Cyprus PIO: News Update in English, 98-03-17

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From: The Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office Server at <http://www.pio.gov.cy/>

News Update

Tuesday, 17/03/98

CONTENTS

• [01] Cordovez visit is "new start"
• [02] New National Guard chief named
• [03] Government protests illegal detention of fishermen
• [04] British MPs condemn Turkey's blocking tactics against Cyprus' EU accession

[01] Cordovez visit is "new start"

Government Spokesman Christos Stylianides said yesterday that Mr Cordovez's six-day visit, to be followed by trips to Athens and Ankara, was very important and represented hope for a new start in resuming direct talks, from where they stopped last summer at the Troutbeck and Glion discussions.

"We hope that a renewed UN effort on Cyprus will finally curb existing Turkish intransigence and help towards a resolution of the Cyprus question", he said.

Mr Cordovez will have a working lunch with Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash on Thursday and with President Clerides on Friday.

He may meet with them a second time, but at present no follow up meetings have been fixed.

On Wednesday, Mr Cordovez will meet with George Vassiliou, who heads the Cypriot negotiating team in the accession talks between Cyprus and the European Union.

On Thursday morning, the UN envoy will brief the ambassadors of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council at a meeting hosted by the French embassy in Nicosia.

Mr Cordovez will also see US Ambassador to Cyprus Kenneth Brill and British High Commissioner David Madden.

On Saturday afternoon, he will give a bicommunal press conference and the following day he will leave for talks in Athens, before moving on to Ankara.

Replying to questions, Mr Stylianides reiterated the government's disagreement with a recent statement by Cordovez, that Cyprus' accession course to the European Union (EU) complicates the UN-led peace effort.

"The government continues to believe that the EU accession course will act as a catalyst towards a comprehensive Cyprus solution," he said and noted that this course is not in any way related to the peace process for a settlement.

[02] New National Guard chief named

He will be replacing current National Guard chief, Lieutenant General Nicolaos Vorvolakos, but final decisions as to the date Demou will take over are to be taken in Athens later this month at a meeting between Defence Minister Yiannakis Omirou and his Greek counterpart Akis Tsohatzopoulos.

[03] Government protests illegal detention of fishermen

Government Spokesman Christos Stylianides said yesterday that the arrest of the two fishermen was "unprovoked and unjustified".

He said that the Foreign Ministry had made representations to UNFICYP since Saturday for the release of the two men and asked that they ensure the fishermen's safety and proper treatment. The Ministry, he added, is closely monitoring developments.

The two fishermen Andreas Constantinou, 58 and George Lefteris Zelou, 65, both from Dherynia, on the eastern part of the island, were illegally arrested by Turkish forces as they were fishing off the coast of Famagusta on Saturday,

[04] British MPs condemn Turkey's blocking tactics against Cyprus' EU accession

The early day motion tabled on Friday by six MPs "condemns attempts by Turkey to use the illegal occupation of Cyprus as a blocking tactic against the island's EU accession, thus denying all of the citizens of Cyprus, in particular the Turkish Cypriot community, the benefits of EU membership."

It also condemns Turkish Cypriot leader, Rauf Denktash's "continuous stalling and reluctance to progress in negotiations for the reunification of the island" and calls on him to act upon President Clerides' request to co-operate in the talks.

So far 21 Members of Parliament have signed the draft resolution.

From the Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office (PIO) Server at http://www.pio.gov.cy/

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