Cyprus News Agency: News in English (AM), 97-02-24

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

CONTENTS

[01] Turkish planes photograph military places

[02] Dutch Minister praises Cyprus' economy

[03] Cypriot party delegation flies to Greece

[04] Solar energy to be used for desalination of sea water

[05] Foreign Minister attends EU-Cyprus Association Council

[06] Sides urged to develop new compromises

0920:CYPPRESS:01

[01] Turkish planes photograph military places

According to a Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation (CyBC) report, the two RF-4 planes, especially used for photographing, were located by Cyprus National Guard radars.

Violating the Nicosia FIR, the two military planes remained over the sea area between the two towns for about half an hour.

Citing information from the National Guard Command, CyBC said the two Turkish planes were trying to locate and photograph strategic places of importance to the Joint Defence Pact, agreed between the governments of Cyprus and Greece in 1993.

The Cyprus government was protesting the violations to the United Nations.

CNA MA/GP/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

0925:CYPPRESS:02

[02] Dutch Minister praises Cyprus' economy

Zalm was speaking on the sidelines of a meeting of Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors from twelve International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank member-states, which began in Nicosia Saturday and ends today.

About fifty officials are examining issues of concern to the IMF and the World Bank, international capital flows, and the changing role of the state, in today's world.

The twelve countries participating constitute an "election group" of member-states that elects its Executive director, who represents them in the IMF and the World Bank.

The participants represented Armenia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Georgia, Israel, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM), Moldova, Romania, the Ukraine, and the Netherlands.

CNA GG/GP/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1100:CYPPRESS:03

[03] Cypriot party delegation flies to Greece

The four-member delegation, headed by DIKO President, House President Spyros Kyprianou, is visiting Greece at the invitation of the Socialist ruling party, PASOK.

During their three-day visit, the Cypriot politicians will also have meetings with Greek Parliament Speaker Apostolos Kaklamanis, Deputy Foreign Minister Yiannos Kranidiotis and representatives from the Greek political parties.

They will return on Wednesday, (February 26).

CNA MA/GP/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1115:CYPPRRESS:04

[04] Solar energy to be used for desalination of sea water

Nicosia, Feb 24 (CNA) -- Is the burning sun a source of fresh, clear water? It is this question that a team of top scientists from five countries is trying to give an answer to.

The team, which had its first meeting in Nicosia, comprises scientists from Cyprus, Greece, Jordan, Italy and Portugal, who are studying ways to use solar and wind energy to produce enough power to operate a desalination of sea water unit.

The aim of the project is to find ways to avoid the use of other sources of energy, such as oil.

During the first meeting, which took place at the Higher Technical Institute (HTI), a total of eleven scientists participated, representing the HTI, the Aristotle University of Salonica, the Renewable Energy Research Centre of the Royal Scientific Society of Jordan and the electricity authorities of Italy and Portugal.

Dr. Soteris Kalogirou of the HTI, told CNA the main party in the project is the European Community, represented by the Commission of the European Communities.

The whole project is being carried out in the Cooperation with Third Countries and International Organisations research and technological development programme.

It is estimated that the project, which will take 36 months to complete, will cost 996 thousand ECU, which is equivalent to approximately 1160 thousand US dollars. The Commission will cover 50% of the allowable costs and 100% of the additional costs.

During the meeting, it was mentioned that the first renewable energy desalination unit, be set up in Greece, specifically in Chalkidiki. This area was selected because it provides both sun and wind simultaneously and because the area is highly touristic, an ideal factor for the purposes of the unit.

The desalination of the sea water will be carried out with the flow of water into the unit and its evaporation at high temperatures, so that the salt remains at the bottom of the evaporator. Then, the steam will be processed and returned to its original liquid form, thus producing clear water. The high temperatures and other functions of the unit must rely on solar and wind energy.

These sources, however, are not stable, so a series of problems arise. As scientists pointed out at the meeting, the unit will not be able to operate continuously, so it was suggested that a back-up system be built in. This system would most probably operate on oil.

However, the aim of the project is to solve such problems, so that we do not have to rely on oil to operate the unit. Another question posed was whether it is preferable to establish a unit like every other one or to solve the problems that arise in this new project, without the unit necessarily producing a minimum volume of water. The second unit will be set up in Jordan and specifically in Aqaba. This area is also touristic.

Desalination in this case will happen with a high-tec solar collector and a multiple effect evaporator. The solar collector will follow the sun with an electronic control system and will produce low temperature steam.

This steam will be used as driving power in the multiple effect evaporator, which will desalinate sea water. Research on this system was carried out in the past by Dr. Soteris Kalogirou at the HTI on a smaller scale.

The five teams have undertaken a task each and it is expected that they will file a brief report in March on work accomplished until then. Also, in September a more detailed report is to be submitted, as well as a financial report.

A second meeting will take place on October 2 and 3, in Lisbon, for decision making, after which the construction of each part of both the units will start.

Research on the desalination of sea water to solve the drought problem has developed remarkably during the last two decades.

However, the units set up use large quantities of oil and as a result the product is very costly. Furthermore, the installations are very complicated and require specialised personnel for its operation and maintenance.

The thought of using solar energy for desalination of sea water is quite old. The classic method of solar evaporation had very low output in comparison to the area needed to construct the plant.

On the other hand, the application of wind power is already tested for the production of electric power, but this source is unstable. The methods proposed in this project have many advantages.

Both methods are advantageous for small or medium plants, like those needed in the Mediterranean, because they are simple and can run on a very small budget. CNA/RG/GP/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1215:CYPPRESS:05

[05] Foreign Minister attends EU-Cyprus Association Council

According to press reports from Brussels, certain EU Foreign Ministers would attempt to issue a joint statement suggesting Turkish Cypriots have a say in Cyprus-EU accession talks.

Michaelides warned, however, it would be preferable that a joint statement be avoided rather than a statement released which would lead to misinterpretations.

"Our position is very clear. We would prefer no joint statement is made rather than a statement being made which would in whatever way, either directly or indirectly, affect, alter or add to the decision of March 6, 1995," the Foreign Minister said.

The decision of March 6, 1995 affirms the commencement of accession talks between the Cyprus government and the EU, six months after the end of the Intergovernmental Conference (IGC).

The decision has been reaffirmed numerous times by the European Union.

Michaelides said the Council meeting can proceed without a joint statement by the EU Foreign Ministers, adding that a problem "may exist if a statement lends itself to misinterpretations".

Meanwhile, the Greek government has warned it will not accept such a statement and has made clear that if certain European countries insist on the matter, then no joint statement will be issued.

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

CNA MH/GP/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1335:CYPPRESS:06

[06] Sides urged to develop new compromises

Speaking to the press after a 45-minute long meeting with President Glafcos Clerides, the ambassador said they had a "good discussion" where they compared notes on recent events and specific issues.

Asked if there is political will on both sides to move forward, Brill said "both sides have a lot of positions that are very much traditional positions, that have been expressed since the 1950s and the 1960s."

"Of course the key to solving the Cyprus issue will be to break through from the long-standing positions, to develop some new compromises that would promote a much better settlement for a much better future," he pointed out.

Brill briefed President Clerides about the discussions US Secretary of State, Madeleine Albright, had in European capitals.

Asked to clarify US policy on Cyprus, Brill explained "clearly, when you are developing an approach one of the things you do is talk to those people that you will be working with, who are of course involved."

He said the Secretary of State discussed both the Cyprus question and Greco-Turkish relations in each of her European stops, and described the discussions as "useful." They will help her appreciate how the Europeans see the issue, he added.

"We have all agreed for some time that 1997 presents a real opportunity to move forward," US ambassador said, noting that the question is whether the situation is going to permit that.

The diplomat said US President Bill Clinton has announced a few new appointments and the US Administration is beginning to get the senior members of its policy team in place, but there are still a few positions which have to be filled.

"We are going about this in a very careful and structured way and, at the end of the day, what we do will be seen in the actions and in the work that our senior officials and diplomats do," he concluded.

CNA MA/AP/MM/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

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