Cyprus News Agency: News in English (AM), 97-05-04

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

CONTENTS

[01] Cassoulides leaves for France

[02] Clerides and World War II prisoners honoured

[03] Communists meeting ends

1245:CYPPRESS:01

[01] Cassoulides leaves for France

According to a COE announcement, "FM of the 40-nation Council of Europe will meet in Strasbourg on May 5 and 6, for the 100th time since the Organisation's creation, on 5 May 1949."

On Tuesday, the meeting will deal with the preparation, the general outline and aims of the Second COE Summit, to be held in Strasbourg on October 10 and 11, 1997.

Meanwhile, according to press reports, the Cypriot Foreign Minister is expected to meet later today in Paris with the Director of the Office of Southern European Affairs at the US State Department, Carey Cavanaugh.

The reports said the meeting was asked by Cavanaugh himself to review the latest developments on the Cyprus question.

After Paris, Cavanaugh will visit Athens and Ankara on a new tour in the region, the same reports said.

CNA AP/EC/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1435:CYPPRESS:02

[02] Clerides and World War II prisoners honoured

Addressing the event, President Clerides noted that 52 years after the victory of the allies against Nazism and fascism, "we realise that humanity has not yet managed to make its vision a reality, for a new world order on the basis of morality and justice and in conditions of social justice, prosperity and permanent peace."

"The Cyprus problem is a striking example of how much still remains to be done if the vision for a new world order is to become a reality," Clerides pointed out.

"With one third of Cyprus under Turkish occupation and living under continuous threats against the free areas, with the problem of refugees and missing persons still unresolved, we are still continuing the struggle against a nightmare similar to the one experienced by humanity half a century ago", he said.

The President pledged to continue the struggle for justice to be restored on the island, "on the basis of the same principles and values for which the allies had fought".

President Clerides, who was captured by the Nazis when his RAF plane was shot down over Germany, said "those of us who fought against Nazism and fascism and had the misfortune to live in conditions of inhuman captivity, feel particularly hurt by this realisation."

He described the contribution of Cyprus to the great struggle for freedom as "very important."

A total of 25.000 Cypriots were enlisted as volunteers in the Cyprus Regiment. An additional 7.000 to 8.000 served in various other services during World War II.

President Clerides said Cypriots, Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots alike, who believe in the same values, fought for defend justice, freedom and democracy.

They fought nearly in all fronts, noting "this can be seen from the fact that graves of 650 Cypriot fighters are found in military cemeteries is in 15 countries."

About 2.500 Cypriot prisoners of war were held in 10 concentration camps in Germany, Belgium, Czechoslovakia, Yugoslavia and Italy. Some of the prisoners died from deprivation, hardship and forced labour, while others were executed.

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

CNA AP/EC/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1440:CYPPRESS:03

[03] Communists meeting ends

The representatives of parties from the 38 communist, socialist and broader left spectrum with different ideological and political approaches, which participated in the International Meeting dedicated to the 70th anniversary of Cyprus - AKEL, unanimously adopted the resolution, a statement said.

The representatives, "expressed their support to the independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity and unity of the Republic of Cyprus," the resolution said.

It noted that the solution of the Cyprus problem should "serve the interests of all Cypriots and of peace in the region and not the interests of the big western powers, as expressed through the so-called new order."

Delegates demanded the "speedy withdrawal of the Turkish occupation troops and settlers" as well as the "restoration and respect of the fundamental freedoms and human rights of all Cypriots."

Demanding the effective verification of the fate of the persons missing since the 1974 Turkish invasion and the implementation of the 1975 Third Vienna agreement on the enclaved persons, the resolution also expressed support to the complete demilitarisation of Cyprus.

Delegates appealed to the international community to become active to radically change the Turkish partitioning positions and come into line with the provisions of UN resolutions on Cyprus.

The resolution also expressed support to the policy of rapprochement between the two communities of Cyprus.

The two-day international meeting examined the leftist movement's contemporary stance and the need to combat new-liberalism in the new world order.

Participants included high ranking officials from European, American, Asiatic and African parties, and 21 communist parties from Russia, Cuba, France, Portugal, Greece, Sudan and Vietnam and other left wing parties.

CNA EC/AP/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

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