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Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 96-09-21Cyprus News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: "HR-Net News Distribution Manager" <dist@hri.org>CONTENTS
1000:CYPPRESS:01[01] US wish no change in EU-Turkey relationsWashington, Sep 21 (CNA) -- The US expressed hope that the European Parliament resolution condemning Turkey on issues like human rights, Cyprus, the country's democratisation process, and the Kurdish question, would not interfere and signal a change in the relationship between Turkey and the European Union.State Department spokesman Nicholas Burns told CNA here Friday the US ''hopes that this resolution in the European Parliament does not interfere and signal any change in the relationship between Turkey and the European Union (EU).'' ''As you know the United States was one of the biggest supporters of the EU-Turkey Customs Union," he added. Burns said the US think that Turkey needs to have institutional links in Europe and noted that Turkey is a very important country. Expressing US opinion on the resolution, the spokesman urged the EU to have positive relations with Turkey. "We are strongly encouraging the EU to have positive relations with Turkey and to make those relations stable.'' he said. The US hope that Euro Parliament resolution ''will not signal any kind of abrupt change in the EU's outlook towards Turkey," Burns added. Asked by CNA if the Secretary of State Warren Christopher will have meetings next week in New York with Cypriot officials, during the current UN General Assembly, State Department spokesman said that Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Peter Tarnoff will meet Cyprus' Foreign Minister Alecos Michaelides. CNA DA/AP/1996ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY1340:CYPPRESS:02[02] Verdi's ''Othello'' premiere tonight at Paphos castlePaphos, Sep 21 (CNA) -- The premiere of Giuseppe Verdi's opera ''Othello'' will be staged tonight at the imposing setting of the ancient fort of Paphos, in what has been described as one of the most important cultural events and major productions ever held on the island.The opera is based on Shakespeare's play ''Othello'' and features internationally acclaimed opera stars who will perform in open air, under the stars and the moon of this eastern coastal town. For six consecutive nights, three thousand opera lovers from Cyprus and abroad will take a trip into the past, led by Desdemona, performed by Italian soprano Katia Ricciarelli, and tenor Carlo Cossutta as Othello. The top German orchestra, Philarmonia Hungarica, conducted by Anton Guadagno, will provide the music for ''Othello'', produced by Swiss-born stage director and opera producer Rudolf Sauser. The set for the opera, which will have the fort in its backdrop, was designed by Italian architect and set designer Rinaldo Olivieri. The Paphos fort, on the town jetty, was built in 1592 AD by Ahmet Pasha, the then Turkish Governor of Cyprus, over the ruins of an old castle destroyed by the Venetians who had occupied the island before Ottoman rule. It is said that Shakespeare's tragedy ''Othello'', on which Verdi based his masterpiece, was set in the Citadel of Famagusta, later known as Tower of Othello, in the eastern coast of the island, occupied since 1974 when Turkish troops invaded the island Tickets for the two and a half-hour performance have nearly sold out despite the fact that they were priced at 50 and 60 Cyprus pounds (about 100 US dollars), the most expensive entrance fee to any event held here ever. CNA MA/AP/1996ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCYCyprus News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |