CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY, 96-05-13

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From: Panayiotis Zaphiris <[email protected]>

CONTENTS

[01] MINISTER TO ADDRESS EU-CYPRUS ASSOCIATION COUNCIL

[02] EUROPEAN JOURNALISTS MEET IN CYPRUS

[03] THALASSAEMIA TREATMENT UPGRADED

[04] COE RAPPORTEUR BACKS FREEDOM OF MOVEMENT

[05] CLERIDES DOES NOT EXPECT CYPRUS PLAN NOW

[01] MINISTER TO ADDRESS EU-CYPRUS ASSOCIATION COUNCIL

DURING HIS STAY IN BRUSSELS, THE CYPRIOT MINISTER WILL HOLD A SERIES OF MEETINGS WITH EU COUNTERPARTS.

HE WILL ATTEND A JOINT MEETING OF THE FOREIGN MINISTERS OF CYPRUS AND MALTA WITH THE FOREIGN MINISTERS OF THE 15 EU MEMBER-STATES, AS PART OF THE EU POLITICAL DIALOGUE WITH THESE TWO MEDITERRANEAN ISLAND REPUBLICS, BOTH APPLICANTS FOR FULL EU MEMBERSHIP.

MICHAELIDES WILL ALSO HOLD TALKS WITH EU EXTERNAL AFFAIRS COMMISSIONER HANS VAN DEN BROEK.

THE MINISTER'S TALKS IN BRUSSELS WILL FOCUS ON CYPRUS' BID TO BECOME A FULL MEMBER OF THE EU AND THE WORK DONE SO FAR IN THIS DIRECTION.

THE EU COUNCIL OF MINISTERS WITH ITS DECISION ON MARCH 6, 1995 HAS GIVEN CYPRUS AND MALTA A FIRM DATE FOR THE START OF MEMBERSHIP TALKS, SIX MONTHS AFTER THE INTERGOVERNMENTAL CONFERENCE. EU SUMMITS DECIDED THAT CYPRUS AND MALTA WILL BE INVOLVED IN THE NEXT EU ENLARGEMENT.

CYPRUS APPLIED FOR MEMBERSHIP IN JULY 1990. IT SIGNED AN ASSOCIATION AGREEMENT WITH THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITY IN 1972 AND A CUSTOMS UNION AGREEMENT IN 1987.

MICHAELIDES REVEALED THAT DURING THE ASSOCIATION COUNCIL, THE CYPRIOT SIDE WILL PRESENT A NUMBER OF DOCUMENTS CONCERNING VARIOUS SECTORS.

SOME OF THE DOCUMENTS WILL CONCERN THE SITUATION IN CYPRUS' ECONOMY, PREPARATIONS FOR THE ISLAND'S HARMONISATION WITH THE AQUIS COMMUNITATAIRE, AND REVIEW OF THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE ASSOCIATION AND CUSTOMS UNION AGREEMENTS WITH THIS EUROPEAN ECONOMIC GROUPING.

COMMENTING ON DIFFERENCES BETWEEN GREECE WITH OTHER EU MEMBER-STATES REGARDING EU FINANCES TO TURKEY, THE CYPRIOT MINISTER SAID CYPRUS HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THOSE DIFFERENCES.

IT WAS REPORTED THAT MEMBER-STATES HAD CONNECTED EU FINANCES TO TURKEY WITH CYPRUS' COURSE TOWARDS EU MEMBERSHIP.

MICHAELIDES STRESSED THAT CYPRUS COULD NOT BE HELD ''HOSTAGE'' FOR EVER OF EUROPE'S DESIRE TO IMPLEMENT A CUSTOMS UNION AGREEMENT WITH TURKEY.

''WE CONSIDER AS AN UNACCEPTABLE TACTIC TO SUFFER REPERCUSSIONS WHEN EUROPE DECIDES TO DEMAND SOMETHING FROM GREECE,'' MICHAELIDES POINTED OUT.

WHILE IN THE BELGIAN CAPITAL, THE CYPRIOT MINISTER WILL ALSO HAS A MEETING WITH WESTERN EUROPEAN UNION (WEU) SECRETARY GENERAL JOSE CUTILEIRO.

THE MINISTER SAID HE WANTED TO BRIEF THE WEU ABOUT THE ISSUE OF SECURITY IN A FUTURE SOLUTION TO THE CYPRUS PROBLEM, SINCE THIS ORGANISATION FOR EUROPEAN COOPERATION IN THE FIELDS OF SECURITY AND DEFENCE COULD PLAY ITS OWN ROLE, AT A CERTAIN MOMENT.

CYPRUS HAS BEEN DIVIDED SINCE 1974 WHEN TURKISH TROOPS INVADED AND OCCUPIED 37 PER CENT OF ITS TERRITORY.

CYPRUS PRESIDENT GLAFCOS CLERIDES HAS PROPOSED THE ISLAND'S COMPLETE DEMILITARISATION, WHICH PROVIDES FOR THE WITHDRAWAL OF THE TURKISH OCCUPATION TROOPS AND THE DISBANDING OF THE ISLAND'S NATIONAL GUARD (ARMY).

CLERIDES PROPOSED THE ESTABLISHMENT OF AN INTERNATIONAL FORCE TO MONITOR PEACE ON THE ISLAND.

THE TURKISH SIDE HAS REJECTED THE DEMILITARISATION PROPOSAL.

CNA GP/1996

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

[02] EUROPEAN JOURNALISTS MEET IN CYPRUS

REPRESENTATIVES OF 31 JOURNALISTS UNIONS, MEMBERS OF THE EUROPEAN FEDERATION OF JOURNALISTS (IFJ), WHICH REPRESENTS SOME 200 THOUSAND PROFESSIONAL JOURNALISTS, ENTERED TODAY A SECOND DAY OF THEIR ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING IN THIS SOUTHERN COASTAL TOWN.

THE REPORT OF THE STEERING COMMITTEE REGARDING IFJ ACTIVITIES IN 1995 WAS READ AS WELL AS THE FINANCIAL REPORT FOR 1995 AND THE BUDGET FOR 1996.

ADDRESSING THE MEETING, THE PRESIDENT OF THE CYPRUS UNION OF JOURNALISTS ANDREAS KANNAOUROS SAID THE FEDERATION HAS TO COPE WITH SERIOUS PROBLEMS, OBLIGATIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES.

HE NOTED THAT THE MASS MEDIA HAS UNDERGONE AN EXTRAORDINARY BOOM AS TIME AND DISTANCES IN THE SPREADING OF NEWS AND INFORMATION HAS BEEN OVERCOME.

THE IFJ PRESIDENT, JENS LINDE, REFERRED TO EFFORTS MADE TO SECURE THE JOURNALISTS' RIGHT TO ACCESS TO INFORMATION SOURCES AND ANALYZED THE FACTS REGARDING THE ENLARGEMENT OF THE FEDERATION, WITH UNIONS FROM CENTRAL AND EASTERN EUROPE.

CYPRUS INTERIOR MINISTER DINOS MICHAELIDES, WHO ALSO ADDRESSED THE MEETING, REFERRED TO THE MEDIA'S ROLE IN TODAY'S WORLD AND NOTED IT INCREASES JOURNALISTS' RESPONSIBILITY FOR OBJECTIVE REPORTING OF FACTS.

MICHAELIDES SAID IN THE RECENT YEARS THE CYPRUS MEDIA HAS UNDERGONE A ''REVOLUTION'', MAINLY DUE TO THE ESTABLISHMENT OF PRIVATE RADIO AND TV STATIONS.

HE EXPRESSED PRIDE WITH THE FACT THAT THERE IS FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION AND PLURALISM IN THE CYPRIOT MEDIA FIELD.

THE IFJ MEETING ENDS TODAY WITH A DISCUSSION ON ''INFORMATION SOCIETY BRIEFING'' AND THE APPROVAL OF THE FUTURE WORKING PROGRAMME.

CNA MA/GP/1996

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

[03] THALASSAEMIA TREATMENT UPGRADED

THERE ARE SOME 600 PEOPLE BETWEEN THE AGES OF 15 AND 30 SUFFERING FROM THIS BLOOD DISEASE.

THE THALASSAEMIA CENTRE IN NICOSIA IS CONSIDERED ONE OF THE BEST IN THE REGION. IT ALSO OFFERS SERVICES FOR SUFFERERS FROM NEIGHBOURING COUNTRIES.

THE MINISTER TOLD THE PRESS THAT THE THALASSAEMIA CENTRE WAS BEING CONTINUOUSLY UPGRADED.

DR PANOS IOANNOU, AN EXPERT ON THE HEREDITARY DISEASE, SAID CYPRUS WAS NOW INTERNATIONALLY RENOWNED FOR ITS THALASSAEMIA PREVENTION PROGRAMME.

THE PROGRAMME AIMS AT CONTROLLING BIRTHS. IT MANAGED TO DROP THE NUMBER OF BABIES BORN WITH THIS DISEASE TO ZERO.

RESEARCHERS AT THE NICOSIA-BASED NEUROLOGICAL AND GENETICAL INSTITUTE WERE CARRYING OUT GROUND-BREAKING RESEARCH INTO TREATING THE DISEASE THROUGH DRUGS AND GENETIC MANIPULATIONS, DR IOANNOU SAID.

BUSINESSMAN PANOS ENGLEZOS ANNOUNCED HIS FAMILY WAS HELPING FUND A NEW WING AT THE THALASSAEMIA CENTRE IN THE MEMORY OF HIS SON, GIORGOS, WHO DIED OF THALASSAEMIA.

THE THIRD THALASSAEMIA CONFERENCE WILL BE HELD IN NICOSIA ON MAY 19.

CNA GP/1996

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

[04] COE RAPPORTEUR BACKS FREEDOM OF MOVEMENT

DUTCH SOCIALIST SENATOR ERIC JURGENS, WHO IS RAPPORTEUR OF THE COMMITTEE ON LEGAL AFFAIRS AND HUMAN RIGHTS OF THE COE PARLIAMENTARY ASSEMBLY, WAS SPEAKING AT LARNACA AIRPORT TODAY, BEFORE HIS DEPARTURE FROM THE ISLAND AFTER A SEVEN-DAY FACT-FINDING MISSION, TO PREPARE A REPORT.

HE DESCRIBED THE RIGHT TO FREEDOM OF MOVEMENT, TOGETHER WITH THE PROVISION OF PROPER HEALTH CARE AND THE UPGRADING OF GREEK CYPRIOT SCHOOLS IN OCCUPIED KARPASS AS VITAL ISSUES.

THE DUTCH SENATOR VISITED CYPRUS TO EXAMINE THE LIVING CONDITIONS OF ABOUT 700 GREEK CYPRIOTS AND MARONITES IN THE AREAS OCCUPIED BY TURKEY SINCE ITS INVASION OF 1974.

HE ALSO EXAMINED THE CONDITIONS OF TURKISH CYPRIOTS LIVING IN THE FREE AREAS OF THE REPUBLIC, MAINLY IN THE SOUTHERN COASTAL TOWN OF LIMASSOL.

JURGENS SAID THE FACT THAT GREEK CYPRIOTS AND MARONITES IN THE OCCUPIED AREAS ARE HELD IN PARTIAL IMPRISONMENT, IN THE PLACES WHERE THEY WERE BORN, IS CONTRARY TO EUROPEAN PRACTISE AND ATTITUDE.

THE DUTCH SENATOR SAID HE HAD ASKED THE TURKISH CYPRIOT REGIME TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THE LIVING CONDITIONS OF THE ENCLAVED.

HE ADDED HE HAD EXERTED SOME KIND OF PRESSURE SO THEY HAVE MORE OPPORTUNITIES IN BASIC ISSUES.

1350:CYPPRESS:07

THE COE RAPPORTEUR NOTED THAT AS CITIZENS OF THE REPUBLIC OF CYPRUS, THESE PEOPLE SHOULD HAVE A CHANCE TO LEAD A NORMAL LIFE AND ADDED THAT THE SAME SHOULD APPLY TO TURKISH CYPRIOTS LIVING IN THE FREE AREAS OF THE REPUBLIC.

JURGENS ADMITTED THAT THE LIVING CONDITIONS OF THE TURKISH CYPRIOTS IN THE FREE PART CAN NOT BE COMPARED TO THE SITUATION OF THE ENCLAVED IN THE KARPASS PENINSULA, UNDER TURKISH OCCUPATION SINCE 1974.

HOWEVER, HE EXPRESSED THE OPINION THAT THERE SHOULD BE AN END TO POLICE WATCH OVER SOME TURKISH CYPRIOTS IN THE FREE AREAS.

THE PUPPET REGIME IN THE OCCUPIED NORTHERN THIRD OF THE REPUBLIC PLACES STRICT RESTRICTIONS ON THE FREE MOVEMENT OF THE PEOPLE LIVING IN THE AREA IT CONTROLS THROUGH THE FORCE OF ARMS.

IT HAS ALSO BEEN ESTABLISHED BY THE UNITED NATIONS IN CYPRUS AS WELL AS BY OTHER INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTIONS THAT THE ENCLAVED GREEK CYPRIOTS' HUMAN RIGHTS ARE GROSSLY VIOLATED.

THE OCCUPATION REGIME HAS NEVER IMPLEMENTED THE ''THIRD VIENNA'' AGREEMENT SIGNED BY THE TWO SIDES IN 1975 PROVIDING FOR A DECENT LIFE FOR THE ENCLAVED PEOPLE.

CNA MA/GP/1996

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

[05] CLERIDES DOES NOT EXPECT CYPRUS PLAN NOW

SPEAKING IN LARNACA SUNDAY, PRESIDENT CLERIDES SAID, FOR THE TIME BEING, HE DID NOT EXPECT ANYONE TO PRESENT A PLAN FOR THE CYPRUS SETTLEMENT SINCE SUCH A MOVE WOULD HINDER EFFORTS TO GET THE POSITIONS OF THE TWO SIDES ON ALL ASPECTS OF THE CYPRUS ISSUE.

''I DON'T BELIEVE THERE IS A BRITISH PLAN OR ANY OTHER PLAN FROM EUROPE (EUROPEAN UNION) OR FROM THE UNITED STATES, AT THIS STAGE,'' THE PRESIDENT SAID.

DENKTASH HAD STATED THAT ALTHOUGH A HIGH-RANKING BRITISH OFFICIAL DID NOT BRING ANY PLAN WITH HIM DURING HIS ONE-DAY TRIP TO CYPRUS ON FRIDAY, HOWEVER THE BRITONS WERE DRAFTING SUCH A PLAN.

PRESIDENT CLERIDES SAID FOREIGN VISITORS WERE STILL SOUNDING THE POSITIONS OF THE PARTIES INVOLVED IN THE CYPRUS PROBLEM. ''THEY HAVE NOT YET MADE THEIR MINDS UP FOR A PLAN,'' THE PRESIDENT REMARKED.

CLERIDES EXPRESSED THE VIEW THAT THE FOREIGN MEDIATORS WOULD NOT SUBMIT ANY PLAN AT PRESENT BECAUSE SUCH A MOVE WOULD LEAD THE INITIATIVE FOR A SOLUTION TO A DEADLOCK.

THE CYPRIOT PRESIDENT EXPECTED THAT THE INITIATIVE TO BE LAUNCHED WOULD INVOLVED NOT ONLY THE UNITED STATES BUT ALSO THE EUROPEAN UNION AND BRITAIN.

REGARDING TO THORNY ISSUE OF SECURITY, PRESIDENT CLERIDES RECALLED HIS DEMILITARISATION PROPOSAL, SAYING THAT THIS IDEA WAS GAINING GROUND AMONG DECISION-MAKING CENTRES.

HE EXPLAINED THAT THE PROPOSAL PROVIDES FOR THE DISBANDING OF THE ISLAND'S NATIONAL GUARD (ARMY) AND THE SIMULTANEOUS WITHDRAWAL OF THE TURKISH OCCUPATION FORCE FROM THE ISLAND.

CLERIDES SAID ''WE WOULD WELCOME AN INTERNATIONAL FORCE IN CYPRUS TO HAVE UNDER ITS RESPONSIBILITY, UNDER A U.N. SECURITY COUNCIL MANDATE, TO DEFEND THE INDEPENDENCE AND TERRITORIAL INTEGRITY OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF CYPRUS.''

HE ADDED THIS INTERNATIONAL FORCE WOULD HAVE THE RIGHT TO INTERVENE IF ONE OF THE TWO COMMUNITIES (GREEK AND TURKISH CYPRIOT) WAS UNDER THREAT.

PRESIDENT CLERIDES REPLIED NEGATIVELY TO A QUESTION WHETHER GEREMY GREENSTOCK, THE DIRECTOR OF POLITICAL AFFAIRS AT THE BRITISH FOREIGN OFFICE, HAD BROUGHT POSITIVE MESSAGES FROM THE TURKISH CYPRIOT LEADER LAST FRIDAY.

HE SAID DENKTASH REPEATED HIS VERY WELL KNOWN POSITIONS CONCERNING THE QUESTIONS OF SOVEREIGNTY, GUARANTEES AND THE PRESENCE OF TURKISH TROOPS AFTER A SOLUTION.

HE SAID HE DID NOT EXPECT ANY CHANGE IN DENKTASH'S STANCE IF TURKEY DOES NOT CHANGE ITS OWN ATTITUDE ON THE CYPRUS PROBLEM.

TURKISH TROOPS HAVE BEEN OCCUPYING 37 PER CENT OF CYPRUS TERRITORY SINCE 1974, IN VIOLATION OF REPEATED U.N. RESOLUTIONS CALLING FOR THEIR WITHDRAWAL.

CNA GP/1996

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

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