Cyprus News Agency: News in English (AM), 98-07-25

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

CONTENTS

[01] US - Pangalos - Cyprus

[02] Greek deputies - visit

[03] Cyprus Ambassador - Armenia

[04] AHI - Clinton - Turkish threats

[05] Cyprus - UN - Turkish violations

[06] Turkish President - illegal visit

[07] Greek President visits Nicosia Green Line

0950:CYPPRESS:01

[01] US - Pangalos - Cyprus

Greece, according to the US State Department, has cancelled meetings US Coordinator for Cyprus Thomas Miller was due to have today in Athens. Miller flew to the Greek capital on Friday evening for talks, following his meetings in Cyprus with President Glafcos Clerides and Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash.

White House spokesman Mike McCurry said Pangalos' remarks were "intemperate, disappointing, undiplomatic and unbecoming of a senior official of a close ally".

He described the comments as "inconsistent with what are otherwise close and warm bilateral relations we enjoy with the government of Greece" and expressed hope that Pangalos would "revise and extend his remarks because they were not appropriate".

Pangalos told a gathering of overseas Greek deputies that Clinton had made many pre-election pledges about finding a settlement in Cyprus which he did not keep.

This, he is quoted as saying by the Athens News Agency, is a preposterous lie.

He also noted that American weapons find their way to Cyprus' Turkish occupied areas in contravention of US law and said the US, having failed to exercise effective pressure on Turkey, has now turned its attention to Greece.

Pangalos' comments came only days after McCurry had described Turkey's invasion of Cyprus as a "conflict" and steadfastly refused to refer to it as an invasion.

US officials also refrained from commenting on illegal visits to the occupied areas of Cyprus by Turkish officials, including the country's president and premier, and failed to acknowledge that there was a violation of Cyprus' sovereign air space by Turkish aircraft earlier this week, when planes came to mark the 24th anniversary of the Turkish invasion of Cyprus.

The White House spokesman said the US has made verbal representations to Pangalos and expressed its concern in a formal note through its Athens- based ambassador, Nicholas Burns.

"Pangalos' remarks amounted to accusing the US President of being a liar on issues related to Cyprus", McCurry told his briefing on Friday.

The spokesman said he had already contacted Senator Paul Sarbanes, a leading Greek American, over the remarks and "explained very carefully our determination to pursue reconciliation with respect to Cyprus".

"We think that our diplomatic efforts have been designed to help, and undiplomatic statements are not helpful", he added.

US State Department spokesman Lee McLeeny said the US is "extremely disappointed by the remarks" which he described as "objectionable, unwarranted and clearly surprising and inappropriate".

Noting these were made by a NATO ally, he said they were "inconsistent with the Greek government's decision to cancel Miller's visit in the region to continue US efforts to promote a Cyprus settlement".

"The US, under President Clinton's leadership, has tried mightily to help resolve the Cyprus problem. Our efforts are fair and objective and their aim is to achieve a united Cyprus on a bizonal, bicommunal and federal basis", he added.

McLeeny said that disagreements between allies should not be aired in public but concerns should be shared privately "rather than resort to unreasonable public statements".

CNA DA/MM/RG/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1110:CYPPRESS:02

[02] Greek deputies - visit

The visit takes place in the framework of the second annual congress of the Union, held from 19 to 27 July in Athens, Thrace, Chios and Cyprus.

During its stay on the island, the delegation will meet with President Glafcos Clerides, Foreign Minister Ioannis Kasoulides, Acting House president and leader of the Democratic Rally party Nicos Anastasiades and the House Foreign Affairs Committee.

The delegation leaves Monday.

CNA RG/MM/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1115:CYPPRESS:03

[03] Cyprus Ambassador - Armenia

President Kocharian was speaking at a ceremony in the capital Yerevan, where Cyprus' Ambassador to Russia, Platon Kyriakides, presented his credentials.

Kyriakides thanked the Armenian President for his country's support to the just struggle of the people of Cyprus to restore the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Republic of Cyprus, divided since Turkish troops invaded and occupied its northern areas.

During a private meeting with Kyriakides, President Kocharian pointed out that Armenia would like closer bilateral relations with Cyprus in all sectors.

The two men had a wide exchange of views on matters relating to the development of bilateral relations in the political, commercial and economic fields as well as other matters of mutual interest.

CNA RG/MM/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1200:CYPPRESS:04

[04] AHI - Clinton - Turkish threats

In a letter to President Clinton, the American Hellenic Institute (AHI) says the remarks "by Turkish military appointed Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz during his visit to the occupied areas of Cyprus on July 20 lend new urgency to our nation's policy on Cyprus."

It says Mr. Yilmaz's speech contained "an unmistakable warning" that Turkey proposed to use military action if the Russian-made S-300 air defence system is deployed in Cyprus.

The Institute reminds President Clinton "our nation in its traditional capacity as the defender of the small and weak against the powerful and lawless should extend its unqualified support for Cyprus as the victim of Turkish military aggression."

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

"There is now a new contingency for which our government must plan. This is that the Administration's ill-judged campaign to pressure Cyprus into cancelling the S-300 contract will fail and that the military dominated government of Turkey and the Turkish Cypriot leadership may fail to respond to the many conciliatory gestures from the Cyprus government. The result will be the system will be delivered in the Fall, as it should be," AHI adds.

The Institute says when this happens, Turkey will face the choice between following through on its reckless threats of military action or following normal internationally agreed procedures for grievance resolution.

"In weighing its choices Turkey and especially the Turkish military will be particularly responsive to US attitudes. If they feel that our government will look the other way or will not respond forcefully, they will calculate that they can use military force, without paying a price," The American Hellenic Institute adds.

CNA GP/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1215:CYPPRESS:05

[05] Cyprus - UN - Turkish violations

In two letters, which circulated as official documents of the Security Council and the General Assembly, Agis Loizou, the Cyprus' Charge d' affaires, states that on July 17-18, July 18, and July 19-20, sixteen, seven, and nine Turkish military aircraft, respectively, "entered the northern Nicosia Flight Information Region, in violation of international air traffic regulations".

He also points out that on July 18, "Turkey sent five warships" to the occupied port of Kyrenia.

Loizou stresses that "these provocative actions by Turkey are in contravention of the provisions of the Charter of the United Nations and the relevant United Nations resolutions on Cyprus".

Referring specifically to the overflights, Loizou notes that "such intrusions into the Nicosia FIR and the national airspace of the Republic of Cyprus are in violation of international air traffic rules" and at the same time "are in contravention of the provisions of the Security Council resolutions on Cyprus".

Loizou points out that the above mentioned resolutions "state that such overflights increase political tension on the island and undermine efforts towards achieving a final settlement".

The Cypriot diplomat protests against these illegal and provocative actions by Turkey in Cyprus, as they "are in complete disregard of international law, the Charter of the United Nations and the relevant decisions of the Organisation on the question of Cyprus".

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

CNA RG/GP/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1245:CYPPRESS:06

[06] Turkish President - illegal visit

Demirel's unlawful visit comes only days after Turkish Premier Mesut Yilmaz and other government officials came illegally to Cyprus to attend provocative celebrations marking 24 years of occupation of the Republic's northern part.

The Turkish President told the Turkish Cypriot daily "Kibris" a settlement in Cyprus should be based on "two states" and repeated his threats against Cyprus that "whoever bothers the Turkish Cypriots will pay a hefty price."

In previous statements, he said Turkey and the illegal regime in Cyprus were heading towards economic integration.

The government of the Republic of Cyprus has criticised the international community for being so tolerant with Turkey.

"Demirel's statements is further proof that the tolerance shown by the international community aggravates Turkish provocative attitude", Government Spokesman Christos Stylianides said yesterday, ahead of Demirel's visit.

Stylianides called on the international community to stop "patting Turkey on the back and being that tolerant" with it.

The Greek government has criticised the illegal visits in an equally harsh manner, but the US administration refused to comment on the matter.

This is the first time Demirel pays what the Turkish Cypriot press calls "an official" visit to the breakaway regime after a huge fire destroyed large areas on Pentadactylos mountain range two years ago.

Demirel, who is accompanied by 150 officials, including ministers and deputies, will visit six locations in occupied Cyprus, including Famagusta on the eastern coast.

CNA MM/RG/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1020:CYPPRESS:07

[07] Greek President visits Nicosia Green Line

Shortly before departing from Nicosia on the last day of his official visit to Cyprus, Stefanopoulos visited the so-called Green Line dividing the island's capital in two, escorted by Nicosia Mayor Lellos Demetriades.

Asked to describe his feelings, Stefanopoulos said "we share the same feelings that Cypriots have all these years".

He also expressed the hope that the demarcation line will cease to exist and for "peaceful communication in the island".

Greek Foreign Minister, Theodoros Pangalos, and Greek Foreign Under- Secretary, Yiannos Kranidiotis, also visited the Green line along with President Stefanopoulos.

CNA AA/MCH/RG/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

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