Cyprus News Agency: News in English (AM), 97-03-27

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

CONTENTS

[01] Youth released from British prison

[02] 1997 is Cyprus' year of opportunity, says German ambassador

1300:CYPPRESS:01

[01] Youth released from British prison

SBA Administrator, Air Vice-Marshal Peter Millar, granted Georgios Kyriacou's appeal for clemency and released him after considering a social welfare report on the matter.

According to an SBA press release, the report stated that Kyriacou "understands the seriousness of the offenses he has committed and has undertaken not to repeat them".

"The Administrator is satisfied that Mr. Kyriacou has learned his lesson," SBA spokesman, Mervyn Wynne Jones said.

The press release noted the youth's "exemplary behaviour" while in custody was also taken into consideration when the decision was taken for his release.

Kyriacou was arrested for traffic offenses on SBA property while he was under a three-month suspended sentence. The sentence was imposed after the youth's appeal of the conviction was rejected by an SBA court on March 6.

The press release notes that SBA law "fully mirrors" that of the Republic of Cyprus, "and must be respected if law and order throughout the community is to be maintained".

Some groups here however, dispute the SBA's legal and moral authority to put to trial and imprison citizens of the Republic.

Demonstrators on Sunday gathered in front of the Dhekelia police station to protest Kyriacou's imprisonment. They hurled stones at the station and set fire to tyres.

Jones called the protest "totally unwarranted" and said they did not contribute to Kyriacou's release. "The demonstration achieved absolutely nothing," Jones added.

Britain has retained two sovereign military bases in Cyprus under the 1960 treaty of establishment of the Cyprus Republic.

CNA MH/GP/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1440 :CYPPRESS:02

[02] 1997 is Cyprus' year of opportunity, says German ambassador

"Let me say that 1997 becomes the year of opportunity for Cyprus. There are all the elements in the air (and) I am personally convinced that there is a way to find a solution and to have Cyprus as a member of the European Union," German Ambassador to Cyprus, Friedrich Garbers, said here today.

Speaking after bidding farewell to Cyprus President Glafcos Clerides, Garbers said his country is "firmly determined" to support efforts by all players involved in Cyprus pushing for a solution.

The Ambassador added German Foreign Minister, Klaus Kinkel's current visit to Turkey "can also be utilised to the advantage of Cyprus".

Asked to comment whether Turkey's Islamic nature would impede its application to join the European Union, Garbers said the issue is irrelevant to Turkish-EU relations.

"I do not hesitate to say that this is not important to our (EU) members who are democratic and respect human rights," he said.

The German Ambassador reiterated Kinkel's statement that the success of Cyprus-EU accession negotiations can only be guaranteed when the island's problem is settled.

However, he was steadfast in his view the German Foreign Minister's statement did not mean one was prerequisite of the other.

"We will see this in the course of some years I will say. This attitude does not mean that we will give a veto to third countries including Turkey, " Garbers added.

Cyprus divided since the 1974 Turkish invasion applied for full EU membership in 1990. It signed an association agreement in 1972 and a customs union agreement in 1987.

CNA AZK/MH/GP/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

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