Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 06-04-06

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

CONTENTS

[01] DE-MINING DEMONSTRATION

[02] MOLLER - PARTIES

[03] BAKOYIANNIS - IACOVOU

[04] US SECRETARY OF STATE - CYPRUS QUESTION

[01] DE-MINING DEMONSTRATION

Moller was speaking at a Mine Awareness De-mining Demonstration in the buffer zone in Nicosia, organised by the UN Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP) on the occasion of the International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action, in cooperation with the Mine Action Centre (MAC) in Cyprus.

In the framework of the event, a de-mining demonstration was held in the presence of Moller, the UNFICYP leadership, ambassadors and representatives of foreign diplomatic missions in Cyprus, Head of the European Commission Representation in Nicosia Themis Themistocleous, leaders and representatives of Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot political parties, and reporters from both communities.

Moller said that ``now we must focus on the remaining minefields both inside and outside the buffer zone`` but noted that ``ridding the buffer zone of mines will take an estimated 6 million euros more, while a further 5 million euros is required to achieve the ultimate goal of a mine-free Cyprus.``

During the demonstration, Michael Raine, Programme Manager for the Partnership for the Future (PFF)-MAC said the EU had funded this programme with 4 million euros for 2004-2006, Canada with 250,000 US dollars and Slovenia with 25,000 US dollars.

The project is being carried out by the UN Development Programme (UNDP) and is carried out by the UN Office for Project Services (UNOPS) with the technical support of the UN Mine Action Centre and the operational facilities of UNFICYP.

A total of 31 staff are involved in the de-mining process, which began on 18 November 2004 with National Guard minefields, the clearing of which was completed in July 2005.

Regarding the Turkish forces` minefields, MAC said the clearing operation began in August 2005 and so far a total of 1,336 antitank mines and 982 antipersonnel mines have been retrieved and destroyed, with a total of 900,741 square metres of land freed from mines.

Areas cleared include Nicosia, Kaimakli, Kokkinokremmos, Dhenia, Ayios Dhometios, Kato Pyrgos, Lefka, Zodhia, Skouriotissa and Omorphita.

Referring to the first-ever International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action, Moller said ``it marked the launch of a new international initiative to help sustain efforts to end the scourge of landmines and it also aims to make more countries, Cyprus included, mine-free.``

He added that ``there is a clear message that must be heard, that landmines have no place in any civilized society`` and expressed hope that today`s demonstration of de-mining techniques ``will help spur an even more determined effort on the part of both communities to rid the island completely of its lethal landmine heritage.``

"A world without landmines, once seen as requiring decades to achieve, can now be attained in years. Certainly, this is true for Cyprus,`` he noted.

Moller said that in November 2004 de-mining began in a National Guard minefield in the buffer zone and ``to date, 20 of the buffer zone`s 48 minefields have been cleared and more than 900,000 square metres have been cleared for return to normal use.``

``In the process, the way has also been cleared for new crossings, enabling the two communities to move about more freely, and opening up new opportunities for trade and commerce,`` he pointed out.

[02] MOLLER - PARTIES

``It was extremely useful for me and I told them that I would be quite pleased to have the opportunity to continue that discussion in the future and I am ready to accept any invitation from them whenever they think it is useful,`` Moller told to journalists after the meeting of political parties from the Greek Cypriot and the Turkish Cypriot Communities.

``I was very pleased to accept invitation today from the leaders of all the parties of both communities. They gave me an opportunity to exchange views with them and to hear their point of view and on the way forward in Cyprus,`` Moller said.

Asked if the decision for technical committees was raised, Moller said they ``talked about all the issues, but the discussion was how to move forward on the Cyprus problem in a manner that is acceptable to both sides and in a manner that will ensure that we have a successful end of the day.``

``I am not going to comment on individual issues we have discussed if you dont mind, because we are still on the process of getting the two sides to agree on how we move forward,`` he stated.

[03] BAKOYIANNIS - IACOVOU

She was speaking after talks here Wednesday with her Cypriot counterpart George Iacovou, where she added that the new momentum on Cyprus should be supported so the new opportunity is not lost.

Welcoming Bakoyiannis, Iacovou said that we have come to the common conclusion that after the Paris meeting between President Papadopoulos and UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, a new climate prevails and there is an expectation from many capitals that there will soon be developments.

[04] US SECRETARY OF STATE - CYPRUS QUESTION

Replying to a question before the Foreign Operations, Export Financing and Related Subcommittee of the House Appropriations Committee by Representative Steven Rothman why the US has zeroed out funding the United Nations Peacekeeping force in Cyprus in the presidents 2007 budget, Rice said we have not provided funding for the peacekeeping force, adding that if it remains needed, we`ll find a way to deal with its needs.

Rice said she did not think anybody could misinterpret U.S. interest in Cyprus or a Cyprus settlement.

During the time of the Annan plan, the United States all the way to the level of the president worked tirelessly to try and get that plan accepted. We believe that it was a good compromise for both sides. We recognize that the Greek Cypriots did not agree, and they voted it down. But we`re back at it. We`ve -- we`re working again very hard to see if we can help narrow the differences, he added.

She noted that she talked with the Greek Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyiannis when she was in the US, just last week, about this exact problem.

And so I don`t think anybody can say that the United States is not totally devoted to trying to find a Cyprus settlement. We are, she added

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