Cyprus News Agency: News in English (AM), 97-05-19

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

CONTENTS

[01] Three British soldiers perish in car crash

[02] All set for bicommunal concert, despite criticism

[03] British envoy to visit Cyprus

[04] Cyprus condemns Turkish incursion

[05] Orthodox Parliamentarians meet in Cyprus

[06] Cyprus Stock Exchange

[07] Talks may yield results

1000:CYPPRESS:01

[01] Three British soldiers perish in car crash

The three soldiers killed have been identified as Staff Sergeant Nathaniel McMahon, 36, from Northern Ireland, Lance Corporal Alan Vow, 31, from Wrexham, North Wales, and Kingsman Darren Horton, 21, from Dunkinfield, Lancashire.

The name of the fourth man recovering in Nicosia General Hospital has not been released by British military authorities.

All four men were serving with the First Battalion, King's Regiment, based in British Sovereign Base Area (SBA) Dhekelia.

SBA Spokesman, Captain Sean Tully, told CNA British military authorities do not release the names of injured persons as a matter of policy and out of respect for their families.

The family of the injured man has been notified and will be travelling to Cyprus to monitor his recovery, Tully said.

The horrific accident occurred yesterday a little after noon local time, on the road connecting SBA Dhekelia and the southeastern coastal resort town of Ayia Napa.

The soldiers' car was broadsided when it made a sharp right turn in front of the truck which was unable to stop in time.

One soldier died at the scene, while the other two succumbed to their injuries en route to hospital.

The driver of the truck was unhurt.

Cypriot police are investigating the circumstances surrounding the crash in cooperation with SBA police authorities. CNA, MH/GP/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1100:CYPPRESS:02

[02] All set for bicommunal concert, despite criticism

A counter-concert, organised by two Greek Cypriot organised groups, will also take place in downtown Nicosia to condemn the UN event.

As Cyprus police sealed off the area surrounding the football pitch where the concert will take place, UN peace-keepers reciprocated with equally stringent security measures in the vicinity.

"Everything is in place for tonight's concert and we are in touch with the Cyprus police and the Turkish Cypriot side for the final touches on security matters," he said.

UN peace-keepers, he added, had a general rehearsal Sunday on location and "all is set for tonight."

A police spokesman told CNA today "we are taking all necessary measures to ensure everything runs smoothly" and noted police will request those attending the concert to present identification papers on arrival at the venue.

The spokesman also said "there will be a large police presence in the area" but would not quote any numbers.

He said police have called on the organisers of the anti-concert, the Cyprus Motorcycle Federation and the Pancyprian Anti-occupation Movement, to follow police instructions and avoid parking near the venue of the concert.

The spokesman said the security measures will remain in force "as long as necessary, depending on how things develop."

UNFICYP spokesman Waldemar Rokoszewski told CNA "everything is in place."

UN soldiers were working in earnest all day Sunday to put the final touches in a bid to ensure success of the concert, which has come under severe fire on different counts, including the venue, date, participants and absence of an anti-occupation slogan for the concert.

In Cyprus, the press is bracing itself up for any eventuality because of the unprecedented security measures the police have taken and most dailies report on the controversy surrounding this music event and fears of possible incidents at the venue, a former football pitch lying in the UN- controlled buffer zone.

The Turkish Cypriot press report on the arrival of Turkish singer Burak Kut in Tymbou airport, declared as an illegal port of entry into the Republic of Cyprus, and his call on Turkey's "ambassador" to the self- styled Turkish Cypriot regime in occupied Cyprus.

The same reports say nearly all 3,000 tickets have been given away and carry warnings by the Turkish terrorist organisation "Grey Wolves" against the concert.

In Greece, popular singers have called on Sakis Rouvas not to participate and the press attacked the whole event under headlines reading "Division with... music" and "Rouvas causes divisions".

Police have kept the arrival of the Greek singer a closely guarded secret and Rouvas' whereabouts are still unknown but latest news suggest he arrived here this morning.

Distribution of tickets, free of charge, was undertaken by the UN who have said the response from the Turkish Cypriot side has been far better than the response from the Greek Cypriot side.

The concert will be attended by politicians, foreign diplomats and UN officials.

The two pop stars are expected to give a news conference at midnight, at the Ledra Palace Hotel situated in the buffer zone.

CNA MM/GP/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1330:CYPPRESS:03

[03] British envoy to visit Cyprus

Speaking after a 45-minute meeting with President Clerides, today, Britain's High Commissioner in Nicosia, David Madden, said "Sir David Hannay intends to revisit the island before the direct talks take place", perhaps early in June.

The British diplomat said he hopes to announce soon "an early meeting" between Cyprus Foreign Minister Ioannis Kasoulides and British Foreign Secretary Robin Cook.

He described Kasoulides' trip to Washington (probably via London) for a meeting with his American counterpart Madeleine Albright, on June 6, as "a possible opportunity".

Madden pledged the British government would do "its very best to be helpful to the UN and to assist the Secretary-General in what he plans to do" and to "ensure that, as and when the direct talks take place, they will be as well prepared as they can be."

Asked to comment on reservations expressed by the Cyprus government, that there was no enough preparation for direct negotiations, Madden noted that UN preparatory efforts are continuing.

"I think it's clear that direct talks will not take place quite yet," he said, pointing to statements made by UN Under Secretary-General, Sir Kieran Prendergast, in Nicosia, last Friday, that they are likely to start "late June, early July".

"It's obvious that we still have a bit of time," Madded added.

Commenting on Sir Kieran's statements that "key players" in the Cyprus question, including Britain, will be "in the wings" for consultation during the talks, Madden said "we can expect the British government to be there".

The British diplomat refrained from expressing the new Labour government policy on the Cyprus issue, noting that "there will probably be an early occasion with which the Foreign Secretary will want to say something about Cyprus, as on many other issues of foreign policy."

However, he described a reference made to Cyprus by Queen Elizabeth II, in her speech delivered at the official opening of the British Parliament, on May 14, as "a clear quideline".

"There was a commitment in the Queen's speech, that the British government would continue to work for progress and indeed towards a settlement of the Cyprus problem," Madden said, adding "that's where our efforts are directed."

The British diplomat dismissed comments that there is never a development in Cyprus, stressing that "we are all hoping that a great deal will change and that real progress will be made".

Madden expressed full support for a concert organised tonight by the UN, for Greek and Turkish Cypriots, with the participation of Greek singer Sakis Rouvas and his Turkish colleague, Burak Kut, and said he will attend as it gives the correct message.

CNA MA/GP/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1400:CYPPRESS:04

[04] Cyprus condemns Turkish incursion

Asked to comment on Turkey's incursion in Iraq, Christofides stressed that Cyprus "a victim of invasion, cannot but condemn all invasions that violate international law and international legality, as envisaged by the UN Charter".

For the sixth day today Turkish troops, backed by air power, moved into Iraq, in a bid to clamp down on Kurdish rebels.

Turkish troops have been occupying 37 per cent of Cyprus territory since 1974, in violation of repeated UN resolutions calling for their withdrawal.

CNA MM/MA/GP/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1440:CYPPRESS:05

[05] Orthodox Parliamentarians meet in Cyprus

Delegates to the session focused on the EIAO's participation in celebrations for the completion of two thousand years of Christianity.

EIAO President, Victor Zorkaltsev, said preparations have already begun on the Assembly's participation in the celebrations, in consultation with the Ecumenical Patriarchate in Constantinople and with the full support of the Jerusalem Patriarchate.

EIAO Secretary-General, Stylianos-Angelos Papathemelis, called the Assembly's upcoming session in Chalkidiki as "of particular importance" given Christianity's watershed anniversary and the EIAO's constant inclusion of new members from "wherever there are Orthodox Parliamentarians".

Some 16 members of the EIAO's International Secretariat from countries such as Greece, Russia, Bulgaria, the Ukraine, Belarus, Georgia, Romania and Poland, are in Cyprus at the invitation of the House of Representatives to finalise the Assembly's agenda for Chalkidiki.

"We combined our work with getting to know Cyprus and its problem", said Cypriot International Secretariat member, Doros Theodorou, adding that preparations for the June's Session "have already moved forward and will bring about the expected results".

Papathemelis told International Secretariat members that "a crime without reproach" exists on Cyprus for 23 years now, and noted that the international community should "contribute pressure in every direction so that a solution is found in Cyprus".

Turkish troops have been occupying 37 per cent of Cyprus territory since 1974, in violation of repeated UN resolutions calling for their withdrawal.

The EIAO Secretary-General also made note of Cyprus' "warm welcome" extended to the members of the International Secretariat.

CNA MH/GP/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1500:CYPPRESS:06

[06] Cyprus Stock Exchange

CSE All Share Index                    76.64 (-0.14)

Highest: 82.46 (2/1/97)
Lowest : 73.90 (30/1/97)

Sectural Indices

Banks                                  85.58 (-0.37)
Approved Investment Companies          65.43 (-0.17)
Insurance Companies                    59.61 (+0.44)
Industrial Companies                   80.95 (+0.17)
Tourist Industries                     61.58 (+0.29)
Commercial Companies                   51.06 (+0.37)
Other Companies                        55.95 (-0.07)

Trading Volume                         CYP 340280.187

CNA AP/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1500:CYPPRESS:07

[07] Talks may yield results

This was stated here today by Government Spokesman, Manolis Christofides, who described UN Chief, Kofi Annan as "a skillful diplomat", who would not make an unsuccessful move.

"The UN Secretary-General has the responsibility for the invitation for direct talks", Christofides stressed, noting that for this reason the government believes "he (Annan) has in mind that there will be progress."

Asked whether President Clerides retains the right to refuse an invitation to direct talks, Christofides refrained from answering and said "we will wait for the UN Chief's invitation and we will then give an answer."

Christofides said "the final say for our participation in the direct talks belongs to the National Council" (top advisory body to the President on the Cyprus problem), noting however, that "it would be very difficult to say no to an invitation by the UN Secretary-General."

"President Clerides", the Spokesman added, "has said he will respond to an invitation by the UN Chief, but has also pointed out his reservations as to whether it is correct on not."

Christofides also said the government has no knowledge of the place or time the direct talks will take place, other that they will take place in the second half of June.

CNA MCH/GP/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

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