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

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

CONTENTS

[01] "Radiomarathon '97" continues

[02] Holbrooke meets jointly Clerides, Denktash

[03] Joint meeting continues without advisors

[04] Holbrooke meets leaders for four hours

[05] UN envoy comments on Holbrooke's discussions

0900:CYPPRESS:01

[01] "Radiomarathon '97" continues

"Radiomarathon '97", organised for the seventh consecutive year to raise funds and increase public awareness for the problems children with special needs face, entered today its second and last day. It is scheduled to finish at midnight.

The event is jointly organised by the Cyprus Popular (Laiki) Bank and the Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation (CyBC).

Yiannis Kouros, the Greek super-marathon runner, continues today his run across the island to raise funds. Kouros symbolically started his run last week from the birthplace of the Olympic Games, ancient Olympia, Greece.

Meanwhile, other runs, cycling and relay competitions are being held today along with collection stands all over Cyprus and piggy-bank vehicles touring the countryside, in an effort to surpass last year's record of 1,2 million pounds.

This year's Radiomarathon will culminate this evening with a sports fiesta at the Eleftheria stadium, in Nicosia, where Greek heavy-weight lifting medalists in the Atlanta Olympics will try to break their own records.

Top Cypriot and Greek artists will tonight appear at a live TV programme where art works and other valuable items will be auctioned.

President Glafcos Clerides has described the Radiomarathon as the "top charity institution of the Cypriot society" and gave a personal picture of special sentimental value for the auction.

Local TV and radio stations and Greek speaking stations in Greece, Britain, Canada, South Africa and Australia participate this year in the event, giving it a wider geographical expansion.

The total funds raised in the previous six charity events under the slogan "even the smallest contribution is big" reached more than 5 million Cyprus pounds.

CNA AP/GP/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

0950:CYPPRESS:02

[02] Holbrooke meets jointly Clerides, Denktash

The meeting between Cyprus President Glafcos Clerides and Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash is taking place at the Ledra Palace hotel, situated in the UN-controlled buffer zone, in Nicosia.

Immediately after their arrival at the hotel the three men gave the press a photo opportunity. It was announced that the joint meeting would be followed by a working lunch.

President Clerides was accompanied by Alecos Markides, the Republic's Attorney-General and his advisor on the Cyprus problem, and Denktash by his political advisor Ergun Olgun.

While President Clerides refrained from making any statements upon arrival at the hotel, Denktash said the island's accession to the European Union could be "freely discussed" once the Turkish Cypriots' "status of political sovereignty is recognised."

Holbrooke, who arrived in Cyprus last night, said he did not "expect any breakthrough while we're here." He added "I'm not trying for any big deal on this trip."

He noted however that President Clerides and Denktash were willing to continue talking.

The US presidential envoy had Monday evening separate meetings with President Clerides and Denktash, but no statements were made by any side after these meetings.

US State Department Special Coordinator for Cyprus, Thomas Miller, is accompanying Holbrooke. He arrived here last Sunday and yesterday he had separate meetings with the two leaders ahead of Holbrooke's discussions.

Later today, Holbrooke is scheduled to give a press conference at the Ledra Palace hotel for Greek and Turkish Cypriot reporters as well as for foreign correspondents.

CNA MA/AP/GP/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1200:CYPPRESS:03

[03] Joint meeting continues without advisors

The meeting started around 0900 hours (0700 GMT) and some two hours later Richard Holbrooke was left with President Glafcos Clerides and Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash to continue their talks on the protracted Cyprus question.

Attorney-General Alecos Markides, political advisor to President Clerides, and Denktash's advisor Necmetin Munir Ertegun left just before 1100 the Ledra Palace hotel, in the UN-controlled buffer zone, Nicosia, where the joint meeting takes place.

A UN spokesman told reporters the joint meeting will be followed by a working lunch.

Arrangements have been made at the Ledra Palace Hotel for a press conference the US presidential envoy will give, most probably after the lunch.

CNA MA/AP/GP/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1415:CYPPRESS:04

[04] Holbrooke meets leaders for four hours

In a statement after the meeting Richard Holbrooke said he leaves the island "with a very much improved understanding of the views of the two leaders" and stressed "this was not a negotiation".

The first meeting between President Glafcos Clerides and Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash in Holbrooke's presence was held at the Ledra Palace hotel in the UN-controlled buffer zone in Nicosia.

The US emissary refrained from revealing what was discussed and said "these were informal talks, we did not expect any results today that would be substantive."

In response to local criticism that he is here to back President Clerides' candidature in February's presidential elections, Holbrooke said "we are not here to involve ourselves in a domestic political election in the Republic of Cyprus."

He said he discussed with the leaders of the two communities "issues that have long divided this troubled land."

"I leave with a very much improved understanding of the views of the two leaders who are both effective, articulate, intelligent and tenacious exponents of their points of view."

Holbrooke, accompanied by the State Department special Cyprus coordinator, Tom Miller, will leave today for Ankara for meetings with Turkish Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz, Deputy Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit, Foreign Minister Ismael Cem and other government officials.

The American envoy, who was appointed earlier this year and was on his first visit to Cyprus with this capacity, said he has no present plans as to when he will return.

"Ambassador Miller and I will be travelling to the region frequently and you should not assume that each trip means we are on the edge of a major negotiating breakthrough," he said.

Holbrooke concluded that "we just want to keep the process going and we will work in close conjunction with the UN who's special representative Diego Cordovez will be visiting here within a few days."

Cyprus has been divided since Turkey invaded and occupied 37 percent of its territory in 1974. (More later)

CNA MA/GP/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1420:CYPPRESS:05

[05] UN envoy comments on Holbrooke's discussions

Speaking after the joint meeting of US Presidential Emissary on Cyprus, Richard Holbrooke, with President Glafcos Clerides and Turkish Cypriot leader, Rauf Denktash, Feissel said "it is a positive thing when the two leaders meet".

He also noted that the meeting, coupled by Holbrooke's visit to Cyprus, "is pretty good, as part of our overall effort to find a settlement".

Asked whether there are two procedures going on in Cyprus, namely the UN dialogue on security and the military dialogue on one side, and the procedure initiated by Holbrooke, Feissel said "these are not two different procedures or two different avenues".

He stressed "it is all part of the whole, which is to come up with an overall settlement".

The UN envoy mentioned that Holbrooke "came here, he had meetings with the two leaders, which is perfectly normal, there is nothing unusual about that".

He also said that UN Secretary-General's Special Advisor on Cyprus, Diego Cordovez, will be arriving in Cyprus on November 18 and will meet with the two leaders the following day.

CNA RG/GP/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

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