Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 96-09-04

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CONTENTS

[01] UN objective is one country with two communites, says UN envoy

[02] Maldivian Health Minister in Cyprus

[03] President to protest Turkish aggression to UN Assembly

[04] Cyprus Stock Exchange

[05] Small states must rally together on economic matters

1240:CYPPRESS:01

[01] UN objective is one country with two communities, says UN envoy

UN resident representative Gustave Feissel discussed the current situation in Cyprus with Cyprus President Glafcos Clerides.

Speaking to the press after the one-hour meeting at the Presidential Palace, Feissel said ''we just met to review the situation and to discuss matters'' in anticipation of the UN Secretary-General's Special Representative on Cyprus Han Sung-Joo.

He added the former South Korean Foreign Minister is expected to arrive in Cyprus next Tuesday and remain on the island for the rest of the week.

Feissel announced that Han will have meetings on Wednesday with President Clerides, in the southern government-controlled part of Nicosia, the world's last divided capital, and Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash, in the Turkish-occupied northern part. He will meet again with them on Friday.

The UN envoy clarified that Han ''is not bringing anything with him'' on ways to go forward.

Asked if a joint statement by President Clerides and Denktash is yet needed to defuse tension after the brutal killings of two Greek Cypriot young demonstrators by Turkish troops and extremists last month, Feissel's reply was ''obviously''.

He said ''we always thought that it was important a clear message be made about the sentiment of the two communities.''

''After all, the objective is to have one country with the two communities and I think that requires the right message and the right action'', he noted.

Commenting on the possibility of a New York joint meeting between President Clerides and Denktash, in the presence of UN Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali, Feissel said there is nothing on this matter.

''Obviously our objective has been, is and continues to be to get the two leaders together as soon as possible in a fruitful effort, but so far there is nothing specific on that'' he said.

UN resident Representative said the UN are trying very hard to create the conditions for the two leaders to get together and added that Han is coming to listen and learn more, this time.

Asked to comment on worries expressed by the Cyprus government that Turkish agents might cause provocations in the free areas of the Republic, Feissel said he has no information on this.

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

CNA AP/GP/1996

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1445:CYPPRESS:02

[02] Maldivian Health Minister in Cyprus

Abdullah had already meetings with Cyprus Health Minister Manolis Christofides and specialists at the Thalassaimia Centre in Nicosia.

An official press release said the two sides discussed ways for cooperation between the two countries in health matters.

They also examined the possibility the Cyprus Health Ministry to provide technical assistance to the Maldives.

The Maldivian Minister ends his visit to Cyprus today.

CNA MCH/GP/1996

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1700 :CYPPRESS:03

[03] President to protest Turkish aggression to UN Assembly

The President will also underline the need to speed up the process for a settlement in Cyprus, Michaelides added.

Speaking before a cabinet meeting here today, the Minister made it clear that Cyprus will not make a recourse to any UN body about last month's killing of two unarmed Greek Cypriot protestors in the buffer zone, near Dherynia village, which lies next to the Turkish occupied part of the island.

''The President will have the opportunity to address representatives from around the world and make representations relating to the killings and the presence of the Turkish terrorist organisation ''Grey Wolves'' in Cyprus,'' Michaelides said.

The President, Michaelides added, will also stress ''once more the urgency to find a solution to the protracted Cyprus problem and to respect UN Security Council resolutions.

''I hope the Council will deal with the events in Dherynia as a separate matter. Terrorism is something which the Security Council should concern itself with as an issue relating to international terrorism,'' Michaelides told the press.

Members of the ''Grey Wolves'' group took part in the brutal beating of a Greek Cypriot demonstrator during last month's anti-occupation protests. Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash not only invited them to the occupied part of the island but publically thanked them for coming. The second Greek Cypriot was shot dead by a Turkish soldier when climbing a flagpole to pull down the Turkish flag.

The Foreign Minister said ''we shall put forward this issue at various meetings we expect to have with Security Council members.''

''We expect that the Security Council will tackle this issue as one relating to international terrorism. We intend to table this matter to the president of the Council as a separate issue,'' Michaelides added.

CNA MM/MCH/1996

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1810:CYPPRESS:04

[04] Cyprus Stock Exchange

CSE All Share Index 88.98 (+0.27)

Sectural Indices

Banks 95.34 (+0.38)

Approved Investment Companies 81.26 (-0.59)

Insurance Companies 68.06 (+1.78)

Industrial Companies 87.52 (-0.73)

Tourist Industries 81.39 (-0.33)

Commercial Companies 76.47 (+1.03)

Other Companies 88.13 (-0.52) Trading Volume CYP 1196750.504

* The difference in brackets represents the percentage increase (+) or decrease (-) of the index from the previous stock exchange meeting.

CNA MM/1996

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1830 :CYPPRESS:05

[05] Small states must rally together on economic matters

He also stressed however, that small states have the ability to be more flexible and are quicker to react to changing economic circumstances than larger states.

The Minister told some 140 distinguished scholars and economists from around the world, attending an international conference on the repercussions of economic globalisation on small countries, that small states find it difficult to deal with acute international competition.

''Small states are very susceptible to outside risks because of the size of their economies, their restricted natural wealth and their dependence on a limited number of produce,'' the Minister explained.

One of their biggest advantages over big states, the Minister noted, is their ability to be flexible and quick to react to problems that emerge.

''Regular contact to exchange views, increased cooperation and a common evaluation of international economic developments would help small states gain a louder voice in world markets where their point of view will be taken into account,'' Christodoulou added.

Referring to the economic indicators in Cyprus, the Minister said its economy ''though small and very sensitive to outside influences is doing remarkably well compared with other small states.''

But, he stressed, one must not be complacent about this.

He said the dire economic situation in the island's Turkish occupied areas affect all Cypriots, but especially Turkish Cypriots.

''Turkey's economic problems have been imported into the northern part of the island, which Turkey occupies for the past 22 years,'' the Minister said.

The rate of growth in occupied Cyprus from 1974 till now stands at three per cent compared with six per cent in the government controlled part of the island.

Inflation rose to 80 per cent last year in Turkish occupied Cyprus while in the free areas of the Republic was 2,6 per cent during the same period.

Public deficit in 1995 was 21 per cent in the occupied areas compared with one per cent in the government controlled areas.

The three-day meeting, sponsored by the Central Bank and the Popular Bank, will deal with ''Shocking Aspects of International Economic and Monetary Integration'', ''Industrial Networks within the EU,'' and ''Customs Unions, an impediment to Free Trade?'' and ''Strategic Options for Small Countries within the Framework of Globalised Economies.''

CNA MM/MCH/1996

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

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