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Cyprus News Agency 96-06-21.Cyprus News Agency Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: Giorgos Zacharia <lysi@MIT.EDU>CONTENTS
1330:CYPPRESS:01[01] Turkish fighters launch mock attacks in occupied CyprusNicosia, Jun 21 (CNA) -- Two Turkish fighters launched mock attacks in the Turkish-occupied part of Cyprus today as part of the Turkish military exercise code-named ''Toros''.The Cyprus government and the UN peace-keeping force in Cyprus (UNFICYP) have strongly protested against the Turkish provocative acts. The government was protesting to the United Nations and foreign governments over the violation of the Republic's air-space. UNFICYP was protesting against the violation of the UN-controlled buffer zone across the island by the Turkish fighters. CNA GP/1996ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY1415:CYPPRESS:02[02] Turkish warplanes fly over NicosiaNicosia, Jun 21 (CNA) -- Residents of Nicosia, the world's only divided capital, witnessed today low flights by Turkish war planes, taking part in Turkish military exercises that have been going on since last Monday.The Turkish planes fired their guns at mock targets in the Turkish-occupied northern part of the island and have caused alarm among Cypriots in the free areas of the Republic. The flight of the Turkish warplanes has been confirmed by a UN spokesman on the island, who according to ''Reuters'' news agency, he said ''this matter has been strongly protested.'' Waldemar Rokoszewski, Spokesman for the UN Peace-keeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP), was quoted as saying that the Turkish fighters overflew the UN-controlled buffer zone twice. The Cyprus government was making strong representations to the UN and foreign governments against the new Turkish provocative acts. According to Turkish sources two F4 fighters took part in today's military exercises code-named ''Toros '96''. The Turkish planes launched mock attacks in the area between Pentadaktylos mountain and the illegal airport of Tympou (Ercan) in the Turkish-occupied part of Cyprus. According to the Turkish Cypriot press two Turkish F16 jets launched similar attacks yesterday, in an area northeast of Nicosia. CNA MCH/GP/1996ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY1500:CYPPRESS:03[03] Cyprus to become EU member soonFlorence, Jun 21 (CNA) -- Cyprus Government Spokesman Yiannakis Cassoulides has expressed the conviction that Cyprus will soon become a full member of the European Union.Speaking here last night during a working dinner for journalists accredited to the European Union summit, Cassoulides analysed the Cyprus positions regarding the island's relations with the EU. He emphasised on Cyprus' accession course and the Cyprus problem. Cassoulides said the Cyprus government has a clear, European perspective and is intensely and methodically working to fully harmonise the Cyprus legislation with the acquis communautaire. The Spokesman expressed the conviction that very soon, Cyprus will become a full EU member. ''During the next enlargement, we shall become members of the Union and we shall be in a position to actively contribute to all European matters'', the Cypriot official added. Cassoulides is accompanying Cyprus President Glafcos Clerides who arrived yesterday in Florence to attend a working lunch tomorrow hosted by the President of the EU Council, Italian President Romano Prodl. President Clerides will attend a working lunch tomorrow together with the leaders of the 15 EU member-states and the leaders of the applicant countries in central and eastern Europe, the Baltic and Malta. The Foreign Ministers of those countries will attend a separate working lunch. Later Saturday, the leaders and the Foreign Ministers of the member-states and of the applicant countries will attend a working meeting. Cyprus has been divided since 1974 when Turkish troops invaded and occupied 37 per cent of the island's territory. The island applied for full EU membership in 1990. It signed an association agreement with the European Community in 1972 and a customs union agreement in 1987. CNA EC/GP/1996ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY1515:CYPPRESS:04[04] Cyprus makes representations against flight of Turkish planesNicosia, Jun 21 (CNA) -- The Cyprus government has made strong representations to international organisations against the flight of Turkish warplanes over the island today.Defence Minister Costas Eliades said the flights of the Turkish warplanes were part of the illegal Turkish military exercise, code-named ''Toros'' (Taurus). The Turkish planes flew over the cease-fire line in the island's divided capital Nicosia. The Minister said in one case the Turkish fighters crossed about 300 metres into the free areas of the Republic. He did however add that there is no cause for alarm and stressed that both the political and military authorities of the Republic were taking the necessary measures. CNA MCH/GP/1996ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY1630:CYPPRESS:05[05] Rolandis re-states decision to stand for UN Chief postNicosia, Jun 21 (CNA) -- Nicos Rolandis, former Minister of Foreign Affairs and leader of the Liberal Party, has reaffirmed his decision to stand as a candidate for the position of UN Secretary-General, a position held at present by Boutros Boutros-Ghali.Boutros-Ghali, who has decided to run for a second term, is not favoured by the US, but according to the Deputy Spokesman for the UN Secretary-General, Ahmad Fawzi, Boutros-Ghali has received strong encouragement by member states of the UN. In a statement he made yesterday, Rolandis repeated his decision to put his name forward for the position, if the Cyprus government reiterates its support towards his application. Rolandis also said that he will be discussing the matter with the President of the Republic, Glafcos Clerides, when the latter returns from the European Union summit. Both the governments of Cyprus and Greece had expressed their desire to support Rolandis' candidature, provided that the present UN Chief Boutros Ghali was not to stand again for the post. CNA RG/MCH/1996ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY1750:CYPPRESS:06[06] Green criticises flight of Turkish warplanes over CyprusNicosia, Jun 21 (CNA) -- Euro MP and leader of the Socialist Group at the European Parliament, Pauline Green, strongly criticised the flight of Turkish warplanes over Cyprus today and warned that the Euro-Parliament will withhold European Union (EU) funds for Turkey if its behaviour does not change.Speaking to London Greek Radio (LGR) from Florence, where she is attending the European Union summit, Green said she heard about the Turkish planes flying over Cyprus and added that ''this cannot be allowed to continue''. Turkish warplanes flew over the ceasefire line in the island's divided capital Nicosia. In one case, the Turkish fighters crossed 300 metres into the free area of the capital. The Cyprus Government has made strong representations to international organisations over the new Turkish provocation. Green also referred to Turkey's territorial claims over Greek islands in the Aegean, and said that ''Turkey is behaving extraordinarily badly'' adding that ''the EU has to stand fast with its partner.'' The south eastern part of the EU should not be ''infringed by an external aggressor. This is quite outrageous what is going on,'' Green stressed. She also said that the Euro Parliament will, in October, withhold the money allocated to Turkey, until it sees ''some progress on the issues that we have raised for Turkey, that is, human rights, democratisation, Cyprus and the Kurdish issue.'' Referring to Cyprus' efforts to join the EU, Green said that ''we (European Parliament), remain absolutely firm that Cyprus will be joining the EU as soon as possible after the Intergovernmental Conference finishes.'' ''That's clearly our position and we maintain it to the bitter end, and will go on and on until the negotiations with Cyprus start'', she stressed, adding that the European Parliament should ''do everything it can to push the Council of the EU to perform a role in trying to support a solution to the Cyprus problem.'' Green also noted that according to Irish Foreign Minister Dick Spring, ''the continuing work on Cyprus, and the early entrance of Cyprus and Malta to the Union was very important for the Irish presidency.'' Ireland is assuming the Presidency of the EU next term. EC/MCH/1996 ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY1925:CYPPRESS:07[07] Di Roberto supports Cyprus' accession to the EUNicosia, Jun 21 (CNA) -- Federico di Roberto, the Italian representative of the European Union presidency, met today in Florence with the President of the Republic Glafcos Clerides, with whom he discussed the contents of his reports on Cyprus.The reports were recently presented to the External Affairs Committee of the European Parliament and the Members of the European Parliament, who are also members of the Joint EU-Cyprus Parliamentary Committee in Strasburg. Di Roberto spoke positively about Cyprus' early accession to the EU and stressed the need for immediate termination of the unacceptable situation in Cyprus. During the meeting, President Clerides and di Roberto discussed the continuation and strengthening of EU involvement in efforts to solve the Cyprus problem. President Clerides briefed di Roberto on the results of his recent tour and the meetings he had with the UN Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali, the US President Bill Clinton and the British Prime Minister John Major. He also expressed his satisfaction about the reports of di Roberto, saying that they are objective and present the real situation. CNA RG/MCH/1996ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCYCyprus News Agency Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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