Cyprus News Agency: News in English (AM), 97-10-02

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

CONTENTS

[01] European Ministers to discuss water resources

[02] Cyprus is not Turkey's "colony", says Clerides

[03] Three specialised exhibitions

[04] UN Chief congratulates Cyprus on independence

[05] Greek ambassador replies to Turkish threats

[06] Czech Minister to visit Cyprus

[07] Morphou anti-occupation events

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[01] European Ministers to discuss water resources

During the conference, to be held in the southern coastal town of Limassol, the 40 Ministers will also draw up a sustainable and coordinated European strategy on the issue.

Cypriot Interior Minister, Dinos Michaelides, will open the two-day conference on October 16.

Luxembourg Regional Planning Minister, Alex Bodry, will then speak on sustainable regional and spatial planning in Europe and the protection of water resources.

How to preserve limited freshwater stocks and guarantee high standards for watercourses and water reserves as well as ways of balancing the protection of natural resources with population needs will be discussed.

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[02] Cyprus is not Turkey's "colony", says Clerides

President Clerides' interview was broadcast on "Show TV" and published in the Turkish newspaper "Sabah" and the English-language daily, "Turkish Daily News".

President Clerides repeated that the Russian-made defensive S-300 anti- aircraft missile system, will be installed on the island, unless progress towards a Cyprus settlement is made or an agreement for the demilitarisation is reached.

The S-300 do not pose a threat to Turkey unless it intends to launch an attack against Cyprus, President Clerides said.

He referred to Ankara's attempts to prevent Cyprus' accession to the European Union, stressing that Cyprus is neither a "colony" nor a "protectorate" of Turkey.

Birand, who came to Cyprus for the interview, said the anti-aircraft missiles do not pose a threat to Turkey but claimed they could reverse strategic balance between Greece and Turkey.

Turkey has reacted strongly to Cyprus' decision to buy the Russian surface-to-air S-300 missile system expected to be deployed on the island in mid-1998.

Turkish troops have been occupying 37 per cent of Cyprus territory since 1974, in violation of repeated UN resolutions calling for their withdrawal.

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[03] Three specialised exhibitions

These free-entrance exhibitions are the 10th Agri Fair, the Watertech Exhibition, and the Machinery and Tools Exhibition.

Demetris Ioannou, Chairman of the Cyprus State Fairs Authority, told the press the three spacialised exhibitions are pioneer in their structure, organisation, and content.

The Agri fair, which is organised every other year, presents the latest technological and scientific achievements in agriculture, and the progress of the rural economy of Cyprus, Ioannou said.

A record number of 90 exhibitors will participate in the 10th Agri Fair.

Twenty-one exhibitors will participate in the Watertech Exhibition, the second exhibition.

They will display hi-tech products specialising in handling problems of irrigation, water supply, water management and water conservation.

The Machinery and Tools Exhibition is focusing on hand tools, power tools, lifting and cleaning equipment, packaging machinery, and other related products.

Thirty-five exhibitors will participate in this exhibition, which is being organised for the first time.

Meanwhile, the SFA announced that the 2nd General Assembly of the Mediterranean Trade Fairs Association will take place in Limassol on October 6-7.

The Cyprus State Fairs Authority is a founding member of the Association, which was set up by the fairs authorities of Mediterranean towns, such as Thessaloniki, Marseille, Barcelona, Lisbon, Tel Aviv, Casablanca and Cairo.

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[04] UN Chief congratulates Cyprus on independence

In a congratulatory telegram to President Glafcos Clerides, on the occasion of Cyprus' independence (October 1), Kofi Annan welcomes the Republic's efforts "to promote the ideal of global understanding that is enshrined in the UN Charter."

He says "I look forward to building upon the already close relationship that exists between Cyprus and the World Organisation at a time when cooperation among nations is crucial for success in dealing with the challenges that face us all."

President Clerides has received scores of congratulatory messages from heads of state and government.

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[05] Greek ambassador replies to Turkish threats

Christos Zacharakis has condemned Turkey's policy to threaten other countries to prevent them for exercising their legitimate rights.

Zacharakis sent a letter to UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, in response to a letter by his Turkish counterpart Huseyn Celem about Cyprus' decision to buy the Russian surface-to-air missile system S-300.

"No nation can abdicate its right of self-defence or shirk its responsibility to protect its citizens from aggression," the Greek ambassador says.

He adds Turkey has not complied with UN resolutions on Cyprus and after 23 years the international community has been unable to achieve the withdrawal or reduction of Turkish troops occupying 37 percent of the island's territory.

"The need of the Republic of Cyprus to face this continuing threat is stronger than ever," Zacharakis says.

He adds "trying to redress somewhat the overwhelming imbalance, Cyprus has undertaken an effort to upgrade its defence."

A 35.000-strong Turkish force has been occupying 37 per cent of Cyprus territory since 1974, in violation of repeated UN resolutions.

Zacharakis adds that "Greece, itself a guarantor power, has the legal and moral obligation to assist this effort."

Greece, along with Britain and Turkey, guaranteed Cyprus' sovereignty when the island gained its independence from British colonial rule in 1960.

Referring to a joint defence doctrine agreed by the governments of Cyprus and Greece in 1993, the Greek diplomat clarifies "it has no offensive content".

"Turkey's objections to the concept of upgrading Cypriot defence with a system of purely anti-aircraft missiles have the sole intention of protecting the military status quo on the island," he adds.

Zacharakis points out the government of Cyprus depends the continuation of its defence programme on a just and viable solution to the Cyprus problem, through political means, or the demilitarisation of the island.

He also replies to threats by the Turkish Permanent Representative, included in the letter, that his country "cannot remain indifferent to developments" and "will take corresponding measures" if the S-300 are deployed next year.

"They reflect the consistent pattern of thought and action of Turkish foreign policy, which repeatedly uses threats in order to prevent the exercise of the legitimate rights of other countries," the Greek diplomat notes.

Zacharakis' letter and a similar letter from Cyprus' Permanent Representative, Nicos Agathocleous, circulated today as officials documents of the General Assembly and the Security Council.

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[06] Czech Minister to visit Cyprus

The Czech Minister will hold talks tomorrow with his Cypriot counterpart Costas Petrides.

An official press release said the two Ministers will discuss ways and means to promote cooperation between the two countries in the field of agriculture.

Lux will be received tomorrow by Acting President, House of Representatives President, Spyros Kyprianou, and Acting House President Nicos Anastasiades.

President Glafcos Clerides leaves today for New York.

The Czech Minister will also have a meeting with the Primate of the Orthodox Church of Cyprus, Archbishop Chrysostomos.

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[07] Morphou anti-occupation events

Morphou Mayor, Antigoni Pericleous-Papadopoulou, told a press conference today that the events aim to convey the message that Morphou refugees "not only do not forget but continue to fight and demand" their rights.

The week-long events include a campaign aimed at enlightening tourists and foreigners about the Cyprus problem.

The "House of Morphou" will be inaugurated on October 6 to serve as a cultural centre and a focal point for Morphou refugees.

Among the municipality's activities is to take part in the 10th Cyprus Agri Fair. Before the Turkish invasion, Morphou was the centre of Cyprus' orange groves.

On October 10, 12 British MP's will arrive on the island to take part in the Morphou anti-occupation march. Among them will be Eddie O'Hara, Alan Meale and Tom Cox.

British Euro MP Pauline Green, leader of the Socialist Group in the European Parliament, will also join the Morphou marchers.

The march on October 12 will be the climax of the events dedicated to Morphou.

Marchers will gather in the morning at Astromeritis village near the cease-fire line, west of the capital Nicosia.

They will attend a prayer at the church of Saint Evxivios for the return of refugees to their homes and the return of people missing since the 1974 Turkish invasion and occupation of the island's northern third.

They will then head for Morphou, only to stop at the UN post to hand over a petition to a UN area officer, calling for the reunification of Cyprus and the return of refugees to their homes.

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