Cyprus News Agency: News in English (PM), 97-02-14

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

CONTENTS

[01] Cyprus to protest Varosha settlement threats

[02] Acting President welcomes UN Chief's statement

[03] Cyprus to make representations over Cohen's statements

[04] Sport: Cyprus wins Latvia 2-0

[05] UN envoy assures government no Varosha settlement

1810:CYPPRESS:01

[01] Cyprus to protest Varosha settlement threats

Cyprus' Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Nicos Agathocleous, will hand over a letter to UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan.

Acting President, House President, Spyros Kyprianou, told the press today that Cyprus will strongly protest threats by Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash to illegally settle Varosha, a flourishing tourist resort before the 1974 Turkish invasion and occupation of 37 per cent of the island's territory.

Denktash stated yesterday works are under way to clean the town, in order to bring in illegal settlers.

The former Cyprus President recalled a specific provision in UN Security Council Resolution 550 (1984) about Varosha.

The Security Council "considers attempts to settle any part of Varosha by people other than its inhabitants as inadmissible and calls for the transfer of this area to the administration of the UN."

Kyprianou said he spoke today with UN Resident Representative Gustave Feissel, who was unaware of Dentash's threats, but will look into the matter and inform the Acting President accordingly.

The Acting President also contacted British High Commissioner in Nicosia David Madden, who also had no information on the issue.

He added he will inform Greek Ambassador Alexandros Sandis, and US Ambassador Kenneth Brill, about the threats.

Kyprianou noted that possibly the threats to settle Varosha are "part of blackmails and pressures exerted lately", in an effort to "close" the Cyprus problem.

The Acting President said the purchase of the Russian S-300 anti- aircraft missiles by the Republic have nothing to do with the settlement issue and repeated the government's readiness for the island's demilitarisation.

Kyprianou said the return of Varosha to its lawful inhabitants could be described as "a first step of good will".

The Cypriot official said "we should see whether it was a good time to give priority to Famagusta, as agreed in the 1979 High Level Agreement."

He stressed, however, that the return of Famagusta would not be enough, as it would not constitute "a solution to the Cyprus problem, but a first step".

Meanwhile, the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP), has not found any changes to the status quo in Varosha, after the new Turkish threats.

"No evidence has been found of changes to the existing status quo in the fenced area of Varosha, where UN peacekeepers are present. I do not confirm these reports (of changes)," UNFICYP Spokesman Waldemar Rokoszewski told CNA.

"We are permanently stationed in the fenced area of Varosha with our observation posts and our mobile patrols. We have made our investigation and we found not evidence of changes," Rokoszewski added.

CNA MH/MA/GP/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1930:CYPPRESS:02

[02] Acting President welcomes UN Chief's statement

"Mr Annan's statement is truly very correct and we welcome it," Kyprianou told reporters today.

Kofi Annan had told the press in New York that recent tensions between Greece and Turkey over the Aegean and the Cyprus problem have been defused and a war was averted.

The Secretary-General said "there have been tensions and a tendency to bring in armaments into the region, but I don't think there will be a war. We attempted to defuse the tensions and I think we have seen an improvement already."

Regarding the US initiative on Cyprus, the Acting President noted it is presently confined to "security issues" and the reduction of "tensions".

Kyprianou expressed the conviction that the initiative has begun and pointed out that the British government has taken the lead.

The former Cypriot President noted that US Ambassador to Cyprus Kenneth Brill had told him the US is "totally coordinated, and supports British Special Representative on Cyprus Sir David Hannay's actions and handling" of the Cyprus issue.

Meanwhile, Kyprianou characterised as "pleasant" a statement issued by the British High Commission in Cyprus, which says Britain considers Cyprus as a "completely safe country" for tourists.

The Acting President added that he now considers the matter "closed".

Controversy was raised here after some travel advise was reportedly issued by the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office two days ago, discouraging British tourists from visiting Cyprus.

CNA MH/GP/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1950:CYPPRESS:03

[03] Cyprus to make representations over Cohen's statements

Cyprus Acting President, House President Spyros Kyprianou, told the press here today that instructions had been given to Cyprus' Ambassador in Washington Andros Nicolaides.

Commenting before the US House National Security Committee, Cohen had said on Greco-Turkish relations in regard to Cyprus that "things are getting out of hand in terms of the Cyprus situation and we ought to call it back, both sides, stepping back from that particular conflict, potential conflict area."

On the Cyprus government's decision to purchase the Russian S-300 anti- aircraft missile system, the US Defence Secretary said "should one side acquire certain types of missiles, that would perhaps provoke the other side to try and take those out. I think it is a very dangerous situation which ought to be avoided if at all possible."

Commenting on Cohen's statements, Kyprianou said that such statements "do not help in anything", adding that government assessments should be made privately.

He said "the fact that such statements are made publicly, prior to any formal contacts, then it means that fears are not authentic.

"They are made for tactical and other reasons, which in my opinion, are made to pressure Athens and Nicosia on the Aegean and the Cyprus problem," Kyprianou said.

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

CNA MH/GP/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

2000:CYPPRESS:04

[04] Sport: Cyprus wins Latvia 2-0

The friendlies are part of an international football tournament organized by the Cyprus Football Association (CFA), which started today and ends on Monday.

Tomorrow, Cyprus takes on Poland, while Lithuania tackles Latvia.

The tournament is organised by the CFA to prepare Cyprus' national squad for its upcoming World Cup qualification matches with Bulgaria and Russia.

CNA MH/GP/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

2100:CYPPRESS:05

[05] UN envoy assures government no Varosha settlement

The assurance was given to Cyprus Acting President, House President, Spyros Kyprianou, by Feissel, who had communicated with Denktash about the matter.

The Acting President made this statement after meeting Famagusta Mayor, Andreas Pouyouros.

Pouyouros expressed his complete satisfaction with the actions taken by Kyprianou and the government.

Earlier today, Kyprianou told the press that instructions were given to Cyprus' Permanent Representative to the United Nations Nicos Agathocleous to hand over a protest letter to UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, regarding Denktash's threats.

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

UN Security Council resolution 550 of 1984 considers attempts to settle Varosha by people other than its lawful inhabitants as inadmissible and calls for the transfer of this area to UN administration.

CNA MH/GP/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

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