CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY, 96-05-29

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From: Panayiotis Zaphiris <pzaphiri@glue.umd.edu>

CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY, 96-05-29

CONTENTS

[01] PARTIES DISCUSS NEW HOUSE PRESIDENT ISSUE

[02] WHO ARE THE CYPRIOT MP'S

[03] EVANGELOY RETURNS TO MINISTERIAL POST

[04] MINISTER IN EUROPEAN CULTURE MEETING

[05] DISY, DIKO TO COOPERATE FOR HOUSE PRESIDENT ELECTION

[06] CYPRUS MINISTER FLIES TO ROME

[07] BRITAIN'S CYPRUS REPRESENTATIVE TO ARRIVE FOR TALKS

[08] CABINET BRIEFED ABOUT ALLEGATIONS OF VOTE RIGGING

[09] CYPRUS-GREECE TRADE ON THE RISE

[10] FOREIGN MINSTER IN PARIS FOR TALKS

[11] GREEK EURO MPS DENOUNCE TURKISH CLAIMS ON CULTURAL HERITAGE

[12] LEFTWING PARTY BACKS SOCIALIST OFR HOUSE PRESIDENCY

[13] SERVICES SECTOR "INCREASINGLY IMPORTANT"

[01] PARTIES DISCUSS NEW HOUSE PRESIDENT ISSUE

ITS FIRST ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS THE ELECTION OF THE NEW HOUSE PRESIDENT. OUTGOING PRESIDENT IS ALEXIS GALANOS, VICE-PRESIDENT OF THE CENTRE-RIGHT DEMOCRATIC PARTY. HE WAS RE-ELECTED MP FOR FAMAGUSTA DISTRICT.

APART FROM GALANOS ANOTHER POLITICIAN, WHOSE NAME IS BEING DISCUSSED FOR THIS POST, IS FORMER HOUSE PRESIDENT VASSOS LYSSARIDES, LEADER OF THE SOCIALIST EDEK PARTY, WHO WAS RE-ELECTED MP IN NICOSIA DISTRICT.

THE ISSUE OF THE HOUSE PRESIDENT IS BEING DEBATED IN PARTY ORGANS OR BETWEEN PARTIES.

THE LEADERS OF THE RULING RIGHTWING DEMOCRATIC RALLY (DISY) PARTY AND ITS GOVERNMENT PARTNER DEMOCRATIC PARTY (DIKO), YIANNAKIS MATSIS AND SPYROS KYPRIANOU, WERE DISCUSSING THE ISSUE TODAY.

OPPOSITION LEFTWING AKEL PARTY'S POLITICAL BUREAU WAS DISCUSSING THE ISSUE THIS MORNING. DISCUSSION WILL CONTINUE AT AKEL'S CENTRAL COMMITTEE MEETING THIS AFTERNOON.

THE DISY/LIBERALS COALITION WON 20 SEATS IN THE HOUSE FOLLOWED BY AKEL WITH 19, DIKO WITH TEN, EDEK WITH 5 AND THE NEWCOMER IN POLITICS, THE FREE DEMOCRATS MOVEMENT (KED), HEADED BY FORMER CYPRUS PRESIDENT GEORGE VASSILIOU, WITH TWO SEATS (VASSILIOU AND HIS WIFE ANDROULA).

IN SUNDAY'S PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS, THE DISY/LIBERALS RECEIVED 34,47 PER CENT OF THE VOTES (127.380 VOTES), A DECREASE BY 1.34 AS AGAINST THE 1991 PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS.

AKEL POLLED 33,00 PER CENT (121.958), AN INCREASE OF 2,37 PER CENT.

DIKO GOT 16,43 PER CENT (60.726), A DECREASE OF 3,12 PER CENT.

EDEK RECEIVED 8,13 PER CENT (30.033), A DECREASE OF 2,76 PER CENT.

KED GARNERED 3,69 PER CENT (13.623).

ADISOK RECEIVED 1,44 PER CENT (5.311), A DECREASE BY 0,96.

THE NEW HORIZONS PARTY RECEIVED 1,71 PER CENT (6,317).

THE ECOLOGISTS (GREENS) POLLED 1,00 PER CENT (3.710).

EFSTRATIOS ANDREAS (INDEPENDENT) RECEIVED 0,06 PER CENT (232)

KOTSONIS ANGELOS (INDEPENDENT) GOT 0,03 PER CENT (99)

MAVROGENIS GEORGIOS (INDEPENDENT) RECEIVED 0,02 PER CENT (83)

PAVLOU CHARALAMBOS (INDEPENDENT) RECEIVED 0,01 PER CENT (49).

THERE WERE 409.996 ABOVE 21 REGISTERED VOTERS IN THE SUNDAY PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS, OF WHOM 381.051 OR 92,94 PER CENT VOTED (VOTING IS COMPULSORY).

THERE WERE 369.521 OR 96,97 PER CENT VALID BALLOT PAPERS, 5.648 OR 1,48 INVALID BALLOT PAPERS, 5.882 OR 1,54 PER CENT BLANK BALLOT PAPERS AND 28.945 OR 7.06 PER CENT ABSTENTIONS.

CNA GP/1996

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

[02] WHO ARE THE CYPRIOT MP'S

DEMOCRATIC RALLY PARTY (DISY) - LIBERAL PARTY COALITION (20 SEATS):

NICOSIA DISTRICT: YIANNAKIS MATSIS (LEADER), KATE CLERIDES, DEMETRIS SYLLOURIS, PRODROMOS PRODROMOU, ANDREAS PARISINOS, PANAYIOTIS DEMETRIOU, OURANIOS IOANNIDES.

LIMASSOL DISTRICT: NICOS ANASTASIADES, RIKKOS EROTOKRITOU, CHRISTOS POURGOURIDES, STELIOS STYLIANOU.

FAMAGUSTA DISTRICT: LEFTERIS CHRISTOPHOROU, SOFOCLIS HADJIYIANNIS, ANTONIS KARAS, ISIDOROS MAKRIDES, EVANGELOS SAMOUTAS.

LARNACA DISTRICT: ANDREAS MOUSKOS, STELIOS YERASIMOU.

PAPHOS DISTRICT: AVEROF NEOPHYTOU

KYRENIA DISTRICT: SOKRATIS HASIKOS. AKEL PARTY (19 SEATS):

NICOSIA DISTRICT: NICOS KATSOURIDES, TAKIS HADJIGEORGIOU, AVRAAM ANTONIOU, ARISTOFANIS GEORGIOU, ANDREAS PHILIPPOU, GEORGE LILLIKAS, KYRIACOS TYRIMOS.

LIMASSOL DISTRICT: ANDREAS CHRISTOU, IOANNIS AGAPIOU, DEMETRIS KONTIDES, YIANNAKIS THOMA.

FAMAGUSTA DISTRICT: KIKIS KAZAMIAS, KIKIS YIANGOU, CHRISTOS MAVROKORDATOS, COSTAS PAPACOSTAS.

LARNACA DISTRICT: THASOS MICHAELIDES, DOROS CHRISTODOULIDES.

PAPHOS DISTRICT: GEORGE HADJIGEORGIOU.

KYRENIA DISTRICT: DEMETRIS CHRISTOFIAS (LEADER). DEMOCRATIC PARTY (DIKO) (10 SEATS:

NICOSIA DISTRICT: TASSOS PAPADOPOULOS, MARKOS KYPRIANOU, NICOS MOUSIOUTAS, STATHIS KITTIS.

LIMASSOL DISTRICT: SPYROS KYPRIANOU (LEADER), MARIOS MATSAKIS.

FAMAGUSTA DISTRICT: ALEXIS GALANOS.

LARNACA DISTRICT: NICOS KLEANTHOUS.

PAPHOS DISTRICT: NICOS PITTOKOPITIS

KYRENIA DISTRICT: KATERINA PASCHALIDOU-PANTELIDOU. EDEK (5 SEATS:

NICOSIA DISTRICT: VASSOS LYSSARIDES (LEADER), TAKIS HADJIDEMETRIOU.

LIMASSOL: DOROS THEODOROU

FAMAGUSTA: DEMETRIS ELIADES

PAPHOS: YIANNAKIS OMIROU. FREE DEMOCRATS MOVEMENT (KED) (2 SEATS):

NICOSIA DISTRICT: ANDROULA VASSILIOU.

LIMASSOL DISTRICT: GEORGE VASSILIOU (LEADER). THREE RELIGIOUS GROUPS ALSO ELECTED THEIR REPRESENTATIVES IN THE HOUSE. THEY ARE ANTONIS HADJIROUSOS FOR THE MARONITE GROUP, PEDROS KALAIDJIAN FOR THE ARMENIAN GROUP AND BENITO MANTOVANI FOR THE LATIN GROUP.

CNA GP/1996

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

[03] EVANGELOU RETURNS TO MINISTERIAL POST

SPEAKING AFTER THE WEEKLY COUNCIL OF MINISTERS MEETING, CASSOULIDES SAID PRESIDENT GLAFCOS CLERIDES THANKED CARETAKER JUSTICE AND PUBLIC ORDER MINISTER GEORGE STAVRINAKIS, FOR CARRYING OUT HIS DUTIES IN THE ''MOST PERFECT MANNER''.

EVANGELOU WAS REPLACED BY LAW COMMISSIONER GEORGE STAVRINAKIS ON MAY 2, 1996 BECAUSE OF THE PRE-ELECTION PERIOD.

IT WAS A PLEDGE BY PRESIDENT CLERIDES TO THE POLITICAL PARTIES, WHICH WOULD TAKE PART IN THE PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS LAST SUNDAY (MAY 26).

CNA MCH/GP/1996

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

[04] MINISTER IN EUROPEAN CULTURE MEETING

THE FOURTH EUROPEAN MEETING OF MINISTERS RESPONSIBLE FOR CULTURAL HERITAGE WILL TAKE PLACE FROM 29-31 MAY UNDER THE AEGIS OF THE COUNCIL OF EUROPE.

THE MEETING WILL FOCUS ON ''CULTURE: AN ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL CHALLENGE. NEW ROLE OF HISTORIC AND TRADITIONAL RURAL CENTRES AND THE CREATION OF A NEW FORM OF TOURISM THROUGH THE TRADITIONAL ENVIRONMENT.''

MICHAELIDES WILL PRESENT THE CASE OF CYPRUS IN LIGHT OF THE CONTINUING DESTRUCTION OF ITS CULTURAL HERITAGE IN THE TURKISH-OCCUPIED PART OF CYPRUS.

CYPRUS' 9,000-YEAR-OLD HERITAGE IS BEING SYSTEMATICALLY PILLAGED SINCE 1974 WHEN TURKISH TROOPS INVADED AND OCCUPIED THE ISLAND'S NORTHERN AREAS.

CNA MM/GP/1996

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

[05] DISY, DIKO TO COOPERATE FOR HOUSE PRESIDENT ELECTION

THIS WAS ANNOUNCED HERE TODAY BY THE PRESIDENTS OF THE TWO PARTIES, YIANNAKIS MATSIS (DISY) AND SPYROS KYPRIANOU (DIKO), AFTER A MEETING.

THE TWO LEADERS SAID NO NAMES FOR THE POST CAME UP DURING THEIR MEETING.

THE NEW 56-MEMBER HOUSE, ELECTED LAST SUNDAY, WILL CONVENE FOR THE FIRST TIME ON JUNE 6. ITS VERY FIRST ITEM IS THE ELECTION OF THE NEW HOUSE PRESIDENT.

MATSIS TOLD THE PRESS THAT THE TWO PARTIES DECIDED TO SUPPORT THE SAME NAME FOR THE POST.

KYPRIANOU SAID MORE MEETINGS WITH THE DISY LEADER WILL TAKE PLACE TO DISCUSS THE ISSUE. HE ADDED, HOWEVER, THAT DIKO HAD NOT GIVEN UP THE IDEA TO CONTEST THE PRESIDENCY OF THE HOUSE.

OUT-GOING HOUSE PRESIDENT, ALEXIS GALANOS, IS DIKO'S VICE PRESIDENT. HE WAS RE-ELECTED MP FOR FAMAGUSTA DISTRICT.

ANOTHER NAME REPORTED IN THE PRESS THAT HE IS READY TO OFFER HIS SERVICES AS HOUSE PRESIDENT, IS SOCIALIST EDEK PARTY LEADER VASSOS LYSSARIDES, A FORMER HOUSE PRESIDENT. HE WAS RE-ELECTED MP FOR NICOSIA DISTRICT.

HIS NAME IS AMONG THE NAMES BEING DISCUSSED TODAY BY THE POLITICAL BUREAU AND THE CENTRAL COMMITTEE OF THE OPPOSITION LEFTWING AKEL PARTY.

THE RULING COALITION OF DISY/LIBERALS AND DIKO COOPERATED FOR THE FIRST TIME IN THE SECOND ROUND OF THE 1993 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS.

DIKO HAD AGREED TO BACK THE CANDIDATURE OF THE THEN DISY LEADER AND CURRENT CYPRUS PRESIDENT GLAFCOS CLERIDES.

ON SUNDAY'S ELECTIONS, THE DISY/LIBERALS WON 20 SEATS, FOLLOWED BY AKEL WITH 19, DIKO WITH TEN, EDEK WITH FIVE AND THE NEWCOMER FREE DEMOCRATS MOVEMENT OF FORMER CYPRUS PRESIDENT GEORGE VASSILIOU WITH TWO SEATS.

CNA KPK/GP/1996

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

[06] CYPRUS MINISTER FLIES TO ROME

THE CONFERENCE, ORGANISED BY THE EUROPEAN UNION (EU) ITALIAN PRESIDENCY AS PART OF ITS EURO-MEDITERRANEAN POLICY, WILL DEAL WITH THE UPGRADING OF THE GOVERNMENT AND PRIVATE SECTORS IN THE FIELD OF INFORMATION.

DURING THE TWO-DAY MEETING, THE DELEGATES WILL ALSO DISCUSS COOPERATION BETWEEN EU INSTITUTES AND BUSINESS WITH THOSE OF MEDITERRANEAN COUNTRIES AS WELL AS THE USE OF COMPUTERS IN EDUCATION AND RESEARCH IN RELATION TO THE NEEDS OF THE REGION.

CNA MCH/KPK/1996

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

[07] BRITAIN'S CYPRUS REPRESENTATIVE TO ARRIVE FOR TALKS

DURING HIS 24-HOUR STAY HERE, HE WILL BE RECEIVED BY CYPRUS PRESIDENT GLAFCOS CLERIDES ON TUESDAY AND LATER HAVE TALKS WITH FOREIGN MINISTER ALECOS MICHAELIDES.

LATER THE SAME DAY HE IS SCHEDULED TO HAVE A WORKING LUNCH WITH TURKISH CYPRIOT LEADER RAUF DENKTASH BEFORE FLYING BACK.

ON MONDAY NIGHT, THE BRITISH ENVOY WILL ATTEND A DINNER ALONG PARTY POLITICAL LEADERS, U.S. AMBASSADOR TO CYPRUS RICHARD BOUCHER AND U.N. RESIDENT REPRESENTATIVE GUSTAVE FEISSEL.

THIS IS SIR DAVID'S FIRST TRIP TO CYPRUS SINCE HIS APPOINTMENT LAST WEEK AS ''THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT'S SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE FOR CYPRUS'' AS BRITAIN'S FOREIGN SECRETARY MALCOLM RIFKIND ANNOUNCED LAST THURSDAY.

A BRITISH HIGH COMMISSION SPOKESMAN TOLD CNA SIR DAVID WILL ALSO VISIT EUROPEAN CAPITALS AS PART OF HIS TASK TO TRY AND MOVE THE STALLED CYPRUS PEACE PROCESS FORWARD.

DUBLIN, THE NEXT EUROPEAN UNION PRESIDENT, PARIS, BONN, BRUSSELS, NEW YORK AND WASHINGTON ARE ALL ON HIS ITINERARY AS PART OF HIS EFFORTS TO HELP BREAK THE DEADLOCK AND ENCOURAGE THE LEADERS OF THE TWO SIDES TO MEET.

THE LAST TIME THEY MET WAS IN THE FREE SECTOR OF NICOSIA IN OCTOBER 1994 UNDER U.N. AUSPICES.

HE SAID BRITAIN HAD INFORMED VARIOUS GOVERNMENTS ABOUT ITS INTENTION TO APPOINT SIR DAVID HANNAY AS SPECIAL CYPRUS REPRESENTATIVE (CYPRUS, GREECE, TURKEY, DENKTASH, THE U.S., THE EU, IRELAND) AND ''THE BRITISH MOVE WAS UNANIMOUSLY WELCOMED.''

ASKED IF THERE WAS ANY GENTLE PERSUASION ON THE PART OF THE U.S. TO PROCEED WITH A BRITISH REPRESENTATIVE (THE U.S. ALREADY HAS THREE HIGH RANKING OFFICIALS DEALING WITH CYPRUS), THE SPOKESMAN REPLIED THAT ''THIS WAS AN ENTIRELY BRITISH DECISION.''

HE EXPRESSED THE VIEW THAT THE NEXT EU PRESIDENCY, IRELAND, WANTED TO MAINTAIN THE ITALIAN EU PRESIDENCY REPRESENTATIVE FOR CYPRUS, AMBASSADOR FEDERICO DI ROBERTO.

ASKED WHY BRITAIN HAS DECIDED TO MAKE THE APPOINTMENT NOW, THE SPOKESMAN BELIEVED THAT THE REMOVAL OF SOME OF THE WORLD'S HOT SPOTS HAS ALLOWED BRITAIN TO TURN TO CYPRUS AS ''THIS IS ONE OF THE REMAINING FEW HOT SPOTS AROUND THE WORLD.''

''THE IDEA BEHIND THE APPOINTMENT IS THAT SIR DAVID WOULD MAKE A POSITIVE CONTRIBUTION TOWARDS A SETTLEMENT IN CYPRUS AND HELP THE TWO SIDES TO RESUME TALKS,'' THE SPOKESMAN ADDED.

ASKED WHETHER HANNAY'S ROLE AS AN ADVISOR TO BRITAIN'S LABOUR LEADER TONY BLAIR CONTRADICTED ITS MANDATE, GIVEN TO HIM BY A CONSERVATIVE GOVERNMENT, THE SPOKESMAN SAID ''I BELIEVE SIR DAVID WILL STAY ON AS BRITAIN'S SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE FOR CYPRUS REGARDLESS OF THE PARTY THAT IS RULING BRITAIN.

''IT IS NOT A POLITICAL APPOINTMENT NOR DOES IT HAVE ANY TIME DEADLINE,'' HE ADDED.

HE DISMISSED PRESS ALLEGATIONS THAT BRITAIN'S NON-COOPERATION POLICY WITH THE EU RAN CONTRARY TO SIR DAVID'S APPOINTMENT AND DIRECT INVOLVEMENT IN A EUROPEAN PROBLEM IN CYPRUS. ''EUROPE'S DEALINGS WITH CYPRUS IS DONE ON A POLITICAL LEVEL. THE APPOINTMENT DOES NOT APPLY TO POLITICAL MATTERS,'' HE EXPLAINED.

CNA MM/KPK/1996

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

[08] CABINET BRIEFED ABOUT ALLEGATIONS OF VOTE RIGGING

THE CABINET WAS BRIEFED ON THE MATTER BY THE CARETAKER MINISTER OF JUSTICE AND PUBLIC ORDER, GEORGE STAVRINAKIS, GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN YIANNAKIS CASSOULIDES SAID HERE TODAY.

''A HIGH RANKING POLICE OFFICER WILL TAKE A STATEMENT FROM KOUTSOU AND THEN IT WILL BE DECIDED WHETHER AN INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATORY COMMITTEE OR A PENAL PROSECUTOR WILL BE APPOINTED TO DEAL WITH THE MATTER,'' CASSOULIDES SAID AFTER THE CABINET MEETING.

KOUTSOU, WHOSE PARTY FAILED TO GAIN A PARLIAMENTARY SEAT IN SUNDAY'S ELECTIONS, HAS ALLEGED THAT ON THE EVE OF THE ELECTIONS MEMBERS OF THE ISLAND'S INTELLIGENCE SERVICES (KYP) WERE USED TO INFLUENCE PARTY FAITHFUL TO VOTE AGAINST THE PARTY.

THE ''NEW HORIZONS'' LEADER ALSO CLAIMED THAT MEMBERS OF THE RULING RIGHT-WING DEMOCRATIC RALLY (DISY) PARTY TRIED TO SWAY AWAY POSSIBLE VOTERS FROM HIS PARTY.

CASSOULIDES SAID THAT ANOTHER COMPLAINT MADE BY DISY PARLIAMENTARY HOPEFUL, ELENI VRAHIMI, THAT MEMBERS OF HER PARTY AND PEOPLE CLOSE TO THE PRESIDENTIAL PALACE HAD TRIED TO INFLUENCE VOTERS AGAINST HER CANDIDATURE WOULD BE LOOKED INTO.

DISY CIRCLES CONSIDER VRAHIMI'S ACCUSATIONS AS AN EXPRESSION OF BITTERNESS FOR HER FAILURE TO BE ELECTED.

MEANWHILE, THE SPOKESMAN ALSO ANNOUNCED THAT THE MINISTER OF JUSTICE AND PUBLIC ORDER ALECOS EVANGELOU WILL RETURN TO HIS POST ON 1 JUNE.

EVANGELOU WAS THE FIRST JUSTICE MINISTER EVER TO BE REPLACED DURING THE PARLIAMENTARY PRE-ELECTION PERIOD BY A CARETAKER MINISTER.

CASSOULIDES ADDED THAT CYPRUS PRESIDENT GLAFCOS CLERIDES HAS ALREADY THANKED THE CARETAKER MINISTER FOR THE ''IMPECCABLE'' MANNER IN WHICH HE SUPERVISED THE JUSTICE MINISTRY DURING THE RUN-UP TO POLLING DAY.

CNA KPK/MM/1996

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

[09] CYPRUS-GREECE TRADE ON THE RISE

SPEAKING AT THE GREEK PAVILLION AT THE 21ST CYPRUS INTERNATIONAL STATE FAIR, CURRENTLY UNDERWAY, PASSADI SAID CYPRUS IS AMONG THE SEVEN TOP MARKETS OF GREEK PRODUCTS.

IN 1995, SHE ADDED, GREECE RANKED FIFTH IN THE LIST OF EXPORTERS OF GOODS TO CYPRUS, WITH 7,19 PER CENT OF THE ISLAND'S IMPORTS.

GREECE'S MARKET IS OF EQUAL IMPORTANCE TO CYPRUS SINCE 6,02 PER CENT OF THE ISLAND'S EXPORTS WENT TO GREECE IN 1995 AND 7,57 PER CENT IN 1994, SHE SAID.

THE GREEK ATTACHE SAID 1995 WAS A DECISIVE YEAR FOR BILATERAL TRADE TRANSACTIONS SINCE THE DECISION OF THE TWO GOVERNMENTS FOR JOINT FINANCIAL COOPERATION STARTED TO TAKE SHAPE.

THIS YEAR GREECE PARTICIPATES IN THE FAIR WITH 29 EXHIBITORS.

CNA KN/KPK/MM/1996

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

[10] FOREIGN MINISTER IN PARIS FOR TALKS

SPEAKING BEFORE LEAVING, MICHAELIDES DESCRIBED THE MEETINGS AS ''PARTICULARLY IMPORTANT'' AND NOTED THAT FRANCE, AS EU PRESIDENT IN MARCH 1995, PAVED THE WAY FOR CYPRUS' MEMBERSHIP TALKS, SCHEDULED TO START SIX MONTHS AFTER THE INTERGOVERNMENTAL CONFERENCE.

''WE SHALL DISCUSS WAYS THE EU CAN ACT DECISIVELY TO PARTICIPATE IN AN EVENTUAL INITIATIVE ON CYPRUS,'' HE SAID.

ON HIS MEETING WITH BARNIER, MICHAELIDES SAID THAT '''WE SHALL ASSESS CYPRUS' COURSE TO EUROPE, MATTERS RELATING TO THE EU-CYPRUS STRUCTURED DIALOGUE, AND THE FORTHCOMING EU SUMMIT IN FLORENCE.''

FRANCE, HE ADDED, IS ONE OF THE MAJOR EU MEMBER-STATES AND HAS GIVEN PROOF OF ITS INTEREST TO CONTRIBUTE TO A CYPRUS SETTLEMENT.

THE MINISTER FLIES TO THE FRENCH CAPITAL TO ATTEND A CULTURAL EVENING ON FRIDAY DEDICATED TO CYPRUS, ENTITLED ''CYPRUS IS EUROPE.''

FAMOUS GREEK SINGERS GEORGE DALARAS AND GEORGES MOUSTAKI AND THE ISLAND'S SING AND DANCE CULTURAL GROUP ''DIASTASIS'' WILL PARTICIPATE IN THE EVENING.

THE EVENT IS DIRECTED BY GREEK DIRECTOR COSTAS GAVRAS, BEST KNOWN FROM HIS WORK IN THE POLITICAL FILMS ''Z'' AND ''MISSING.''

A POSTER BY GREEK RENOWN PAINTER FASSIANOS, PUT UP AROUND PARIS, CONVEYS THE MEANING OF THE CULTURAL EVENT.

ASKED ABOUT THE CANCELATION OF NEXT WEEK'S MEETING IN BERLIN BETWEEN THE GREEK AND TURKISH FOREIGN MINISTERS, MICHAELIDES SAID THAT DIPLOMATS PREPARING THE GROUND FOR THE BERLIN MEETING DID NOT PRODUCE ANY RESULTS.

THERE WAS NO CONVERGENCE OF VIEWS TO LAY THE FOUNDATIONS FOR A MINISTERIAL MEETING, HE ADDED.

CNA MM/KPK/1996

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

[11] GREEK EURO MPS DENOUNCE TURKISH CLAIMS ON CULTURAL HERITAGE

THE TWO DEPUTIES, YIANNOS KRANIDIOTIS OF THE GREEK SOCIALIST PARTY PASOK AND COSTAS HADJIDAKIS OF THE GREEK RIGHT-WING NEA DEMOCRATIA PARTY, DESCRIBED THE ALLEGATIONS AS ''FALSE AND GROUNDLESS.''

IN A LETTER TO THEIR COLLEAGUES, THEY CONDEMNED ATTEMPTS BY THE ILLEGAL TURKISH CYPRIOT REGIME TO RID ITSELF OF ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE DESTRUCTION OF CYPRIOT HERITAGE IN OCCUPIED CYPRUS. THE ALLEGATIONS APPEARED IN A LETTER BY A TURKISH CYPRIOT TO THE U.N. AND UNESCO.

THE SELF-STYLED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE TURKISH CYPRIOT REGIME AT THE U.N., ATAY RASIT, REJECTED IN THE LETTER EVIDENCE KRANIDIOTIS AND HADJIDAKIS HAD PRESENTED EARLIER TO THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT ON THE DESECRATION OF CYPRUS' HERITAGE BY THE TURKISH CYPRIOT REGIME AND THE TURKISH OCCUPATION TROOPS.

THE TWO GREEK DEPUTIES HIGHLIGHTED IN THEIR OWN LETTER RASIT'S REFUSAL TO ALLOW A EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT DELEGATION TO VISIT HISTORICAL SITES IN THE TURKISH OCCUPIED AREAS OF THE ISLAND.

THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT HAD ASKED IN A RESOLUTION FOR A EUROPEAN DELEGATION TO BE ALLOWED TO VISIT OCCUPIED CYPRUS TO INSPECT THE CONDITION OF THE GREEK CULTURAL MONUMENTS.

THE TWO EURO-MPS ALSO POINTED OUT IN THEIR LETTER THAT THE TURKISH CYPRIOT REGIME IS SHOWING LESS AND LESS RESPECT FOR CYPRUS' CULTURAL HERITAGE.

THE TWO DEPUTIES CONCLUDE THEIR LETTER STRESSING THAT THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY, ESPECIALLY THE EUROPEAN UNION, SHOULD REACT, BY ANY MEANS, TO PROTECT THE CULTURAL HERITAGE IN THE TURKISH OCCUPIED AREAS BECAUSE THIS IS PART OF WORLD CULTURAL HEERITAGE.

CYPRUS HAS BEEN DIVIDED SINCE 1974 WHEN TURKISH TROOPS INVADED AND OCCUPIED 37 PER CENT OF THE ISLAND'S TERRITORY. CNA NB/KN/KPK/MM/1996

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

[12] LEFTWING PARTY BACKS SOCIALIST FOR HOUSE PRESIDENCY

THE ANNOUNCEMENT WAS MADE HERE TODAY BY AKEL GENERAL SECRETARY DEMETRIS CHRISTOFIAS AFTER A CENTRAL COMMITTEE MEETING.

''TAKING INTO ACCOUNT THE POLITICAL SCENE, AS THIS HAS EMERGED AFTER SUNDAY'S PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS AND THE NEED FOR A CONSENSUS IN THE HOUSE TO ALLOW IT TO RUN SMOOTHLY, WE DECIDED TO BACK LYSSARIDES IN HIS BID FOR THE HOUSE PRESIDENCY,'' CHRISTOFIAS SAID.

AKEL LEADER STRESSED THAT HIS PARTY'S DECISION DOES NOT PREEMPT AKEL'S MOVES IN VIEW OF THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS IN 1998. AKEL HAS NEVER PUT FORWARD ITS OWN CANDIDATE FOR THE PRESIDENCY OF THE REPUBLIC BUT OPTED TO BACK OTHERS.

REPLYING TO QUESTIONS, CHRISTOFIAS SAID HIS PARTY DID NOT CONSULT WITH ANY OTHER PARTY BEFORE ANNOUNCING ITS DECISION. ''WE ARE AN AUTONOMOUS PARTY AND WE BELIEVED WE HAD TO DECIDE FOR OURSELVES,'' HE SAID.

HOWEVER, AKEL AND EDEK HAVE 24 SEATS IN THE 56-SEAT PARLIAMENT.

CNA MM/KPK/1996

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

[13] SERVICES SECTOR ''INCREASINGLY IMPORTANT''

SPEAKING AT A PRESS CONFERENCE, PITTAS SAID ''CYPRUS IS IDEALLY LOCATED TO PROVIDE HIGH QUALITY SERVICES, HAD A HIGHLY QUALIFIED PERSONNEL AND AN EXCELLENT TELECOMMUNICATIONS NETWORK.''

PITTAS SAID OEV RECOGNISES THE VAST POTENTIAL FOR FURTHER DEVELOPING THIS SECTOR AND ''WILL INTENSIFY ITS ACTIVITIES TO HELP PROMOTE CYPRUS AS A SERVICES CENTRE.''

OEV'S PLAN OF ACTION, HE ADDED, INCLUDES ORGANISING THE SECOND EXHIBITION ''CYSERV'96'', THE BUSINESS AWARD FOR BEST SERVICES OFFERED AND AN AWARD TO BUSINESSES OR INDIVIDUALS FOR INNOVATIVE IDEAS.

THE FEDERATION ALSO INTENDS TO ISSUE A SECOND REVISED EDITION OF ''A GUIDE TO SERVICES 96-98'' AND SEND A CYPRIOT MISSION ABROAD TO PROMOTE SERVICES, HE SAID.

''OUR INITIATIVES IN THE SERVICES SECTOR DO NOT MEAN IN ANY WAY THAT WE SHALL NEGLECT OUR EFFORTS TO SUPPORT AND PROMOTE OTHER SECTORS OF OUR ECONOMY,'' HE SAID.

CNA MM/KPK/1996

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

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