Cyprus News Agency: News in English (PM), 97-06-17

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

CONTENTS

[01] Austria increases its UNFICYP personnel

[02] Cyprus Stock Exchange

[03] Spokesman on territory

[04] Security a crucial issue, says FM

[05] Plenty of time to act on Cyprus, says Russia

[06] House President to visit Russia

1545:CYPPRESS:01

[01] Austria increases its UNFICYP personnel

According to the Athens News Agency (ANA), the Assembly unanimously passed Monday a proposal by Austrian Vice-Chancellor and Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr. Wolfgang Shussell to increase the country's personnel serving in UNFICYP.

With this decision, which complies with a relevant UN request, the number of peacekeepers serving in the Austrian contingent will be increased from 315 to 336.

Last April, the Austrian government decided to extend its contingent's presence in UNFICYP until December 31, 1997, a decision the country's Federal Assembly approved later on.

Some 15.000 Austrian soldiers have served non-stop in UNFICYP since early 1964, when it was first deployed on this eastern Mediterranean island, after clashes between the Greek and Turkish Cypriot communities.

The 396-strong Argentine force is the largest serving contingent in UNFICYP, which currently numbers 1173 soldiers, followed by the 388-strong UK force and the 315-strong Austrian contingent.

UN political advisor, Peter Schmidt, told CNA today the Austrian Federal Assembly was the first to approve an increase of the country's UNFICYP personnel.

He said following a UN request UNFICYP's personnel will be increased by 63 soldiers and that relevant approvals by the Argentine and the British Parliaments are pending.

UNFICYP is presently commanded by Argentine Major-General, Ernesto Evergisto de Vergara.

CNA AP/GP/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1745:CYPPRESS:02

[02] Cyprus Stock Exchange

CSE All Share Index                    76.90 (+0.55)

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

Sectural Indices

Banks                                  85.65 (+0.26)
Approved Investment Companies          66.00 (+0.82)
Insurance Companies                    61.25 (+1.68)
Industrial Companies                   79.75 (-0.01)
Tourist Industries                     63.39 (+1.96)
Commercial Companies                   51.89 (+2.73)
Other Companies                        55.83 (+0.34)

Trading Volume                         CYP 707664.662

CNA MM/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1820:CYPPRESS:03

[03] Spokesman on territory

During his daily briefing of journalists, Christophides said that it was agreed in the past that the negotiator of the Greek Cypriot side would be able to negotiate no more than 25% on territory.

Asked whether President of the Republic, Glafcos Clerides, will not go beyond this percentage at the talks, Christophides said "everything will be determined by the National Council (top advisory body to the President on the Cyprus question)" at its forthcoming meeting.

At present, 37 per cent of Cyprus' territory is under Turkish occupation and Turkish Cypriot leader, Rauf Denktash, insists on retaining this area. The UN have suggested that the Turkish Cypriot side should have just over 28 per cent of the Republic's territory, a proposal widely considered as unfair since the Turkish Cypriots make up only 18 per cent of the entire population of Cyprus.

He also stressed that if the Greek and Turkish Cypriot sides are left to reach an agreement "by themselves" during the direct talks, "there will be no agreement".

Christophides said that what is needed is a "power" certain countries interested in the Cyprus problem have and referred to the US, Britain, France and Russia.

"If there are reasonable approaches, then these can by applied, either through persuasion or through the authority the UN have," he added.

The Government Spokesman refrained from giving any further information as to how the Greek Cypriot side will conduct its negotiations at the direct talks.

Christophides also announced that President Clerides will be in Holland on June 27 for a meeting of heads of states, candidates for accession to the European Union, and in Athens on July 2 for talks with the Greek Government, prior to his departure for New York for the direct talks on the Cyprus problem.

CNA RG/MM/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1925:CYPPRESS:04

[04] Security a crucial issue, says FM

Kasoulides also said that in a spirit of "give and take" during next month's direct negotiations, the Greek Cypriot side expects to secure the withdrawal of Turkish occupation troops, get back such territory under its administration to allow two thirds of the Greek Cypriot refugees to return to their homes, and have the freedom of movement and settlement and the right to property safeguarded.

Speaking on arrival from official visits to Japan and Russia, Kasoulides clarified that during his recent visit to Washington, "nothing was mentioned about isolating the security issue to discuss it at next month's UN-sponsored direct talks between President Glafcos Clerides and Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash."

Referring to his Moscow trip, where he met his Russian counterpart Yevgeni Primakov, Kasoulides said security, an issue he described as "dominant and an integral part of a Cyprus solution", was part of his discussions.

"The purchase of Russian anti-aircraft missiles by the Cyprus government should not be isolated for discussion," Kasoulides pointed out, and added "the deployment of the Russian S-300 missiles in Cyprus would be a negative development, but the presence of Turkish occupation troops in Cyprus is an even more negative development."

Cyprus and Russia have come under fire from the US, Britain and others after a multi-million dollar arms deal for the purchase of the missiles was made public earlier this year.

President Glafcos Clerides has always stressed the purchase of the missiles is for purely defensive purposes and has reassured anxious foreign governments that no missile component will be deployed before 16 months have elapsed.

On Russia's role at the direct talks, scheduled to begin on July 9th near New York, Kasoulides said Russia "intends to play the role which all permanent members of the Security Council are expected to play".

He said Russia is likely to be represented in the wings of the talks by Vladimir Chisov, of the Foreign Ministry, responsible for Cyprus.

Replying to questions, Kasoulides said that territorial adjustments, in a possible agreement, should be such as to allow two thirds, of the estimated 200,000 Greek Cypriot refugees, to return to their homes.

Outlining possible areas of "give and take" in the forthcoming talks, Kasoulides said "the Greek Cypriot side is ready to give political equality to the Turkish Cypriot side, as this is defined by the UN, which means effective participation in the institutions of a federal Cyprus, and not numerical equality."

This, he stressed, "despite the fact that the Turkish Cypriots make up only 18 per cent of the population of Cyprus."

"When it comes to 'take', we consider the withdrawal of Turkish occupation troops and the safeguard of fundamental freedoms included in the list of takings," the Minister said.

Kasoulides appeared critical of suggestions that some 5,000 Turkish troops could remain on the island after a solution.

"The presence of 5,000 Turkish troops may create a feeling of security for the Turkish Cypriots but it creates exactly the opposite feeling among the Greek Cypriots," the Minister explained. CNA MAN/KK/EC/MM/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1940:CYPPRESS:05

[05] Plenty of time to act on Cyprus, says Russia

"Those truly interested in the solution of the Cyprus problem, in the remaining time, (about one year) can do a lot of things", said Muratov.

Speaking to journalists, Muratov said that if an agreement is reached on the demilitarisation of the island, then "there will be no S-300 issue, or any other military issue", for that matter. He also stressed that international efforts should focus on demilitarisation.

Cyprus President Glafcos Clerides proposed to the UN in December 1993 to push for the demilitarisation of Cyprus in parallel with the withdrawal of Turkish occupation troops from the island, controlling the Republic's northern third since they invaded in 1974.

Russia has backed the President's proposal, which also met the support of many US Congressmen.

Replying to questions, he said the role of Russia's representative to the UN talks will be "helpful and consultative."

CNA RG/MM/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

2025:CYPPRESS:06

[06] House President to visit Russia

The Russian Duma President paid an official visit to the island between March 28-29 at the invitation of his Cypriot counterpart.

Accompanying Kyprianou will be the President of the Democratic Rally, Nicos Anastasiades, the General Secretary of left wing AKEL, Demetris Christofias, the President of the United Democrats, George Vassiliou, and the Parliamentary spokesmen of the Democratic Party and Socialist EDEK, Tassos Papadopoulos and Yiannakis Omirou respectively.

During its stay, the delegation will have separate meetings with Selezniov, the Vice president of the Federation Council, Vasili Likhachev and the Russian Deputy Foreign Minister.

It will also hold talks with the leaders or representatives of Russian political parties, the chairmen of the Duma foreign affairs, economic policy and defence committees and the president of the Russia - Cyprus Parliamentary Group of Friendship.

The Cypriot delegation will also meet with Patriarch Aleksi II.

CNA EC/MM/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

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