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Cyprus PIO: News Update in English, 98-03-04Cyprus 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 UpdateWednesday, 04/03/98CONTENTS[01] EU Commissioner in Cyprus for talksThe European Union's External Relations Commissioner, Hans Van den Broek, arrives in Cyprus this evening for a three-day visit to the island.The EU Commissioner will have meetings tomorrow with President Glafcos Clerides, with former President of the Republic George Vassiliou, who will head Cyprus' delegation in the accession talks with the EU, and with Foreign Minister Ioannis Kasoulides. On Friday morning Van den Broek will meet with the ambassadors of EU member- states accredited to Cyprus and give a press conference at the Ledra Palace hotel, in the Nicosia UN-controlled buffer zone, before leaving. Britain's Representative for Cyprus, Sir David Hannay, who is also the Representative of the European Union presidency for Cyprus, will also be arriving today, his second visit to the island in a week, in order to accompany Mr Van den Broek. Yesterday a spokesman for the European Commission delegation in Cyprus said that Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash had refused to meet with Van den Broek. Last week, Denktash had also refused to meet with Sir David during his two- day visit to the island for talks with the Cyprus government and the Turkish Cypriot side. [02] President Clerides to visit Athens and LondonCyprus President Glafcos Clerides, will visit Athens on 9 March from where he will travel to London to participate in the European Conference on March 12.In the Greek capital, Clerides will hold talks with Prime Minister, Costas Simitis, members of the cabinet and party leaders. The Cyprus problem and the island's bid to become a full member of the European Union, in view of the start of membership talks end of March, are expected to be high on the agenda. [03] "Euro-Med Net '98" conferenceThe role of Internet and the World Wide Web in the development of the Euro- Mediterranean society will be the subject of a conference entitled "Euro- Med Net '98" which starts in Nicosia today.Communications and Works Minister, Leontios Ierodiaconou, will declare the opening which will be addressed by a representative of the presidency of the European Union and the Director-General of the DG III Directorate of the European Commission, Stefano Micossi. More than 300 delegates from European and Mediterranean countries will attend a presentation on latest technology and developments in the Euro- Mediterranean region. There will also be a display of high speed Internet connections via satellite and a host of European companies will present the latest achievements in the field of communication networks. Those who will not attend will be able to watch the conference live through web casting, satellite connection and a huge screen at the University of Cyprus. The conference will have its own web site: . The conference will be held under the aegis of the University of Cyprus' Computer Department. [04] Cyprus condemns destruction in occupied areasCyprus has protested to the Council of Europe (CoE) about the recent destruction of its cultural and religious heritage in the Turkish- occupied areas of the island.In a letter to the Council's General Secretary, Daniel Tarschys, Cyprus' Permanent Representative to the CoE, Thalia Petrides, denounced the conversion into a hotel of the Armenian monastery of "Saint Makar" situated in the northern mountain range of Pentadaktylos, an area currently under Turkish military occupation. The Cypriot diplomat also protested the desecration of Greek Orthodox churches and cemeteries, pointing out that many churches have been converted into mosques, museums or cultural centres, and provided Tarschys with relevant photographs. [05] Cyprus presides UN Asiatic groupCyprus will this month preside over the 50-member UN Asiatic group of countries, it was officially announced yesterday.The group usually deals with UN election issues and the candidacies placed for the organisation's bodies and organs. Cyprus' Permanent Representative to the UN, Sotos Zakheos, in his capacity as president of the Asiatic group, will this month undertake consultations regarding the group's position on the enlargement of the Security Council. [06] Round table meeting on CyprusA two-day round table meeting between Greeks, Turks, and Greek and Turkish Cypriots, organised by the European Parliament's Green political group, ended in Brussels yesterday.According to the organisers, the meeting aimed at helping efforts for rapprochement between the Greek and Turkish Cypriot communities on the island. The meeting focused on the various aspects of the Cyprus problem and the island's European Union accession course. 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 |