CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY, 96-05-31

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From: Panayiotis Zaphiris <pzaphiri@glue.umd.edu>

CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY, 96-05-31

CONTENTS

[01] US SUPPORTS CYPRUS; ENTRY INTO EU

[02] BRITAIN: NO COUNTRY HAS VETO ON CYPRUS' ACCESSION TO EU

[03] CLERIDES DENIES AGREEMENT ON CYPRUS PROBLEM

[04] EVANGELOU RETURNS TO MINISTERIAL POST

[05] FRANCE READY TO ASSIST EFFORTS FOR CYPRUS SOLUTION

[06] FULL PRESIDENTIAL BACKING FOR HOUSE ACTING PRESIDENT

[07] UNESCO SEMINAR IN CYPRUS

[08] BRITISH WOMAN IN CUSTODY

1040:CYPPRESS:01

[01] US supports Cyprus' entry into EU

This was implied by White House Spokesman David Johnson, during a news briefing at the Foreign Press Centre in Washington.

Replying to a question, Johnson stated: ''I think that in many instances we believe that a membership in a broader international group can sometimes be stabilising an influence, and that is an issue in terms of expanding the community of Western Nations to the East, we are talking about those who were members of the former Warsaw Pact, of former neutral states in the EU and perhaps eventually to NATO. Those types of things can be stabilizing an influence''.

Responding to a comment that this constitutes a shift of the US policy on the issue of Cyprus' accession to the EU, Johnson said.

''I wouldn't necessarily see that would be something that would be a radical change for us, once what we've been trying is to encourage states to meet the needs and requirements of organisations like the EU, because it tends to bring stability in the economy, in the society, when we become members of those types of groups''.

The White House Spokesman was also asked if there is any difference between the US and UN policy on the Cyprus problem.

He said ''our interest in Cyprus is enduring, it's gone on for a number of years. I anticipate that we will do everything we can to try to help the people of Cyprus and people in the area to try to find a peaceful solution to this situation which we believe is going on much too long.''

He added that he could not point in the direction of a particular new change in the US policy, which would take place in the near future.

''It is clearly something that we will continue to give a great deal of attention to. We've worked with the UN in the past and intend to in the future,'' he said.

The Spokesman added ''I am not sure whether our view will all the time be identical but we believe that the UN is being a force of stability in the area. We intend to work with great effort".

Regarding the agenda of the White House meeting between US President Bill Clinton and Cyprus President Glafcos Clerides on June 18, the Spokesman said it has not been formed yet.

CNA DA/GP/1996

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1120:CYPPRESS:02

[02] Britain: No country has veto on Cyprus' accession to EU

At the same time, it has indicated that it will be easier if progress was achieved in the Cyprus peace talks.

The British position was set out by the country's Foreign Secretary Malcolm Rifkind, during his visit to Washington. The Cyprus problem was among the issues he discussed with US officials.

Asked by CNA on Britain's position on Cyprus' accession to the EU, irrespective of a solution to the Cyprus problem, Rifkind said:

''We believe that the negotiations of Cyprus' membership to the EU should begin after the end of the Intergovernmental Conference. We want these negotiations to succeed. The negotiations will certainly be a lot easier if there is progress on the dispute between Greek and Turkish Cypriots. But no country can have veto on whether Cyprus joins the EU or not. That's what the negotiations itself will determine''.

The British Foreign Secretary expressed the hope that the negotiations would succeed on complex issues... ''I know that the negotiations would be a lot easier if Cyprus ceases to be a divided island''.

Cyprus has been divided since 1974 when Turkish troops invaded and occupied 37 per cent of its territory.

Britain together with Greece and Turkey were the guarantor powers of Cyprus' independence.

In July 1990, Cyprus applied for full membership of the European Community. It signed an association agreement in 1972 and a customs union agreement in 1987.

CNA DA/GP/1996

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1350:CYPPRESS:03

[03] Clerides denies agreement on Cyprus problem

President Clerides was commenting on a statement made earlier by US Ambassador to the island, Richard Boucher, that there is agreement between the two sides on many aspects of the Cyprus problem even if a final solution has not yet been reached.

Referring to specific issues, President Clerides said there has been no agreement concerning the issue of security, noting that even though Turkey accepts his proposal for an international force on the island it still insists on the preservation of guarantees and its right of intervention.

There is also disagreement regarding territorial adjustments, he said, as the Turks demand 29 (plus) per cent of the island's territory while the Greek Cypriot side is proposing 24 per cent, President Clerides noted.

He also referred to differences of opinion between the two sides regarding Cyprus' accession to the European Union (EU). ''Turkey has not yet said whether it accepts Cyprus' accession before Turkey becomes a member'', he said.

Earlier today, US Ambassador to the island asked to comment on a remark he made in a speech at the Cyprus - American Association yesterday, in which he noted that ''many elements necessary for a comprehensive and peacefully negotiated settlement in Cyprus have already been agreed upon'', said ''it is true that many concepts have been agreed.''

''The two parties have signed high-level agreements which designate a bi-communal, bi-zonal federation, talked about territorial adjustment, talked about many other aspects of the settlement'', he said.

Boucher noted that ''the two sides have basically accepted a series of UN resolutions'' but added that ''obviously we do not have an agreement, we do not have all the details worked out, and many important aspects and details of these concepts have not been agreed.''

The US Ambassador said he met President Clerides to discuss his visit to Washington scheduled for the second week of June and to introduce to him Diana Ohlaun of Senator Paul Sarbanis' bureau, who is currently visiting the island.

CNA MCH/GP/1996

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1355:CYPPRESS:04

[04] Evangelou returns to ministerial post

He gave today the prescribed affirmation before the President of the Republic Glafcos Clerides.

Evangelou thanked the President for his re-appointment, saying that he will try his best to be worthy of the trust bestowed upon him.

President Clerides also thanked caretaker Justice and Public Order Minister George Stavrinakis, for his services during the pre-election period. Stavrinakis assumed office on May 2, 1996.

Answering questions, President Clerides said a new Police Chief will be appointed on June 4, after the retirement of the present Chief, Andreas Potamaris. He refrained, however, to name the new Chief of Police.

CNA MCH/GP/1996

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1430:CYPPRESS:05

[05] France ready to assist efforts for Cyprus solution

De Charette had a meeting yesterday in Paris with his Cypriot counterpart Alecos Michaelides.

According to an official press release issued here, the French Minister stressed the need for a solution to the Cyprus problem and agreed with his Cypriot counterpart that the European Union (EU) can and should play an important part in this direction.

He also expressed his country's wish to provide effective assistance to efforts towards a settlement of the Cyprus problem.

Michaelides and de Charette discussed recent developments in the Cyprus problem as well as the island's relations with the EU and France.

Special emphasis was given on ways in which the EU could assist efforts towards a solution of the Cyprus problem.

The Cypriot Minister will attend a cultural evening today in Paris dedicated to Cyprus, entitled ''Cyprus is Europe''. Also in the French capital is Cyprus' Government Spokesman Yiannakis Cassoulides.

Famous Greek singers George Dalaras and Georges Moustaki and the island's sing and dance cultural group ''diastasis'' will participate in the event, which will be directed by Costas Gavras.

Michaelides returns to Cyprus Saturday afternoon.

CNA MCH/GP/1996

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1625:CYPPRESS:06

[06] Full presidential backing for House Acting President

''We must have somebody to replace the President of the Republic and the House President when both are away,'' he told the press commenting on a suggestion by the ruling coalition of Democratic Rally (Disy) party/the Liberals and Democratic Party (Diko) to appoint an Acting House President.

The suggestion was made after last Sunday's parliamentary elections as the two parties haggled over the House Presidency. The other three parliamentary parties have opposed the idea, saying it was unconstitutional.

''The Constitution provides for either the eldest Greek Cypriot deputy to replace the House President, when the latter is away or unable to carry out his duties, or the deputy Greek Cypriot deputies choose,'' Clerides told the press today.

This has happened in the past when Clerides, as House President, was replaced by another deputy. President Clerides served in this post from 1960 (when the Republic of Cyprus was established) until 1976.

'We have always had a deputy, chosen among the Greek Cypriot deputies, to replace the House President.

The Republic's constitution stipulates that the President of the Republic is replaced by the House President in his absence. It also provides for a Turkish Cypriot Vice President of the Republic who is replaced by a House Vice President, chosen among the Turkish Cypriot deputies.

Clerides also dismissed suggestions by former Cyprus President and newly-elected deputy George Vassiliou that the creation of an Acting House President would serve the interests of the Turkish Cypriot community leader Rauf Denktash.

''The Turkish Cypriots have never had an Acting House President but a Vice President of the House of Representatives,'' Clerides explained.

CNA MM/KPK/1996

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1710:CYPPRESS:07

[07] UNESCO seminar in Cyprus

The IIEP delegation, made up of Gabriel Carron, Kenneth Ross and Ioannis Antoniades, will also assess Cyprus' educational system.

Today, the delegation was received by Minister of Education and Culture Clare Angelidou and met with Ministry officials.

The UNESCO Institute has approved the sum of 46.000 U.S. dollars for the seminar and the assessment the local educational system.

CNA KPK/MM/1996

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1745:CYPPRESS:08

[08] British woman in custody

Police are looking for Garry's accomplice who escaped when Garry was arrested at a local bank earlier this month while trying to get cash with a stolen credit card.

Famagusta District Court heard that Garry visited 26 shops and bank offices where she obtained cash and goods worth 7.000 Cyprus pounds (about 14.000 U.S. dollars). Garry and her female accomplice are suspected of obtaining 25.000 pounds (about 50.000 U.S. dollars) from other shops and bank offices.

The Court heard today that Garry and her friend tried to get 600 Cyprus pounds (about 1.200 U.S. dollars) using a stolen credit card at a bank in Yermasoyia village, off the coastal town of Limmasol.

The clerk, however, suspected foul play and informed the police who arrested Garry.

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