Cyprus News Agency: News in English (AM), 97-04-08

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

CONTENTS

[01] Bulgarian minister to visit Cyprus

[02] Cyprus government reshuffle

[03] US to be involved in Cyprus peace process

0940 :CYPPRESS:01

[01] Bulgarian minister to visit Cyprus

The telecommunications and postal agreement will be signed by Slavinski, President of the Committee of Post and Telecommunications, and Cyprus Minister of Communications and Works, Adamos Adamides, on Thursday.

The two ministers will also discuss joint telecommunication programmes, cooperation between Balkan countries in fields under their ministries, and will exchange views on further cooperation in international fora, such as EUTELSAT, the international organisation for satellite telecommunications.

During his visit the Bulgarian minister will call on President Glafcos Clerides.

CNA MA/GP/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1220:CYPPRESS:02

[02] Cyprus government reshuffle

This is the first government reshuffle since President Clerides took office in February 1993.

Government Spokesman Yiannakis Cassoulides said the names of the new cabinet will be announced either this afternoon or tomorrow morning.

The Spokesman told the press immediately after a cabinet meeting under President Glafcos Clerides that all the ministers handed in their resignations.

Cassoulides described the government reshuffle as a "political act" stemming from the President's constitutional right to do so.

He said that during this morning's cabinet meeting, President Clerides thanked all ministers for their service in the last four years.

Arriving at the Presidential Palace for the cabinet's meeting, all ministers defended the President's constitutional right to reshuffle his cabinet.

The Cyprus government is made up of eleven ministers. Six ministers come from the ruling rightwing Democratic Rally party and five from its government partner, the centre-right Democratic Party led by former Cyprus President Spyros Kyprianou.

Reliable sources told CNA that five of the six ministers coming from the Democratic Rally will be replaced while the five ministers coming from the Democratic Party will stay in office.

The sources said the Foreign Minister Alecos Michaelides will be replaced by Government Spokesman Yiannakis Cassoulides.

Health Minister Manolis Christofides will take over as Government Spokesman.

According to the same sources publisher Nikos Kosis will take over as Minister of Justice and Public Order, replacing Alecos Evangelou, while former MP Christos Solomis will take over as Health Minister. Georgios Hadjinicolaou will take over the Ministry of Education and Leontios Ierodiakonou the Ministry of Communications and Works.

The sources said the Ministers of Finance Christodoulos Christodoulou, Interior Dinos Michaelides, Defence Costas Eliades, Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environment Costas Petrides, Labour and Social Insurance Andreas Moushouttas and Commerce, Industry and Tourism Kyriacos Christofi will stay in office.

The next Presidential elections will take place in February 1998.

CNA AP/GP/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1320:CYPPRESS:03

[03] US to be involved in Cyprus peace process

Washington, Apr 8 (CNA) -- The US are now looking for the right way of being involved in the efforts to reach a Cyprus solution but they insist that nothing of a positive manner will happen until all parties involved are actually interested in progress.

This was stressed here Monday by State Department spokesman, Nicholas Burns, during a briefing of a group of Greek and Turkish Cypriot journalists, currently in the US.

Burns said the US have always hoped "for progress in Cyprus but it is difficult to predict progress", noting they will continue to work with the governments of Cyprus, Greece, Turkey and the Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash as that's where the progress has to start."

Burns noted that US Foreign Secretary, Madelleine Albright, "has said many times this year will be the year of progress in Cyprus" and said US ambassador to Cyprus, Kenneth Brill, is "very active" on the issue.

"Nothing is going to happen of a positive nature until we can get actually the parties in Cyprus, the Greek and Turkish governments interested in progress," Burns noted.

Asked if the US will act separately on Cyprus or support a British initiative, the spokesman admitted "one of the problems is that there are many people trying to mediate."

"It is not a problem with the UK," he clarified and said the US have a great respect for British envoy on Cyprus, Sir David Hannay, who is a very experienced diplomat, he noted.

"We will continue to support the UN and the leading role the UN must have in this issue. We will use our influence, and I am sure the UK will, as well," the US official said.

To a question if his country will show any active participation, Burns noted "we have been very active, Carey Cavanaugh (State Department Southern European Affairs Department Director) has been several times in the region, so we will continue that."

Replying to a Turkish Cypriot journalist, the State Department spokesman made it once again very clear that the US are not going to recognise the Turkish Cypriot illegal regime. "The Cypriot government is the only government we recognise," he said.

He added "we have diplomatic relations with the Cypriot government and from time to time we talk with (Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf) Denktash... He represents the Turkish Cypriots, they are important to us, we want to see everyone's rights respected."

Replying to a Turkish Cypriot journalist's comment that Denktash is ready to have direct negotiations with President Glafcos Clerides on the basis of Boutros Boutros-Ghali's Set of Ideas, Burns said the US would be more impressed by actions.

"After almost 23 years, actions are much important than willing to talk. There have been lots of opportunities for Denktash to get together with the Cypriot government and at this point we want to see action," the US official said.

He said "one should never be optimistic about Cyprus" since this implies that progress should have been made. "I do not want to be that naive", he added but expressed hope to have progress.

Expressing US willingness to help reach a Cyprus solution, he said "we are all now trying to find the right effort, the right set of circumstances for a negotiation. If the Cypriot government and the Turkish Cypriots want to talk, we will help to put that underway, if we are asked to help," he added.

Burns said the US cannot impose a settlement when people are unwilling, noting in Cyprus "people have to be ready for an agreement before anyone else can do anything."

He said "Secretary Albright thinks the Cyprus problem needs to be attended to, it ought to have a high diplomatic priority, she wants to be involved and we are now looking for the right way of being involved."

Burns said "we are waiting for the parties to put forward ideas," and said the island "ought to be unified."

Asked if he is disappointed that a US proposal over the moratorium on overflights of Greek and Turkish warplanes in Cyprus, Burns said "we certainly would like to see a flight moratorium, that's very important."

He also said "we would like to see a cancellation of the anti-aircraft system purchased by the government of Cyprus from Russia and certainly we want to see from the Turkish government seriousness and a commitment to help resolve this problem."

Burns refrained to comment whether US ambassador to Romania would replace presidential emissary for Cyprus, Richard Beattie.

He was not in a position to say when Cavanaugh will be visiting Cyprus again.

"I don't know if it is in a few weeks or not. Certainly he is going back and other American officials are going back. I have nothing to announce,", Burns concluded.

CNA EC/AP/GP/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

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