Cyprus News Agency: News in English (AM), 97-07-11

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

CONTENTS

[01] Greenpeace "MV Sirius" arrives

[02] Small parties on direct negotiations

[03] Family of missing fisherman seek regional press help

[04] Political leadership reserved on direct talks

[05] Greenpeace activists charged in protest over Akamas

[06] Cyprus Stock Exchange

0810:CYPPRESS:01

[01] UN presents document on Cyprus

Poughkeepsie, Jul 11 (CNA) -- The UN has presented the Greek and Turkish Cypriot sides with a document relating to procedural matters as well as issues of substance concerning the Cyprus problem, Cyprus President Glafcos Clerides revealed here last night.

The document was presented yesterday to President Clerides and Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash by UN Secretary-General's special advisor on the Cyprus problem Diego Cordovez, during the direct talks at Troutbeck, north of New York.

Speaking after a lengthy meeting he had with Cypriot party leaders, Foreign Minister Ioannis Kasoulides and his two advisers at the talks, he said this evening's meeting dealt with a document which Cordovez gave to the two sides and the representatives of the guarantor powers of Cyprus' independence, namely Greece, Turkey and Britain.

He explained the document deals with procedural issues but also with issues of substance, however, it does not deal with the entire spectrum of the Cyprus problem.

The Cypriot President said the UN document "was discussed in depth and we decided how to handle it tomorrow (today) when we will discuss it in the afternoon".

He stressed that he could not say anything more than that at this stage about either the document or the way he will handle it.

President Clerides refrained from giving any details about the contents of the document and the Greek Cypriot stand on this document.

"We shall outline our position before Mr. Cordovez and not before the press," he told reporters.

Today, Cordovez will see President Clerides and Denktash at separate meetings and then have a meeting with both leaders. CNA/MM/GP/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

0830:CYPPRESS:02

[02] Kasoulides meets Russian envoy

Speaking after the meeting, Tchizhov said Diego Cordovez, Special Advisor to the UN Secretary-General, who is carrying out the negotiations, invited "the representatives of the outer circle for another briefing, Friday afternoon".

Cordovez briefed the foreign government special envoys to the talks on Wednesday. Yesterday he had separate meetings with Greece's representative, Alexandros Sandis, and Turkey's representative Inal Batu.

Greece and Turkey, along with Britain, are the guarantors of Cyprus' independence, under the London - Zurich agreements establishing the Republic of Cyprus.

The foreign envoys are present in the area where the five-day direct negotiations between President Glafcos Clerides and Turkish Cypriot leader, Rauf Denktash, are taking place to offer their assistance to the UN, when needed.

"We had an initial working meeting and I hope we will have more during this round of talks," the Russian envoy said.

He added he discussed "various possibilities with the Foreign Minister", but refrained from giving any details on his discussions, citing a UN blackout on the talks, ending Sunday.

"I am not informed about the specific course of the direct talks, at present," Tchizhov told the press, adding that he is not in a position "to comment on exactly what is happening at the talks, for the well known reasons."

CNA MM/MA/GP/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1230:CYPPRESS:03

[03] Hopes for talks not high, commitment expected...

Poughkeepsie, USA, Jul 11 (CNA) -- Although expectations from the first round of direct talks between President Glafcos Clerides and Turkish Cypriot leader, Rauf Denktash, are not very high, diplomatic circles are hoping to come up with some kind of a statement or communique which would express in general terms a commitment by both sides to work together for the reunification of Cyprus.

"Not many expect much out of this round of talks, but perhaps they will conclude with an understanding, expressing support for the unity of Cyprus, not the partition of the island, and setting out the objectives of the two sides," diplomatic circles close to the talks told CNA.

Such a move would indicate the willingness of both sides to move on to more substantive talks during the next round of negotiations, to be held in Geneva 11 - 16 August, they explained.

The objective of both sides is what they agreed, namely a bizonal, bicommunal federation, and the reiteration of their commitment to this goal would facilitate the process of talks to move forward, they added.

Two high level agreements reached by the two Cypriot communities, in 1977 and 1979, provide for the establishment of bicommunal bizonal federation in Cyprus.

Reliable sources told CNA the Turkish Cypriot side would be looking for a commitment from the Greek Cypriot side on "shared sovereignty" of a future federal Cyprus, in its bid to push for its long-standing policy on this thorny issue.

It is, however, highly unlikely that the Greek Cypriot side would accept such a term as it would be open to different interpretations.

What the UN might suggest in order to bridge the differences of opinion is to refrain from using the word "sovereignty" and instead refer to or outline the powers of each of the federated zones that would make up the future federal state of Cyprus.

The resolution of the sovereignty issue could also be facilitated through Cyprus' course for accession to the European Union (EU), and eventual membership, the same sources explained.

They noted that the UN would like to have EU envoys at hand "to consider whenever necessary" about the conformity with the aquis communautaire of ideas or proposals on a Cyprus settlement, that may be discussed.

In this respect, Turkey's presence and role in the wings of the talks assumes an additional importance, considering its firm position that Cyprus cannot join the EU unless and until there is a political settlement.

The same sources believe the Turkish Cypriot side would like to see the EU-Cyprus accession talks postponed and, if possible, "have the EU offer for membership talks withdrawn" until such a settlement is reached.

This position is also reflected in statements Denktash made to Turkish Cypriot daily "Kibris" that "no concessions will be made on Cyprus' EU membership without Turkey's presence".

The EU had decided on March 6 1995 that accession negotiations with Cyprus would begin six months after the end of the Intergovernmental Conference.

CNA MM/MA/GP/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1250:CYPPRESS:04

[04] Political leadership reserved on direct talks

At the same time, some leaders welcomed the European Commission's in principle agreement yesterday to recommend the European Union (EU) open accession talks with Cyprus and five other east European countries.

Talks between President Clerides and Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash on reaching a settlement to the protracted Cyprus problem are currently in their third day and are scheduled to conclude July 13.

Special Advisor to the UN Secretary-General on the Cyprus problem, Diego Cordovez submitted to both sides yesterday a document dealing with procedural matters as well as substantial issues on the Cyprus problem.

Democratic Party (DISY) President Nicos Anastasiades said the leaders' agreement on the President's handling of the talks "can be considered unanimous," but added that opinions differ on the content of the UN document, "meaning the number of points on which there may be disagreements or not".

Anastasiades welcomed the European Commission's decision and added "we believe that this course also helps the entire negotiating process on the Cyprus problem".

Asked to comment if he is satisfied with the flow of the talks, AKEL General Secretary, Dimitris Christofias said "there is nothing that was not expected" and added that in the following days, "certain things will be clarified".

On the Commission's decision, Christofias noted the big question is whether accession negotiations between Cyprus and the EU will be tied or not to a solution of the Cyprus problem.

Democratic Party (DIKO) President, Spyros Kyprianou said that views were exchanged and conclusions reached on the UN document and that President Clerides will handle the negotiations accordingly.

Kyprianou said the document "does not cover all aspects of the Cyprus problem, it covers only one and the President will raise the issue just as we all agree".

Kyprianou added that the European Commission's decision "is a very important development" and stressed "it must be made clear that Cyprus' accession course has no relation to that of the Cyprus problem".

Socialist party EDEK President Vassos Lyssarides said it would be improper to make any statements on the UN document before the UN Secretary- General was informed on the views which have been expressed.

On the European Commission's decision, Lyssarides said it is not something new, but noted that there is some movement on the issue.

United Democrats President, George Vassiliou said a document does exist. "From that point on, it is up to the President to handle the entire matter," he said.

On the European Commission's decision, he said the Commission will take into consideration what has transpired in the direct negotiations and will judge the Cyprus issue by taking into consideration the stance of both the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot side in the talks.

Liberal Party President Nicos Rolandis noted that the Cyprus problem is at a "marginal stage and comments at this stage may hurt the process down the road".

New Horizons President Nicos Koutsou did not refer to the UN document, but said attention should be turned to when and how the Cyprus-EU accession negotiations will conclude. CNA MM/KN/MH/GP/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1430:CYPPRESS:05

[05] Greenpeace activists charged in protest over Akamas

The eight Greenpeace members arrested Thursday, five men and three women, pleaded not guilty to the charges of trespassing, breaching the peace, obstructing free passage to a public place, causing a public disturbance and vagrancy.

They were released by Nicosia District Court on a 200 Cyprus pound (around 400 US dollars) bond each and ordered to appear for a September 3 hearing.

The demonstrators, two from the Netherlands, two from the US, one from Ireland, two from Greece and one from Malta, yesterday chained themselves to the gate of the Ministry of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environment, unfurling a banner reading "Cut the Promises - Save the Akamas".

The Akamas peninsula, located on the northwestern part of the island, is home to the endangered Mediterranean Green Turtle and other indigenous flora and fauna unique to the island.

Greenpeace charges that tourist development of the peninsula would cause irreparable damage to the fragile ecosystem there, as well as disrupting the reproductive cycle of the Green Turtle which uses the beaches of the Akamas as a nesting area.

In a press release yesterday, Executive Director of the Greenpeace Mediterranean Office Dr. Mario Damato called the Environment Ministry "useless" for procrastinating on its promise of declaring the Akamas peninsula a national park.

"We have been coming to Cyprus to campaign for the protection of the Akamas area and its precious habitats for the past eight years," Damato said in the press release. "Together with local groups, we have been successful in postponing developments in the areas, but government has never done anything definitive to protect the area."

CNA MH/AP/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1500:CYPPRESS:06

[06] Cyprus Stock Exchange

CSE All Share Index                    75.71 (-0.15)

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

Sectural Indices

Banks                                  84.07 (-0.30)
Approved Investment Companies          64.06 (-0.03)
Insurance Companies                    59.13 (-0.37)
Industrial Companies                   78.37 (+0.11)
Tourist Industries                     63.68 (-0.16)
Commercial Companies                   48.82 (+1.22)
Other Companies                        61.92 (+0.21)

Trading Volume                         CYP 379856.485

CNA AP/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

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