Cyprus News Agency: News in English (AM), 97-09-10

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

CONTENTS

[01] US recognises Nicosia government as legitimate

[02] Cypriot industrialists to visit Hungary, Czech Republic

[03] Maritime Cyprus 1997 Conference

[04] CNA Director becomes member of IBC Advisory Body

0900:CYPPRESS:01

[01] US recognises Nicosia government as legitimate

Washington, Sep 10 (CNA) -- The US recognises President Glafcos Clerides' government as the only legitimate government in Cyprus and expresses full support to the UN peace process for a bizonal, bicommunal federation.

This was stressed by US State Department Spokesman, Jim Foley, when asked to comment on statements by Italian Foreign Minister Lamberto Dini, talking of the existence of "two governments" and "two entities" in Cyprus.

"The US recognises the government in Nicosia as the legitimate government of Cyprus", Foley said, noting, however, that the US maintains contacts with the leaders of both, the Greek and Turkish Cypriot communities on the island.

Commenting on Cyprus' European Union course, Foley said "the EU leaders have worked to ensure that both the Greek and Turkish Cypriot communities can participate in the EU accession process", noting that the US "welcomes and encourages these efforts".

Foley added the US does not wish to interject itself in the EU accession process, whether it relates to Cyprus accession or to the prospect of Turkish accession.

"We have welcomed both", he said, noting that "both can help contribute to resolution of tensions in the Eastern Mediterranean, to a resolution of the Cyprus problem".

Asked to comment on statements by Greek Premier Costas Simitis, Greece would consider as casus belli any Turkish aggression against Cyprus aiming to prevent the deployment of Russian S-300 anti-aircraft missiles, Foley urged all sides "to tone down the rhetoric".

He repeated US opposition to the purchase of the S-300, making, however, at the same time special note to President Clerides' commitment that the missiles will not arrive in Cyprus for a considerable period of time.

Foley also said he sees no reason for alarm in the region, despite "ups and downs", and pointed out that the US "had high hopes at the time of the Madrid NATO summit, with the Joint Declaration of principles" agreed by Greece and Turkey.

"We see no reason why the two sides cannot return to the level of cooperation that we saw beginning to develop over the summertime", Foley, said.

CNA DA/MCH/GP/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1150:CYPPRESS:02

[02] Cypriot industrialists to visit Hungary, Czech Republic

The campaign is organised in cooperation with the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Tourism.

The delegation will meet a number of businesspeople, as well as state officials in both countries.

They will have the opportunity to project the high level of services in Cyprus, and the advantages of doing business on the island.

CNA GG/GP/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1420:CYPPRESS:03

[03] Maritime Cyprus 1997 Conference

Nicosia, Sep 10 (CNA) -- The "Maritime Cyprus 1997 Conference", a major international event in merchant shipping, will take place between October 6- 9, with the participation of more than one thousand shipowners, shipbrokers, managers, lawyers, accountants, underwriters and insurers.

The Conference, which takes place every two years, is organised by the Ministry of Communications and Works, the Ministry of Finance, the Central Bank of Cyprus, and the Cyprus Shipping Council.

The theme of the "Maritime Cyprus 1997 Conference" is "A new era in shipping", which has been chosen as new principles and new targets are currently being set by the international shipping legislation, Sergios Sergiou, Director of the Department of Merchant Shipping, told CNA.

Sergiou explained that while in the past, the shipping legislation focused on the ship itself, its safety and the minimisation of sea pollution, lately the focus is on the human factor, the staff of the ships, as well as the shipping companies' personnel.

Five hundred participants took part in the last Conference, while more than double are expected to do so this year, a development which reflects the success of the Conference, Sergiou noted.

The participants will have the opportunity to be informed on the latest developments in international shipping, exchange views, and even proceed with transactions, he said.

According to the Central Bank of Cyprus, Sergiou said, the island's revenues from its merchant shipping reaches 50 million Cyprus pounds a year, while around two thousand people are employed in shipping companies, more than half of which are Cypriot nationals (one Cyprus pound is equal to 1,88 US dollars). Cyprus ranks fifth on the list of the world merchant shipping powers, with 2.640 ships and 24,5 million of gross tonnage, Sergiou noted.

The average age of ships under Cypriot flag is 16 years, which is considered satisfactory, while many other European states have a higher average age, he said.

CNA GG/GP/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1510:CYPPRESS:04

[04] CNA Director becomes member of IBC Advisory Body

The proposal came through a letter sent by Sean Tyler, IBC Head of Research, to Christofides, who accepted it.

The prestigious Advisory Council recommends individuals from around the world, whose achievements are worthy of recognition, to be included in the various Who's Who reference titles of the IBC, an established biographical reference publisher.

IBC titles are distributed to libraries, information centres and organisations throughout the world.

CNA GP/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

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