Cyprus News Agency: News in English (AM), 97-03-17

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

CONTENTS

[01] Bi-communal Trade Union Conference under way

[02] Cypriot Minister on Apeldorn meeting

[03] Greek Cypriot released by Denktash regime

[04] Basketball: Cyprus to host Eurocup Final

1145:CYPPRESS:01

[01] Bi-communal Trade Union Conference under way

The three-day Conference is a follow-up of the highly successful 1995 All-Cyprus trade Union Forum, which had focused on labour issues.

Representatives of Greek and Turkish Cypriot trade unions will discuss issues concerning free movement of capital and labour, privatisation and harmonisation of industry with acquis communautaire.

At the conclusion of deliberations the delegates will issue a joint declaration.

Leaders and representatives of Greek and Turkish Cypriot parties attended the opening ceremony held at the "Philoxenia" hotel, in the government-controlled southern part of the divided capital Nicosia.

Also present were UN Resident Representative, Gustave Feissel, the Ambassadors of the five UN Security Council permanent members, EU Ambassador Gilles Anouil, as well as Euro-MPs Pauline Green and Mechtild Rothe.

CNA GY/MCH/GP/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

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[02] Cypriot Minister on Apeldorn meeting

"Sunday's decision in Apeldorn (the Netherlands) to reaffirm an earlier Council decision to start membership talks with Cyprus will facilitate to a significant extent our course to Europe," the Minister told Cyprus radio today.

EU Ministers also decided to continue the structured dialogue with Cyprus on 24 March, to coincide with the dialogue with Central and Eastern European candidate countries.

Cyprus' structured dialogue started in June 1995 and takes place twice a year.

The Apeldorn meeting also urged Turkey to show flexibility in the Cyprus question to overcome the obstacles for closer ties between Turkey and the EU, as called for in the customs union agreement the EU has concluded with Turkey.

Michaelides said he hoped that the permanent representatives of the 15 member states to the EU (COREPER) would be able to draft out a text which would not be subject to different interpretations or misinterpretations.

He refrained from commenting on reports that Greece had come under fire from Germany to lift its veto on EU funds to Turkey.

EU Council President, Dutch FM Hans Van Mierlo, and EU Commission President Jacques Santer said the EU process of enlargement is complementary to NATO expansion but noted they are also autonomous procedures.

Van Mierlo said all candidate countries for EU accession will participate in a continuous conference but pointed out that only those meeting EU criteria for membership will start accession negotiations.

He avoided to say if Turkey, whose application for accession received in 1989 a qualified no from the EU, would be joining the group of eligible countries.

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

CNA MM/GP/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

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[03] Greek Cypriot released by Denktash regime

Looking exhausted, Savvas Siderenos, 23, from Sotira village, was handed over to Cyprus police by the UN men, at the Ledra Palace checkpoint in Nicosia. He made no statements.

His parents said they were very happy to see their son back to the free areas.

Siderenou was apprehended while straying into the Turkish occupied areas in the Achna area, in the eastern part of the island.

A so-called "military court" in the occupied part of Nicosia "sentenced" the Greek Cypriot youth for 15 days for entering a military area.

Cyprus has been divided since 1974 when Turkish troops invaded and occupied 37 per cent of the island's territory.

CNA AZK/EC/GP/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

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[04] Basketball: Cyprus to host Eurocup Final

Cyprus Basketball Federation President Takis Clerides told a press conference today that the final game will be held at the recently-built Eleftheria Sporting Centre, the island's largest indoor stadium.

He said Cyprus "aspires to hold a Eurocup Final game which will be the talk of Europe", fulfilling the expectations of the International Basketball Federation (FIBA).

The teams, which will reach the final, will be decided during the Real - Rashing and Heraklis - Verona games to be held on March 25 and April 1, respectively.

The final will be relayed live through Eurovision.

Clerides described the game as an "unique opportunity" for Cypriot fans to watch the final game of the European Cup for Men's Clubs.

CNA EC/GP/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

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