Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 96-11-06

Cyprus News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

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

CONTENTS

[01] Cyprus efforts to open Canadian market bearing fruit

[02] Cyprus expects Clinton to fulfill his pledge

[03] Cyprus delegation to Egypt for Economic Summit

[04] Cyprus Stock Exchange

[05] Hungary fully backs UN resolutions on Cyprus

[06] Charity Radiomarathon hits new record

[07] Turkish Cypriots take retaliatory measures

1000:CYPPRESS:01

[01] Cyprus efforts to open Canadian market bearing fruit

These efforts are now showing strong signs of succeeding, the latest statistics of bilateral trade volumes between the two countries reveal.

Exports of Cypriot products to Canada in 1995 jumped 77 per cent, reaching a record 1,7 million US dollars, Cyprus trade official Dennis Drousiotis said during an official visit to Ottawa last week.

Canada has shown keen interest in such Cypriot products as cosmetics, clothing, footwear and furniture, with wine, beer and halloumi cheese marking significant inroads.

Drousiotis, who is the Commercial Counsellor of Cyprus in the United States as well as Canada, just completed a round of meetings in the Canadian capital with government officials and trade officers, as well as with private sector businessmen.

The trip followed up on the ''very constructive'' visit to Canada this July by Cypriot Minister of Commerce, Industry and Tourism Kyriacos Christofi, who was accompanied by Drousiotis.

That earlier trip laid much good ground work for his follow-up visit, noted the Commercial Counsellor.

As a result of discussions just held with officials at the Canadian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, Ministerial Deputy Director Andre Potkin announced that Canada will seriously consider participation in the 1997 Cyprus International State Fair.

The prominence of Cyprus as a trading hub offering excellent access to regional markets is of strong interest both to North American trade officials and exporters.

Also high on the agenda of discussions with the Canadian government was the need to reduce the bilateral trade imbalance and in what product areas it could be chipped away at.

Officials listened favourably to Cyprus' request for easing trade barriers that now restrict imports such as the quotas imposed on halloumi cheese.

Cypriot apparel products also face restrictive policies that the Canadians said would be looked into. Both sides considered the talks ''helpful'' and decided to maintain a continuing dialogue.

The Trade Centre in New York has been promoting Cypriot exports to Canada through a variety of means, including participation in trade shows, organising seminars, working to increase the number of distributors handling Cypriot products, advertising the other means of promotional efforts.

Most recently Cyprus participated with its own exhibition at the Ottawa Food and Wine Show promoting Cypriot wines and halloumi.

Cyprus was one of twenty other exhibiting countries promoting their wine and food products. The Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Tourism has now initiated steps for the certification of Halloumi as a trademark name in the Canadian market.

Another current example, four Canadian clothing importers entered into discussions last week with Cypriot manufacturers for joint imports. This was the result of a trade mission to Canada of Cypriot manufacturers.

The Trade Office, noted Drousiotis, organised the mission, researched and made appointments with appropriate Canadian importers, advised on pricing and other matters relating to the North American market and remained available for follow up importer-exporter contacts.

CNA GP/1996

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1345:CYPPRESS:02

[02] Cyprus expects Clinton to fulfill his pledge

''I do not think we should anticipate the US to exert pressure on anybody. We expect the US to play a positive role towards a resolution of the Cyprus question,'' the President told the press, following Clinton's electoral victory yesterday.

Asked if Clinton's re-election would safeguard a lasting and viable solution, the President said he would not make any assessment until he knows what the US would suggest and what moves the new Administration will take.

Referring to his talks with Greece's Deputy Foreign Minister Christos Rozakis, earlier this week, Clerides said discussions focused on Cyprus' European Union accession course and a proposed UN-US initiative on Cyprus next year.

''Cyprus and Greece have to draft the strategy we shall follow jointly on these matters,'' he said.

Replying to press questions before today's cabinet meeting, the President said he expects to visit Athens for talks before the end of the year.

The National Council, the President's top advisory body on the handling of the Cyprus question made up of parliamentary party leaders, will also be going to the Greek capital for talks.

CNA MM/GP/1996

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1410:CYPPRESS:03

[03] Cyprus delegation to Egypt for Economic Summit

The delegation will be headed by Foreign Minister Alecos Michaelides.

It will include representatives of the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Tourism, the Central Bank, the Cyprus Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Planning Bureau, the Cyprus Tourism Organisation and the Industrialists and Employers Federation.

Michaelides will also travel on November 13 to Athens, where he will meet his Greek counterpart Theodoros Pangalos.

On November 14, he will accompany President Glafcos Clerides to the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) Summit to be held in Rome, Italy.

Cyprus Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environment Minister Costas Petrides will also be there.

From November 25 to 27, Michaelides will be visiting Brussels.

CNA MCH/GP/1996

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1425:CYPPRESS:04

[04] Cyprus Stock Exchange

CSE All Share Index                    84.13 (-0.13)

Sectural Indices

Banks                                  92.97 (-0.18)
Approved Investment Companies          76.77 (-0.62)
Insurance Companies                    60.98 (-0.21)
Industrial Companies                   82.91 (+1.18)
Tourist Industries                     73.42 (-1.62)
Commercial Companies                   65.37 (-0.56)
Other Companies                        74.86 (-0.17)

Trading Volume                         CYP 435829.720

CNA GP/1996

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1450:CYPPRESS:05

[05] Hungary fully backs UN resolutions on Cyprus

It also supports the UN Secretary-General's good offices mission on Cyprus and every good will mediation for a Cyprus settlement.

The statement was made by the country's Prime Minister, Gyula Horn, in a letter to the Hungarian Workers' Party leader, Thurmer Gyula.

According to a press release issued here today by the leftwing AKEL party the Hungarian reassurance comes after Gyula was informed by AKEL about the recent Turkish atrocities on the island, with the brutal murders of three unarmed Greek Cypriots.

The Hungarian leader stressed that the government and the people of his country were shocked when they saw on international tv channels the brutal murders by the Turkish troops and extremists.]

At the same time, the Hungarian Premier expressed concern over the life of Hungarian peacemakers, who are serving in the United Nations Peacekeeping Forces in Cyprus (UNFICYP).

Cyprus has been divided since 1974 when Turkish troops invaded and occupied 37 per cent of the island's territory.

CNA EC/GP/1996

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1815:CYPPRESS:06

[06] Charity Radiomarathon hits new record

President Glafcos Clerides, who was present at a live TV programme for the closing of the 42-hour long campaign, said the people of Cyprus had once again showed they have a ''very generous heart and charitable feelings.''

This year's charity event was organised jointly by the Cyprus Popular Bank and the Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation (CyBC), with the participation of local TV and radio stations and Greek speaking stations in Greece, Britain, Canada, South Africa and Australia.

Popular Bank Board Chairman Kikis Lazarides thanked all the people and the media for their contribution to making this event a success and declared the 8th ''Radiomarathon'', to take place the same period, in 1997.

CyBC Board Chairman Charilaos Papadopoulos underlined that the predominant feeling in the past couple of days was ''immense love towards our fellow human beings'' and noted that donations ranked second in this year's event.

The slogan of this seventh consecutive ''Radiomarathon'' was ''even the smallest contribution is big'' and aimed raising public awareness of the problems children with special needs are facing throughout the year.

This year's functions included relay competitions, runs, a sports fiesta with the participation of Greek gold medalists at the Atlanta Olympics, cycling and an auction of works of art.

President Clerides offered a personal photo-album and his military cap for auction. An anonymous bidder got the album for 10.000 Cyprus pounds (about 20.000 US dollars).

Some personal belongings of Greek Olympic medalists were bought at the auction by the Ministry of Education and Culture for 10.000 Cyprus pounds (about 20.000 US dollars).

Education Minister Claire Angelidou said all the items (T-shirts, caps) will be on a permanent display at the Olympic Museum.

Since 1990, when the first ''Radiomarathon'' took place, four million Cyprus pounds has been collected and distributed to children with special needs and charitable institutions.

CNA AP/MM/1996

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

2030:CYPPRESS:07

[07] Turkish Cypriots take retaliatory measures

Government Spokesman Yiannakis Cassoulides said such behaviour was ''totally unjustified and a serious violation of the human rights of enclaved Cypriots.''

''We cannot excuse any measures which may affect the human rights of the enclaved. We shall protest such moves worldwide and we shall respond in a firm manner,'' Cassoulides told the press.

However, he pointed out that the government does not encourage the type of protest Greek Cypriots are staging at the Ledra Palace check-point, near the UN buffer zone, and will attempt again to persuade protesters, led by MP Marios Matsakis, to change their manner of protesting.

The Spokesman said the UN peacekeeping force in Cyprus (UNFICYP) has already expressed great concern to the government over the protest.

Earlier today the occupation regime closed the Ledra Palace check-point, the only crossing point from the government-controlled areas to the occupied areas, and two Greek Cypriot couples and a child could not return to their villages.

The enclaved said the illegal Turkish Cypriot ''police'' told them to go back to the Ledra Palace ''once Matsakis leaves the check-point.''

Matsakis, assisted by Greek Cypriot refugees and bereaved relatives of four unarmed Greek Cypriots murdered by Turkish troops in the past few months, have gathered at the Ledra Palace for the past three weekends in a bid to inform and hopefully dissuade tourists from visiting the occupied areas.

In a statement issued here today, Matsakis described today's incident as ''blackmail'' and said organisers of the protest will not give in to it.

Foreign Minister Alecos Michaelides is scheduled to meet the organisers of the protest again tomorrow to try and convince them to change their mind.

CNA AP/MM/1996

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

Cyprus News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article