Cyprus News Agency: News in English (PM), 97-06-25

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

CONTENTS

[01] Cyprus Stock Exchange

[02] US Senate approves funds promoting peace in Cyprus

[03] Britain to play a leading role on Cyprus, says Blair

[04] Government unaware of content of UN document

[05] AIDS case defendant admits of unprotected sex

[06] Hanney speaks to LGR on Cyprus

1600:CYPPRESS:01

[01] Cyprus Stock Exchange

CSE All Share Index                    77.17 (-0.32)

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

Sectural Indices

Banks                                  85.32 (-0.13)
Approved Investment Companies          65.87 (-1.63)
Insurance Companies                    60.88 (-0.43)
Industrial Companies                   80.74 (+0.36)
Tourist Industries                     64.68 (-0.28)
Commercial Companies                   50.88 (0)
Other Companies                        62.11 (-3.96)

Trading Volume                         CYP 1012993.266

CNA MCH/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1655:CYPPRESS:02

[02] US Senate approves funds promoting peace in Cyprus

According to the Bill, approved at the Senate's committee meeting, Tuesday, "of the funds appropriated under the headings "Development Assistance" and "Economic Support Fund" not less than 15 million US dollars shall be made available for Cyprus."

It stresses that the funds should be used for the promotion of bi- communal projects aiming at a better understanding between Greek and Turkish Cypriots.

The Bill said the funds are to "be used only for scholarships, administrative support of the scholarship programme, measures aimed at reunification of the island and designed to reduce tensions and promote peace and cooperation between the two communities on Cyprus."

CNA AP/MCH/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1740:CYPPRESS:03

[03] Britain to play a leading role on Cyprus, says Blair

The British Premier referred to the Cyprus problem and the Republic's EU accession course during a debate in the House of Commons, yesterday, on the Denver G8 summit meeting, replying to questions put forward by MP John Taylor.

Taylor welcomed the G8 communique's reference to a lasting Cyprus settlement and asked the Prime Minister if he agrees that such a solution would be preferable before Cyprus' accession to the EU.

The Premier said Britain supports the EU commitment to open accession negotiations with Cyprus six months after the end of the Intergovernmental Conference "which will be during our presidency, so we will have a leading role to play," he said.

"The conclusions of the Denver summit underline the importance that the international community attaches to the issue and I hope that we can move forward on it," Blair added.

He said the possibility of accession negotiations "makes it all the more important" that a Cyprus settlement is achieved, noting the UK fully supports the UN-led search for a settlement.

"The prospects of EU accession and the need to reduce tension make that settlement all the more necessary," the British Premier said.

Blair also referred to the appointment of Richard Holbrooke as US Presidential Emissary and Sir David Hannay as Britain's Special Representative for Cyprus and expressed the hope that "their appointment will assist the process and help to develop even greater urgency in the search for a settlement."

CNA KT/AP/MCH/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1825:CYPPRESS:04

[04] Government unaware of content of UN document

President Glafcos Clerides told the press here today he was not aware of UN intention to submit a document during the direct talks and said "we don't know what this is all about."

According to the details of UN-led talks, released here today, the document will be presented to President Clerides and Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash, on July 9, when talks will begin at Troutbeck, in Dutchess County.

"Cordovez might come up with some general views as to how the talks should be carried out and the issues to be discussed," President Clerides added.

He also clarified that when one refers to a document "this does not necessarily mean the document will be the solution to the Cyprus problem."

President Clerides expressed the view the document will possibly refer to the procedure to be followed during the talks.

He also confirmed the Greek Cypriot side's reply to the UN Secretary- General's invitation for the direct talks was positive.

Earlier today, UN Resident Representative, Gustave Feissel, said both President Clerides and Denktash told him orally "they were going to be there."

CNA AP/MCH/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1930:CYPPRESS:05

[05] AIDS case defendant admits of unprotected sex

Pavlos Georgiou, 40, from the eastern coastal resort of Ayia Napa, told the Famagusta District Court here Wednesday he found out he had the Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) on July 7, 1992, when his wife gave birth to their fourth child who had health problems.

Later on, he said, he sent his wife and child to Britain where they were both tested HIV positive. He then had blood tests at the Nicosia Makarios Hospital that showed he was HIV positive as well. He never knew he had passed AIDS to his wife, he added.

Georgiou is accused of negligently infecting Janette Pink, 45, a divorcee mother of two from Basildon in Essex, with the disease during an affair that began when she came for holidays in Cyprus, in 1994.

He told the Court their relationship was initially friendly and he used to discuss with Pink the problems arising from his disease and that he told her that himself, his wife and son were sick with HIV.

Georgiou insisted she was well aware of his condition before any physical relationship started and that he had been properly counselled on how to have safe sex.

He admitted of having unprotected sex with Pink on April 23, following celebrations for her birthday and after they consumed considerable quantities of alcohol.

An embarrassed Georgiou told the Court in full detail what happened that night, insisting it all happened in no time when he was not himself, but blamed her for taking the condom off him.

Georgiou's wife died on August 18, 1994 and he then moved into with his British lover who was found to be HIV positive on October 21, 1994.

He said it never passed his mind to harm her in any way as he wouldn't condemn anyone else to the same fate.

Pink, who has developed AIDS, claims her former lover never told her he was HIV positive before they had unprotected sex. She told the Court last month that after the death of Georgiou's wife, she heard from his sister-in- law that she died of an AIDS related disease.

Georgiou, who faces a maximum two-years imprisonment, has been charged under section 190 of the Criminal Code, originally drawn up to fight the spread of cholera and typhoid, 50 years ago.

The trial was adjourned until July 3, when Georgiou will be cross- examined by the prosecution.

CNA MAN/AP/MCH/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

2100:CYPPRESS:06

[06] Hanney speaks to LGR on Cyprus

He also said Greece has an important role to play as well but noted that the most important keys to open the door to progress on the protracted Cyprus problem are in the hands of the leaders of the two communities in the island.

In an interview with London Greek Radio (LGR) Wednesday, Sir David said his "reaction is mildly positive from all the capitals (Nicosia, Athens Ankara)", after his recent visits there as he found out that people are now talking about going to the UN-led direct negotiations and the ways these will be handled.

However, he noted "I don't underestimate the distance that remains to go" and said nobody should expect that "all of a sudden we are going to discover we have the comprehensive settlement which we are all working for."

"I believe it will take a lot of hard work and a lot of political will on both sides, from the leaders of the two communities, and a good deal of help from those outside, who are working for a settlement, to get to a desirable conclusion," he said.

Asked to comment whether Ankara holds the key to any progress in the Cyprus problem, the British diplomat said "well, I always thought that...Ankara is the... key to the negotiations."

However he said "there are several keys that have to be turned, in order to open this door, and some of them, probably the most important, are in the hands of the leaders of the two communities in Cyprus."

He added that both the role of Greece and Turkey is "important" and said that while in Ankara he "was certainly given very clear indications that the Turkish government intended to engage constructively in this attempt for a negotiated solution and wanting to see one."

The British envoy noted, however, "I do really think it is unwise to focus exclusively on one capital in that way," as it "causes quite negative reactions there (Ankara)".

Sir David said he did not want to overestimate or underestimate the importance of this first, since October 1994, face-to-face meeting between President Clerides and Denktash, noting "it is nearly three years since they last met. And that is important."

Sir David pointed out previous direct negotiations, in 1992, did not aim at a comprehensive settlement.

"This time, we are looking, I think everyone is looking for a solid and more durable, mainly a comprehensive settlement itself. So, it is important this first meeting but it is not going to be a make-or-break meeting," he noted.

He said it is the first step along an important road, whose length and duration are actually quite impossible to predict at this stage.

Sir David said he will go to Troutbeck, Dutchess County, where the talks will take place, on July 10 the day after negotiations will start, due to other commitments.

He said "nobody will be at the negotiations, except for the leaders of the two communities, the UN Secretary-General and his Special Advisor, Diego Cordovez," and noted all the rest, including himself "will be in the wings" and "they will be available, if the UN needs any advice or support."

He reiterated its up to the leaders of the two communities to take the fundamental decisions about what is acceptable in terms of constitutional arrangements, in terms of the geographical definition of the two zones, in terms of the problems of refugees and all these things.

Sir David agreed, though, "that the Turkish troop presence is not consistent with a settlement. That is to say there couldn't be any conceivable settlement which involved the present level of Turkish troop presence in Cyprus," he pointed out.

Talking about measures and gestures of good will he said "the best gesture of good will that could be taken by both sides is to agree the package of measures proposed by the UN for unmanning, unloading and the code of conduct along the green line."

Sir David said he took the opportunity of US Presidential Emissary for Cyprus, Richard Holbrooke, visit to London last week to have "a chat about the work we are, along with many others, doing, to produce a concerted effort to support the UN peace negotiations."

He described their first meeting as "useful" and said "no doubt many meetings I will have with him, just as I have had and will continue to have many meetings with the parties in Cyprus, with the Greek and Turkish governments and with other governments which are making an effort to help the Secretary-General."

Asked if Cyprus could become a European Union (EU) member before a Cyprus settlement is reached, the British diplomat said "I don't know. I frankly cannot tell you the answer to that question."

He made it clear though, that the British government's stance is "that no country has a veto on Cyprus' application and that there are no external conditions."

He added "it is perfectly common sense, I think, to see that if there could be a settlement, Cyprus' membership will be quicker to negotiate and easier to implement. So, the desirable objective must be to get a settlement."

Sir David expressed the hope "it may be possible to negotiate without the arch-lights of publicity on the leaders all the time. I hope that it may be possible to get to a genuine exchange of give-and-take."

Concluding, he said "there is a degree of confidentiality, which is valuable for negotiators and which I think, if it can be achieved in this case, would be valuable to the chances of getting a settlement."

CNA AP/MCH/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

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