Cyprus News Agency: News in English (AM), 97-03-21

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

CONTENTS

[01] British Labour party pledges to help Cyprus

[02] A view of Scotland in Cyprus

[03] President Clerides meets UN envoy

[04] Cyprus Airways flies to new European destinations

0920:CYPPRESS:01

[01] British Labour party pledges to help Cyprus

Cook had a 35-minute meeting Thursday afternoon at his parliamentary office with Cyprus' House of Representatives President Spyros Kyprianou.

Kyprianou expressed his conviction that Britain's support on Cyprus and EU membership will be "greater".

On his part, Cook said "I have assured Kyprianou that the Labour party in government will be committed to try and find a solution to the division of the island."

He stressed "we are committed to Cyprus application to join the EU, we think that this should be without condition and with no third party veto by Turkey or anyone else."

Britain's Shadow Foreign Secretary said he also assured Kyprianou that a Labour government would be working "extremely hard" for the Cyprus issue through those opportunities that Britain would have.

He noted Britain will take over the EU six-month rotating presidency early next year so "I think there is a good chance to make sure that Cyprus is top of the agenda of the EU," he added.

Cook said a Labour government could also use Britain's influence as a Permanent Member of the UN Security Council "to make sure that the issue is not neglected but it's solved."

"I have said that I believe that Cyprus should be a priority for Britain and its foreign policy," he noted.

After all, Labour MP pointed out, Britain was a colonial power and it is also a guarantor of Cyprus.

Therefore, "Britain must now use those opportunities that are open to it to find a solution as part of our historic responsibilities and also because of our concern for the people of Cyprus," Cook concluded.

Earlier yesterday Kyprianou had a two-hour working lunch with Britain's envoy for Cyprus, Sir David Hannay, who said his country's role in the ongoing UN-sponsored proximity talks is "supportive" and not an "alternative" one, in a bid "to ensure that there is the best chance they (the two sides) possibly have."

The Cypriot House President had also a meeting with the British Speaker of the House Betty Boothroyd.

CNA KT/AP/GP/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1240:CYPPRESS:02

[02] A view of Scotland in Cyprus

The exhibition opened on March 19 and will last until May 11. It is a large event containing at least three exhibitions and a lot more other interests.

Exhibition One, "Keeping Glasgow in Stitches" includes seven huge banners made for the year 1990, when Glasgow was the European Capital of Culture.

Creative director Clare Higney, who was responsible for the project said that at least 600 Glaswegians, of all ages and professions have joined forces on these banners.

On display with the Glaswegian art, are the six finalists for the Cypriot banner.

The winner is Rinos Stefani and the space is ready for the official hanging of his work on May 7.

"A Cypriot's View of Scotland" is the second photographic exhibition by Andreas Koutas, who studied in Scotland.

The other exhibition, "A story from Glascow" includes 99 linocuts by artist Ken Currie.

CNA KN/GP/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1350:CYPPRESS:03

[03] President Clerides meets UN envoy

Feissel had a meeting with President Glafcos Clerides, within the framework of his proximity talks with the Greek and Turkish Cypriot sides.

He reiterated the Secretary-General's objective is to bring President Clerides in face-to-face talks with the Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash "by the middle of this year."

Asked whether direct talks are closer now, the UN official refrained from saying noting "we took a blood oath of silence".

Feissel said he wouldn't say the first round of proximity talks has finished, after this week's first four meetings.

"We are continuing," he added and said that next week will again meet twice with Clerides and twice with Denktash.

Asked if he is optimistic, Feissel said the talks are "possible. That's the most important thing."

To a question if he is looking for common ground or the UN resolutions provide enough common ground, Feissel said there is a lot that is there. "I do not want to go into what we are looking for. I think when we see it we will recognise it," he added.

The UN official said Denktash had referred to some important papers and the Set of Ideas is one of them.

Denktash also talked about the position of the two sides after the direct talks of November 1992. Each side put down its position on each paragraph of the Set of Ideas.

"That is a useful piece of paper. It is obviously involved and no doubt it can help in what we are trying to achieve," Feissel pointed out.

He said he did not think this was the "Holy Scripture"... It is just a useful reference material which can help us in completing the job," he noted.

However, he stressed the "UN would like to preserve as much or all of the progress that was achieved at any given point of time."

Feissel noted that it was not a formal paper but rather something which was put together at the time by each side to record their views.

Asked if specific measures still have to be taken to help the climate, Feissel said the UN were also dealing with that.

"We believe that if the atmosphere and the mood can be improved, this can help... What it's important is the objective not to spend a lot of time talking about this... Hopefully, before too long we will see some good-will gestures by each side."

Invited to comment on violations of Nicosia's Flight Information Region (FIR) by Turkish warplanes during Turkish military exercise 80 miles south- west of Cyprus, Feissel said he had not heard of this.

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

President Clerides and Denktash had two meetings in October 1994, which reached a deadlock because of the Turkish insistence on separate sovereignty. The two men have not met since then.

CNA EC/AP/GP/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1430:CYPPRESS:04

[04] Cyprus Airways flies to new European destinations

The new Cyprus Airways' destinations will be Strasbourg and Lyons, in France, the German city of Dresden and London Stanstead airport, a CA press release issued here Friday said.

It added the Strasbourg-Lyons flight will be a combined flight operating every Tuesday, with effect from April 15.

The Dresden flight will be bi-weekly, every Sunday and Friday, operating via Paphos airport as from March 30.

Cyprus Airways flights to London Stanstead airport will commence on May 6, operating every Tuesday.

Furthermore, during summer Cyprus Airways will operate daily flights to Amsterdam, Holland, providing its passengers the option to travel at destinations in the US, Canada and Europe through its agreements of cooperation with KLM and Air UK.

CNA AP/GP/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

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