Cyprus News Agency: News in English (PM), 97-09-01

Cyprus News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

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

CONTENTS

[01] National Council to meet

[02] President Clerides to address UN General Assembly

[03] Commonwealth leader expresses shock for Princess Diana's death

[04] Commonwealth expected to appoint special representative on Cyprus

[05] Cyprus Stock Exchange

[06] Commonwealth countries mourn Diana's loss

[07] Russian wanted for killing on bail

[08] Charges against Greenpeace activists dropped

[09] Greek and Turkish Cypriot trade unions stress need for peace

[10] President Clerides opens International Handball Tournament

1520:CYPPRESS:01

[01] National Council to meet

This will be the first meeting of the National Council (top advisory body to the President on the Cyprus problem) in Cyprus, since it was last convened in Glion, Switzerland, where party leaders were accompanying the President at the second round of direct talks, held there between August 11 and 15.

The Government Spokesman told his daily press briefing Monday the September 15 meeting will deal with latest developments in the Cyprus problem, the island's bid to join the European Union (EU), as well as issues that might be raised by members of the Council.

Christofides said Foreign Minister, Ioannis Kasoulides, will brief the National Council on his contacts with his counterparts during his current tour of six European countries.

Kasoulides lest yesterday for Estonia and will then visit Latvia, Lithuania, Germany, Luxembourg and Italy for talks on the Cyprus question and the island's EU accession course.

The National Council, made up of the five parliamentary parties, the Foreign Minister, the Attorney-General, the Government Spokesman and the Undersecretary to the President held daily meetings during the Switzerland direct talks.

CNA MCH/AP/GP/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1530:CYPPRESS:02

[02] President Clerides to address UN General Assembly

Government Spokesman Manolis Christofides told his daily press briefing Monday that President Clerides leaves for New York on October 2. He will address the 52nd UN General Assembly on October 6.

During his stay in New York, the Cypriot President is more likely to meet with US and other countries' officials, the Spokesman said.

Replying to questions, Christofides said newly-appointed US State Department's Special Coordinator on Cyprus, Thomas Miller, is expected to visit Cyprus in the first half of September.

CNA MCH/AP/GP/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1540:CYPPRESS:03

[03] Commonwealth leader expresses shock for Princess Diana's death

"I had the news while here in Cyprus with great shock and distress. Princess Diana was emerging as a very important force in the campaign for very worthy humanitarian causes and I am sure that her sudden death will be mourned throughout the commonwealth," Chief Anyaoku said.

Chief Anyaoku in currently on an official visit to Cyprus for meetings with high-level government officials to discuss the agenda of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting to be held next month in Edinburgh, United Kingdom.

He has already held talks with President Glafcos Clerides, Foreign Minister Ioannis Kasoulides and House of Representatives President Spyros Kyprianou on the current phase of the Cyprus problem.

Princess Diana perished early yesterday morning in a car crash in Paris during a high speed chase by photographers.

Britain's royal household announced today that Princess Diana's funeral will be held at Westminster Abbey on Saturday.

The princess will then be taken to the Spencer family home at Althorp, in central England, for a private burial.

CNA MK/MH/GP/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1615:CYPPRESS:04

[04] Commonwealth expected to appoint special representative on Cyprus

"There is an expectation on my part that the next UN-sponsored meeting on Cyprus will have, as one of those present, a special representative of the Commonwealth," Chief Anyaoku said after a meeting today with President Glafcos Clerides.

Chief Anyaoku, who is leaving later today after a three day visit to the island, said he had "extremely useful discussions" with President Clerides on the Cyprus problem as well as the agenda for next month's Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Edinburgh, United Kingdom.

"We talked about the various items of the agenda, the special economic theme which would be the special theme of the meeting," he said, adding that the Cyprus problem will be discussed during the meeting.

The Commonwealth Secretary-General said he placed "a lot of value" on his discussions with the President because he expects to issue by next week his final letter on the CHOGM agenda.

Chief Anyaoku met earlier with House of Representatives President, Spyros Kyprianou, who briefed him on the latest developments in the Cyprus problem.

Asked how the Commonwealth can help efforts to resolve the Cyprus problem, Chief Anyaoku said the Commonwealth "has a mechanism which is set up as a means of supporting" UN efforts to resolve the issue.

"The Commonwealth has had a very clear position on the Cyprus situation and I hope that the collective influence of the Commonwealth can be useful to those who are actively engaged in searching for the solution to the problem," he said.

On his part, Kyprianou noted that the Commonwealth Secretary-General "is demonstrating great interest" in the Cyprus problem and that the Commonwealth's position on the issue is "absolutely clear".

The House President said the Commonwealth can play a substantial role in solution efforts and that the Secretary-General is determined to do so.

"Through the Commonwealth former British colonies, particularly in Africa, are more sensitive on certain things relating to the future of Cyprus and the Commonwealth has the ability to play a substantial and positive role," Kyprianou said.

CNA MH/MA/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1620:CYPPRESS:05

[05] Cyprus Stock Exchange

CSE All Share Index                    77.15 (-0.17)

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

Sectural Indices

Banks                                  87.50 (-0.02)
Approved Investment Companies          64.85 (-0.63)
Insurance Companies                    56.87 (-0.09)
Industrial Companies                   75.37 (-0.54)
Tourist Industries                     65.98 (+0.27)
Commercial Companies                   47.50 (-0.38)
Other Companies                        60.53 (-1.40)

Trading Volume                         CYP 556986.294

CNA MA/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1640:CYPPRESS:06

[06] Commonwealth countries mourn Diana's loss

"I heard the news while here in Cyprus with great shock and distress," Chief Anyaoku said.

He noted that Princess Diana, who died in a car crash in Paris early hours Sunday, "was emerging as a very important force in the campaign for very worthy humanitarian courses."

"Her sudden death will be mourned throughout the Commonwealth," Chief Anyaoku said.

The Commonwealth head is on a three-day visit to Cyprus for meetings with President Glafcos Clerides, Foreign Minister, Ioannis Kasoulides and other officials, in view of the Commonwealth heads of state meeting, to take place in Edinburgh next month.

CNA MA/AP/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1810:CYPPRESS:07

[07] Russian wanted for killing on bail

Russian Oleg Diakonenkov, 27, was detained on his arrival at Larnaca Airport from Germany, last Friday, as his name was on the stop-list after the Cyprus Police was alerted by Interpol.

He is wanted for questioning over the killing of Vladimir Kudelkina, in Belgium, in January 1994.

State attorney Eleni Loizidou asked the Larnaca District Court today that the suspect remain in police custody for ten days, until the documents needed for his extradition are forwarded from Belgium.

However, the Court approved the defence request that Diakonenkov is released with a 50 thousand Cyprus pound bail (one Cyprus pound is about two US dollars).

He is to reappear before the Court on September 22, but was ordered to turn in his passport to the police.

Cyprus has had an extradition treaty with Belgium since its independence, in 1960.

CNA MAN/MA/AP/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1835:CYPPRESS:08

[08] Charges against Greenpeace activists dropped

In a statement released here Monday afternoon, Irene Constantinou, Cyprus campaigner of Greenpeace Mediterranean, thanked the Attorney-General "for deciding that our non-violent action is not a crime but only a legitimate right to express our opinion against environmental crimes."

Greenpeace also thanked president of the House of Representatives Environment Committee, Demetris Eliades, who asked for the charges to be dropped, as well as local environmental groups that had staged a protest Saturday.

The eight Greenpeace activists, six men and two women, were protesting on July 10 against development in the environmentally sensitive Akamas peninsula, in the western tip of the island, considered unique for its fauna and flora.

They were released on bond after being charged and were to appear before the Court on Wednesday, September 3.

Constantinou reiterated that "the Cypriot government must protect the island's environment for the generations to come and declare Akamas a national park."

Greenpeace, along with local environmental groups, have been campaigning for the protection of Akamas for the past eight years.

One of their concerns is the fact that rare Green sea-turtles hatch their eggs in the region.

CNA MA/AP/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1950:CYPPRESS:09

[09] Greek and Turkish Cypriot trade unions stress need for peace

This is stated in a joint declaration 15 Greek and Turkish Cypriot trade unions handed today to Peter Schmitz, UN peace-keeping force senior political advisor, during a meeting at the Ledra Palace hotel, in the UN- controlled buffer zone, in Nicosia.

Receiving the joint declaration, Schmitz expressed the belief that it is "a very encouraging sign for the future", which makes "the UN feel very much encouraged to continue with its work to bring about a peaceful settlement" in Cyprus.

The UN official said he will convey the declaration to UN Secretary- General, Kofi Annan, in New York.

Speaking on behalf of the Trade Union Coordinating Committee, General Secretary of the Cyprus Workers' Confederation, Michalakis Ioannou, said that "it is the result of hard work, and the trade union movement's determination to work towards peace on our island."

He stressed that on the occasion of today's International Day of Peace, Greek and Turkish Cypriot trade unions join forces in demanding from the UN, the international community and the island's leadership to "hear the voice of the majority of the people and work towards a fair solution which will bring peace to the island."

Ioannou stated that only if peace is achieved can the trade unions work "constructively and effectively to improve our standard of living."

In their declaration, the trade unions stress that "fully aware of their duties towards their members and the whole of the people of Cyprus, loyal to their declarations and commitments, repeat their firm adherence to the course of peace and their will to step up their efforts in this respect."

They express "disappointment at the failure of the initiatives undertaken by the UN in the search for a lasting solution of the Cyprus problem and call on all the parties involved, the UN, other organisations and countries showing an interest, to expedite their efforts and initiatives towards all directions so that the course of peace is safeguarded."

The 15 trade union reiterate "their firm belief that a just and viable solution to the Cyprus problem will serve the cause of peace in Cyprus and the region".

They note the solution should be based on UN resolutions and with "full guarantee on the human and trade union rights and a unitary economy, without any form of discrimination."

Noting that the status quo is "dangerously open to all forms of war and tensions" the trade unions stress they consider it their "historical responsibility" to raise their voice above those who wish to obstruct the Cyprus peace process.

Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkish troops invaded and occupied 37 per cent of its territory.

CNA RG/MA/GP/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

2015:CYPPRESS:10

[10] President Clerides opens International Handball Tournament

Opening the Third International Handball Tournament, organised by the Strovolos Co-Operative Company (SPE), President Clerides said the people of Cyprus "believe in the great importance of sport, its decisive contribution to the understanding among the people, its contribution towards peace, and its capability to upgrade our living standard."

For five days eleven teams from nine countries will be competing for the two thousand-pound (about four thousand US dollar) prize money.

In his brief address, President Clerides said during their stay foreign athletes will have the opportunity to get to know Cyprus and to be briefed on the continuing occupation by Turkish troops of Cyprus' northern part.

The teams taking part are: Shaktyor (Ukraine), Filippos Verias (Greece), University of Craiova (Romania), Kuntsevo (Russia), SPE Strovolos (Cyprus) and Macabbi Raanana (Israel), in Group A.

The teams participating in Group B are: Fotex (Hungary), Baiamare (Romania), RC Trebnje (Slovenia), El Nahda (Lebanon) and AS Xini School (Greece).

There will be four pairs of foreign referees and three from Cyprus.

In the first stage each team will play once against the other teams in their group and in the second stage, the two winning teams in each group will play for the first four places.

The winners meet in the final, while the losers will play for third and fourth place. The other teams will play for the remaining places.

The President of the European Handball Federation also attended the opening of the tournament.

CNA MA/GP/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

Cyprus News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article