Cyprus News Agency: News in English (AM), 97-02-27

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

CONTENTS

[01] President Clerides meets relatives of missing persons

[02] Cyprus President meets UN envoy - UNFICYP generals

[03] EU calls for direct negotiations

[04] Cyprus Stock Exchange

1050:CYPPRESS:01

[01] President Clerides meets relatives of missing persons

In a written statement presented to President Glafcos Clerides last night, the Co-ordinating Council expresses opposition to the use of the term "presumed dead" for 126 of the persons missing since the 1974 Turkish invasion of Cyprus.

"We disagree with the deletion of 126 missing persons without investigations and evidence", the statement says, noting that if such evidence exists it should be made available to the families of missing persons.

The Co-ordinating Council also argues that no cases should be examined before the appointment of a third member to the UN Investigatory Committee.

The committee investigating the issue of missing persons, set up in 1981, consists of a Greek Cypriot and a Turkish Cypriot representative and a third member appointed by the UN Secretary-General.

Since the retirement of Paul Wurth, of the International Red Cross Society, more than a year ago, no third member has been appointed to replace him.

So far the UN Committee has not produced evidence for any of the cases of missing persons, due to procedural obstacles raised by the Turkish side.

Stressing that the issue of missing persons is going through one of the most critical stages, the Relatives urged President Clerides to undertake action so as to convince the UN Secretary-General and international decision making centres to move and solve this purely humanitarian issue, the announcement stresses

A total of 1619 people were listed as missing persons soon after the Turkish invasion and occupation of 37 per cent of Cyprus territory.

CNA RM/MCH/GP/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1015:CYPPRESS:02

[02] Cyprus President meets UN envoy - UNFICYP generals

Feissel was speaking after a meeting here today with Cyprus President Glafcos Clerides, during which outgoing Finnish Commander of the United Nations Peace Keeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP), Brigadier-General Ahti Toimi Paavali Vartiainen, bade farewell to the President and the new UNFICYP Commander, Argentine Major-General Evergisto Arturo de Vergara, was introduced to him.

Asked whether there has been any speed-up in the military dialogue, Feissel said that "this does not depend on the UNFICYP Commander, but on the two sides".

He expressed hope that "the dialogue will accelerate", but added that "this is not the only criterion. We have to make progress. Hopefully we will begin to see more real progress very soon".

Feissel also said that there "has been some movement, but until we get to the finish line there is nothing", adding that "the main criterion is a written agreement".

Furthermore, Feissel said the UN objective is to hold face-to-face talks "by the middle of this year". He said that "the UN Secretary-General intends to make every effort towards this objective" and assured that "we will work very hard to achieve it".

He stressed that the UN have put forward a package on the military dialogue, which provides for the extension of the unmanning agreement, the removal of loaded weapons along the ceasefire line and a code of conduct.

"We ask both sides to reach an agreement on the package", Feissel said.

Asked if either side has shifted from its priorities, Feissel said that "they may have their differences, but we make our position clear. It is not a matter of picking and choosing".

On his meeting yesterday in Nicosia with visiting European Union Commissioner for External Relations, Hans Van Den Broek, Feissel said "it was a good discussion" during which they "reviewed the situation".

Van Den Broek "wanted to get my thoughts on the situation and he gave me his views on how he sees the situation", Feissel said.

Asked if he agrees with Van Den Broek, Feissel said "it is not a question of agreeing. It was really a question of discussion".

CNA MM/RG/GP/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1215:CYPPRESS:03

[03] EU calls for direct negotiations

He has also invited the Turkish Cypriots to show their own initiatives to facilitate a solution of the Cyprus problem and assist their participation in the accession process, backed by the majority of EU member- states.

The EU Commissioner was speaking to the press after a meeting here this morning with Cyprus President Glafcos Clerides.

"I think now really President Clerides with the leader of the Turkish Cypriot community (Rauf Denktash) have to embark on comprehensive talks, look at a comprehensive solution and not only a solution by some military detente here or some measure there," the Commissioner.

The "step-by-step" process, he explained, has all been tried in the past and though, not unimportant, it should be followed by more comprehensive and broad negotiations.

"If there is and remains separation, the country will be in for constant conflict and there will be others outside the country benefiting from the hostile situation," Van den Broek warned.

Asked if he discussed President Clerides' proposal for the demilitarisation of the island, he said the idea is welcomed and could create and build confidence but, as he pointed out, "it is very important to get installed the notion that it is not a step here and a step there."

Expressing support for "each and every effort to get an opening of negotiations", Van den Broek said "I reconfirm the EU commitment towards the President to start accession negotiations next year and underlined how important it is to see some perspective and some movement by that time on the political side."

This, he said, would make accession negotiations so much easier and could conclude them probably so much sooner.

Asked if he discussed a formula to accommodate Turkish Cypriot participation in the process of accession, the Commissioner said most EU member-states have expressed a wish to see the Turkish Cypriots involved in the accession talks.

"That does not mean that can be the case without any advance in the political process as such. It was clearly indicated that we view only a happy Cyprus as a united Cyprus, as member of the EU, but that obviously the north has to take its own initiative to make this possible," he said.

Replying to questions, the Commissioner said he will explain to the Turkish Cypriots that they can benefit from EU funds and the single European market as well increased tourism.

"I hope to underline that point, but there is more needed than only the temptation of economic improvement, there is a need for political will that the future of this country can only be hopeful if it is indeed a united country, be it a federated country as such, but a united country," he noted.

Cyprus divided since the 1974 Turkish invasion 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 MM/GP/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1410:CYPPRESS:04

[04] Cyprus Stock Exchange

CSE All Share Index                    75.96 (-1.12)

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

Sectural Indices

Banks                                  86.94 (-1.01)
Approved Investment Companies          64.31 (-0.76)
Insurance Companies                    57.22 (-0.83)
Industrial Companies                   71.68 (-2.05)
Tourist Industries                     62.13 (-1.33)
Commercial Companies                   51.90 (-0.80)
Other Companies                        55.92 (-0.82)

Trading Volume                         CYP 683818.000

CNA AP/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

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