Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 96-12-14

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From: The Cyprus News Agency at <http://www.cyna.org,cy>

CONTENTS

[01] Cyprus on the agenda of US-EU summit

[02] Recent killings increased tension, says Clinton

[03] EU to repeat membership talks with Cyprus

[04] Rifkind arrives tomorrow for two-day visit

1225:CYPPRESS:01

[01] Cyprus on the agenda of US-EU summit

Replying to a CNA question during his press briefing on friday, the State Department's spokesman Nicholas Burns said ''I would expect Cyprus to be an issue, because I think the US and the EU both want to be helpful in finding a resolution of the dispute.''

Burns pointed out ''we normally do have a conversation with the Europeans on Cyprus.''

The fact that Cyprus problem would be part of the agenda was earlier confirmed to CNA by a White House senior official.

''Cyprus will potentially come up also on the agenda, that's right, I think in the sense that both the US and the EU want to work together to support the efforts to find a resolution to those longstanding problems,'' the senior administration official said.

CNA DA/AP/1996

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1340:CYPPRESS:02

[02] Recent killings increased tension, says Clinton

In his report, the US President said "I regret that intercommunal violence including unprecedented killings of civilians, dominated events on Cyprus during this reporting period.''

''These incidents raised intercommunal tensions to their worst level in many years and complicated efforts aimed at achieving a lasting solution to the Cyprus dispute,'' President Clinton pointed out.

He also said that, in their meetings with the Greek and Turkish Cypriot communities, as well as with the governments of Greece and Turkey, his representatives noted the effect from those violent incidents and the need for a negotiated settlement.

''In meetings with the two Cypriot communities and the government of Greece and Turkey, my representatives noted that the violence underscored the unsustainability of the status quo and the need for redoubled efforts toward a negotiated settlement,'' President Clinton's report said.

The US President concludes that his administration remains committed to promote a lasting peace in the island and he urges the parties to take measures for reducing any potential conflict.

''Notwithstanding the tragic events of August and September, my administration remains committed to promoting a lasting peace on the island, '' he noted.

''Given the urgency of the current situation, we are appealing again for the implementation of practical measures to reduce the potential for conflict. We remain hopeful that both sides will recognise the importance of such measures and put them into immediate effect,'' the US President's report concluded.

CNA DA/AP/1996

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1450:CYPPRESS:03

[03] EU to repeat membership talks with Cyprus

Dublin, Dec 14 (CNA) -- The draft conclusions of the EU Irish presidency call on Turkey to ''use its influence to contribute to a solution in Cyprus in accordance with UN Security Council resolutions.''

The conclusions also confirm the timetable for the enlargement process as set at its Madrid meeting.

The 30-page document, divided into seven sections, relate to the Intergovernmental Conference (IGC), employment, economic and monetary union, justice and home affairs.

It also includes a section on enlargement, which indirectly refers to Cyprus, through recalling the EU Madrid conclusions.

The Madrid conclusions of December 1995 reiterated that ''accession negotiations with Malta and Cyprus will commence six months after the conclusion of the IGC''.

The Dublin document ''confirms the timetable for the enlargement process'' and also ''takes note of the Council's report on the implementation of the pre-accession strategy in the second half of this year.''

The document adds the Commission informed the EU Council on its progress on the opinions and other reports related to enlargement as requested of it at Madrid.''

Under the section ''External action by the Union'', the paragraph relating to Turkey ''reaffirms the importance it attaches to the further development of the EU's relations with Turkey on both the economic and political fields.''

Furthermore, the Dublin draft conclusions urge Turkey ''to use its influence to contribute to a solution in Cyprus in accordance with UN Security Council resolutions.''

The draft conclusions note that the EU Council ''welcomes the Turkish government's stated intention to take measures to improve the human rights situation'', and ''emphasises the need for the observance of the highest standards of human rights.''

CNA MM/GP/1996

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1510:CYPPRESS:04

[04] Rifkind arrives tomorrow for two-day visit

Rifkind will arrive at Larnaca airport on Sunday at 1700 local time (1500 GMT), (not at the military airport of Akrotiri British Base, as reported yesterday).

His Cypriot counterpart Alecos Michaelides will meet him at Larnaca International Airport. Rifkind will be accompanied by Britain's special representative on Cyprus Sir David Hannay.

Michaelides will return to Cyprus, one hour before Rifkind's arrival, from Dublin, where he took part in meetings within the framework of the European Union summit.

Cyprus was invited to the European Council as an EU associated member.

Michaelides and Rifkind will have talks on Sunday afternoon. The British Secretary will attend Sunday night a reception given by Michaelides in his honour.

On Monday morning, Rifkind will have a working breakfast with President Glafcos Clerides and later on he will meet Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash.

Prior to his departure, on Monday afternoon, the British Secretary will hold a press conference for Greek and Turkish Cypriot journalists at the Ledra Palace Hotel, in the UN-controlled buffer zone in Nicosia.

Rifkind's visit, initially scheduled to start on Monday, has been changed ''to allow him to return to London in time for urgent parliamentary business in the evening of December 16,'' according to a British High Commission press release.

In an interview with CNA yesterday Rifkind said Britain will make efforts to find a solution to Cyprus problem before the start of membership talks between the European Union and Cyprus.

Cyprus applied for EU full membership in 1990. It signed an association agreement with the European Community in 1972 and a customs union agreement in 1987.

Turkish troops have been occupying 37 per cent of Cyprus territory since 1974, in violation of repeated UN resolutions calling for their withdrawal.

CNA AP/GP/1996

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

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