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Cyprus PIO: News Update in English, 98-01-23Cyprus 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 UpdateFriday, 23/01/98CONTENTS[01] Information on graves of missing persons to be exchangedRepresentatives from the Greek and Turkish Cypriot communities are meeting on Friday, 23.1.98, to exchange detailed information, for the first time, about the missing persons. Some 1619 Greeks are missing since the 1974 Turkish invasion and the Turkish side lists 500 people missing in the 1963- 67 period.The meeting i‘ the result of a humanitarian agreement reached in July 1997 between President Glafcos Clerides and Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash, stipulating that the sides will "provide each other immediately and simultaneously all information already €’ their disposal on the location of graves of Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot missing persons". On Thursday, 22.1.98, President Glafcos Clerides told the Committees of Relatives of the Missing that UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan has decided on the appointment of a third member of the Tripartite Red Cross Committee for Missing persons. The name of the third member, reported to be a veteran Swiss diplomat, is expected to be made public shortly. Paul Wurth, the previous UN-appointed member of the CMP, resigned nearly three years ago over the lack of progress on the issue. [02] Finance Minister meets Anatoly ChubaisCyprus Finance Minister Christodoulos Christodoulou had a meeting with Russian Federation's First Vice President Anatoly Chubais in Moscow on 22.1.98. There was an exchange of views on bilateral issues and discussion on ways to promote relationships.The Cypriot Minister visited Russia leading a delegation for meetings of the joint inter-governmental Committee on Economic Co-operation. [03] Resolution on Cyprus at Australian Labour Party ConferenceThe Labour Party of Australia has adopted a strong resolution on Cyprus during its 41st National Conference.The resolution says that the Party "deplores the fact that more than twenty three years after the 1974 Turkish invasion of northern Cyprus, Cyprus remains artificially and tragically divided, and recognised the great humanitarian cost this continued division imposes on the communities of the island". Using direct and strong language the resolution "condemns the continued presence of foreign armed forces" and calls for "the withdrawal of all foreign troops and settlers from the Republic of Cyprus". It also calls for "the repeal of the secessionist declaration" of the so-called Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus". It support "calls for total demilitarisation of the Republic of Cyprus. It calls upon all concerned parties to resolve the Cyprus problem in a way which would guarantee to all Cypriot people the three freedoms of movement, settlement and ownership; ensure the right of refugees to return to their homelands in safety, and establish a unified independent and non-aligned Cyprus;" The Australian Labour Party also "calls for urgent investigation for the fate of missing persons. It calls on the Australian Government to use its influence to have the relevant General Assembly and Security Council resolutions effectively implemented, including Security Council resolutions 939 (1994), 550 (1984) and 541 (1983)". It stresses that "Labour views positively the prospects of Cyprus joining the European Community which offers potential benefits for the economic development and security of the whole island and the opportunity to bring the communities in Cyprus closer together". It also "calls on the international community to take urgent action to overcome the deadlock in negotiations to restore justice for Cyprus and to bring about a long-term resolution to the Cyprus problem". [04] New Australian High Commissioner presents credentialsPresident Glafcos Clerides received the credentials of Australia's new High Commissioner to Cyprus, Mr Howard Graig Brown on Thursday 22.1.98. Addressing the President, Mr Brown said that Australia firmly supports the UN Secretary-General's efforts for a just and viable solution to the Cyprus problem.He said the deployment of Australian police during the past 30 years in the UN Peacekeeping Force "underlines Australia's commitment to realise this objective". "A dominant element in the bilateral relationship are the thousands of Cypriots and people of Cypriot descent in Australia who are making an important contribution to Australia's development in many fields", Mr Brown added. [05] New Swiss Ambassador in CyprusPresenting his credentials on 22.1.98 to President Glafcos Clerides, Switzerland's new Ambassador to Cyprus Mr Jurg Streuli, expressed his country's readiness to offer its help and good offices in efforts to solve the Cyprus problem."Switzerland follows with great attention the issue of the division of Cyprus. We were particularly pleased to host the Glion meeting and I can assure you that you can count on us in the future should our help and good offices be needed", Ambassador Streuli said. He pointed out that about 100 thousand Swiss visited Cyprus last year, around 20 Cypriot students attend hotel management schools in Switzerland every year and Swiss students are involved in two archaeological excavations here. Receiving the credentials, president Clerides expressed appreciation for Switzerland's interest and understanding in the Cyprus problem, which, he said was reflected in the hosting of the second round of talks. He added that despite the fact that the Turkish side remains intransigent in efforts to settle the Cyprus problem, the government remains committed to uniting the country through peaceful negotiations. 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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