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Cyprus PIO: News Update in English, 97-01-21Cyprus Press and Information Office: News Updates in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office Server at <http://www.pio.gov.cy/>News UpdateTuesday, 21/01/97CONTENTS[01] Greece and Cyprus sign agreement on educationCyprus Education Minister Claire Angelides and her Greek counterpart Gerasimos Arsenis yesterday signed a memorandum for closer co-operation between Greece and Cyprus on educational matters.Mrs Angelides said the memorandum provides for joint reviewing of school syllabuses and co-operation on the production of school books. She said the two governments would make efforts to introduce more of the Greek history of Cyprus in schools. Mr Arsenis said the agreement would also mean more Cypriot students could attend Greek universities and vice versa. The Greek Minister was received yesterday by President Clerides. [02] EU and US agree to co-ordinate efforts on solving Cyprus problemThe Director of the Southern European Affairs at the US State Department, Carey Cavanaugh discussed the Cyprus problem with EU External Affairs Commissioner Hans van den Broek a meeting in Brussels yesterday, during which they agreed to give priority to efforts to defuse tension between Nicosia and Ankara.They also agreed the EU and the US must remain in close contact in order to co-ordinate efforts for a solution to the Cyprus problem. Mr Cavanaugh told the press after the meeting that if the American proposal for a ban on overflights by Greek and Turkish warplanes in Cyprus were accepted, tension on the island would be defused. He also reiterated US opposition to the Cyprus government's decision to buy the anti aircraft missile system and also said that Cyprus' EU application could face "difficulties" if a solution to the Cyprus problem was not reached beforehand. [03] EU Presidency to give priority to CyprusThe President of the EU Council , Dutch Foreign Minister Hans van Mierlo, told his European counterparts yesterday that the Cyprus problem will be one of his country's priorities during the first half of 1997.Speaking at a lunch in Brussels yesterday, van Mierlo said the EU effort will begin at the next Council meeting on 25 February when the EU-Cyprus Association Council is also scheduled to meet. Greek Deputy Foreign Minister George Papandreou also present at the lunch, stressed that all the efforts for solving the Cyprus problem, including those by the EU Presidency representative Mr Heaslip and those of Commissioner van den Broek, should be properly co-ordinated. He said that Commissioner van den Broek had pledged to step up efforts both for a solution the Cyprus problem as well as for Cyprus' EU entry. [04] Turkey to give Turkish Cypriots more military supportTurkey has threatened to set up air and naval bases in the occupied areas if Cyprus deploys the Russian anti-aircraft missile system and goes ahead with establishing an air and naval base on the island under the defence pact with Greece.A joint statement by Turkish President Suleyman Demirel and Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash, who went to Ankara to discuss recent developments, said Turkey pledged its full support to the Denktash regime and further military backing to protect it. "Any aggression ... directed against Turkey or the TRNC will be jointly confronted and the military planning and co-ordination necessary for this will be done", said the statement. "Those who attack the Turkish Cypriots are attacking Turkey", Denktash said after his meeting with Demirel. From the Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office (PIO) Server at http://www.pio.gov.cy/Cyprus Press and Information Office: News Updates in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |