Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 96-09-20

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From: "HR-Net News Distribution Manager" <dist@hri.org>

CONTENTS

[01] US to work harder on Cyprus

[02] ''Important EU resolutions,'' government says

[03] Cyprus Stock Exchange

[04] President embarks on series of meetings in NY

1155:CYPPRESS:01

[01] US to work harder on Cyprus

Speaking after a meeting with Cyprus President Glafcos Clerides, Brill said he visited Clerides, in view of the Cypriot President's trip to the US, next week.

''I wanted to have a chance to talk and compare notes on the recent situation and to talk about a few issues which relate to the UN'', Brill said.

He said they had a ''good talk'' and wished the President a very successful trip.

''The US has a very serious interest in the issue of Cyprus. We are working hard on it now and I expect that we will be working very hard on it in the future'', the US diplomat added.

Asked to comment on yesterday's resolutions approved by the European Parliament, which condemned Turkey about its poor human rights records and its policy towards Cyprus and the Kurdish population, Brill said the US are not a part of the EU and he could not comment on what the EU does.

Clerides leaves for New York on Sunday for a week-long visit. He will address the UN General Assembly and have meetings with UN Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali, and representatives of the five permanent members of the Security Council.

CNA EC/GP/1996

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1655:CYPPRESS:02

[02] ''Important EU resolutions,'' government says

''The European Parliament makes it clear to Turkey that if it aspires to have closer ties with Europe, it must start behaving like a European country,'' Cassoulides told his daily briefing.

A resolution on Turkey calls for a freeze of EU funds, destined for the country through a customs union agreement, and notes that human rights violations continue in Turkey, contrary to promises the country has given to Europe to improve its human rights record.

Another resolution on the situation in Cyprus urges Turkey to withdraw its occupation troops from Cyprus and comply with UN resolutions relating to Cyprus.

''Turkey's behaviour within Turkey itself and in Cyprus is far from the European norms of behaviour,'' the Spokesman said.

He said Turkey was given an opportunity to improve its human rights record and move closer to Europe when the EU Council endorsed a customs union agreement in March 1995, after Greece lifted its veto on the agreement with the consent of the government of Cyprus.

The government, Cassoulides said, had hoped that the prospect of closer ties with the EU would have helped Turkey to apply a more civilised and European way of thinking.

''Turkey's position towards Cyprus has not changed after the EU agreement in March 1995 and there is no hope of settling the Cyprus problem unless Turkey changes its tune,'' Cassoulides noted.

CNA MM/RG/1996

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1730:CYPPRESS:03

[03] Cyprus Stock Exchange

CSE All Share Index                    83.22 (-0.16)
Sectural Indices
Banks                                  89.85 (+0.14)
Approved Investment Companies          76.00 (-0.29)
Insurance Companies                    61.88 (-1.39)
Industrial Companies                   83.14 (-0.60)
Tourist Industries                     75.89 (+0.25)
Commercial Companies                   66.95 (-0.40)
Other Companies                        82.43 (-0.79)
Trading Volume                         CYP 379806.971

* 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

1900:CYPPRESS:04

[04] President embarks on series of meetings in NY

The President is scheduled to address the Assembly on Thursday and see UN Secretary-General, Boutros Boutros Ghali, the same day.

On Tuesday, President Clerides will sign the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty and give a lecture at the Carnegie Council.

He will also have separate meetings with Polish President, Aleksander Kwasniewski, Latvia's Prime Minister, Andris Skele, and Irish Foreign Minister, Dick Spring, whose country holds the EU rotating presidency. Present at this meeting will be EU Commissioner for External Relations, Hans Van Den Brooke.

On Friday, the President will meet Britain's Foreign Secretary, Malcolm Rifkind, and US Ambassador to the UN, Madeleine Albright, who visited Cyprus earlier this year.

During his week-long stay, President Clerides will meet media representatives, open an exhibition of relics from Cyprus' anti colonial struggle for independence at the Cyprus House in New York and attend the annual dinner of the Cypriot Federation of America.

The President leaves for London on Sunday, 29 September and returns home the following day in time to take the salute at a military parade to mark Cyprus' Independence Day, 1 October.

CNA MM/RG/1996

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

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