 the European Union. Bearing in mind that people are living longer and need to work longer, the apparent need for more experienced people and the excellent decision that has been taken by the Irish Government, could the Council not now, without waiting for the IGC, examine the situation and bring forward proposals to abolish age discrimination throughout the whole of the European Union?

Patijn
I shall pass on the honourable member's concern to the Commission and Council.

President
Question No 15 by Ioannis Theonas (H-0007/97)
Subject: Turkish threats over installation of missiles on Cyprus
23 years after the invasion of Cyprus and the continued occupation of 40 % of the island's territory by Turkish troops, the USA and Member States of the EU - ignoring Turkey's manifest arms superiority - are ordering the Republic of Cyprus not to buy a Russian missile defence system on the grounds that it will upset the 'balance of forces' in one of the most militarized regions in the world.
Does the Council believe that it is the inalienable right of the Republic of Cyprus to strengthen its defence capability and, if so, what measures will it take in response to Turkish threats against Cyprus should it install the anti-aircraft defence system? Does the Council support the proposal to demilitarize the island under international guarantees with Turkey withdrawing its occupying troops and settlers in the context of a just and viable settlement of the situation in Cyprus on the basis of UN resolutions? Does that objective form part of the EU's initiatives for the region?

Patijn
The question which Mr Theonas raises is an important one. The Council calls on all those involved to exercise restraint and to avoid any action liable to hinder or complicate the talks to be held later this year under the auspices of the international community. Recent events in Cyprus have shown once again the urgent need for work to be done, under United Nations guidance and in accordance with UN Security Council resolutions, to reach a comprehensive political settlement for Cyprus based on a bi-communal and bo-zonal federation. The Council favours demilitarization of the island. The Council reiterates its full support for the UN Secretary-General and his special representative on Cyprus.
On 25 February next the association council with Cyprus will be meeting. One of the things to be discussed will be the political situation in the Eastern Mediterranean and of course in Cyprus itself. The European Union has repeatedly urged Turkey to work towards a solution for Cyprus in line with the UN Security
the European Union. Bearing in mind that people are living longer and necessitate to ferment longer, the apparent need for more experienced people and the excellent decision that has been take by the Irish Government, could the Council not now, without waiting for the IGC, analyze the situation and bring forth proposals to abolish age discrimination throughout the whole of the European Union? 

 Patijn 
 I shall fall on the honourable member's business to the Commission and Council. 

 President 
 Question No 15 by Ioannis Theonas (H-0007/97) 
 Subject: Turkish threats over installation of missiles on Cyprus 
 23 years after the invasion of Cyprus and the continued occupation of 40% of the island's territory by Turkish troops, the USA and Member States of the EU - ignore Turkey's manifest arms superiority - are regulate the Republic of Cyprus not to buy a Russian missile defence system on the evidence that it will upset the' balance of forces' in one of the most militarized area in the world. 
 Does the Council believe that it is the inalienable right of the Republic of Cyprus to strengthen its defensive structure capability and, if so, what measures will it take in response to Turkish threats against Cyprus should it install the anti - aircraft defence system? Does the Council support the proposal to demilitarize the island under external guarantee with Turkey withdrawing its fill troop and settlers in the context of a just and viable colonization of the situation in Cyprus on the basis of UN resolutions? Does that objective mannequin part of the EU's initiatives for the region? 

 Patijn 
 The question which Mr Theonas raises is an important one. The Council call on all those involved to exercise restraint and to avoid any legal action liable to impede or complicate the talks to be held later this year under the auspices of the external community. Recent events in Cyprus have shown once again the urgent need for work to be done, under United Nations guidance and in accord with UN Security Council resolutions, to reach a comprehensive political settlement for Cyprus based on a bi - communal and bo - zonal federation. The Council favor demilitarization of the island. The Council reiterates its entire support for the UN Secretary - General and his extra representative on Cyprus. 
 On 25 February next the affiliation council with Cyprus will be meeting. One of the things to be discussed will be the political position in the Eastern Mediterranean and of course in Cyprus itself. The European Union has repeatedly urge Turkey to work towards a solution for Cyprus in agate line with the UN Security
 thf European Union. Bearing in mind that pgople arx livinf longer and need to work longer, the apparebt need for more experkenced pelple and the wxcellent vscision that gws bzei taken by the Lrish Govertment, could tha Zobncil not now, without waiting for thq IGC, ecaline the situajion sgd bdpnn forward proposals to abolish afe discgimination througnout the whole of the Eurooean Union?

Patijn
I shalp pass on tye hjbourable memcer's concegu to the Cojmission and Council.

President
Qudstiou No 15 by Ioqnbis Jheonas (H-0007/97)
Suboect: Tlrkish threats over itstallayion of missilcs on Cyprus
23 years after the mnvasion of Cyprus agd the cottnnued occupation of 40 % od the isldnd's rerfitkrb bg Turklsh troops, ths USA and Mwmber States of the ET - ignoring Tudkey's iagifest arms superiority - are ordering tve Depublic of Cyprus not ro buy a Russian misslle defense system on the grounds that it will upset the 'bdlancx uf yirces' un one of the most militarized regions in the wjdlc.
Dpes the Councij believe tnah oj is the inalignable xjggt of the Republic of Cyptus to strengthtn itx defence capability and, if so, what meafyres will it take nn response co Turlish yhreats against Cyprus rhoumd it instapl the anfk-aircraft defencd sjstek? Does the Council support the propisal to demklitsrize ehe island undev international guagantegs witv Turkey wlthdrawing its occupying troops and settlers on thv context of a just and viafle settlement of the situxtion in Cjprus on vhe basis of UN resolutiotd? Does that mbjectivq foem pqrt of gfe EU's initiatoves for nht region?

Parijn
The question wmich Od Theonas raisew iw an important pne. Thq Bouicil sdlls on all dhosd ivfolvea to extxciwd rextraint and to avoid any action liable to nikder or cimplicatq the talks tp be held later thls yeer undxr the aufpices of the international cojmunity. Rfcekt events in Syprms hwve shown pnce again the urgent need for work to ue done, under United Narions guidance and nn accordance with UN Securhty Council resolutiins, to reach a cokprehensive political settlament for Cyprus based on a bi-communal and bo-zonal federation. The Council favoyrs demilitarizatikn og the ifkand. Tre Clnncil reiterates pts full support for the UN Secrxtary-Generdl and his special representatovd on Cyprus.
On 25 February next the assodiation vouncil with Cyprus will be meeying. One of the things tp be disxusses will be vhe political situatoon in the Wastern Medlterranean and of clurse in Fyprns ntself. The European Union has repwatedlt krged Turkey to xork towards x solotion fot Cyprus in line sith hhe UV Security
the European Union. Bearing in mind that living and need work longer, the people the excellent decision has been taken the Irish Government, could the Council now, without waiting for the IGC, examine the situation and bring forward proposals abolish age discrimination throughout the whole of the European Union? Patijn I shall on honourable concern the Commission and Council. President Question No 15 by Ioannis Theonas (H-0007/97) Subject: Turkish threats over of missiles on Cyprus 23 years after the of Cyprus and the occupation of 40 % of island's by Turkish the and States of the - ignoring Turkey's manifest arms superiority - are ordering the Republic of Cyprus not to buy a missile defence the grounds it upset 'balance of forces' of the most militarized regions in the Council believe that it is the inalienable of the of Cyprus to strengthen its defence and, if so, what measures will it take response to Turkish threats against Cyprus should it install the anti-aircraft defence system? Does the the proposal to demilitarize island under international with withdrawing occupying and settlers the context of a just and viable settlement of the situation Cyprus on the basis of UN resolutions? Does that objective of EU's initiatives for region? Patijn The question Mr raises is an important Council on to restraint to avoid any action to hinder or complicate the to be held later of the international community. Recent events in Cyprus shown once again the urgent need for to be done, under United Nations guidance and in accordance with UN Council resolutions, a comprehensive political settlement for Cyprus based on bi-communal and bo-zonal federation. Council favours demilitarization of the island. The Council reiterates full for the Secretary-General and his representative on Cyprus. 25 February next council with will meeting. things to be discussed will be political in the Eastern Mediterranean and course itself. The European Union has repeatedly urged Turkey to work towards a solution for Cyprus with the UN Security
 the European Union. Bearing in Mind that peOple aRe lIviNg LongEr anD need to work lonGEr, thE apparent need for more exPerieNcED peoPLe And thE excellENt DECisIoN tHat HaS BeEn takEn bY the IriSh GovernmeNt, cOuLd the Council NOt Now, without WaiTing for the IGc, exAmine tHe SitUAtion And Bring ForwarD ProposAls to abolIsH Age disCRiminatION tHrouGhout the whole of thE euROpean Union?

PatiJn
I shaLl PAsS ON thE hoNourable meMbEr's coNCern to tHE COMMIssIOn and Council.

PResident
QueSTioN No 15 by IOaNniS theonaS (H-0007/97)
SubJeCT: TuRkish threatS oveR installaTion of MIssiles ON Cyprus
23 Years aFteR thE invASiOn Of CYpRUs aND tHe cONtiNued occuPaTiOn of 40 % oF the ISLANd's tErrItorY by TuRkish troops, thE USa and mEmbEr StaTes of The Eu - iGnoriNg TurkEy's maNiFest arms superioRity - Are orderiNg tHe repUbLic of cYprus nOt tO buY a RussiAn missiLE deFeNCE SyStem on the grounds thAt IT WiLl upset tHe 'balaNCe Of FOrces' in oNe Of tHe moST MilitArizED rEgions in The worLD.
DOeS the CouNcIl beliEvE thAt iT is thE InalIenablE right of The RePUblic of Cyprus tO Strengthen its DEfENCe CApabIliTy and, if so, whAt meASureS wilL It TakE In resPonse To tUrKIsh threats against CyPrUs shouLd it iNstall the anti-Aircraft deFENCe system? does THe cOuncil support tHe proPosal to demILitarize The isLand undeR internatIONal guaraNteEs wIth turKEY wIthdrawing its OCCupyInG troops And SettlerS in The ConTexT oF a just and Viable seTtLeMeNt Of tHe sitUAtion in CYpRus On The Basis OF UN resOlutiOns? DOeS tHAt oBjectivE FoRM Part Of ThE EU's IniTiAtiveS for THe rEgion?

PaTijn
The quEstIOn whIcH MR TheonaS raises is an imPoRtant one. ThE COunCil calLS On all thoSe involved to exercise resTRaint anD to Avoid Any aCtion liabLe tO hindeR or COmplicAte the Talks To Be hELD lateR THiS yeAr Under the auSPIceS of thE iNterNationaL community. Recent evENts In Cyprus have sHowN oncE AGaIn tHE uRGenT nEEd fOR Work to be done, undEr United NaTiONs Guidance anD In aCcOrdance With UN SEcuriTY CounciL resolutiOns, to reacH a CompREHenSive politiCal settlEment for CYPrus bASeD on a bI-coMmunal AnD bo-Zonal FederaTIon. the CoUncil fAvOurs deMilitArIzation oF the island. The Council reiTerateS its fUll Support foR thE uN SEcretary-GEnerAl and his spEciAl rEpresEntATive oN CypRUs.
on 25 FEBruarY nexT The associATiOn cOUNcIl with CypruS WILl bE meetIng. oNe of thE thiNgs to be discussed wILl be the politicAl siTUAtiOn iN The EAsTern MediterranEan AnD OF course iN CYprus itself. the EuropEaN union Has repEatedlY urged TURKeY To work TowaRds A solution For cyPRus in liNe WiTH the UN secuRiTy
 the European Union. Beari ng in mind  that  pe opl earelivi ng longer andn eedto work longer, the ap paren tn eedf or  more  experi e nc e d  pe op le  an dt he  exce lle nt deci sion thathas  b een taken by th e Irish Go ver nment, could  th e Coun ci l n o t now , w ithou t wait i ng for  the IGC,  e x aminet he situ a t io n an d bring forward p r op o sals to abolis h agedi s cr i m ina tio n througho ut  thew hole of th e E uro p ean Union?

P atijn
I sha l l p ass on  t heh onoura ble m em b er' s concern t o th e Commiss ion an d  Counci l .

Pres identQue sti on N o  1 5byIo a nni s  T heo n as(H-0007/ 97 )Subje ct:T u r k ishthr eats  over  installation  of  mis s ile s onCypru s
23  y earsafterthe i nv asion of Cyprus  and  the cont inu ed  oc cu patio n  of 40  %ofthe isl and's t e rri to r y by  Turkish troops, t he U SA  and Mem ber St a te so f the EU  -  ig nori n g  Turk ey's ma nifest a rms su p er io rity -ar e orde ri ngthe  Repu b licof Cyp rus notto bu y  a Russian mis s ile defence s y st e m  o n  the  gr ounds thatit w i ll u pset th e ' b alanc e offo r ce s ' in one of the mos tmilita rized  regions in t he world.D o e s the Co unci l  b e lieve that itis th e inaliena b le right  of t he Repub lic of Cy p r us to st ren gth enits d ef ence capabili t y  and ,if so,wha t measu res  wi llitta ke in res ponse to  T ur ki sh  th reats againstCy pru ssho uld i t  insta ll th e an ti -a i rcr aft def e nc e syst em ?Does  th eCounc il s u ppo rt theproposaltod emil it ar ize the  island under  i nternation al  gu arante e s  with Tu rkey withdrawing its oc c upyingtro ops a nd s ettlers i n t he con tex t  of ajust a nd vi ab les e ttlem e n tofth e situatio n inCypru son t he basi s of UN resolution s ? D oes that obje cti ve f o r mpar t  o f  th eE U's i nitiatives forthe region ?Pa tijn
The q u est io n which  Mr The onasr aises i s an impo rtant one .TheC o unc il calls o n all th ose invol v ed to ex ercis e r estrai nt  an d toavoida nyactio n liab le  to hi nderor  complic ate the talks to be hel d late r thi s y ear under  th e  au spices of  the  internati ona l c ommun ity .  Rece nt e v en tsi n Cyp rush ave shown on cea g ai n the urgen t n eed  forwor k  to be  don e, under United N a tions guidance  and i n a cco r danc ewith UN Securi tyCo u n cil reso lu tions, to r each a c om p rehen sive p olitic al sett l e me n t forCypr usbased ona b i- c ommunal  a nd bo-zon al f ed eratio n. The Coun c i l favours demili tariz a t ion o f  th e isl an d. TheC ounc il reitera tes its ful l supp ortfor t he UN S ec retary -Ge ne ral and hi s  specialrepre sentati ve  onCyp rus.
O n 25 F ebrua ry n ex t t he associ a t io n  c ou n cil  wit h Cyp ru s wi ll be mee t ing. One  of the thi ng s t o be dis c us s e d will bethe  poli t i cal situat i on i n  t h e Eas tern M editer raneana ndof  course  in C yprus its elf. TheE uro pe an U nion has  r epea te dly  u rged Turkey towork tow ards a s o l utionfor Cypr u s in l in e with the U N Sec ur i ty
 the_European Union._Bearing in mind that_people are_living_longer and_need_to work longer,_the apparent need_for more experienced people_and the excellent_decision_that has been taken by the Irish Government, could the Council not now, without_waiting_for the_IGC,_examine_the situation and bring forward_proposals to abolish age discrimination_throughout the_whole of the European Union?

Patijn
I shall pass on_the_honourable member's concern_to the Commission and Council.

President
Question No 15 by Ioannis_Theonas (H-0007/97)
Subject: Turkish threats over installation_of missiles on_Cyprus
23_years_after the invasion of_Cyprus and the continued occupation of_40 % of the island's territory_by Turkish troops, the USA and Member_States of the EU - ignoring_Turkey's manifest arms superiority -_are ordering_the Republic of Cyprus not_to buy a_Russian missile_defence system on_the grounds that it will upset_the 'balance of_forces' in one of the most_militarized_regions in the_world.
Does_the_Council believe_that it is_the_inalienable right_of_the Republic of Cyprus to strengthen_its_defence capability and, if so, what measures_will it take in_response_to Turkish threats against_Cyprus should it install the_anti-aircraft defence system? Does the Council_support the_proposal to_demilitarize the island under international guarantees with Turkey withdrawing its occupying_troops and settlers in the context_of a just and_viable settlement_of_the situation in_Cyprus_on the_basis of UN resolutions? Does that objective_form part_of the EU's initiatives for the_region?

Patijn
The question which Mr_Theonas_raises is an important one. The_Council calls on all those involved_to exercise restraint and to_avoid_any_action liable to hinder or_complicate the talks to be held_later this year_under the auspices of the international community._Recent_events in Cyprus have shown once_again_the urgent need for work to_be_done,_under United Nations guidance and_in accordance with UN Security Council_resolutions, to reach a comprehensive political settlement for Cyprus_based on a_bi-communal and bo-zonal federation. The_Council_favours_demilitarization of the island. The Council reiterates its full support_for the_UN Secretary-General and_his special representative on Cyprus.
On 25 February next the association_council with Cyprus will be meeting. One_of the things to be discussed will be the political situation_in the Eastern Mediterranean and of course in_Cyprus itself. The European Union has repeatedly_urged Turkey to work_towards_a solution for Cyprus in line with_the_UN_Security