Cyprus News Agency: News in English (AM), 97-11-28

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

CONTENTS

[01] Cypriot Minister meets British envoy

[02] Cyprus hosts top AEA meeting

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[01] Cypriot Minister meets British envoy

On his part, Britain's special representative for Cyprus Sir David Hannay described as "helpful" his two-hour discussions with Kasoulides here last night, but refrained from giving any details.

"Sir David told me he was never of the opinion that the (Turkish) settlers should stay (in Cyprus), although he did point out that there may be certain humanitarian considerations with regard to people who are married to (Turkish) Cypriots," Kasoulides told the media.

The Foreign Minister added: "Having heard what Sir David had to say, I am a lot happier and I would say perhaps even more contended than I was before our meeting."

Earlier in the day Kasoulides told the London Greek Radio he considered Sir David's objectivity and usefulness as a mediator had been damaged by his remarks on the settlers.

The British envoy was earlier this month quoted by the Cyprus daily "Phileleftheros" as saying that settlers in the occupied part of Cyprus married to Turkish Cypriots had acquired the pseudostate's so-called "citizenship" and therefore had the right to remain on the island after a Cyprus solution.

Sir David told the media after the London meeting "I had a very good and useful discussion with the Minister and all the subjects that come up under the Cyprus issue and I think that it has been very helpful."

He refused, however, to say anything about the issue of Turkish settlers in the occupied areas of Cyprus, noting he did not want to add to what he had told British MPs earlier in the day.

Sir David told MPs there had been no change in the British government stand against recognition of the breakaway "state".

The British envoy attended also yesterday a meeting in Paris on the Cyprus question with UN Secretary-General's Special Advisor for Cyprus, Diego Cordovez, and the European Union's envoy on Cyprus Kester Heaslip, but gave no details on this.

"Cordovez who had been to Brussels yesterday (Wednesday) to brief Hans van den Broek briefed the special representatives on his visits to Ankara, Athens and Cyprus. It was a useful discussion but just a briefing meeting," he said.

Kasoulides also said he had discussed with the British envoy ways for the smooth resumption of Cyprus peace talks after the presidential elections of February 1998, as well as Cyprus' accession course towards the EU and the December EU summit in Luxembourg.

Earlier in the day the Foreign Minister had a meeting with the Cyprus branch of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Union, chaired by Labour MP Tom Cox.

Cox told reporters the branch's MPs had a meeting with Sir David on Wednesday, who clarified to them what exactly he meant with his statements about the settlers.

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

Only Turkey recognises the puppet regime unilaterally declared in November 1983. The UN has called on all states "not to recognise" the self- styled entity and "not to facilitate or in any way assist the aforesaid secessionist entity."

Kasoulides returns to Cyprus this afternoon.

CNA KT/AP/GP/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1220:CYPPRESS:02

[02] Cyprus hosts top AEA meeting

Among other issues, the heads of AEA members will discuss the environmental policy of the Association, the function of the European system for air traffic control, the issues of competitiveness arising from the single European market and the European Union's air transport policy towards non-member countries.

The AEA had decided to hold this one-day meeting in this eastern Mediterranean island to honour the 50th anniversary of Cyprus' national carrier, Cyprus Airways.

Cyprus Airways became an AEA member in 1992.

CNA AP/GP/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

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