Cyprus News Agency: News in English (PM), 97-10-16

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

CONTENTS

[01] Meeting on missing expected soon

[02] Cyprus and Greece composed over Turkish provocations

[03] American officials expected in November

[04] "CyServ '97" opens its gates

[05] Advisory Body on Tourism set up

[06] Greece calls on Turkey to cooperate on Cyprus solution

[07] Swedish Minister says, living conditions of enclaved cruel

[08] Clerides says Turkish actions "improper"

1545:CYPPRESS:01

[01] Meeting on missing expected soon

Nicosia Oct 16 (CNA) -- A meeting between the Greek and Turkish Cypriot sides to exchange information about persons listed as missing is likely to take place towards the end of the month or beginning of next month, reliable sources have indicated to CNA.

"We need to prepare this meeting well to ensure its success and the interested parties understand this very well," the same sources added.

The Greek Cypriot side seems ready to wait for a while until the Turkish Cypriot side is fully prepared for a formal meeting between their representatives, Takis Christopoulos and Rustem Tatar.

Tatar's appointment in late September was made known to him on his return to Cyprus from an overseas trip on October 6.

The two sides decided in late July to "provide each other immediately and simultaneously all information already at their disposal on the location of graves of Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot missing persons."

President Glafcos Clerides said in a letter to UN top envoy in Cyprus Gustave Feissel the Greek Cypriot side is ready to give information on 200 Turkish Cypriot missing and 15 Greek Cypriots (believed buried in Turkish occupied area) and added it expects to get information about a "reasonably analogous number."

"July's agreement on the missing does not define a timetable for a meeting on the exchange of information," Christopoulos has told CNA.

He also said both sides have every intention to cooperate on this humanitarian issue.

The Greek Cypriot side lists 1,1619 persons as missing, 126 of whom are believed to be dead. The Turkish Cypriot side has a list of about 500 missing persons.

No headway was made in the past two decades to determine the fate of any of these people and July's agreement was hailed as an important breakthrough in this long pending humanitarian problem.

CNA MM/MCH/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1725:CYPPRESS:02

[02] Cyprus and Greece composed over Turkish provocations

Christofides was commenting on the second buzzing, in three days, by Turkish fighters of the C-130 military transport plane carrying Greek National Defence Minister, Akis Tsohatzopoulos back to Greece.

"There is a permanent policy of provocation on the part of Turkey. There is arrogance and provocation which we are handling with composure", the Spokesman said.

Four Turkish F-16 fighters buzzed this morning the Minister's plane, carrying him and his entourage to Crete after a four-day visit to Cyprus on the occasion of National Guard military exercise "Nikiforos '97".

According to a report by Athens News Agency, Tsohatzopoulos said on arrival in Crete Turkey adopts "cold-war tactics" and called on the Turkish government to understand that such type of behaviour is contrary to its European aspirations.

CNA KN/EC/MCH/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1730:CYPPRESS:03

[03] American officials expected in November

Christofides pointed out, however, that there is no specific date concerning the arrival of either State Department Coordinator, Tom Miller, or US Presidential Emissary, Richard Holbrooke.

Referring to Holbrooke's recent visit to Ankara, the Spokesman said the government was not aware of what was discussed there.

"We know that it (the visit) was part of the efforts by Hobrooke's team to promote a Cyprus settlement," he added.

Asked whether Holbrooke's visit to Ankara took place in an effort to decrease tension during the National Guard military exercise "Nikiforos '97", Christofides said:

"It is a fact that representations were made to avoid overflights, but both Greece and Cyprus made clear it was their inalienable right to conduct these exercises the way they did."

CNA KN/EC/MCH/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1825:CYPPRESS:04

[04] "CyServ '97" opens its gates

Opening the exhibition, President Glafcos Clerides said the primary objective is to "project the wide range of professional services available in Cyprus" and promote the island "as a regional centre for business activities".

In addition, he said, the fact that Cyprus has highly skilled manpower, is also instrumental to the high quality of its services.

The President said the service sector "has become the most significant sector of our economy."

To back this view, he said that in 1996, it contributed to about 71 per cent of the Gross Domestic Product.

"This outstanding performance underlines our responsibilities to preserve our competitiveness with the continuous improvement of the level and kind of services offered," the President added.

Finance Minister Christodoulos Christodoulou said the fact that the exhibition is being held for the third year, proves "the necessity of the institution".

He further pledged that the government will continue taking "all measures to support and upgrade the various sectors of the financial activity."

The services' field, he added, has "serious potentials to further develop" especially in non-traditional fields.

These fields include consultancy, training, management, medical and educational services, production of advertisement films and market services.

Andreas Pittas, President of the Employers' and Industrialists' Federation, (OEB) which is organising the exhibition together with the Ministry of Commerce, said Cyprus fulfills all necessary conditions to achieve "serious export of services".

He called on the state to complement this effort to speed up and stabilise the course of the service sector.

Ten service enterprises from Greece and many local companies are participating in the exhibition which will be open until October 19.

CNA EC/MCH/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1850:CYPPRESS:05

[05] Advisory Body on Tourism set up

The Body consists of 45 members with a three-year tenure in office. It will be chaired by the President of the Republic.

The Body will advise the President on the policy to be followed in the field of tourism, the number one money earner industry on this island.

It will evaluate the application of such policy and submit suggestions for the qualitative upgrading and the strengthening of services already in offer.

CNA KN/MCH/GP/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1855:CYPPRESS:06

[06] Greece calls on Turkey to cooperate on Cyprus solution

The position was outlined here Thursday by Greek Deputy Foreign Minister, Yiannos Kranidiotis, presenting his government's positions on Greco-Turkish relations and the Cyprus problem, during a meeting of the "Turkey Watch" group.

Referring to the Cyprus problem, Kranidiotis pointed out it is not exclusively a Greco-Turkish dispute or a dispute between the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities but mainly an international problem of invasion and occupation.

The Greek Minister also stressed that Cyprus' bid to become a member of the EU may act as a "catalyst" in a solution to its political problem.

Referring to Greco-Turkish relations, he pointed out that Athens is making all efforts to solve the two countries' differences in a peaceful manner and according to international regulations.

He cited as an example Greece's proposal, during the meeting of the Greek and Turkish foreign Ministers in Madrid, for a step by step approach to harmonise relations.

Kranidiotis exposed the continued Turkish territorial claims over Greek sovereign rights and the repeated violations of Greek national airspace.

Greece, he said, is willing to accept its neighbouring country to the European family.

He stressed, however, that this should be on condition that Turkey cooperates towards a Cyprus solution, abandons territorial claims over the island, respects the Republic's sovereign rights and conforms with international standards and regulations.

CNA NB/EC/MCH/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1945:CYPPRESS:07

[07] Swedish Minister says, living conditions of enclaved cruel

Speaking to reporters after a second meeting today with her Cypriot counterpart, Ioannis Kasoulides, Helm-Wallen described her three day visit to the island which was concluded today as "very interesting."

Noting the complexities of the Cyprus issue, Helm-Wallen said she was now "even more convinced that a solution must be found," and stressed that the parties involved can do it.

She referred to her visit yesterday to the Karpass peninsula, home for some 500 Greek Cypriot and Maronite enclaved living under Turkish occupation since 1974.

Outlining the beauties of the occupied part of Cyprus, the Swedish Minister said she found the living conditions of the enclaved difficult.

"The Greek Cypriot enclaved live a complicated life", she said and added: "We in the international society have a special responsibility" for the enclaved.

Asked when the Cyprus talks for accession to the European Union will start, Helm-Wallen said, probably early next year.

At this point, she said she hoped "a way can be found" so that Turkish Cypriots will be included in the accession talks.

Referring to her meeting yesterday in the Turkish occupied areas with Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash, Helm-Wallen said Denktash was "angry with the EU and how it behaved when they accepted the application."

Cyprus applied for EU accession in July 1990 and is due to begin accession talks in spring next year.

CNA EC/MCH/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

2010 CYPPRESS:08

[08] Clerides says Turkish actions "improper"

In statements to reporters after the opening of the exhibition "CyServ '97", Clerides said, "I consider it an improper action."

Greece, he noted, has already made representations over the first Turkish buzzing of the C-130 Hercules military transport plane on Monday, as it was carrying Greek National Defence Minister, Akis Tsohatzopoulos to Cyprus.

The plane, he said, was intercepted by the Greek airforce. "I think that what Turkey does shows how correct my view is about having an anti- aircraft defence because we will never become a Turkish colony".

The President expressed the hope that during the meeting of the Prime Ministers of Turkey and Greece in Crete, relations between the two countries will be settled.

CNA EC/MCH/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

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