Cyprus PIO: News Update in English, 02-04-19

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

Friday, 19 April 2002

CONTENTS

• [01] House President continues his contacts in USA
• [02] Yiannitsis reiterates Greece's support for Cyprus
• [03] Destruction of Czech arms cache
• [04] Cyprus and Malta sign a cooperation agreement
• [05] Rolandis discusses high technology and tourist relations with India

[01] House President continues his contacts in USA

Speaking to the press after the meeting Mr Christofias said that he availed himself of the opportunity to brief his American counterpart on the recent developments in the Cyprus problem and Cyprus' accession course to the European Union, adding that he requested the US Congress to be actively interested in the promotion of the reunification of the island on the basis of the UN resolutions and the two High Level Agreements.

House President noted that he asked Mr Hastert and other American officials he met with to exert their influence and pressure, so that Turkey and Mr Denktash would change their attitude and show respect for the UN resolutions on Cyprus, in order to open the way immediately for an early solution to the Cyprus problem. I received promises from the US officials that they will take into consideration our appeals and we are looking forward to seeing concrete results, he added.

Mr Christofias also met with the Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs, Mrs Elisabeth Jones. Present at the meeting was the State Department's Special Coordinator for Cyprus, Mr Thomas Weston.

[02] Yiannitsis reiterates Greece's support for Cyprus

Speaking to the press on his arrival, Mr Yiannitsis said that Greece had always been backing Cyprus' efforts for a solution to the Cyprus problem through talks.

He expressed the hope that in a few months, and more specifically during Greece's presidency of the EU, the agreement for the enlargement of the EU with ten new members including Cyprus, would be officially signed.

Invited to comment on a statement by the Turkish Foreign Minister, Mr Cem, according to which the two sides would soon reach an agreement on the Cyprus problem, and whether he shared Mr Cem's optimism, Mr Yiannitsis said that Greece was following closely the talks on the Cyprus problem and expressed his country's support and absolute trust to President Clerides. Developments so far do not justify any optimism, Mr Yiannitisis remarked.

[03] Destruction of Czech arms cache

An official press release says that the stockpile of about 4.500 small arms consists of automatic rifles, machine pistols , heavy machine guns and mortars, which were originally imported to Cyprus in January 1972 along with ammunition.

Following another agreement between the Cyprus Government and UNFICYP the ammunition was destroyed between September 1999 and March 2000, the official release adds.

The Government of Cyprus has suggested from the outset the donation of these arms to the United Nations, in order to utilize them the way it wanted. Moreover it proposed the selling of these arms and the receipts to be utilized by the UN for financing a peacekeeping operation or a humanitarian project.

Although the UN expressed contentment for Cyprus' offer it had recommended that the guns be destroyed in accordance with the UN Declaration on Small Arms. Finally the Cyprus Government decided to destroy the arms, taking into consideration the Government's commitment to the UN policy on disarmament.

The Cyprus Government considers that its decision, which also has a symbolic dimension, will have a positive effect on the political climate in Cyprus with beneficial repercussions on the procedure of the talks under way for a solution to the Cyprus problem, the official press release concludes.

[04] Cyprus and Malta sign a cooperation agreement

Speaking to the press at the signing ceremony, Mr Christodoulou said the agreement outlines the framework of the cooperation between the two countries in the fields of local government, in the application of information and communications technologies and in modernising of service delivery. The agreement will enhance the excellent cooperation of Cyprus with Malta, Mr Christodoulou pointed out.

The Maltese Minister, who is paying a three-day official visit to Cyprus, said that Cyprus and Malta, both candidate countries for EU membership, share common history and values and he expressed the hope that bilateral relations would improve further.

Referring to the Cyprus problem, Dr Gatt said that Malta has always been fully supporting Cyprus Government's position on the Cyprus problem and that the Turkish occupation should terminate. Together with Cyprus,we shall support these positions within the European Union, the Maltese Minister concluded.

Moreover Dr Gatt had separate meetings with the President of the Republic, Mr Glafcos Clerides, and the Minister of Justice and Public Order, Mr Nicos Koshis.

The meeting with Mr Koshis focused on the problem of drugs and the measures to be taken for tackling this problem as well as on the harmonisation process of the two countries with the acquis communautaire.

[05] Rolandis discusses high technology and tourist relations with India

Mr Rolandis, currently on an official visit to India at the invitation of the Minister of Communications and Information Mr Pramod Mahajan, reiterates President Clerides' invitation to the Indian Prime Minister to visit Cyprus. Mr Vajpayee postponed his visit to the island last September because of the terrorist acts in New York on 11 September 2001 and said that he looked forward to visiting Cyprus in due course.

At his meeting with Mr Mahajan, Mr Rolandis discussed potential cooperation in the high technology sector and exchanged views on the promotion of signing a bilateral agreement as soon as possible.

Moreover the Cypriot Minister met with the Indian Minister of Tourism Mr Jagmohan and discussed with him ways of developing tourist relations between the two countries. Mr Rolandis suggested the establishment of direct flights between Cyprus and India, which, as he pointed out, would contribute to the enhancing of the tourist and trade relations between the two countries.

Mr Rolandis also visited some high technology centres and institutes in Bombay and Bangalore.

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

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