Cyprus News Agency: News in English (AM), 98-05-23

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

CONTENTS

[01] Clinton submits report on missing persons

[02] SPORT: Austria - Cyprus 63-49

[03] US disappointment at Holbrooke's unsuccessful mission

1050:CYPPRESS:01

[01] Clinton submits report on missing persons

According to State Department Spokesman, James Rubin, "the report outlines the developments that led to the recovery of remains, identified through DNA testing, of one of the five Americans, Andreas Kassapis".

Rubin said that the report, which is "based on a thorough investigation of all available evidence and information", concludes that the other four Americans "in all likelihood did not survive the events in Cyprus" during the invasion, which resulted in the occupation of 37 percent of the Republic's territory and left 200 thousand refugees and 1619 missing persons.

The team which carried out the investigation, "made a thorough examination of documents" and "conducted numerous in-depth interviews with witnesses and other persons", said Rubin, adding that it also "consulted with the leadership of the two Cypriot communities, as well as with the governments of Greece and Turkey".

Rubin said that the team "worked closely with the Committee on Missing Persons in Cyprus, an autonomous intercommunal body, supported by the United Nations".

The Spokesman added that the confirmation of Kassapis' death to the family was "personally delivered" by State Department Special Coordinator for Cyprus, Thomas Miller.

Rubin added that despite the lack of "physical evidence" of the deaths of the other four Americans, "it would be unrealistic to hold out hope that any of them are still alive", adding that, had they survived, the youngest would now be 84 years old.

CNA RG/GP/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1100:CYPPRESS:02

[02] SPORT: Austria - Cyprus 63-49

Following this defeat Cyprus has slim chances to qualify for the next round, despite three triumphs against the national teams of Ireland (57-56), Norway (55-49) and Luxembourg (52-38).

The Cypriot team play today against Finland.

Austria and Cyprus have seven points followed by Finland, Ireland and Switzerland with six points, and Norway and Luxembourg with five points. CNA/GP/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1115:CYPPRESS:03

[03] US disappointment at Holbrooke's unsuccessful mission

Speaking at a lunch organised by the "Europe" magazine in Washington yesterday, Pickering told CNA that despite the disappointment, the United States will keep on moving in that area.

"That disappointment is not going to deter us", said Pickering.

"Ambassador Holbrooke made clear his own reaction, speaking on behalf of the United States, of disappointment, and said on particular that he was disappointed that Turkey at that point had raised a couple of preconditions, that Turkey was insisting on withdrawal of Cyprus effectively from the European Union accession talks and was insisting on the recognition of the so -called Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus", Pickering added.

The US' official stressed that these preconditions "stood very much in the way of progress and to which we objected".

Expressing the view that there is no reason to abandon the process, Pickering stressed there should be harder work "to persuade those who are not yet ready to move the process ahead, to be more vigorous on their efforts to develop an answer".

Expressing the US' anxiety in finding a solution to the Cyprus' problem, Pickering underlined the importance in continuing these efforts, for stability, reduction of tensions and security on the region, stressing that on this effort, the US are joined by their European Union partners.

Asked on Turkey' s refusal to attend Monday's Association Council with the EU, Pickering pointed out that the US "have encouraged diplomatically and occasionally quietly in public, the idea that Turkey is a European country , that it has a future in Europe, that the EU ought to consider that carefully".

He added that "we believe it has a long-term significance for both Turkey and Europe and should not be seen as either a short-term proposition or one that is not without broad constructive impact on many of the questions that are being considered, particularly in the region of the Aegean and Cyprus, and in the efforts that we are all making to do whatever we can to resolve tensions and difficulties in that area."

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

CNA DA/RM/GP/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

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