "position paper" issued prior to the delegation's departure, on behalf of the Coalition, Raptakis says "after 25 years of Turkish occupation and diplomatic tension over the status of Cyprus, the approach of the new millennium offers the Greek and Turkish governments and the nations of Europe with a unique opportunity to address this long-standing problem."

CNA MA/AA/1999

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1210:CYPPRESS:02

[02] House President - Italian President

In a meeting yesterday with Cyprus House of Representatives President Spyros Kyprianou, the Italian President said his country supports the EU's enlargement so that all countries of the region are included.

Ciampi also welcomed close cooperation between the parliaments of the two countries on both the bilateral level and within the Euro- Meditterranean cooperation process which aims at achieving peace and stability in the region.

According to an official announcement issued today, Kyprianou briefed the Italian President on latest developments in the protracted Cyprus problem as well as the Republic's EU accession course which opened last year.

He said that despite the good-will shown by the Greek Cypriot side in efforts to reach a settlement, the Turkish Cypriot side continues to be intransigent and keeps putting forward new conditions.

Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash has been refusing to participate in peace talks unless the illegal regime unilaterally set up in the areas of Cyprus occupied by Turkey in 1974 is recognised.

He also demands that the negotiations aim at establishing a "confederation of two states", a condition rejected by the UN, the Cyprus government and key players in the Cyprus peace process as it is contrary to UN resolutions stipulating for a bizonal, bicommunal federation.

The House President told Ciampi that Turkish Premier Bulent Ecevit had always claimed his country invaded Cyprus in 1974 to protect the Turkish Cypriots and restore constitutional order, but during his recent illegal visit to Cyprus, 25 years on, he claimed the Cyprus problem was solved in 1974.

Kyprianou ended his official visit to Italy and will fly to Athens later today.

CNA MA/AA/1999

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1315:CYPPRESS:03

[03] AKEL - Card - Cyprus problem

The card features a painting of three women clad in black holding photographs of their loved ones who have been missing since the Turkish invasion.

Some 1619 Greek Cypriot were listed as missing in the aftermath of the Turkish invasion.

AKEL calls on all foreign personalities to demand the verification of the fate of the missing persons and the safeguarding of the human rights of around 500 Greek Cypriots and Maronites who have remained in the Turkish occupied areas.

It also asks them to support the struggle of the Cypriot people for a just, peaceful and viable solution on their island, on the basis of UN principles and resolutions.

The card was also sent to UN Commissioner for Human Rights, national Parliaments of several countries, members of the European Parliament, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe and foreign political parties.

CNA RM/MA/1999

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

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