Cyprus PIO: News Update in English, 96-09-23

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From: The Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office Server at <http://www.pio.gov.cy/>

News Update

23/9/96

CONTENTS

• [01] Clerides says talks on Cyprus must be productive when they begin
• [02] Cyprus signs Council of Europe Convention on participation of foreign nationals in public life at a local level
• [03] Turkey asked to explain how she reconciles her "peace" policy in Cyprus with her acts of violence
• [04] Ottelo's Premier
• [05] Cyprus TV programmes to continue to beam in Europe

[01] Clerides says talks on Cyprus must be productive when they begin

Replying to questions before his departure President Clerides said that a dialogue on the Cyprus problem must be productive. "I wish to make it clear that we are actively seeking a solution through negotiations, but negotiations which are substantive" he stressed.

President Clerides underlined that there must be convergence of positions on the basic issues of the Cyprus problem before negotiations begin, so the dialogue is not a repeation of past failures. Common ground has to be found before the talks start, he said and added that what constitutes common ground will be decided by the National Council.

Mr Clerides appealed to those parties wishing to help reach a solution to direct their attention to Ankara because without a change in Turkey's approach to the Cyprus problem any kind of talks are doomed to failure.

He also pointed out that a possible failure of future negotiations will create far more tension on the island than the lack of a negotiating process does now.

[02] Cyprus signs Council of Europe Convention on participation of foreign nationals in public life at a local level

So far the Convention has been signed by only six European Countries and ratified by three.

[03] Turkey asked to explain how she reconciles her "peace" policy in Cyprus with her acts of violence

Perhaps the Turkish government can also explain how it perceives cooperation with the United Nations when it orders its occupying troops in Cyprus to fire on members of the UN Peacekeeping Force (UNFICYP) on the island, Mr Anastasiades added.

The Cypriot deputy was referring to the incidents on 11 and 14 August when two Greek Cypriots were murdered by members of the ultra nationalist Turkish Grey Wolves organisation. Three thousand Grey Wolves were especially brought over from Turkey with government funds to execute a premeditated plan of attack against unarmed demonstrators. Many Greek Cypriots and UNFICYP soldiers were also injured.

[04] Ottelo's Premier

The production has been described as one of the most important cultural events on the island, drawing three thousand people from Cyprus and abroad.

The opera featured a star cast, with Italian Soprano Katia Ricciarelli leading as Desdemone and tenor Carlo Cossutta as Ottelo. The cast also included Cypriot singers.

The well-known German orchestra Philarmonia Hungarica was conducted by Anton Guadagno and Swiss-born Rudolf Sauser was producer and director.

[05] Cyprus TV programmes to continue to beam in Europe

The Ministry of Interior has been asked to secure a transponder on the same satellite which transmits the TV programmes of ERT (Greek state TV) so that the Greek and Cypriot communities in Europe can receive the programmes using the same aerial as before.

From the Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office (PIO) Server at http://www.pio.gov.cy/

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