Cyprus News Agency: News in English (PM), 97-10-13

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

CONTENTS

[01] British soldier fined

[02] Sweedish Foreign Minister to visit

[03] No legal impediment for Cyprus-EU accession

[04] Clerides arrives in Athens

[05] Greek Defence Minister arrives

[06] Greek Defence Minister starts contacts

1730:CYPPRESS:01

[01] British soldier fined

Famagusta District Court ordered Serviceman Roger Bell, 26 serving at the British Base of Dhekelia, to pay 1.450 Cyprus pounds (around 2.900 US dollars) for assaulting three British tourists.

Bell attacked Shane Bell, 23, Barry Ford, 23 and his girlfriend Claire Harbour, 23, causing them grievous bodily harm.

Judge Michalis Christodoulou said the soldier's behaviour was inadmissible and stressed that Cyprus has every excuse to worry from such attacks that harm its tourist industry.

Another three British soldiers were charged with causing grievous bodily harm to the three British tourists.

Prosecutors, though, dropped charges against them due to lack of evidence. CNA MAN/MK/MCH 1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1840:CYPPRESS:02

[02] Sweedish Foreign Minister to visit

On Wednesday, Hjelm-Wallen will be received by President Glafcos Clerides and later on meet with President of the House of Representatives, Spyros Kyprianou.

She will hold talks with her Cypriot counterpart Ioannis Kasoulides, who will host a dinner in her honour.

On Thursday the Foreign Ministers will have a second meeting after which Hjelm-Wallen will depart for Sweden.

Hjelm-Wallen will be accompanied by officials of the Swedish Foreign Ministry, including the country's ambassador to Cyprus John Hm Hagard, (based in Tel Aviv), Director of European Integration Sven-Olof Petersson and Special Advisor on Cyprus Affairs, Kaj Falkman.

CNA MCH/MM/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1915:CYPPRESS:03

[03] No legal impediment for Cyprus-EU accession

They also ascertained that the Republic of Cyprus is the only legitimate and internationally recognised state and that the purported "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus" has no international status.

The opinion of the three professors, all members of the International Law Commission, said "the Cyprus Republic had the right to submit an application for accession and there is no legal impediment in its goal to become a full member of the European Union."

The legal opinion dismisses Turkish claims that the Republic's Constitution poses legal obstacles to any attempt by Cyprus to join the EU.

The professors, in their joint opinion, said the provision stipulating that the Republic cannot participate "in whole or in part in any political or economic union with any state whatever" does not prevent it in any way from joining the Union.

"This provision prevents union with another state and not cooperation with a team of states such as the EU," it pointed out.

The opinion also discards Turkish claims that the Republic of Cyprus no longer exists in its original state, as created by the relevant Treaties in 1960, in that the country is now divided and operates, according to Turkey, as two separate states.

Markides pointed out that the EU avis on the Cypriot application as well as the view of the law experts make it clear there is no other legal entity in Cyprus except the legitimate government of the internationally recognised Republic of Cyprus.

The UN General Assembly, the Security Council and the European Court of Human Rights all back this view as well, he added.

Cyprus applied for EU membership in July 1990 and is due to begin accession talks in spring next year.

CNA MM/MCH/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1935:CYPPRESS:04

[04] Clerides arrives in Athens

Athens, Oct 13 (CNA) -- President Glafcos Clerides denounced violations of Cyprus' airspace by Turkish fighters and expressed satisfaction with the response of the Greek air-force.

He was speaking on arrival in Athens this evening where he will meet tomorrow with Greek Prime Minister Costas Simitis to brief him on meetings he had during his trip to the US, Strasbourg and London.

Commenting on recent violations of the Republic's airspace by Turkish fighters, Clerides said: "I denounce them but I commend the Greek air-force for responding accordingly."

Regarding the recent visit to Ankara of US Presidential Emissary Richard Holbrooke, Clerides said it was of "substantial importance" and did not aim to reduce tension in the region.

President Clerides was received at Athens airport by Greek Deputy Foreign Minister, Yiannos Kranidiotis and Cypriot Ambassador to Greece, Charalambos Christoforou.

The Cyprus President is accompanied by Foreign Minister Ioannis Kasoulides and Government Spokesman Manolis Christofides.

CNA MA/MCH/MM/1997

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1935:CYPPRESS:05

[05] Greek Defence Minister arrives

He also reiterated Greece's staunch support for Cyprus, noting that close military cooperation between the two countries aims at "dealing with the common threat."

"We have big challenges ahead of us and we must be optimistic that we can make next year the year of the big positive changes in the Cyprus problem," the Minister said on arrival at Larnaca airport.

He described Turkey as a "destabilising factor" in that it questions international law and claims to reverse the status quo in the Aegean.

"Turkey is accountable for the continuing occupation of part of the Republic of Cyprus and Turkish threats for the use of force are nothing more than attempts to legalise the status quo," Tsohatzopoulos said.

The Greek Minister chastised Turkey for denying its own citizens the right to self-determination and restricting human rights to millions of Kurds while at the same time it threatens to integrate Cyprus' occupied areas if Cyprus joins the EU.

Referring to Turkish interference with Greek air manoeuvres, he said these were part of Turkey's offensive designs against Greece and Cyprus.

"We are strong enough to ensure that Turkey's designs will not get through," he added.

CNA MM/MCH/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1015:CYPPRESS:06

[06] Greek Defence Minister starts contacts

First stop was a meeting with House President and Acting President of the Republic Spyros Kyprianou.

He said he briefed the House President on efforts Greece is making to safeguard security, stability and cooperation in the region.

"The only thing that would benefit the people in this region is dialogue and application of international law," he said.

Kyprianou described the meeting as "very interesting" and said he was pleased the joint Greco-Cypriot defence pact not only is alive and well but efforts are being made to boost it.

"Effective defence is one of the prerequisites for a successful outcome of our struggle for justice," Kyprianou said after the meeting.

Later Tsohatzopoulos told the House Defence Committee that Turkey's security is at risk as a result of its own attempts to act as a regional power, which operates as a distabilising factor in its bid to impose its own strategic role.

Committee chairman Takis Hadjidemetriou welcomed warmly the Greek Minister and said increased defence capability alters Turkish designs.

"As long as Turkey maintains its occupation troops on the island, it is imperative to boost our defences and consolidate our cooperation with Greece, which in any case has a contractual obligation and national responsibility towards Cyprus," he said.

Later this evening, Tsohatzopoulos met with the Primate of the Church of Cyprus, Archbishop Chrysostomos who asked for Greece's support for a just settlement in Cyprus.

CNA MM/MCH/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

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