Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 96-11-29

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From: The Cyprus News Agency at <http://www.cyna.org,cy>

CONTENTS

[01] Cyprus commends peace efforts in Middle East

[02] Cyprus Stock Exchange

[03] Peace talks may continue into 1998

[04] Cyprus reacts to Rifkind's statement

[05] EU official reaffirms start of accession talks

[06] Action to be taken on missing persons issue

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[01] Cyprus commends peace efforts in Middle East

This was stated today by President Glafcos Clerides in a message on the occasion of the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People.

''We urge all parties involved to work urgently to remove all obstacles to peace. This, undoubtedly, is the only way for reaching the desired outcome which will prove beneficial for all the peoples of the region,'' the President said in his message.

Reiterating the feelings of friendship between the people of Cyprus and the Palestinians, President Clerides also reaffirmed Cyprus' ''support in the efforts to achieve peace and security in the Middle East.''

''We stand committed to continue our contribution in entrenching this process and in enhancing efforts for closer regional economic cooperation and development, which is so necessary in underpinning the peace process,'' the President stressed.

He also referred to Cyprus' active participation in all initiatives to promote reconciliation and prosperity in the Middle East, as well as ''through the implementation of a Programme of Economic Assistance to the Palestinians which we (Cyprus) have initiated in consultation with the Palestinian Authority.''

Commending all efforts ''in attaining peace, security and development, '' President Clerides expressed the certainty that the ''Palestinian people will continue to show the necessary perseverance and commitment to these goals.''

CNA MCH/MM/1996

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1450:CYPPRESS:02

[02] Cyprus Stock Exchange

CSE All Share Index                    81.12 (+0.68)

Sectural Indices

Banks                                  89.21 (+0.25)
Approved Investment Companies          74.41 (+0.65)
Insurance Companies                    57.87 (+0.52)
Industrial Companies                   83.13 (+2.31)
Tourist Industries                     73.70 (+2.53)
Commercial Companies                   60.66 (-0.10)
Other Companies                        70.32 (+0.73)

Trading Volume                         CYP 669508.682

CNA MCH/1996

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

Nicosia, Nov 29 (CNA) -- Negotiations to settle the protracted Cyprus question, widely expected to start in early 1997 with direct meetings between the Greek and Turkish Cypriot sides, may carry on into 1998, Government Spokesman Yiannakis Cassoulides has said.

''Peace talks to resolve the problem may be carried through into 1998, after the presidential elections in February of that year, and may run parallel to membership negotiations with the European Union,'' Cassoulides told the press today.

Accession talks are scheduled to start six months after the end of the Intergovernmental Conference, expected to be concluded in June next year.

The Spokesman said peace talks will probably be interrupted during the presidential campaign, from around August 1997 to February 1998, and resume afterwards.

''Everything will be put on hold during this period,'' he said and noted that the presidential campaign may tempt prospective presidential candidates to assume such views that may not facilitate the peace talks.

''The best time to step up efforts for a solution is the period we are entering now,'' Cassoulides said.

CNA MM/AP/1996

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1755:CYPPRESS:04

[03] Cyprus reacts to Rifkind's statement

''This type of statements do not help at all. I am not questioning the motives behind the statement but I believe such comments give the Turkish Cypriot side the wrong message,'' Michaelides told the press today.

''Any statement designed to cast doubt on the conclusion of Cyprus' accession process hampers the peace effort for a settlement and the role which this process can play,'' the Minister pointed out.

Rifkind, who is due to visit Cyprus in mid-December, told the House of Commons on Wednesday ''without a united Cyprus, the problems of accession to the EU will be extremely difficult and very difficult to realise.''

He also said he saw ''an opportunity to see some real progress'' and called on President Glafcos Clerides and Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash to show ''real political will'' to settle the problem.

Michaelides said Cyprus considers its accession course ''a leverage for a Cyprus solution'' and explained that Cyprus ''had not asked anyone to outline in public the outcome of this course.''

Cyprus, he added, continues to align its infrastructure and legislation with the acquis communautaire and will continue to do so to facilitate accession negotiations, due to start six months after the conclusion of the Intergovernmental Conference.

''We call on our European partners to contribute to the resolution of the problem because, though seeking EU accession, our primary concern is to settle the Cyprus question,'' the Minister said.

The solution to be found must be just and workable within Europe, he explained.

''We are now at a stage before substantive talks and then we shall enter into intensive negotiations,'' he added.

On his part, Government Spokesman Yiannakis Cassoulides said there was nothing new in Rifkind's statement to the Commons.

''Nobody disregards the fact that accession negotiations will be difficult if there is no settlement in Cyprus,'' Cassoulides told the press today.

He urged the British government to concentrate on the peace effort and added ''we shall be constructive towards a political solution.''

''We must focus on efforts leading to a solution instead of debating what might happen if there is no solution. Our priority is to settle the Cyprus problem,'' Cassoulides said.

CNA MM/AP/1996

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

2000:CYPPRESS:05

[04] EU official reaffirms start of accession talks

Speaking after a meeting here with Foreign Minister Alecos Michaelides, Serge Abou said the March 1995 EU decision ''is my Bible."

Abou told the press he is here to ''accompany and give technical advice to EU presidency representative for Cyprus, Kester Heaslip, and help him particularly when he meets the Turkish Cypriot community.''

He said he will aim to explain ''all the information about the future in the framework of Cyprus' accession and outline the possibility and the potential of this accession for them.''

That, he said, is the main topic of my visit.

Talks with the Minister focused on EU - Cyprus relations, he said and added that ''we are here to prepare the next steps.''

The EU official avoided any comment on a statement by British Foreign Secretary Malcolm Rifkind that it would be ''extremely difficult'' for Cyprus to join the EU if the Cyprus question is not solved.

''It is not for me to comment on what one Foreign Minister of one member-state has said. The only thing I know is that, as the EU has always stated, accession negotiations will begin six months after the IGC, taking into account the results of this Conference,'' he added.

''That is my Bible,'' Abou remarked.

CNA MM/AP/1996

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

2040:CYPPRESS:06

[05] Action to be taken on missing persons issue

Relatives of missing believe the stalemate in efforts to establish the fate of the missing stems from the non-appointment of a representative of the UN Secretary-General to the Committee on Missing Persons (CMP). The Committee operates under UN auspices with one representative from each of the two local communities, Greek and Turkish Cypriot.

A meeting here today between President Glafcos Clerides and representatives of the two committees of relatives of missing, decided a plan of action to break the current deadlock.

The details of the government's moves were not made public but a second meeting on December 12 will take the final decisions on the matter.

Speaking after the meeting, Foreign Minister Alecos Michaelides said there is an ''unwarranted delay'' in the appointment of the UN representative to the CMP.

''We discussed means of speeding up this appointment,'' he said and added that the government will protest to the UN.

''I wonder what message this delay sends about the effectiveness of the CMP,'' the Minister added.

Relatives of missing persons expressed ''disappointment and deep concern'' about the situation.

CNA MM/AP/1996

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

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