Cyprus News Agency: News in English (PM), 97-05-11

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

CONTENTS

[01] Refugee team win Cyprus League

[02] Annan to decide on talks in June

[03] DIKO conference ends - Kyprianou re-elected to top post

1830:CYPPRESS:01

[01] Refugee team win Cyprus League

Three teams, Olympiakos of Nicosia, Aris of Limassol and APEP of Kyperounta, were relegated to the second division.

Three other teams will play in the first division as from next season. They are AEL of Limassol, Evagoras of Paphos and the refugee club of Ethnikos Assias.

On the last day of the season, Anorthosis beat 3-2 Olympiakos at Makarios Stadium in Nicosia. Aris defeated Anagennisis 3-1 in Dherynia while Ethnikos of Achna thrashed APEP 9-0 in Kyperounta.

A goal through a penalty kick in the fourth minute of injury time gave APOP a 3-2 victory over APOEL, ensuring the Paphos team' stay in the first division.

In the other matches, AEK of Larnaca defeated Alki 3-0, in the Larnaca derby while Paralimni beat Apollon of Limassol 1-0.

The last match of the season will be played later today between Omonia of Nicosia and Nea Salamina, from the Turkish-occupied town of Famagusta.

Anorthosis won the championship with 65 points in 26 games followed by Apollon with 52, Omonia with 43, AEK with 41, APOEL with 40, Ethnikos with 37, Paralimni with 35, Salamina with 34, Anagennisis with 32, APOP with 31, Alki with 30, Aris with 28, Olympiakos with 27 and APEP with 11. (Omonia and Salamina have played 25 games).

CNA GP/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1930:CYPPRESS:02

[02] Annan to decide on talks in June

The announcement was made by Annan's resident representative in Cyprus, Gustave Feissel, on his return from a two-week trip to New York during which he attended a meeting of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council.

Feissel said Sir Kieran will have meetings with Cyprus President Glafcos Clerides and Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash on Thursday and Friday before going on to Greece and Turkey.

"In the light of all that, I would expect the Secretary-General will then make his final decision, if you like, with respect to direct talks," he told reporters at Larnaca Airport.

Asked if there was any kind of timetable for direct talks, Feissel said he expects that something "ought to happen after Sir Kieran returns to New York, later this month."

He said the New York meeting was "good and all expressed their full support for the UN Secretary-General's efforts, and support for direct negotiations between the two leaders by the middle of this year."

"The objective remains, needless to say, to have these direct talks within the next couple of months," he explained, noting that "nothing specific" was decided in New York.

Replying to questions, the UN official said a document Russia presented at the New York meeting "was taken note of by the others, who underlined the usefulness of that paper."

Outlining the various documents that could be on the negotiating table during direct talks, Feissel identified the two agreements, signed by the two sides on the island in 1977 and 1979, a UN package of ideas on all the main aspects of the Cyprus question and other ideas discussed since.

Invited to say if a European Union decision to start accession talks with Cyprus could also be included in this list of documents, Feissel said making a "definitive list" of these ideas would not be a useful thing.

"This is something that ought to remain flexible, everybody is free to mention whatever they feel can be helpful, this is something that would be discussed during direct negotiations," Feissel explained.

Referring to Annan's visit to Moscow, the UN official said he would not be surprised if Cyprus "was one of the issues that came up in Moscow".

CNA MM/GP/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

2100:CYPPRESS:03

[03] DIKO conference ends - Kyprianou re-elected to top post

In his closing remarks here today, Kyprianou called for "unity and cooperation" among the party faithful and added "our conference marks a new course for DIKO with fresh objectives."

Kyprianou said "everybody has won and DIKO has a responsibility to all those who follow the party."

Speaking after his election, which he won with a difference of 115 votes, Michaelides pointed out that "DIKO is the winner of today's elections."

The election committee decided to postpone elections for a ten-member Executive Bureau and the party Central Committee, made up of 86 members. The election committee will meet on Tuesday to decide when these elections will take place.

Earlier today, DIKO parliamentary spokesman Tassos Papadopoulos, warned against a much-anticipated US initiative on Cyprus but added "we want the American initiative because the US are the only ones who can help."

He said this initiative may not be "the most important one but it is certainly the most dangerous and we need flexibility to deal with it."

The US, he pointed out, "will never put forward a solution which will displease Turkey."

Papadopoulos said the ongoing UN-led proximity talks are not likely to succeed.

Referring to Greece's role in the Cyprus peace effort, Papadopoulos said "Greece is our most powerful lever and our staunchest supporter."

CNA RM/MM/EC/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

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