Cyprus PIO: News Update in English, 98-12-09

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

Wednesday, 9 December 1998

CONTENTS

• [01] President Clerides to attend Vienna meeting of Heads of State and Government
• [02] The best security for Cyprus lies in efforts for a political solution

[01] President Clerides to attend Vienna meeting of Heads of State and Government

The meeting will take place on Saturday December 12 on the sidelines of the Vienna European Council (11-13 December).

Speaking before his departure at Larnaca airport, President Clerides said that in Vienna he will take part in the European Peoples Party Congress as well as in the meeting of the Heads of State and Government of the eleven EU candidate countries

"During the meeting, we will be briefed on the decisions taken by the Heads of EU member states on the accession course of all candidate countries and we will exchange views on that matter", President Clerides added.

President Clerides will return to Cyprus on Sunday 13 December.

[02] The best security for Cyprus lies in efforts for a political solution

Speaking yesterday at the close of his brief visit to the island, Rantzau said that "Even if there were a threat, we would feel that the deployment of the missiles would not enhance the security situation because the missiles could not defend Cyprus, if anybody wanted to attack the Republic."

His idea of the best security Cyprus could have lies "in the best possible relations all round and a constant attempt to come to a political solution on the island."

The German envoy also said he finds it "very likely that the deployment of the missiles will change the environment of the negotiations that Cyprus is conducting with the EU".

Rantzau indirectly backed a proposal by President Glafcos Clerides for the demilitarisation of Cyprus, saying that" an attack against a demilitarised Cyprus would be such a great violation of international law, that the international community would come to its defence".

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

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