Cyprus News Agency: News in English (PM), 97-06-30

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

CONTENTS

[01] Clerides meets Greek President

[02] Russia does not play secondary role in Cyprus problem

[03] Cyprus Stock Exchange

[04] Military dialogue on Athens talks

[05] Amathus excavations completed

1545:CYPPRESS:01

[01] Clerides meets Greek President

Athens, Jun 30 (CNA) -- President Glafcos Clerides met here today his Greek counterpart Costantinos Stephanopoulos in view of next week's UN-led direct talks with Turkish Cypriot leader, Rauf Denktash, near New York.

The Athens meeting, which lasted some 45 minutes, was described as a courtesy call and no statements were made afterwards.

It was attended by Cyprus Foreign Minister, Ioannis Kasoulides, and Government Spokesman, Manolis Christofides, as well as Greek government officials.

Tomorrow Clerides will hold talks with Greek Prime Minister, Costas Simitis to co-ordinate and discuss issues relating to the strategy to be followed in the direct talks, given the fact that Greece will be in the wings of the talks.

During his three-day visit to Athens, President Clerides will also meet Greek opposition leader, Costas Karamanlis and New Democracy Honorary President, Constantinos Mitsotakis.

CNA EC/MCH/MM/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1640:CYPPRESS:02

[02] Russia does not play secondary role in Cyprus problem

Nicosia, Jun 30 (CNA) -- Russia does not consider that it plays a secondary role in efforts to find a solution to the Cyprus problem, Vladimir Tchizhov, Head of the 3rd Directorate for European Affairs at the Russian Foreign Ministry, stressed in an exclusive interview with CNA.

Asked to comment on the perception that Russia is taking a back seat to US and British efforts on Cyprus, Tchizhov said "I believe this gives the wrong picture".

Tchizhov said there is no other initiative on the Cyprus issue than the one led by the United Nations, and noted that all countries interested in helping to find a solution support the UN Secretary-General's efforts through their actions.

"That is the way our document (on basic principles for a settlement in Cyprus), our initiative to call last April a meeting of the five permanent SC members on Cyprus, as well as the role of all the special representatives on Cyprus, including the recently appointed US Presidential Emissary, Richard Holbrooke, are perceived," Tchizhov told CNA in Moscow.

The Russian official, who will be representing his country at the forthcoming UN-sponsored direct negotiations between the leaders of the Greek and Turkish Cypriot clarified that he, together with representatives from other countries, will not be present at the negotiating table but will be part of the "outer circle".

The "outer circle", he explained, consists of representatives of the permanent members of the UN Security Council, Greece and Turkey, the European Union, and other countries which have appointed special Cyprus envoys.

"The role of the outer circle is to help the UN Secretary-General and the UN Secretariat in achieving progress towards a correct and viable solution of the Cyprus problem," Tchizhov told CNA.

Outlining his personal expectations on the outcome of the first round of the direct talks, Tchizhov said the first round will give a clearer picture on "where we stand and where we are heading".

The Russian official departs July 7 for New York where the direct negotiations will be held between July 9 and 13 between Cyprus President, Glafcos Clerides, and Turkish Cypriot leader, Rauf Denktash.

CNA KN/MH/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1800:CYPPRESS:03

[03] Cyprus Stock Exchange

CSE All Share Index                    77.23 (+0.53)

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

Sectural Indices

Banks                                  85.24 (+0.35)
Approved Investment Companies          66.26 (+0.58)
Insurance Companies                    61.66 (+1.35)
Industrial Companies                   80.93 (+0.31)
Tourist Industries                     64.71 (+1.16)
Commercial Companies                   51.24 (+2.21)
Other Companies                        61.63 (-0.03)

Trading Volume                         CYP 1216091.255

CNA MCH/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1950:CYPPRESS:04

[04] Military dialogue on Athens talks

Athens, Jun 30 (CNA) -- Cyprus President Glafcos Clerides and Greek Prime Minister, Costas Simitis, are expected to discuss here Tuesday a UN- led military dialogue between the National Guard and the Turkish occupation forces.

According to CNA sources, the military dialogue which has been going on for some months but has produced no results yet, is likely to be among the issues on tomorrow's agenda of talks between the two leaders.

The private discussions between Clerides and Simitis will be followed by talks between a Cypriot delegation, accompanying the President on his Athens trip, and Greek government officials.

Greece's National Defence Minister, Akis Tsohatzopoulos, may also be present at tomorrow's enlarged talks, the same sources said.

Meanwhile, Cyprus Foreign Minister, Ioannis Kasoulides, who is accompanying the President during his three-day trip to Athens, will meet tomorrow with Greek Deputy and Assistant Foreign Ministers, Yiannos Kranidiotis and George Papandreou.

The visit to the Greek capital takes place only days ahead of UN- sponsored direct talks on the Cyprus problem, to be held near New York, July 9 - 13, between President Glafcos Clerides and Turkish Cypriot leader, Rauf Denktash.

CNA EC/MCH/MM/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

2000:CYPPRESS:05

[05] Amathus excavations completed

A press release, issued here, said the first phase of the Palace of ancient Amathus, one of the eleven city-kingdoms of ancient Cyprus, cannot be dated after the Cypro-Geometric III B period the earliest.

The excavations carried out by the mission of the French Archaeological School of Athens, under the direction of Thierry Petit, aimed to finish the study of the north-western corner of the area which started in 1989 and 1992.

Unearthed movable material, including a temple-boy's head and fragments from limestone painted sphinx-thymiateria, confirms that the north-west of the palatial stores constituted a place of worship.

A very important indication is also given concerning the date and the circumstances of the establishment of an Amathusian royalty during the Iron Age.

CNA MCH/MM/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

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