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Cyprus News Agency: News in English (AM), 97-09-13Cyprus News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Cyprus News Agency at <http://www.cyna.org.cy>CONTENTS
1000:CYPPRESS:01[01] Foreign Minister confers with Greek counterpartNicosia, Sep 13 (CNA) -- Foreign Minister Ioannis Kasoulides has said Cyprus will do all it can to counteract Turkish moves to halt the start of accession talks between the Republic and the European Union, due to start early 1998.Speaking after a meeting in Athens with Greek FM Theodoros Pangalos, he said they reviewed Cyprus' accession course and conferred on future strategy. "I do not think there is any question of not starting membership talks. However, since Turkey has embarked on a campaign to prevent this from happening, we shall do all we can to ensure that we are not faced with any surprises," Kasoulides told the press after his meeting in Athens, the last stop of a tour of European capitals. Today the Minister will brief eight ambassadors of Latin American countries, based in Athens but accredited to Cyprus as well, about recent developments in Cyprus. Kasoulides, Pangalos and Greek Deputy Foreign Minister Yiannos Kranidiotis, present at the Athens meeting, exchanged views about their respective contacts with European officials and discussed ideas that may be raised at Monday's General Affairs Council meeting in Brussels. Kranidiotis also briefed the Cypriot Minister about his talks with US Cyprus Coordinator, Thomas Miller, who arrived here Friday for contacts with the Greek and Turkish Cypriot sides and others. Kasoulides returns home later today. CNA MM/EC/1997ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY1245:CYPPRESS:02[02] Former US presidential aide pledges help to CyprusWashington, Sep 13 (CNA) -- Former Senior Adviser to the US President, George Stephanopoulos, gave reassurances that he will do his best to press the case for human rights in Cyprus, violated for years by Turkey."I am going to do my best to press the case for human rights in Cyprus to my old friends in the White House and other important power centres in Washington," Stephanopoulos said after a meeting on Friday with the Primate of the Church of Cyprus, Archbishop Chrysostomos, currently in New York. During their meeting the Archbishop briefed the former aide on the latest developments in the Cyprus problem, and the two men discussed in depth the violation of human rights by Turkey in Cyprus. "I have explained to Mr. Stephanopoulos the situation in Cyprus following the 1974 Turkish invasion and continuing occupation of the island's northern areas by Turkish troops, and I appealed to him, as a Greek, to help us in any way he can to restore human rights for all Cypriots," the Archbishop said after the meeting. CNA JD/RM/MM/1997ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY1300:CYPPRESS:03[03] Cypriot deputy refutes adverse comments on CyprusNicosia, Sep 13 (CNA) -- Deputy President of the House of Representatives, and Chairman of the ruling right wing Democratic Rally Party, Nicos Anastasiades, described as "provocative" statements made by the president of the Inter-Parliamentary Union's Monitoring Committee on Cyprus, implying recognition for the self-styled Turkish Cypriot regime in occupied Cyprus.Speaking on state radio (CyBC) today from Cairo, where the 98th session of the IPU is taking place, Anastasiades attributed the president's comments to both ignorance and an attempt to secure recognition for the illegal regime. The Finnish committee president called on Cypriot deputies attending the meeting to say whether the Greek Cypriot side respects democracy, according to his expression, in the occupied part of Cyprus, as well as the views of the Turkish Cypriots. Responding to this, Anastasiades pointed out that the international community recognises only the Republic of Cyprus as the sole legitimate government on the island and therefore his question was inappropriate. UN resolution 541 (1983) considers the purported secession of part of the Republic of Cyprus, unilaterally declared by the Turkish Cypriots in November 1983, "legally invalid and calls for its withdrawal." Furthermore it urges all states "not to recognise any Cypriot state other than the Republic of Cyprus." The Cypriot official stressed that there is no democracy in the occupied part of Cyprus but an illegal entity which is supported by the Turkish occupation army. He described the attitude of the Finnish president as "insulting" and added "it is absurd that he should disregard fundamental UN resolutions and the fact that even his own country does not recognise the illegal regime." The Cypriot delegation to the Cairo meeting also includes Andreas Philippou, of left-wing AKEL party, Stathis Kittis, of the Democratic Party, Yiannakis Omirou of Socialist EDEK, and Androulla Vassiliou of the United Democrats. CNA EC/MM/1997ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY1355:CYPPRESS:04[04] US Coordinator meets UN, British envoysNicosia, Sep 13 (CNA) -- US State Department Coordinator for Cyprus, Thomas Miller, has said that he brought specific ideas on the Cyprus problem, which he will raise during his meetings on the island.He made the statement after a working breakfast this morning with top UN envoy in Cyprus, Gustave Feissel, in the presence of US Ambassador to Cyprus, Kenneth Brill and British High Commissioner, David Madden. In a short statement to the press, Miller said "...what I bring is specific ideas I will take up in my conversations over the next couple of days." The American diplomat arrived yesterday for his first visit since his appointment. During the past week, he held talks in Ankara and Athens. On Monday he will be received by President Glafcos Clerides and have a meeting with Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash. On Thursday he is scheduled to meet European Union Commissioner responsible for external affairs, Hans Van den Broek, in Brussels. CNA EC/MM/1997ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCYCNA ENDSCyprus News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |