Cyprus News Agency: News in English (AM), 97-11-10

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

CONTENTS

[01] Increase in arrivals

[02] Central Bank-government stock

[03] US envoy here to discuss, not negotiate

[04] Mass anti-occupation rallies to take place

[05] Coalition ministers leave posts - new appointees Wednesday

1250:CYPPRESS:01

[01] Increase in arrivals

According to a report by the Department of Statistics and Research, the largest part of the travellers, excluding excursionists (65,5 per cent), arrived in Cyprus from European Union member-states.

Almost 34 per cent of arrivals of travellers came from the UK, 8,7 per cent from Greece, 8 per cent from Germany, 7,8 per cent from Israel, and 6, 2 per cent from Russia.

The arrivals of tourists reached 242.600 in September 1997.

About 41 per cent of the tourists have their usual residence in the UK, 10,5 per cent in Germany, 9,7 per cent in Russia, 6,3 per cent in Switzerland, and 5,4 in Sweden.

CNA GG/GP/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1300:CYPPRESS:02

[02] Central Bank-government stock

The Bank will also be offering by the same way upto 35 million Cyprus pounds, 6,75% GRDS with the same date of issue and repayment of the stock at par in five years.

According to a Central Bank statement, bids on the prescribed form will be accepted from November 12, until 0900 local time (0700 GMT), on November 14, 1997.

The Bank also announced a new issue of upto 4 million pounds GRDS with maturity in three years, and interest rate of 6,50% payable every six months.

Applications for this issue are accepted between November 10-17, 1997.

Interest earned by individuals from GRDS is exempted from income tax.

CNA GG/GP/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1310:CYPPRESS:03

[03] US envoy here to discuss, not negotiate

He also reiterated his administration's determination to continue efforts for a settlement of the protracted Cyprus problem, which he described as "exceedingly difficult", and to help Turkey get closer to Europe.

The official denied categorically any link between the US visit here and Cyprus' presidential election campaign, following President Glafcos Clerides' decision to seek re-election.

Thomas Miller, US State Department Special Coordinator for Cyprus, said after meeting President Clerides today he is trying to "make progress."

"How you measure progress is in the eye of the beholder, I do not know if anything will come out of these meetings tomorrow, they are discussions, not negotiations in any kind of formal sense," he said.

Noting it is important to hold discussions with the President and Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash, Miller pointed out US efforts are an ongoing process.

Asked to say if anything will come out of this visit, bearing in mind that no headway was made following a US-brokered agreement on security matters, Miller said that "neither Richard Holbrooke (presidential emissary), who arrives here later today nor I are making any euphoric or optimistic predictions."

Success or spectacular results cannot be achieved overnight, he said, but efforts will continue.

Replying to questions, Miller said "US efforts have nothing to do with your presidential campaign, which is an internal matter."

The island's presidential elections will be held in February 1998.

He added "I do not think that Holbrooke and I are going to stop our efforts and discussions for the next couple of months because of your elections but by the same token I think it would be a bad misreading to say that our efforts have anything to do with your presidential election."

Asked if his visit here could help Turkey's ties with Europe, Miller said the US believes "very strongly that Turkey does have a European vocation and we will do all we can to help."

He stressed the US is not part of the decision process in Europe and recalled that the EU is looking for progress in certain areas from Turkey.

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

CNA MM/GP/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1430:CYPPRESS:04

[04] Mass anti-occupation rallies to take place

The first is organised by the Cyprus Motorcycle Federation, marking one year after the murder of two Greek Cypriot youths, Tassos Isaac and Solomos Solomou, by the Turkish terrorist group "Grey Wolves" and Turkish troops, during anti-occupation demonstrations in Dherynia.

Greek Cypriot and Greek Motorcyclists began their journey from Kastanies village, in Evros, on the Greco-Turkish border and will end at Eleftheria (Freedom) Square in central Nicosia, on Saturday.

Cyprus Motorcycle Federation President George Hadjicostas said today that the event's objective is to raise money to erect a monument in memory of Isaac and Solomou.

The second rally, which is called "The Return March", is organised by refugee associations.

The representative of the Coordinating Committee of the "Return March" Aris Hadjipanayiotou told a press conference today that the aim of the march is to declare once again the inalienable right of the refugee people to return to their homes and properties in the Turkish-occupied territory.

Some 200.000 Greek Cypriots (one third of the island's population) have been forcibly uprooted from their homes by the Turkish invasion troops, which have been occupying 37 per cent of Cyprus territory since 1974.

Meanwhile, Police Chief Panikos Hadjiloizou said that all police units would be mobilised on Saturday to avert any incidents.

On November 15, 1983 the regime in the Turkish-occupied areas unilaterally declared independence recognised only by Turkey.

UN Security Council resolution 541 (November 18, 1983) deplores the declaration and considers it "legally invalid".

CNA KN/GP/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1450:CYPPRESS:05

[05] Coalition ministers leave posts - new appointees Wednesday

President Glafcos Clerides accepted the resignations of five DIKO ministers, who were asked by party leader Spyros Kyprianou to leave their posts once Clerides announced his decision to seek re-election.

The new appointees will take over on Wednesday, Government Spokesman Manolis Christofides said.

A cabinet meeting, originally scheduled for Wednesday morning, has been moved to Friday.

The President had initially asked the outgoing ministers to stay on until Wednesday to sort out some pending issues they had been dealing with.

"Today he called them to inform them he has accepted their resignations as from today. He also asked them to hand over to their successors on Wednesday morning," Christofides said.

Clerides thanked the outgoing ministers (defence, interior, labour, commerce and agriculture) for the work they have done.

Speaking on behalf of the DIKO ministers, former Interior Minister Dinos Michaelides said "we leave with dignity and pride."

Michaelides refrained from any comment on speculation that DIKO ministers were given an ultimatum by the party to quit their posts.

"The decisions were taken, they were accepted, any bitter feelings or other thoughts belong to the past," Michaelides added.

The five ministers left the government four months before the Presidential elections.

So far, there are six candidates for the elections, including President Clerides and DIKO President Spyros Kyprianou, current House of Representatives President.

CNA MM/GP/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

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