Cyprus News Agency 96-06-07.

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From: Panayiotis Zaphiris <[email protected]>

CONTENTS

[01] UN Special Envoy on Cyprus holds first round of meetings

[02] House of Commons on killing of soldier and Chrisotrimithiotissa

[03] Clerides receives representatives of Orthodox Churches

[04] US ambassador leaves Cyprus post

[05] US dismisses threat of war in Cyprus

0845:CYPPRESS:01

[01] UN Special Envoy on Cyprus holds first round of meetings United

Joo met Cyprus' Permanent Representative to the UN, Nicos Agathocleous, representatives of Greece and Turkey and representatives of the illegal entity unilaterally declared in the Turkish occupied northern part of Cyprus.

He also had meetings with American UN Representative Madeleine Albright, who was accompanied by US Presidential Emissary for Cyprus Richard Beattie while he is to meet with the remaining permanent members of the UN Security Council and the current president of the Security Council.

Joo will be joining UN Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali in Geneva on Tuesday June 11 for his first meeting with President Glafcos Clerides.

Meanwhile Ghali has had a 75 minute meeting in Ankara with Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash, which has been described by the UN Chief's spokesperson Sylvana Foa, as an ''extensive review of all aspects of the Cyprus Problem''.

She said that the UN Chief's meeting with Denktash along with that in Geneva with President Clerides is hoped to form the ''basis for resumption of direct talks between the two''.

Quoting the Secretary-General, she said he ''calls on both sides to cooperate with the new UN Special Representative Joo to create a new momentum for a solution of the Cyprus Problem.''

CNA JD/MCH/1996

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1300:CYPPRESS:02

[02] House of Commons on killing of soldier and Chrisotrimithiotissa

Regretting the fatal shooting of 19-year old Stelios Panayi, the House of Commons notes that this was ''just one more in a long series of such murders.'' It is also noted that the young soldier''had left his post as a friendly gesture to exchange military hats with a Turkish soldier on the dividing, Green Line.''

MPs express sadness with the fact that ''after 22 years of division it is still necessary, for the security of the indigenous people of Cyprus, for a UN peacekeeping force to keep vigil on the border whilst 30 thousand Turkish troops in the occupied area pose a threat to all Cypriots.''

In the same motion, the MPs also express the wish that the efforts of Britain's Special Envoy for Cyprus, Sir David Hannay, towards ''an agreement which will result in a free united Cyprus on a federal basis'', will be successful.

Such a solution, it is pointed out, ''has thus far been hindered solely by the reluctance and refusal of the Turkish side in negotiations to display any sign of political will.'' Finally, they call on the British government to ''redouble its efforts to find a lasting and just settlement''.

In another notice of motion, a number of MPs stress that the House is ''appalled by the ongoing attempt by the illegal Turkish regime to illegally sell the site of Panagia Chrysotrimithiotissa, including the church of Agios Charalambos in the Turkish occupied district of Kyrenia.''

The motion notes that ''this is part of a continued effort by the unrecognised regime to discard the historical wealth of cultural and religious identify of the island, compounding the difficulties of repatriation and unification when a solution to the division of the island is reached''.

Cyprus has been divided since 1974 when Turkish troops invaded and occupied 37 per cent of the island's territory. A regime set up in the occupied areas in 1983 is recognised only by Ankara.

CNA EC/MCH/1996

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1345:CYPPRESS:03

[03] Clerides receives representatives of Orthodox Churches

Speaking to the press after the meeting Paphos Bishop Chrysostomos said the celebrations are taking place in Paphos which was the capital of Cyprus when Apostles Paul and Barnabas introduced Christianity to the island in 46 AD.

Paphos is the ''gateway of Christianity to Europe'', Chrysostomos, said, noting that Apostle Paul baptised the first representative of the Roman Empire on the island, therefore introducing Christianity to Europe.

The celebrations for the establishment of the Paphos Church commenced last Wednesday and will continue until Tuesday with daily Thanksgiving services, lectures and cultural events.

The highlight of the events will be a Te Deum at the Paphos Church of Saints Paul and Barnabas on Monday June 10, the feast day of the two Apostles. CNA/EC/MCH/1996

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1335:CYPPRESS:04

[04] US ambassador leaves Cyprus post

Asked by journalists if he thought things had moved on since his arrival here, the US ambassador replied ''I would like to think that things have moved on but the ultimate test is whether we get results, whether we can achieve a meaningful agreement that makes people's lives better.''

''I think the jury is still out on what we have accomplished in the past couple of years and it will only come in as we actually see some results,'' he added.

In his remarks after he bid farewell to President Glafcos Clerides as he leaves his Cyprus posting next week, Boucher said ''the expansion of ties between the US and Cyprus in the past few of years has been tremendous and heartwarming to us all.''

Ties between the US and Cyprus were enhanced in the past couple of years, Boucher said.

Boucher thanked the President for the ''cooperation we have had and the things we have been able to do together as two governments.''

He said he looked forward to seeing what ''we can accomplish in the coming months or year or two''.

Boucher, who has served in his current post in Cyprus since November 1993, will assume his new posting as US Consul General in Hong Kong in August, only a year before the colony reverts to Chinese rule in July 1997.

CNA MM/MCH/1996

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1510:CYPPRESS:05

[05] US dismisses threat of war in Cyprus

US State Department spokesman Nick Burns has said ''We do not share the view of the author of the article. We are not inclined to believe that war is more likely in Cyprus.''

The WSJ article, which appeared on June 6, said ''Europe's next political minefield is being laid in Cyprus.'' It also said the ''the threat of war in Cyprus is very real.''

''The US has an interest in peace on Cyprus,'' Burns said, and noted that the same interest is shared by Greece and Turkey as well as the ''Greek and Turkish Cypriot populations on the island.''

He said the US has ''worked very hard'' and gives ''a lot of diplomatic attention to the Cyprus problem. The US does not believe that war is likely, or even a realistic proposition.''

''We think the situation will continue to be relatively peaceful'', he continued, noting however that ''it is obviously not satisfactory to anybody concerned.''

''What we want to do is to try to help the communities, and two governments involved create some progress so that we might begin to resolve problems that have existed now for over 20 years,'' Burns explained.

''US dedication to bring peace to Cyprus remains very, very strong and steady,'' he added.

CNA DA/MCH/MM/1996

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

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