Cyprus News Agency: News in English (AM), 97-07-21

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

CONTENTS

[01] FM flies to Syria for official visit

[02] Canada supports efforts for Cyprus solution

[03] European Commission launches bulletin

[04] Cyprus-Syria ties will improve further, says FM

1100:CYPPRESS:01

[01] FM flies to Syria for official visit

According to an official press release, the two men will discuss the protracted Cyprus question, the Middle East issue, other international issues of mutual interest, the bilateral relations between Cyprus and Syria and prospects for further promoting these relations.

The Cypriot Foreign Minister and his Syrian counterpart will have a private meeting, followed by official talks.

During his visit to this neighbouring country, Kasoulides will be received by the President of Syria Hafez Al Assad.

He will also meet with the Minister of Interior Muhammad Harba, the Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch Ignatios, the President of the Cyprus- Syrian Friendship Association, as well as with leading businessmen.

The Foreign Minister will return to Cyprus on Thursday, July 24.

CNA AP/GP/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1250:CYPPRESS:02

[02] Canada supports efforts for Cyprus solution

This was stressed yesterday by Canadian Foreign Minister, Lloyd Axworthy, in a message sent to the Greek Cypriot community living in Montreal.

On the occasion of July 20, marking the 23rd anniversary of the Turkish invasion and occupation of 37 per cent of the island's territory, Greek Cypriot communities in major cities of Canada held memorial services for the victims who died during the invasion.

In a message read by MP Eleni Bakopanos at the Montreal gathering, the Canadian Foreign Minister said the UN-sponsored direct talks between President Glafcos Clerides and Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash "are a source of hope for friends of Cyprus, including Canada."

President Clerides and Denktash had a first round of face-to-face negotiations at the secluded Troutbeck rural retreat, north of New York, from July 9 to 12, while a second round is expected to take place near Geneva, Switzerland, between August 11 and 16.

"An opportunity now exists to resolve the Cyprus problem to the satisfaction of all Cypriots and to agree upon arrangements that will guarantee their security and economic prosperity in the future in the context of the new Europe," Axworthy said in his message.

The Foreign Minister also expressed Canada's full support to this UN- sponsored peace process, urging all members of the Greek Cypriot community here to help bring a just and lasting peace in Cyprus.

Axworthy pointed out that the appointment of a Special Representative of Canada on Cyprus "is another indication of our continued interest in Cyprus."

Concluding his message, the Canadian FM pledged his country "will continue to support all measures consistent with relevant Security Council resolutions, leading to the demilitarisation of Cyprus, as a possible avenue for the peaceful resolution of the Cypriot conflict."

Present at the ceremony, organised by the Helleno-Canadian Committee for Solidarity with Cyprus and the Cypriot Community of Montreal, were MPs, senators and other politicians.

Similar events were also held Sunday in Toronto, as well as other places where Cypriot communities exist.

The gatherings approved resolutions condemning the 23rd anniversary of the Turkish invasion of Cyprus and the Turkish intransigence in the peace efforts.

They called on the government of Canada to actively involve and step up efforts towards a just and lasting solution of the long-lasting Cyprus problem.

CNA KH/AP/GP/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1300:CYPPRESS:03

[03] European Commission launches bulletin

The bulletin, funded by the European Commission and distributed free, is compiled by the head of Education of the Cyprus Workers' Confederation (SEK), Gregoris Gregoriades.

Launching the bulletin, the head of the European Commission to Cyprus, Ambassador Gilles Anouil, told a press conference that in our times of Internet, electronic media and stupendous progress of information technologies, "it is refreshing to salute the birth of a printed organ".

He said the bulletin comes out "at a very appropriate moment" as "Cyprus is preparing itself to enter into negotiations for becoming a member of the EU."

EU negotiations with Cyprus, he said, "will start sometime at the beginning of next year" and in order to be "good partners, it is important that information is circulated in all walks of life in Cyprus".

For this reason, Anouil said Cypriot workers and employees must be thoroughly informed about all European laws, policies and programmes which concern them, directly or indirectly.

He said the purpose of the bulletin is to "provide such information on a regular basis and in an accessible form, avoiding the jargon in which, unfortunately, EU institutions indulge too often."

A second reason is that after the Amsterdam Treaty, problems of employment and social policy are now at the heart of the European integration process, the EU ambassador added.

Anouil referred to the special meeting of the European Council in Autumn in Luxembourg which will be devoted to employment for this reason.

"People who are interested in social matters, have to know the new developments that are ahead of us in the field of social policy," he said.

"This initiative comes at a very timely moment and I hope it will be very successful," the ambassador added.

On his part, Gregoriades said the aim of the bulletin "is to inform those people who will be mostly affected by Cyprus' accession to the EU and give them as much as possible additional information on issues of labour, social policy and social protection within the EU".

He said the final target is to create in Cyprus a European Information Centre for workers.

The bulletin will also include activities with a European dimension of all the trade union organisations, as well as developments regarding Cyprus' accession to the EU.

CNA RM/EC/GP/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1400:CYPPRESS:04

[04] Cyprus-Syria ties will improve further, says FM

Speaking on departure, Kasoulides said the Republic's foreign policy is to "maintain close relations with all neighbouring countries in the region."

The Foreign Minister noted that one of the major ways to improve friendly and close relations is through economic cooperation.

For this reason, he is accompanied by Vassilis Rologis, Chairman of the Cyprus Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and Alecos Stamatis, a high- ranking official of the Cyprus Development Bank.

Kasoulides, who will be visiting Syria at the invitation of the country's FM Faruk Al Sharaa, will call on President Hafez Al Assad. The two Ministers will have a private meeting, followed by official talks.

Obviously, he said, "we will discuss the Cyprus question, the Middle East issue and other international issues."

During his visit to this neighbouring country, Kasoulides will also meet with the Minister of Interior Muhammad Harba, the Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch Ignatios, the President of the Cyprus-Syrian Friendship Association, as well as with leading businessmen.

The Foreign Minister will return to Cyprus on Thursday, July 24.

CNA MAN/AP/GP/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

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