Cyprus News Agency: News in English (PM), 97-02-18

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

CONTENTS

[01] Cassoulides on British envoy's statement

[02] Fewer prisoners in Cyprus

[03] Cyprus Stock Exchange

[04] Personality of the Year named

1550:CYPPRESS:01

[01] Cassoulides on British envoy's statement

"We cannot expect statements by third parties to please us always. What is important, is how we persist with our just cause," Cassoulides told his briefing Tuesday.

He said he was somewhat surprised at Sir David's view that "solutions can only be found at the negotiating table" and added "we do not demand a prior agreement during proximity efforts on all the fundamental issues."

The preparatory phase, he added, should manage to bring the positions of the two sides closer and give basic indications that there is a willingness, primarily on the part of the Turkish side, to shift its stance.

"We have never claimed that we will go to the negotiating table standing firm on our positions," Cassoulides said.

Commenting on Sir David's view that Cyprus' aspiration to join the European Union (EU) is "crucially connected with progress towards a settlement", the Spokesman said the government does not consider this to be the case.

"We do not think the EU March (1995) decision sets the solution of the Cyprus question as a precondition for EU membership," Cassoulides said and pointed out the government acknowledges that accession negotiations would be facilitated if the problem were solved.

"The Republic of Cyprus, more than anybody else, wishes to see the Cyprus problem settled," he said.

Replying to questions, Cassoulides said one good way of conducting negotiations would be through confidential talks.

On the security issue, Cassoulides expressed the view that a UN set of ideas, President Glafcos Clerides' proposal for the island's demilitarisation and the 1960 Treaty of Guarantees contain conflicting points on security matters.

Sir David had told London Greek Radio on Monday that all above three items could help iron out differences on security matters.

The right to unilateral intervention and the need for a multinational force for Cyprus seem to be at odds, Cassoulides said.

CNA MM/AP/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1600:CYPPRESS:02

[02] Fewer prisoners in Cyprus

He was commenting on statistics released by the Council of Europe showing that Cyprus has only 26.3, around 320 prisoners in total, the lowest percentage of detainees in Europe.

Anastasiades said he was not aware of these figures but noted that Cyprus and the Council of Europe often exchange information.

According to these figures, the percentage of detainees in Western Europe was relatively low, but much higher than Cyprus.

Among European countries, only Slovenia has less detainees than Cyprus, whereas Russia has the highest number, totalling 694 people in jail per 100, 000 citizens.

However, while the prison population in the government-controlled free areas of the Republic is low, in the Turkish-occupied northern part the situation is very different.

Earlier this week, Turkish Cypriot press reported that the number of convicts in the occupied areas had risen by 254 per cent over the past nine years.

According to Turkish Cypriot daily "Kibris", the number of convicts in the self-styled Turkish Cypriot regime has risen to 1,103, in 1996, from a total of 312, in 1988. This means over 500 prisoners per 100,000 persons.

CNA AP/MM/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1500:CYPPRESS:03

[03] Cyprus Stock Exchange

CSE All Share Index                    76.60 (+0.43)

Highest: 82.46 (21/1/97)
Lowest : 73.90 (30/1/97)

Sectural Indices

Banks                                  87.09 (+0.36)
Approved Investment Companies          65.22 (-0.70)
Insurance Companies                    58.16 (+1.82)
Industrial Companies                   72.09 (-0.33)
Tourist Industries                     64.02 (-0.05)
Commercial Companies                   53.38 (+2.32)
Other Companies                        58.49 (+0.36)

Trading Volume                         CYP 631267.745

CNA MM/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

2010:CYPPRESS:04

[04] Personality of the Year named

In a formal ceremony, held at the Cyprus Hilton, with photographs of her native Kyrenia (under Turkish occupation for over 20 years) in the background and to the tunes of a song dedicated to Kyrenia town, President Glafcos Clerides presented Loizidou with the annual award, given by a local media conglomerate "DIAS".

Loizidou took Turkey to Court alleging violation of her right to peacefully enjoy her property in Kyrenia, as this is enshrined in Article 1 of Protocol 1 of the European Convention of Human Rights.

After nearly seven years of deliberations, the European Court ruled in December last year that Turkey was guilty of continuing human rights violations, with regard to Loizidou's right to enjoy her property.

Speaking at the ceremony, Loizidou, who is the President of the World Federation of Tourist Guides, said the Court decision, as well as her award, reflects on every Cypriot refugee.

A special award was also made to Tasos Isaac and Solomos Solomou, both of whom were brutally murdered by Turkish occupation troops and extremists during last August's demonstrations near the UN buffer zone.

The President recited a brief poem-prayer, in memory of Isaac and Solomou.

The annual award is organised by the Dias group and the Bank of Cyprus for the past three consecutive years.

Referring to the awards, Chairman of the organisers' selection committee, former Bank of Cyprus Governor, Andreas Patsalides, said these were appropriate because of the impact the actions of the winners had on the people of Cyprus.

The annual "Personality of the Year" award is organised by DIAS group and the Bank of Cyprus for the past three years. In 1994, the award went to a diver, Paris Eleftheriou, who saved many people from drowning. In 1995, the award was shared between enclaved teacher Eleni Foka and composer Marios Tokas for their contribution to Greek Cypriot enclaved in the island's Turkish-occupied areas.

CNA AP/MM/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

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