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Cyprus PIO: News Update in English, 97-11-03Cyprus Press and Information Office: News Updates in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office Server at <http://www.pio.gov.cy/>News UpdateMonday, 03/11/97CONTENTS
[01] First Balkan summit to discuss multilateral cooperationGreek Prime Minister Costas Simitis stressed that in the first Balkan summit, starting in the Greek island of Crete today, emphasis should be placed on multilateral cooperation."The central issue of the summit is joint cooperation between the countries of the region", Mr Simitis said yesterday: "We are now on our way to a Balkan community which requires a wider level of cooperation". The fact that the leaders of Balkan states came means the summit is already a success, Mr Simitis said. "It is our common aim to discuss the principles of cooperation and achieve a common perception on closer contacts and cooperation". The two-day summit, brings together leaders and officials from Greece, Turkey, Bosnia, Albania, Romania, Yugoslavia, Bulgaria and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM). During today's afternoon session Mr Simitis will raise the issue of the creation of a Secretariat headquarters in Athens. The political message Greece wishes to send is that being the sole EU member-state in the region it can help in upgrading relations between the other countries and the EU, he said. Moreover, a Greek-Turkish summit is expected to take place this evening on the sidelines of the Balkan summit in which Mr Simitis will meet his Turkish counterpart Mesut Yilmaz. [02] "Anachronistic dispute" with Turkey must be overcome, says Greek Prime MinisterIn an interview to German weekly magazine "Der Spiegel" Greek Prime Minister Costas Simitis commented on Greek-Turkish relations, the accession of Cyprus to the European Union and other foreign policy issues.In the interview published in today's issue, the Premier speaks of the need to overcome the "anachronistic dispute" with Turkey, stating that the fundamental position of the Greek government is "a desire for cooperation", but attributing to Turkey an aggressive foreign policy, non-compatible with European standards. "Our position is clear: We desire cooperation. We are aware that close cooperation between the European Union and Turkey is attainable and we do not wish to bar Ankara from the EU. The fact is that our neighbour Turkey has an aggressive foreign policy. Any country that wishes to cooperate with the EU must accept the European order and the relevant principals", said the Greek leader. Mr Simitis appeared pessimistic about a possible solution to the Cyprus problem, saying that Ankara is not prepared to accept a change of the existing situation that has emerged from the invasion and occupation of the northern part of the island. He said that the only way to achieve progress is for the international community to put pressure on Turkey. "If the United States desire peace in the Eastern Mediterranean, they must be prepared to put pressure on Turkey", he said, stressing the importance of the region as a sea passage for oil exports from central Asia. [03] Van den Broek says Turkey should end occupation in CyprusThe Turkish occupation in Cyprus should end, EU Commissioner for Foreign Affairs Hans Van den Broek said in Ankara last week. Mr Van den Broek made this statement during a dinner in the Turkish capital during which he also asked the Turkish Deputy Chief of Staff General Cevik Bir whether it is the military leadership or the government which dictates Turkish foreign policy.Moreover, after his contacts with Turkish officials, Mr Van den Broek said: "In 1995, the EU decided to launch negotiations on the issue of Cyprus' membership in the EU. Cyprus' membership in the EU should be beneficial for both the Greek Cypriots and the Turkish Cypriots. To secure this, however, serious cooperation with Turkey is necessary". [04] Cyprus and ILO organise seminar on tripartismA seminar on "Tripartism and the Role of Tripartite Bodies in Central and Eastern Europe: An Agenda for the future" is jointly organised by the Cyprus Productivity Centre and the International Labour Organisation (ILO).Bulgaria, Croatia, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, Slovakia and the Ukraine are among the participants in the seminar which opened on 31.10.97 and will close on 6.11.97. Addressing the opening ceremony last Friday, Minister of Labour and Social Insurance Andreas Moushouttas stressed the importance of tripartism regarding Cyprus' policies in the labour and social fields. This was all the more obvious at the hard times following the Turkish invasion of Cyprus in 1974, he said. "Consensus continues to be the predominant feature of our labour administration system and the emphasis of social policy continues to be on social partnership", he added. He also said he hoped the seminar would enable participants to derive the knowledge and skills they need to cope effectively and efficiently with their roles at the present stage of their countries' development. [05] Cyprus hosts interregional training course in Veterinary ScienceMinister of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environment Mr Costas Petrides today opened in Nicosia an Interregional Training Course on the use of nuclear and related techniques for the Determination of Veterinary Residues in Livestock Products.The training seminar which will end on 28 November 1997 is jointly organised by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) and the Department of Veterinary Services of the Cyprus Ministry of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environment. Participants to the seminar come from twenty different countries from all continents and they will be briefed on a monitoring plan for the control of residues in veterinary medicine, which has been successfully implemented in Cyprus. From the Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office (PIO) Server at http://www.pio.gov.cy/Cyprus Press and Information Office: News Updates in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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