Cyprus News Agency: News in English (AM), 97-07-04

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

CONTENTS

[01] US wishes Cyprus talks to open way for further negotiations

[02] Cyprus Stock Exchange

[03] CTO promotes Agrotourism

0920:CYPPRESS:01

[01] US wishes Cyprus talks to open way for further negotiations

In an official announcement released here Thursday, the State Department said "these are the first direct talks between the two Cypriot leaders since 1994 and we want to reaffirm our strong support for them."

Cyprus' President Glafcos Clerides and Turkish Cypriot leader will have face-to-face talks at the Troutbeck rural retreat, north of New York, between July 9 and 13, under the UN aegis, in a bid to pave the way for a comprehensive settlement to the protracted Cyprus problem.

President Clerides and Denktash had two informal meetings in Nicosia in October 1994, which reached a deadlock. The two men have not met since.

The State Department announcement called "on the two Cypriot sides and all other interested parties to work hard to begin a process that will bridge the differences that divide the two communities.

"The ultimate objective of this process remains a comprehensive settlement that will establish a bizonal, bicommunal federation for Cyprus, " it added.

The US expressed the hope that "the New York session will lay the foundation for further negotiations this year and next," the State Department statement said.

It also confirmed that prior to next week's talks Special Presidential Emissary for Cyprus, Richard Holbrooke, will meet "privately and separately" with President Clerides and Denktash in New York, as well as with UN officials.

Meanwhile, the State Department Spokesman, Nicholas Burns, said that Holbrooke had told him in person "he has been quite active over the past couple of weeks in trying to lay the groundwork for his own work" on the Cyprus issue.

However, he noted the Presidential Emissary "very much respects the position of the UN and that's why he will not be attending these talks."

In the wings of the Troutbeck talks there will be a plethora of special envoys on Cyprus from the five permanent members of the UN Security Council and some European Union member-states and a number of other countries that have appointed special envoys to keep track of developments affecting Cyprus.

The State Department Spokesman said the US "wants to give the United Nations every support here to promote a good basis for these discussions in New York."

Regarding Holbrooke's plans for a tour of the region, Burns said "at some point he will certainly go to the region.

"I think what will happen is we'll see how these talks proceed. We'll see what kind of progress is made following that and then he (Holbrooke) will make his own plans as to how he proceeds from that," Burns concluded.

CNA DA/AP/GP/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1445:CYPPRESS:02

[02] Cyprus Stock Exchange

CSE All Share Index                    76.27 (-0.04)

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

Sectural Indices

Banks                                  85.54 (+0.06)
Approved Investment Companies          65.07 (-0.52)
Insurance Companies                    59.95 (-0.70)
Industrial Companies                   79.07 (-0.10)
Tourist Industries                     64.43 (+0.12)
Commercial Companies                   49.68 (+0.67)
Other Companies                        61.74 (-0.37)

Trading Volume                         CYP 439384.453

CNA MA/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1455:CYPPRESS:03

[03] CTO promotes Agrotourism

"Agrotourism" along with "Cultural", "Religious" and the "learning to" tourism, are part of the so called "special interest tourism".

Agrotourism aims to provide villagers with a minimum income in a bid to keep them in their villages, to secure development and to preserve the island's culture and tradition, since villages almost constitute the only "cultural resorts".

At the initiative of CTO, 27 owners of old traditional houses in 15 villages formed the Cyprus Agrotourism Company (CAC), which undertook the task of restoring the houses and turning them into small hotel units.

The restoration was under the supervision of architects, to secure that restoration work was in line with each village's architectural context.

As part of the Agrotourism programme, CTO also promotes community work such as the beautification of village squares and maintaining trails.

Accommodation at Agrotourism units is very reasonable. A night's stay in such units start at four Cyprus pounds (8 US dollars) per person, in off- season periods.

Residents of certain Agrotourism units may participate in events such as promenades, excursions, horse-riding, or be taught by villagers the "art" of halloumi making, the island's traditional cheese. They may even accompany local professional fishermen on an outing and return to their apartment loaded with fresh fish.

Agrotourism units operate in Nikoklia, Kallepia, Kathikas, Kritou Terra, Kato Akourdalia, Goudi and Panayia at the western Paphos District, Kalopanayiotis at the Nicosia District, Episkopi, Lofou, Kalavassos, Arsos and Moniatis at the southern Limassol District, Vavla and Tochni at the southeastern Larnaca District.

CNA GG/AP/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

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