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Mr. Drnovsek was received at the Presidential Palace by President Clerides.

Messrs Clerides and Drnovsek held official talks in the presence of the Foreign Ministers of the two countries Messrs Ioannis Kassoulides and Dimitrij Rupel. The Slovenian Prime Minister is scheduled to meet with the Foreign Minister Mr. Ioannis Kassoulides and Cyprus EU Chief Negotiator Mr. George Vassiliou today.

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Mr. Kassoulides said that he had raised the issue with Mr. Bundler concerning the reference in the report that claims that the "Turkish Cypriot economy is handicapped significantly by an economic embargo imposed by the Greek Cypriots."

Mr. Kassoulides explained that "this is a position supported by Turkish Foreign Minister Mr. Ismail Cem and Mr. Denktash and which we do not accept."

He explained that the embargo on the Turkish Cypriot products was imposed by a ruling by the European Court of Justice in Luxembourg, adding that international ports and airports are subject to the control of lawful governments which by virtue of international treaties and conventions regulate trafficking of goods. Mr. Kassoulides however said that he believes there are some improvements to last year's report as there is a more detailed reference to the living conditions of some 600 enclaved Greek Cypriots living in the occupied areas as well as to the Loizidou case.

The report states that "the Turkish Cypriot authorities have taken some steps to improve the conditions of Greek Cypriots and Maronites living in the territory under their control, but the treatment of these groups still falls short of Turkish Cypriot obligations under the Vienna III Agreement of

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[04]

Mr. Kassoulides said the Government had already made a preliminary study of the Campbell report. The report, he added, raised a very serious issue which clashed with the principles of the European Union regarding the protection of private conversation, private correspondence and private communication of whatever kind and by whichever means, particularly today with the modern technological means which are available to states and individuals.

The report showed how this fundamental right of freedom, as envisaged in the constitutions of all the European countries including Cyprus and also in the Council of Europe Convention on Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, was violated, he said.

"Cyprus, which is not a member of the EU but an associate member and which hopes to join the EU within the next few years, will contribute as far as possible to the protection of this inalienable right to personal freedom and will support whatever action the collective organs of the EU will take, beginning with the European Parliament itself", he said.

The report referred to the capacity of the British bases during the 1970/s to gather information through their installations at Ayios Nicholaos from NATO countries, including Greece and Turkey.

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

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