Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 96-09-24

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

CONTENTS

[01] Clerides arrives in New York

[02] EU ambassador warns on negotiations ratification

[03] Stock Cyprus Exchange

[04] EU prospect ''an opportunity'' to solution

[05] Cyprus signs nuclear test ban treaty

[06] No independent British move on Cyprus

[07] Cyprus, Greece to continue ''close ties''

0850:CYPPRESS:01

[01] Clerides arrives in New York

Speaking on his arrival yesterday in New York, where he will address the UN General Assembly, President Clerides was asked to comment on statements made by Turkey's Foreign Minister Tansu Ciller that ''with the election of the Greek Prime Minister (Costas Simitis) there was a hope that there could be at least some new discussion... some new work between Turkey and Greece on Cyprus.''

Clerides said Ciller had made this proposal during the pre-election period in Greece because she knew it would be rejected. ''I believe that if Turkey has the intention to alter its views on the fundamental aspects of the Cyprus problem, then this alone could open the road towards a settlement''.

The Cypriot President stressed that pressure should be exerted on Ankara to change its policy on the Cyprus problem. ''Efforts should be made towards Ankara and not on Cyprus,'' he remarked.

Clerides acknowledged that he is not expecting anything new from his contacts in New York.

He noted, however, that the issue is whether those who he will talk to, have the intention to exert substantial pressure on the Turkish side.

Referring to last month's killings in the UN-controlled buffer zone by Turkish troops and extremists, President Clerides stressed that ''we must give the right impression that what is happening will not take us away from the course of a peaceful solution to the Cyprus problem''.

He emphasised that the recent incidents remind the international community that an urgent solution was needed, as always was the case.

President Clerides begins his contacts in New York today with the signing of the Test Ban Treaty at the United Nations.

Tonight, he will give a lecture on the Cyprus problem at the Carnegie Hall.

Tomorrow, he will hold separate meetings with Ireland's Foreign Minister Dick Spring, whose country holds the rotating presidency of the European Union, and EU External Affairs Commissioner Hans Van Den Broek.

He will also meet Poland's President Aleksander Kwasniewski and Latvia's Prime Minister Andris Skele.

On Thursday, he will meet UN Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali and address the UN General Assembly.

CNA EC/GP/1996

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1400:CYPPRESS:02

[02] EU ambassador warns on negotiations ratification

Anouil was the guest speaker at a Monday dinner, held by Larnaca's ''Kition'' Rotary Club, where he talked on the prospectives of Cyprus' accession to the EU.

Expressing his opinion on the outcome of Cyprus' accession negotiations, the EU ambassador said ''some member-states might hesitate to ratify if the Cyprus problem is still blocked.''

Anouil expressed the view that the next 18 months would be ''very crucial for Cyprus, not only for the negotiations but also the solution of the Cyprus problem linked with accession.''

He remarked that things would be much easier if the problem can be solved before or during the negotiations, because the question is to ratify them with a unique unanimity of 15 member-states.

He recalled that the EU Council of Ministers decided on March 6, 1995, to start negotiations with Cyprus six months after the next revision of the European Treaty (Intergovernmental Conference), ''probably at the beginning of 1998'', he added.

Anouil assured his audience that ''we will hold our word, we will open the negotiations'' but he pointed out that these ''are, to a certain extent, connected to the problem.''

However, the EU ambassador, noted that the European Commission and member-states, like Britain, France and Germany, say it would be so much preferable if there is a Cyprus solution before opening negotiations which ''will open whatever happens'', he added.

''So it means that all our efforts, EU Commission and member-states and all the partners like the US and the UN, will try to use the year 1997 to enhance, to promote and to support the solution,'' Anouil underlined.

Cyprus applied for full membership in 1990. It signed an association agreement with the European Community in 1972 and a customs union agreement in 1987.

This east Mediterranean island republic has been divided since 1974 when Turkish troops invaded and occupied 37 per cent of its territory.

CNA AP/GP/1996

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1715:CYPPRESS:03

[03] Cyprus Stock Exchange

CSE All Share Index                    83.38 (-0.13)
Sectural Indices
Banks                                  90.46 [0]
Approved Investment Companies          76.25 (+0.30)
Insurance Companies                    61.85 (+0.18)
Industrial Companies                   82.40 (-1.27)
Tourist Industries                     74.97 (-0.31)
Commercial Companies                   68.06 (+0.80)
Other Companies                        80.70 (-0.26)
Trading Volume                         CYP 439614.540

* 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

1930:CYPPRESS:06

[04] EU prospect ''an opportunity'' to solution by Emilia Christophi

Spring said the ''prospect for accession, which should benefit both communities on the island (Greek and Turkish Cypriot) provides both the opportunity and the impetus, in the period prior to accession, to redouble international efforts to seek a political settlement.''

The EU, he added, hopes that ''all interested parties will constructively assist these efforts.''

The Irish Foreign Minister ''strongly deplored'' the recent violence in Cyprus and the ''disproportionate use of force by the forces in the north of Cyprus in response to disturbances in the UN buffer zone,'' when Turkish extremists killed two Greek Cypriot demonstrators protesting the continuing Turkish occupation of part of Cyprus in August.

Condemning the brutal killings of two Greek Cypriot civilians, Spring expressed deep concern about the injuries sustained by many others, including UN peace-keeping personnel.

In his remarks to the Assembly, Spring, who spoke on behalf of the EU and his country, said the recent events on the island ''underline the need for both sides to cooperate fully with UNFICYP and the UN Secretary-General's Special Representative for Cyprus in their efforts to defuse tensions as well as the urgent need to intensify efforts to promote a comprehensive political settlement.''

He also said that the current status quo in Cyprus ''is not acceptable'' and reaffirmed strong EU support for UN efforts to reach a negotiated and lasting settlement which will respect the sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity and unity of the country in accordance with UN resolutions on Cyprus.

Referring to Cyprus-EU relations, Spring said a structure dialogue has been going on between the two since July last year as part of the pre-accession strategy.

The EU, he added, believes that making substantial efforts to reach a just and viable solution to the question of Cyprus on the basis of a bizonal and bicommunal federation is very important.

CNA EC/MM/1996

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

2030:CYPPRESS:07

[05] Cyprus signs nuclear test ban treaty

The treaty is designed to reduce the risks posed to the world by the perils of nuclear proliferation and by the possibility of nuclear war.

There are only five declared nuclear powers, the US, Britain, Russia, China and France and according to a publication by the Institute of International and Strategic Relations (IRSS) there have been over 2,000 nuclear tests since 1945.

CNA MM/RG/1996

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

2100:CYPPRESS:08

[06] No independent British move on Cyprus by Emilia Christophi

''We do not envisage a unilateral British initiative,'' Malcolm Rifkind, British Foreign Secretary, told a press conference here today.

''We want to work closely with others in the EU, the US and elsewhere and the UN of course who are involved in this crucial matter,'' he added.

He also noted that ''the prospect of negotiations on possible Cyprus membership of the EU provide a very important moment when a new effort should be made and I look forward to seeing what the UK can do to help these matters forward.''

Rifkind expressed sadness that ''at a time when many global problems have either been resolved or made huge progress, the situation in Cyprus has not materially improved over a quarter of a century and indeed in the past few months it has, in some respects, got worse.''

Asked to outline the contents of a possible initiative by Britain, France and Germany on Cyprus, Rifkind said Britain ''has a strong commitment to doing what we can to contribute towards progress with regard to Cyprus.''

He also referred to Britain's special interest in Cyprus and noted the existence of the British sovereign bases on the island, the strong Cypriot community in the UK and the recent appointment of Sir David Hannay as Britain's special representative for Cyprus.

Britain, he added, is also one of the three guarantor powers of Cyprus (the other two being Greece and Turkey) in accordance with the treaty of guarantee of 1960, when Cyprus gained its independence from British colonial rule.

CNA MM/RG/1996

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

2140:CYPPRESS:09

[07] Cyprus, Greece to continue ''close ties'' by Emilia Christophi

The two men, who met here today on the sidelines of the 51st UN General Assembly, reiterated their support for ''close cooperation between Cyprus and Greece in all fields'' only hours after Pangalos' reappointment at the helm of the Greek Foreign Ministry, following Sunday's elections in Greece which gave socialist PASOK leader Costas Simitis a four-year term in office.

Discussions between the two Ministers focused on bilateral cooperation, efforts to settle the Cyprus question and next week's planned visit to Cyprus by the Greek Premier, scheduled for October 1, when Cyprus celebrates its 36 years of independence.

Michaelides told the press after the meeting that ''close cooperation with Greece will continue at the same pace as in the past.''

This cooperation, he said, has already produced important results as far as the Cyprus problem, Cyprus' European Union membership prospects and defence matters are concerned.

Michaelides welcomed an earlier statement by EU current president, Ireland's Foreign Minister Dick Spring, that the present division and partial occupation of Cyprus is unacceptable.

He also said Spring's statement reaffirmed UN Security Council resolution 939 which stipulates that a Cyprus settlement must be based on ''a state of Cyprus with a single sovereignty and international personality and a single citizenship with the independence and territorial integrity safeguarded.''

CNA MM/RG/1996

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

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