Cyprus News Agency: News in English (PM), 97-08-22

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

CONTENTS

[01] Cyprus Stock Exchange

[02] No UN directions on documents yet, says Spokesman

[03] Denktash's preconditions unacceptable, says EU Commissioner

1530:CYPPRESS:01

[01] Cyprus Stock Exchange

CSE All Share Index                    76.21 (+0.49)

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

Sectural Indices

Banks                                  85.57 (+0.28)
Approved Investment Companies          64.55 (+0.86)
Insurance Companies                    58.06 (+0.50)
Industrial Companies                   75.47 (+0.43)
Tourist Industries                     65.30 (+0.68)
Commercial Companies                   47.49 (+1.28)
Other Companies                        61.23 (+2.17)

Trading Volume                         CYP 243755.207

CNA MA/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1700:CYPPRESS:02

[02] No UN directions on documents yet, says Spokesman

The Spokesman was replying to a question during his daily press briefing Friday, whether President Glafcos Clerides is going to submit any documents to the UN Secretary-General's Special Advisor on Cyprus, Diego Cordovez, within the framework of the ongoing UN-led peace process.

Christofides said that "so far no directions have been given by the UN to submit any documents," regarding the Greek and Turkish Cypriot sides' positions on a comprehensive solution to the protracted Cyprus problem.

"If the UN requests the presentation of documents, the matter will be discussed at a National Council (top advisory body to the President on the Cyprus problem) meeting, and the President will then take his decision," he added.

Cordovez, who chaired two rounds of Cyprus peace talks, had said last Friday "the talks will continue on the basis that we have envisaged, namely on the basis of the legal instruments that will comprise a settlement."

He was speaking after the end of the second round of five-day talks between President Clerides and Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash, in Switzerland, which came to a deadlock. The first round of negotiations was held last month in the US.

Asked if he believes a statement by the Security Council President, Sir John Weston, on the outcome of the talks will affect the dialogue on humanitarian issues, the Spokesman noted humanitarian issues should be solved "irrespective of political developments" in the Cyprus question.

In a statement Wednesday, Sir John expressed the Council's concern over the lack of progress in the direct talks, he commended President Clerides for the statesmanship he showed and expressed disappointment over the tactics employed by the Turkish Cypriot side.

The statement provoked an angry reaction from Denktash, who said the Security Council was trying to impose a "ready-made" solution in Cyprus, which the Turkish Cypriots "will prevent".

Christofides stressed that the dialogue between President Clerides and Denktash on humanitarian issues should "have priority" noting this is "the wish of the Security Council, the US and others."

He also reminded of a recent statement by Denktash that the nature of these issues calls for the continuation of these talks.

President Clerides and Denktash had two meetings in Cyprus on humanitarian issues, between the two rounds of direct talks, and agreed to exchange information on the fate of Greek and Turkish Cypriot missing persons, by September.

Christofides said the Greek Cypriot side's committees on the missing "intensively continue their preparatory task" and will be ready to submit information on schedule.

CNA MK/AP/MA/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1745:CYPPRESS:03

[03] Denktash's preconditions unacceptable, says EU Commissioner

In a statement following a report to the UN Security Council by the Secretary-General's Special Adviser on Cyprus, Diego Cordovez, on the outcome of Cyprus peace talks, the Commissioner said he was deeply concerned with the Cyprus peace efforts.

Van den Broek said the precondition set by Denktash, implying the freezing of an EU decision to start accession negotiations with Cyprus in early 1998, was unacceptable and he reconfirmed that negotiations would be launched by beginning of next year, as agreed by the EU in March 1995.

The Commissioner responsible for relations with Cyprus and Turkey also criticised the signing of an "association agreement" between Turkey and the Turkish Cypriot illegal regime, calling for the partial annexation of the occupied areas if accession negotiations go ahead with Cyprus, as not being conducive to creating the right negotiating climate.

The agreement was signed a few days before last week's five-day face-to- face talks between President Glafcos Clerides and Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash, in Switzerland.

President Clerides and Denktash had a first round of direct negotiations in the US in July.

Van den Broek underlined "that a window of opportunity now exists to build a framework for a mediated settlement to the protracted Cyprus problem, before the start of accession talks, noting that Cyprus' adhesion to the EU would be in the interest of both communities on the island.

He also said attempts to frustrate any progress, even of a procedural nature, as demonstrated last week, in Switzerland, are detrimental to the whole population of Cyprus.

To this respect, the EU official recalled the recent pledge by the Turkish government to play a constructive role in the search for a negotiated Cyprus solution, and stressed that such a role would also favour the deepening of the relations between the EU and Turkey.

Van den Broek strongly urged the two parties to reach an early agreement on the continuation of direct talks and pledged the European Commission's full support for further efforts to be undertaken by Cordovez.

In the meantime, he noted, the Commission, in consultation with the government of Cyprus, will continue its bicommunal activities and projects aimed at informing the Turkish Cypriot community about the advantages of EU accession.

CNA AP/MA/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

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