Cyprus News Agency: News in English (AM), 98-08-27

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

CONTENTS

[01] Turkish air violations

[02] Overseas Cypriots - Conference

[03] Opposition - President - Missiles

1110:CYPPRESS:01

[01] Turkish air violations

The violations, the latest in a series of such incidents, happened a few hours only before President Glafcos Clerides left for Athens for talks with the Greek government to discuss, among other issues, defence matters.

Two Turkish reconnaissance RF4 entered Nicosia FIR (Flight Information Region) shortly before noon Wednesday and flew along the island's northern coast towards the eastern town of Famagusta.

They also flew over the southern and western coastline before leaving, a flight lasting just under an hour.

A few minutes before noon, another two RF4 violated the air space and followed much the same route as the previous team flying for nearly an hour.

Two F4 fighters accompanied the reconnaissance planes. Defence Minister, Yiannakis Omirou, has protested the new violations, pointing out that Turkey has proven once more its offensive designs against 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 KN/MM/GP/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1405:CYPPRESS:02

[02] Overseas Cypriots - Conference

At the same time, Humanitarian Affairs Presidential Commissioner, Takis Christopoulos, deplored the absence of cooperation on the part of the Turkish side in efforts to solve the issue of missing persons.

"This issue cannot be resolved without the sincere and substantive cooperation of the Greek and Turkish Cypriot sides. We have always said we are ready to help towards this objective," Christopoulos said.

He said the Turkish Cypriot side renegaded on a UN-brokered agreement for the exchange of information on missing persons and the exhumation of remains.

This, he added, has led the agreement to a deadlock. The Commissioner stressed that all efforts must now be directed to the Turkish Cypriot side to convince it to cooperate in good faith for the resolution of the problem.

Referring to the issue of 610 enclaved persons living in the Turkish- occupied northern part of the island, Christopoulos said his office is making every effort to make their living conditions bearable.

Financial assistance of various means was allocated to the enclaved, most of whom are elderly, and more employment opportunities for the children of the enclaved are now available.

"We shall continue to work diligently to help resolve the different problems we are faced with and to enhance ties with overseas Cypriots in a bid to contribute towards a settlement of the protracted Cyprus question," Christopoulos said.

Director of the Press and Information Office (PIO), George Hadjisavas, thanked overseas Cypriots for their "significant, substantive and at times decisive" contribution to the struggle for justice and freedom for Cyprus.

He assured them all that the PIO will continue to help, to the best of its ability, any function they may decide to organise to promote the just cause of the people of Cyprus.

"It is important to maintain a two-way communication and exchange views and ideas to render our enlightenment campaign a more concerted effort for better results," Hadjisavas said.

He said the PIO has promoted enhanced cooperation with Greece and is taking advantage of the latest technology to outline its positions.

CNA MM/GP/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1440:CYPPRESS:03

[03] Opposition - President - Missiles

The party has called on President Glafcos Clerides to take the responsibility for the issue of the missiles, due to arrive later this year, and said the President had not consulted AKEL when he placed the multi- million dollar order for the S300 surface-to-air missiles.

"I have no doubt that there will be a postponement (in their delivery), not to say a cancellation of the deal at the end of the day, after many delays," AKEL General Secretary Demetris Christofias said here today.

His comments come as President Clerides confers with the Greek government in Athens about matters of national interest, including defence issues, Cyprus' European Union accession course and the current impasse in the Cyprus question.

The Cyprus government has been criticised by the US and other about its decision to deploy the Russian missiles, whose initial date of arrival has been put back. Critics claim the acquisition of the missiles would increase tension in the region and jeopardise the peace effort.

Speaking on the sidelines of a meeting of the Unified European Left of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe in this coastal town, Christofias said "I believe the President should take responsibility for the issue of the missiles and act accordingly."

"My party has not been consulted when Clerides placed the order for the S300. I have pointed out to the President that he should take into account the fallout from this order and warned that at the end of the day the US would be extremely critical of such moves," Christofias told the press.

CNA MAN/MA/MM/GP/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

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