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Cyprus News Agency: News in English (PM), 99-05-19Cyprus News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Cyprus News Agency at <http://www.cyna.org.cy>CONTENTS
1510:CYPPRESS:01[01] Cypriot MPs - Meetings in FranceNicosia, May 19 (CNA) -- French parliamentary officials have expressed regret at the tolerance the international community has shown towards the Turkish occupation of part of Cyprus, while acting decisively in other cases, such as Yugoslavia.They also agreed with their Cypriot colleagues that any connection of Cyprus' bid to join the European Union to a prior settlement of the Cyprus problem would be tantamount to giving Turkey a veto. A Cyprus parliamentary delegation is on an official three-day visit to France at the invitation of the President of the France - Cyprus Friendship Group in the country's National Assembly Michel Gregoire. A House Press release issued here today said the Cypriot delegation had meetings with Jacques Lang, President of the National Assembly Foreign Relations Committee, and MPs Raymond Forni and Michel Vaxes. The French MPs expressed disappointment with the fact that the illegal Turkish occupation of part of Cyprus is continuing with the tolerance of the international community, the press release said. Turkish troops have been occupying 37 per cent of Cyprus territory since 1974, in violation of repeated UN resolutions calling for their withdrawal. The House statement added that during the Paris meetings special mention was made of the fact that the western countries interfered in other conflicts in the European region, such as Yugoslavia, claiming reasons of principle. Lang expressed indignation against the fact that the west is showing tolerance towards Turkey, at a time when it interferes in Yugoslavia, it said. The Cypriot delegation visiting France is headed by Tassos Papadopoulos, Chairman of the House Foreign and European Affairs Committee and includes MPs Prodromos Prodromou, George Lilikas, Elias Myrianthous and Androula Vassiliou. CNA MA/GP/1999ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY1515:CYPPRESS:02[02] Cyprus - Accession talksBrussels, May 19 (CNA) -- Cyprus and the European Union today concluded substantive negotiations on three more chapters relating to the acquis communautaire, which will be approved by the Foreign Ministers of the two sides in Luxembourg on June 22.The chapters deal with consumer and health protection, external trade relations and customs union. Cyprus' chief negotiator in the accession talks with the European Union George Vassiliou expressed full satisfaction with the accession negotiations course. He said Cyprus continues to lead the five other central and eastern European countries that also opened substantive talks last November. Since the start of the screening process 14 out of 27 chapters have been examined, while substantive negotiations on nine chapters have been completed. CNA NB/MA/GP/1999ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY1830:CYPPRESS:03[03] House President - ReturnLarnaca, May 19 (CNA) -- A visit to Iran by a multi-party parliamentary delegation has paved the way for increased cooperation in all fields and has established that religion is no obstacle to closer links between Cyprus and Iran, House President Spyros Kyprianou, head of the delegation, has said.Commenting on an incident at the Cyprus embassy, still under investigation, Kyprianou said inquires so far indicate that this aimed at creating problems in discussions for enhanced bilateral ties. Speaking on arrival from Teheran, Kyprianou described his visit as "excellent and very successful", noting that "it was made clear that Iran wishes closer cooperation with Cyprus." "I believe the road for much closer relations in trade, tourism and the economy was opened. We have laid down the foundations for a new era of cooperation in all fields," Kyprianou said. He added that the ministers of foreign affairs and commerce, industry and tourism are expected to visit Iran. "The response to our positions with regard the Cyprus question was absolutely right and we are fully satisfied for the support of fundamental principles which relate to our national problem," Kyprianou added. He pointed out that "perhaps the most important part of our discussions was the agreement that religion is no obstacle to close cooperation, nor does it pose any problem in the support we have for our positions on the Cyprus issue." Cyprus has been divided since 1974 when Turkish troops invaded and occupied 37 per cent of the island's territory. Referring to an incident at the Republic's embassy in Teheran, Kyprianou said inquiries are still continuing and cautioned against exaggeration. "What I can say is that this was an act on the part of some people who do not wish to see improved ties between Cyprus and Iran," he said. According to the Foreign Ministry in Nicosia, the embassy guard was attacked early Monday morning by three or four unknown assailants. The attack came five days after the Ambassador received a threatening letter demanding 300.000 dollars. The attackers managed to escape before police got to the embassy. A small object was found in the area which is being examined. CNA MM/EC/1999ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY1840:CYPPRESS:04[04] British MPs - InterviewNicosia, May 19 (CNA) -- Two British MPs have criticised the West for inaction in Cyprus when Turkey used ethnic cleansing tactics and attributed this to Turkey's importance within NATO over human rights considerations.Tony Benn and Jeremy Corbyn, of the ruling Labour party, believe that NATO cannot win the war in Yugoslavia and said a solution has to be sought through the UN. In an interview with LGR (London Greek Radio), Tony Benn said there is a "precise parallel" between the situation in Cyprus and what is going on in the Balkans at present. He noted that Britain, a guarantor power of the independence of the Republic of Cyprus as stipulated in the Treaty of Guarantee, did nothing when Turkish troops invaded Cyprus in 1974 and the Greek Cypriots of northern Cyprus were ethnically cleansed. Benn further said the Americans backed ethnic cleansing in Cyprus because of Turkey's importance in NATO. "It is absolutely hypocritical to say this (bombing) is necessary because of Slobodan Milosevic (Yugoslav President), I do not support Milosevic and there is no doubt there is brutality there by the Serbs against the Albanians," the Labour MP said. It is "the hypocrisy of the West that is so obvious," particularly for Greek Cypriots from the northern part of Cyprus who were driven out by the Turks, he added. Assessing the situation in Yugoslavia, he said the problem has to go before the UN, where the Russian and Chinese point of view will have to be taken into consideration. "That is the only way of resolving the problem unless you are going to invade and I am completely opposed to that," Benn stressed. In his remarks to LGR, Jeremy Corbyn said the parallel between Kosovo and Cyprus is "absolutely understandable" and referred to the 1974 Turkish invasion of Cyprus, which drove out the population there and brought in large numbers of settlers as well as the Turkish army. "The reluctance of the West to put any real pressure on Turkey to withdraw from northern Cyprus and allow the peaceful reunification of Cyprus is more than anything to do with Turkey's membership of NATO and indeed the presence of large bases in Turkey," Corbyn explained. He also pointed out that Turkey's membership of NATO is viewed as something far more important than the human rights of ethnic minorities within Turkey or indeed the activities of Turkey outside its own borders as they did in Cyprus. He expressed regret about the bombing and the massive pollution in Yugoslavia but sounded optimistic about the fresh Russian - German initiative. CNA MM/EC/1999ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY1855:CYPPRESS:05[05] Permanent Secretaries - AppointmentsNicosia, May 19 (CNA) -- The Council of Ministers has announced the new appointments to the post of permanent secretary at the Ministries of Defence, Justice and Public Order and Interior.Government Spokesman Costas Serezis announced that Petros Kareklas will be posted at the Ministry of Defence and Lazaros Savides at the Ministry of Justice and Public Order. He also said Andreas Panayiotou will take over at the Interior Ministry. CNA MM/EC/1999ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY1700:CYPPRESS:06[06] Cyprus - Website - Greek languageNicosia, May 19 (CNA) -- The Press and Information Office, which is responsible for the application of the government policy on mass communication, has announced that its website is now also available in the Greek language.The site provides information on a wide range of topics including the history and culture of the island, its political problem and the relevant UN resolutions, and Cyprus' relations with the UN, the European Union and the Council of Europe. It also includes information on the latest developments on the Cyprus question. The PIO is planning to enrich the site by including the Government Spokesman's daily briefing in the near future. The site can be reached at: http://www.pio.gov.cy/greek/index.html CNA GG/EC/1999ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY2015:CYPPRESS:07[07] Kasoulides - European tourLarnaca, May 19 (CNA) -- Foreign Minister Ioannis Kasoulides announced here today that he would visit the Netherlands and Denmark next week.The announcement was made on his return from Sweden, where he had talks with his Swedish counterpart Anna Lindh and other officials. Kasoulides told the press that next week's visit to Denmark and the Netherlands would almost complete his tour of European Union, (EU) member states. In his lecture at the Swedish Institute of International Affairs on Cyprus' EU course, Kasoulides said Cyprus, as an EU member could contribute to the stability and prosperity of the big European family. He also said the accession process is the best and probably the only way to reach a speedy solution of the Cyprus question. CNA MM/EC/1999ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY2020:CYPPRESS:08[08] Cyprus - European Convention on Cinematographic Co-productionNicosia, May 19 (CNA) --Cyprus today signed the European Convention on Cinematographic Co-production.The Convention was signed by Ambassador Thalia Petrides, Permanent Representative of Cyprus to the Council of Europe (CoE) in Strasbourg in the presence of Deputy Secretary General of CoE, Hans Christian Kruger. The Convention meets the need for harmonisation of the present situation and provides a set of rules governing relations between states in multilateral co-production of cinematographic films, a CoE press release said here Wednesday. It applies to co-productions involving at least three different states and meeting the definition of a European cinematographic work. The Convention's provisions define in particular the status of multilateral co-productions, which are entitled to the benefits granted to national films, the conditions for obtaining co-production status, the rights of co-producers and the proportion of contributions from each co- producer. It facilitates the action started in 1989 by the CoE's EURIMAGES Fund to promote European co-productions. CNA DG/EC/1999ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCYCNA ENDSCyprus News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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