Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 96-12-04

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

CONTENTS

[01] EU presidency envoy optimistic

[02] Cyprus Stock Exchange

[03] Turkey must facilitate solution, Heaslip says

[04] UN backs US proposed flight ban

[05] UNFICYP sets up office for Turkish Cypriots

[06] Greco-Cypriot defence pact shall remain in force

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[01] EU presidency envoy optimistic

''On both sides there is a willingness and an anxiety to start direct negotiations,'' Heaslip said after meeting the ambassadors of EU member states in Cyprus.

Heaslip said he had assurances ''from both leaders that they are preparing for talks and that they envisage the talks to begin early in the new year.''

Both sides, he said, enter the talks in good faith and with hope.

The EU official added that he takes back to the Presidency in Dublin ''a message of optimism and reassurance that things are moving here, and that progress is being made towards direct negotiations between President Clerides and Mr Denktash.''

Asked if this signified that common ground has been reached between the two sides, Heaslip explained that common ground is aimed to be established at proximity talks, expected at the beginning of the 1997.

''I personally not only hope that the common ground will be found, but I expect it will,'' he added.

''Both sides seemed optimistic'' he said, noting that ''they are approaching them (proximity talks) in a positive spirit and clearly nobody wants to be blamed for the failure of these talks.''

Commenting on Cyprus' prospects for accession to the EU, Heaslip stressed that ''if the internal settlement can be achieved then negotiations for the accession of Cyprus will start off in the best possible circumstances.''

He said speculation that the talks might be unsuccessful is ''counterproductive.''

The EU official, who will continue serving as Representative for Cyprus under the Dutch Presidency as well, said he expects to be back in Cyprus early next year. CNA/MCH/MM/1996

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1600:CYPPRESS:02

[02] Cyprus Stock Exchange

CSE All Share Index                    82.41 (+0.93)

Sectural Indices

Banks                                  90.65 (+0.64)
Approved Investment Companies          75.29 (+0.11)
Insurance Companies                    57.17 (-1.35)
Industrial Companies                   87.34 (+4.82)
Tourist Industries                     72.23 (-0.10)
Commercial Companies                   61.94 (-0.71)
Other Companies                        70.40 (+0.92)

Trading Volume                         CYP 690678.745

CNA AP/1996

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1720:CYPPRESS:03

[03] Turkey must facilitate solution, Heaslip says

Speaking after a meeting here today with UN top envoy Gustave Feissel, Heaslip said ''I have no doubt that the cooperation and help of Turkey is necessary to solve the Cyprus problem.''

He expressed the view that it will be possible ''to devise a solution for the Cyprus problem which will include giving Turkey the sort of assurances which she needs, and to which she is entitled to, with regard to Turkey's relations with the EU.''

Replying to questions, Heaslip said the EU presidency works with the UN in the context of UN responsibilities and noted that ''the solution which we seek is within the resolutions and the actions of the UN.''

''As far as I am concerned, we are all working under the UN umbrella,'' Heaslip added.

In his remarks to the press, Feissel said one has to persevere in efforts to reach a negotiated settlement ''because the only option open to Cyprus is an overall settlement along the lines that we know (a bizonal, bicommunal federation).''

This is the objective we are all pursuing, he explained.

Expressing appreciation for the EU presidency's interest in Cyprus, Feissel said ''we exchanged views and gave each other the benefit of our respective insights, which is helpful to our work, on a whole range of issues relevant to the Cyprus questions, and now on various things discussed between the ambassador and the leaders on the each side (Greek and Turkish Cypriot sides).''

Feissel also said UN Secetary-General's special envoy for Cyprus Han Sung-Joo arrives here on Tuesday for meetings with President Glafcos Clerides and Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash and others in Cyprus.

On Thursday, December 12, Han and Feissel leave for Athens and Ankara for talks.

The EU envoy leaves Cyprus tomorrow, after a week-long visit of meetings with the Greek and Turkish Cypriot sides.

CNA MM/AP/1996

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1750:CYPPRESS:04

[04] UN backs US proposed flight ban

Top UN envoy in Cyprus, Gustave Feissel, told the press today ''anything like this (proposal) is helpful to reduce tension and it is a parallel constructive effort.''

''We support all the good things that can be achieved, and this would be one of them,'' Feissel added.

The Cyprus government has not made any commitment on the proposal but noted that it would be ready to consider a temporary ban when talks for a negotiated settlement in Cyprus get underway.

Replying to questions, Feissel made it clear that the US proposal is not part of a UN-sponsored military dialogue to help reduce tension and avert incidents along the demarcation line.

''This is not part of our proposals but a parallel constructive effort. The idea was put forward by US ambassador to the UN, Madeleine Albright, during her July visit here and it is being pursued,'' he said.

The proposal on a ban of overflights is another good thing we are trying to achieve, he added.

Asked about the ongoing military talks between the National Guard and the Turkish army, under UN auspices, Feissel said the UN expected both sides to ''work most speedily and meet with us more frequently to reach an early agreement on these matters.''

The UN proposals, put forward to the two sides, envisage the extension of the unmanning agreement along the ceasefire line, the removal of loaded weapons where the two sides are in close proximity and the definition of a code of conduct for soldiers serving in the area.

Assessing progress in the military dialogue, Feissel said so far the two sides have agreed that ''what we are discussing is the entire package of proposals, and that this is not a question of choosing one thing and leaving the rest aside.''

This, he pointed out, is a single package of three elements, which are mutually reinforcing.

''We expect an agreement to be reached on all three together,'' he added.

At present, discussions focus on technical matters, Feissel said and noted that ''it ought to be possible to reach agreement very soon, if both sides approach this task with determination.''

CNA MM/AP/1996

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1820:CYPPRESS:05

[05] UNFICYP sets up office for Turkish Cypriots

This was stated here today by the Commander of the UN Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP), Brigadier General Ahti Taimi Paavale Vartiainen, at the opening of a UN liaison office in Limassol to maintain a humanitarian role vis a vis the Turkish Cypriots living in the free areas of Cyprus.

''Turkish Cypriots here in the south have been better off than Greek Cypriots, in the north, that must be said,'' UNFICYP commander said.

He also noted that ''the government's response to UN recommendations was positive.''

The commander said government efforts helped reduce tension on the island, following recent murders of unarmed Greek Cypriots by the Turkish occupation troops.

This tension, he remarked, is reflected in the everyday life of Turkish Cypriots but thanks to government efforts the situation is returning to normal.

''The purpose of the office is to extend our humanitarian work among the Turkish Cypriots here in the south, and to provide them services which are mandated to us,'' he noted.

Turkish Cypriots will be able to visit the liaison office twice a week.

Around 350 Turkish Cypriots live in the free areas, as Brigadier General Vartiainen said, and 210 live in the southern coastal town of Limassol.

Commenting on UN sponsored military talks, Vartiainen said he is certain there is going to be progress, and added ''we are doing now the right things at the right time.''

CNA PI/MCH/MM/1996

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1900:CYPPRESS:06

[06] Greco-Cypriot defence pact shall remain in force

Kyprianou also stressed that Cyprus will not accept any suggestion that may jeopardise this defence pact and pointed out that no commitment has been undertaken by the government to ban flights by Greek military aircraft over the island, following a US proposal to that effect.

Speaking to the press after a US proposal to ban flights of Greek and Turkish fighters over Cyprus, Kyprianou said ''We shall not relinquish the defence doctrine under any circumstances nor will we accept anything that may have an adverse effect on it.''

The pact, agreed between the Cyprus and Greek governments in November 1993, provides Cyprus with sea, air and land cover in case of a fresh Turkish offensive against the island.

Kyprianou told the press he had briefed the political leadership on President Glafcos Clerides' contacts about the proposal, put forward on the sidelines of the Lisbon summit of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE).

The government believes that if and when substantive negotiations for a Cyprus settlement begin, then it would be ready to listen to any proposals concerning decreasing tension, Kyprianou added.

The Greek government, he noted, has fully backed this approach.

Kyprianou reiterated that Greek warplanes fly over Cyprus legally, with government permission, whereas flights by Turkish military aircraft are illegal since they occur without the consent of the legal government of the Republic of Cyprus.

Meanwhile, speaking to the Cyprus radio this morning, Foreign Minister Alecos Michaelides also made it clear there was no commitment to the US proposed ban of overflights or the withholding of the defence doctrine.

CNA AP/MM/1996

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

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