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Cyprus News Agency: News in English (AM), 99-05-07Cyprus News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Cyprus News Agency at <http://www.cyna.org.cy>CONTENTS
1030:CYPPRESS:01[01] Cyprus Parliament - Yugoslavia - Embargo - ResolutionNicosia, May 7 (CNA) -- Cyprus' House of Representatives has called on the government to reverse its decision to enforce an oil embargo against Yugoslavia, following a European Union decision.In a resolution, adopted Thursday by a majority vote, deputies also called for "an immediate end of the bombing against Yugoslavia and the start of peace talks." The issue of the embargo was tabled for discussion by the main opposition leftwing AKEL party. In the 56-seat parliament, of those present, 20 deputies voted against the resolution (ruling Democratic Rally party and coalition partner United Democrats) and 29 voted in favour (AKEL, centre- right Democratic Party, socialist EDEK and deputy Alexis Galanos). The House considers the EU oil embargo "devoid of legality because it is contrary to the paragraphs 53, 39 and 41 of the UN Charter." Article 53 stipulates that "no enforcement action shall be taken under regional arrangements or by regional agencies without the authorisation of the Security Council." The House believes the Republic of Cyprus has "no legal, political or moral obligation to respond to the relevant directive of Brussels and participate in any manner in the enforcement of a decision deprived of legality." Deputies call on the government to "revoke its decision to align itself with the implementation of the oil embargo against Yugoslavia." Noting that Cyprus bases its cause on international law and the UN Charter, the House points out that "every decision and every political act by the Republic of Cyprus must be in the framework of international law and order" as this is the only means to serve Cyprus' national interest. The House said that peace talks should start with a view to "solve the problem of Kosovo in a way that would safeguard human and political rights of the people of the area, on the basis of autonomy." The solution should also safeguard the territorial integrity and the sovereignty of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and the return of the refugees to Kosovo. CNA MM/GP/1999 ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY1030:CYPPRESS:02[02] US Ambassador - Cyprus - Turkey - GreeceWashington, May 7 (CNA) -- US Ambassador in Ankara, Mark Parris, believes that channels of communication between Greece and Turkey remain open, in spite of the fact that lasting solutions to issues that have plagues Greco- Turkish relations are still elusive.Addressing the 18th meeting of the Turkish - American Council in Washington, Parris also referred to the Cyprus problem and said "a constructive dialogue continues through the efforts of our special Cyprus coordinator Tom Miller." The US, he said, was encouraged by recent cooperation between Greece and Turkey in responding to the Kosovo humanitarian crisis. "The two countries can find common ground when there is good will on both sides," he remarked. The US Ambassador also referred to Turkey's concerns about Greece's links to the PKK (Kurdish Workers Party) leader Abdulah Ocalan and the chances of fresh thinking to start direct negotiations to meet Turkish and Turkish Cypriot concerns about the future of Cyprus. Turkish troops have been occupying 37 per cent of Cyprus territory since 1974, in violation of repeated UN resolutions calling for their withdrawal. "How and when these questions are answered will determine the extent to which Cyprus and relations with Greece hamper broader Turkish interests in Europe and elsewhere, to which Turkey continues to be perceived as a bastion against regional rogue states, and to which it can expect rapid improvement in prospects for economic development in its eastern provinces, " Parris said. CNA DA/MM/GP/1999ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY1220:CYPPRESS:03[03] Kranidiotis - VisitNicosia, May 7 (CNA) -- Greece's Alternate Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yiannos Kranidiotis, is expected in Cyprus next week for talks with the government and the island's political leadership.He is due to arrive on Thursday, May 13, on a four-day visit. He will be accompanied by Greece's deputy ministers of the Economy Nicos Christodoulakis, Labour Christos Protopapas and Defence Demetris Apostolakis. According to the preliminary programme, Kranidiotis will be received by President Glafcos Clerides Friday morning and will then have talks with Foreign Minister Ioannis Kasoulides followed by joint press conference. Kranidiotis is also scheduled to see House of Representatives President, Spyros Kyprianou, party leaders, ambassadors of European Union member-states, Cyprus chief negotiator with the EU and the Dean of the University of Cyprus Nicos Papamichael. He will also address a business meeting on Cyprus, the Aegean and Thrace, on Saturday morning. The Greek diplomat leaves Sunday CNA MM/GP/1999ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY1415:CYPPRESS:04[04] President - House - Yugoslavia - EmbargoNicosia, May 7 (CNA) -- President Glafcos Clerides has made it clear he will stick to his decision to enforce a European Union oil embargo against Yugoslavia, in spite of Thursday's House resolution calling on the government to reverse its decision to enforce the embargo.The President has also pointed out that the government is not bound by House resolutions. "In the case of the oil embargo, if the House of Representatives had taken a step further, and either through legislation or binding decision, sought to change the decisions of the government, as President, I would without hesitation use the right of veto," the President said in a statement, issued here today. The resolution, adopted by majority vote, describes the EU decision as "devoid of legality" and points out that the government has "no legal, political or moral obligation to respond to the relevant directive from Brussels." The President notes that the Constitution places the responsibility to exercise foreign policy on the cabinet but also points out that the Constitution gives the President the right of veto over any cabinet or House decisions, if he disagrees with them on foreign policy issues. "Resolutions adopted by the House of Representatives, either by majority or unanimously, reflect its own views and are not binding on the government," the President said in his statement. Clerides said he would make use of this right because "I believe that the decision of the majority in the House does not do Yugoslavia any good if one also takes into account yesterday's decision by the Group 8, which coincides with the position of the Cyprus government as regards a resolution of the problem as I had set it out to the Deputy Foreign Minister of Russia, Mr. Alexander Avdeyev and other foreign officials." "At the same time this decision does not help Cyprus' EU accession course either," the statement concluded. CNA MM/GP/1999ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCYCNA ENDSCyprus News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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