Cyprus News Agency: News in English (AM), 97-10-13

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

CONTENTS

[01] Cyprus protests Turkish violations - Tsohantzopoulos arrives

[02] Swiss President arrives for CEMAT Conference

[03] President Clerides meets British envoy on Cyprus

[04] Greek forces in "Nikiforos"

[05] Cyprus to host European Chambers' conference

[06] Cyprus in Europartenariat 1997

[07] British products exhibition

[08] Cyprus Stock Exchange

1055:CYPPRESS:01

[01] Cyprus protests Turkish violations - Tsohantzopoulos arrives

Meanwhile, Greek National Defence Minister Akis Tsohatzopoulos arrives in Cyprus later today to watch part of the Cyprus military exercise code- named "Nikiforos '97".

Around 60 Turkish jet fighters violated both Greek and Cyprus air space and the Athens Flight Information Region (FIR) space over the southeast Aegean Sea Sunday.

The pilots of the Turkish jet fighters refused to identify themselves, contrary to international air traffic regulations. Around 40 Greek Mirage- 2000 and F-16s then intercepted successfully the Turkish jet fighters.

In one instance, two Turkish RF-4 jets flew over the Paphos area, in the western part of the island and took pictures in what is presumed to have been an effort to photograph the under construction Paphos military airport.

The two warplanes tangled with two Greek air force Corsair fighter bombers as the Greek aircraft made mock bombing runs over the western part of the island as part of the exercise, according to the National Guard.

The Cyprus government reacted immediately. Acting President, House of Representatives President Spyros Kyprianou, instructed the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Alecos Shambos to make the necessary representations to the United Nations and the International Civil Aviation Organisation.

Defence sources expect that the Turkish provocations will continue during the next days as the annual exercise "Nikiforos" is underway.

The exercise, in its fourth day Monday, continues Monday with the arrival of Greek Air Force jet fighters and Greek warships. The Greek aircraft and warships participate in the Greek exercise "Toxotis" which is taking place in the sea area easter of the island's of Crete and Rhodes.

Today's phase will be conducted in the southern coast of the island, between the towns of Limassol and Larnaca.

On Sunday, three Greek A7 Corsair bombers attacked mock targets in the Paphos area.

Greek National Defence Minister, Tsohatzopoulos, arrives this afternoon to watch part of the exercise.

Tsohatzopoulos will have meetings this evening with his Cypriot counterpart, Costas Eliades, Acting President Spyros Kyprianou, the House Defence Committee and the primate of the Orthodox Church, Archbishop Chrysostomos.

On Tuesday, the Greek Minister will go to Larnaca to watch the final phase of the exercise and will then head for Paphos.

On Wednesday he will be received by President Glafcos Clerides and will attend the military parade at the end of the manoeuvres.

The Greek Minister will also meet with party leaders before giving a press conference on Wednesday evening. He departs for Athens on Thursday morning.

CNA EC/GP/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1100:CYPPRESS:02

[02] Swiss President arrives for CEMAT Conference

The Conference, in which 120 delegates from 42 countries will participate, will be held in Limassol on October 16-17.

Koller was received at Larnaca airport by Minister of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environment Costas Petrides, and the Swiss Charge d' Affaires to Cyprus, Walter Bopp.

CNA GG/GP/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1105:CYPPRESS:03

[03] President Clerides meets British envoy on Cyprus

Sir David described a 75-minute private talk with Cyprus President Glafcos Clerides on Sunday afternoon in London as "extremely useful" and said they "covered a wide range of subjects."

President Clerides went to the British capital on Saturday from Strasbourg where he attended last week's Council of Europe summit. Today he leaves for Athens for talks with Greek Premier Costas Simitis, before returning to Cyprus on Tuesday.

"I am not visiting the region at the moment because Doug Henderson, Minister of State, will be in Ankara tomorrow (Monday) speaking to the Turkish government," Sir David said after the meeting.

He noted that Turkish Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz will be probably visiting London, but could not give a certain date.

"I will be visiting (Nicosia, Athens, Ankara) when it's useful, but I haven't made any absolutely firm decision on that," Britain's special representative on Cyprus added.

Asked to comment on recent remarks by Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash against him, Sir David said one must not personalise things.

"The Cyprus problem is far too important to me to deal in terms of personalities and certainly neither myself nor my government feel that way, " he said.

"We are not going to be diverted from the support we are giving to the UN for getting a settlement", Sir David added.

Meanwhile, US presidential emissary for Cyprus, Richard Holbrooke and State Department special coordinator for Cyprus, Tom Miller, are today scheduled to have talks with Turkish officials in Ankara on the Cyprus question.

State Department Spokesman, James Rubin, told CNA Friday that the two men will "continue discussions with Turkish leaders they began in New York on the margins of the UN General Assembly."

"They will discuss the full range of issues relating to our (US) efforts to promote a settlement of the Cyprus dispute," he added, noting this was "not a negotiation" but a "continuation of discussions."

He described it as a "natural follow-up to discussions" which Secretary of State Madeleine Albright and Assistant Secretary Marc Grossman, Holbrooke and Miller had with Turkish officials in New York.

Rubin said that Miller would then visit Athens for talks on the Cyprus problem.

CNA KT/AP/GP/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1240:CYPPRESS:04

[04] Greek forces in "Nikiforos"

The five-day exercise, in its fourth day Monday, had a morning phase which was successfully conducted and completed just before 1100 local time (0800 GMT), it was reported.

This phase included combined manoeuvres of land and naval forces with the participation of airforce in the southern coast, in the area of Zygi and Maroni, between the towns of Limassol and Larnaca.

The scenario provided for the destruction of enemy positions by National Guard T80-U tanks and BMPO-3 armoured personnel carriers.

Greek Air Force A7 Corsair bombers, backed by F-16 fighters, attacked mock land and sea targets.

To the support of National Guard forces frigate "Limnos", destroyer "Themistocles" and submarine "Okeanos" of the Greek Navy sailed to the area, escorted by torpedo-laucnhers "Stratakis" and "Troupakis".

The Greek aircraft and warships participate in the annual military exercise "Toxotis" taking place in the sea area between Cyprus and the Greek Aegean islands of Rhodes and Crete.

Acting President of the Republic, House President Spyros Kyprianou, and Defence Minister Costas Eliades, who watched the morning phase expressed their satisfaction with the outcome.

To a question on yesterday's Turkish airforce provocations against Greek aircraft taking part in "Nikiforos '97", Kyprianou said the government had made representations to the United Nations and the International Civil Aviation Organisation.

CNA AP/GP/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1315:CYPPRESS:05

[05] Cyprus to host European Chambers' conference

Delegations from thirty-two countries, including the fifteen European Union (EU) member-states, will participate in the Meeting.

The Cyprus Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KEBE) which represented the island in Lisbon, will be responsible for the organisation of the meeting in September 1999.

High-ranking EU officials as well as top businesspeople will be invited to participate in the event, which is expected to have a positive impact on Cyprus' efforts to join the EU, KEBE says.

CNA GG/GP/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

[06] Cyprus in Europartenariat 1997

The Cyprus Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KEBE) which is responsible for Europaetenariat's promotion on the island and the organisation of the Cyprus delegation, says in a statement that the aim of the meeting is to strengthen cooperation among European Small and Medium Enterprises (SME).

Clermont-Ferrand is located in the region of Massif Central, one of France's business and technology hubs, with a number of well known multinational firms, the statement says.

Europartenariat is based on 431 french companies, representing a wide range of products such as food and drinks, textiles, construction, steel, electric products and health services.

Seventy countries from the Americas to Asia, with a total of 3.000 companies will participate. A total of 10.000 face-to-face meetings are usually being held, of which 35 per cent end up in contracts, KEBE notes.

CNA GG/GP/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1330:CYPPRESS:07

[07] British products exhibition

Thirty six Cyprus companies and a number of organisations will be displaying their British products, such as cars, lubricants, cosmetics, clothing, paints, stationery, domestic appliances, cranes, drinks, banking and tourism services etc.

According to a British High Commission statement, during the exhibition British companies with no agent or distributor in Cyprus will be available for contacts with Cypriot businesspeople for potential trade cooperation.

CNA GG/GP/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1530:CYPPRESS:08

[08] Cyprus Stock Exchange

CSE All Share Index                    76.07 (+0.22)

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

Sectural Indices

Banks                                  86.86 (+0.27)
Approved Investment Companies          63.08 (+0.57)
Insurance Companies                    56.56 (+0.48)
Industrial Companies                   73.05 (-0.20)
Tourist Industries                     64.44 (-0.14)
Commercial Companies                   44.58 (+0.11)
Other Companies                        58.74 (+0.50)

Trading Volume                         CYP 473142.702

CNA MCH/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

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