Cyprus News Agency: News in English (AM), 98-03-28

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

CONTENTS

[01] Jordan rejects Turkish call for recognition

[02] US: EU accession prospects, catalyst for a Cyprus settlement

[03] US House resolution on Cyprus

[04] Kasoulides flies to Brussels

[05] G/C and T/C women meet in London

[06] Denktash meets Annan

[07] Annan calls for resumption of bi-communal talks

0830:CYPPRESS:01

[01] Jordan rejects Turkish call for recognition

Nicosia, Mar 28 (CNA) -- Jordan will not respond to a call by Turkish Cypriot leader, Rauf Denktash, for recognition of his puppet regime in the Turkish-occupied part of Cyprus.

In an interview with CNA, Princess of Jordan, Wijdan Ali, sister of King Housein, who was in Cyprus last week, at the invitation of the Cyprus University says:

"Jordan has not responded to Denktash's call so far and I don't see how it can respond. I think you should not worry about it at all."

The Princess points out that Jordan has always had a very clear stand against any act of aggression and this does not exclude Cyprus.

"We are against all forms of aggression, no matter where it comes from and against who", she points out.

Turkish troops have been occupying 37 per cent of Cyprus territory since 1974, in violation of repeated UN resolutions calling for their withdrawal.

After visiting Cyprus for the first time, Princess Wijdan expresses the view that Cypriots "are more Middle-Eastern than Europeans. I can identify with them more easily than I could identify with Germans", she says.

The Princess believes that religion is not an obstacle to people wishing to live together and cooperate.

"We have also Christians in Jordan and it has not been an obstacle for the Arabs to live together", she says, wondering, "why should this be an obstacle for Cyprus".

Referring to relations between Cyprus and the Arab world, she argues that Cyprus should look more towards the Arab world and find opportunities for building a better understanding with Arab countries.

"If you want the Arab nation to stand by you, you have to educate yourselves about the Arabs and about Islam. You can't go on believing that all Arab women are covered, that women suffer under Islam, and then expect us to be educated about the Cyprus question", the Princess says.

"I think there is a lot of commonalty between our two cultures and I believe there should be more cooperation, at least in the field of education and in the cultural and artistic fields", she adds.

Pointing out that the two countries belong to the Mediterranean culture, she notes, however, that "there are differences because of the different historical cultural backgrounds".

Explaining the role of women in Islam, she points out that under the Islamic law women were given equality, but its application is like in any other country.

"Women are not only suffering under Islam, they are also suffering in the US, where they have the best constitution", she says, pointing out that:

"Black women and white women are suffering there because they are not getting equal pay and because women are being used as sex objects in advertisements. Women are suffering everywhere. It is a male dominated world", Princess Wijdan says.

"Islam itself has given women their full rights. I know this concept that you and the West have, but I think you should educate yourselves on such things, because Islam is very close to you, the Arab world is very close to you."

CNA AA/GP/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1010 CYPPRESS:02

[02] US: EU accession prospects, catalyst for a Cyprus settlement

Responding to a question by a Turkish journalist, Foley said the US believes that the prospect of Cyprus joining the EU "can be a positive catalyst in a settlement of the disputes that separate the communities in Cyprus".

The Spokesman noted, however, that the island's accession "will take some time and must proceed through a process of negotiations".

Foley referred to the intransigence of Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash and his refusal to participate in Cyprus-EU accession talks, noting, "that is unfortunate".

"I believe there are prospects. The US is not going to endorse any particular formula, I would hasten to add. But there are prospects", he added.

Referring to recent developments on Cyprus' delegation in the EU accession talks, Foley noted: "One can envisage a possibility of a joint delegation that meets the needs and the desires of all the people of Cyprus".

He also expressed the hope, "there will be an effort and a will on all sides to cooperate, such that a joint delegation of some kind can be agreed to and can participate in the EU accession talks".

President Glafcos Clerides' proposal for Turkish Cypriot participation in Cyprus-EU accession talks, was rejected by Denktash.

CNA DA/GG/MCH/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1130:CYPPRESS:03

[03] US House resolution on Cyprus

The resolution introduced by New York Congresswoman, Carolyn Maloney urges President Bill Clinton "to seize the opportunity presented by the beginning of a new presidential term in the Republic of Cyprus and the opening of accession negotiations between Cyprus and the European Union to launch an initiative to resolve the situation in Cyprus".

It also urges President Clinton "to continue the bimonthly reports to the Congress on the active engagement of the US in the efforts to find a solution to such situation in Cyprus".

The resolution comments on President Clerides' "renewed mandate to resolve the situation in Cyprus arising from Turkey's invasion of the island in 1974 and its continuing military occupation of 37 per cent of Cyprus' territory".

It also recognises that the prospect of Cyprus accession to the European Union "could serve as a catalyst for resolving the situation in Cyprus", adding that Cyprus' entire population, including the Turkish Cypriots, would benefit greatly from the island's EU membership.

The resolution stresses that "a Cyprus settlement must be based on a state of Cyprus with a single sovereignty and international personality and single citizenship, with its independence and territorial integrity safeguarded".

Reference is also made to the identification of the remains of one of the persons missing since the 1974 Turkish invasion of the island, US citizen Andreas Kassapis.

It expresses the hope that "this action will lead to further breakthroughs on the subject of the missing from both communities in Cyprus".

Maloney also expressed the hope to soon celebrate a Cyprus Day, when once again the entire island would be united.

CNA DA/MCH/GP/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1300:CYPPRESS:04

[04] Kasoulides flies to Brussels

Speaking at Larnaca airport on his departure today to Brussels to attend the opening ceremony of Cyprus' accession talks with the European Union (EU), Kasoulides pointed out the government does not wait to see the Turkish side's moves in order to form its reaction plan.

The government examines in advance various scenarios and it decides on possible measures, "taking into account the seriousness of Turkish moves, and both the prospects and timing of our reactions", Kasoulides noted.

The Turks have reacted strongly to EU plans to start membership talks with Cyprus on Monday, March 30. Turkish leaders have threatened to integrate the occupied part of Cyprus to Turkey, in retaliation to EU plans.

Referring to the opening of the accession negotiations, the Foreign Minister described it as an "historic moment" for Cyprus, as it will most likely lead to the island's accession to the EU.

The growing trend towards groupings of nations, the island's need to be part of the European family, and its political problem "should make Cyprus happy today, as a new impetus is being developed after 24 years".

Turkish troops have been occupying 37 per cent of Cyprus territory since 1974, in violation of repeated UN resolutions calling for their withdrawal.

Invited to comment on a planned visit of his Turkish counterpart Ismail Cem to the occupied areas on Monday, Kasoulides described it as illegal.

At the same time, he expressed the hope that "at least this time, Mr. Cem would realise that it is to the interest of Turkey to persuade (Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf) Denktash to change his intransigent policy."

It was reported in Turkey that Cem will visit the occupied areas on Monday to prepare the ground for a meeting in Turkey the following day of the so-called association council set up between Turkey and the Denktash breakaway regime.

The Council is expected to take a series of measures, in retaliation to the start of the EU-Cyprus accession negotiations the same day in Brussels.

The accession process will be launched on Monday in Brussels during a ministerial meeting attended by the Foreign Ministers of the 15 EU member- states and their counterparts of the 11 applicant countries.

The following day, the EU will hold individual intergovernmental conferences with the favoured six, namely Cyprus, Hungary, Poland, Estonia, the Czech Republic and Slovenia.

Cyprus applied for EU membership in July 1990. It signed an Association Agreement in 1972 and a customs union protocol in 1987.

CNA MAN/GG/GP/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1310:CYPPRESS:05

[05] G/C and T/C women meet in London

This is the second such meeting. The first one took place in Brussels last year.

The illegal regime in the Turkish-occupied northern part of Cyprus barred four Turkish Cypriot women from attending the meeting, as part of its recent tactic not to allow any bicommunal contacts.

Among those taking part in the meeting are ruling Democratic Rally party MP, Kate Clerides, daughter of Cyprus President Glafcos Clerides, and Turkish Cypriot lawyer Sefika Durduran, wife of Alpay Durduran, leader of the "New Cyprus Party".

The London peace meeting ends tomorrow.

CNA KT/MCH/GP/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1355:CYPPRESS:06

[06] Denktash meets Annan

According to AFP, Denktash claimed after an-hour-long meeting with UN Secretary-General, Kofi Annan, in Geneva, the EU decision to proceed with accession talks was:

"A new factor, which has destroyed the chances of a fair settlement in Cyprus, by treating one of the equals as the government of the other."

The accession process for Cyprus and other five European countries will be formally launched during a ministerial meting on Monday, March 30, in Brussels.

Denktash has repeatedly demanded that his puppet regime, unilaterally and illegally declared in the northern Turkish-occupied part of Cyprus in 1983 and recognised by no other state but Turkey, is recognised by the UN.

He said he asked Annan to take his demands to the UN Security Council.

Speaking earlier this week the special advisor to Annan on the Cyprus problem, Diego Cordovez, said he had informed the UN Security Council three times on Denktash's demand for recognition, pointing out that it was not favourably received.

CNA MCH/GG/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1430:CYPPRESS:07

[07] Annan calls for resumption of bi-communal talks

In a statement read out by Annan's Spokesman, Fred Eckhard, after his hour-long meeting with Denktash, the UN Chief voiced "disappoitment over the impasse" and pointed out that:

"Talks between the two leaders (President Glafcos Clerides and Turkish Cypriot leader, Rauf Denktash) are the only framework within which the two communities in Cyprus are treated on the basis of full equality".

The UN Secretary General urged the Turkish Cypriot leader to resume talks with President Clerides, pointing out that there is no alternative but a peaceful resolution of the Cyprus problem.

CNA MCH/GG/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

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