Cyprus News Agency: News in English (PM), 97-11-13

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

CONTENTS

[01] Kaddoumi criticises US role, hopes more for Cyprus

[02] Cyprus Stock Exchange

[03] US interest backs UN efforts for settlement, says Spokesman

[04] Presidential candidate presents election programme

[05] House condemns British military exercises in Akamas

[06] "Return March" organisers ask UN chief for assistance

[07] Holbrooke meets EU official and Papandreou

1440:CYPPRESS:01

[01] Kaddoumi criticises US role, hopes more for Cyprus

He also noted these two issues have many similarities and stressed the need for patience to arrive at a peaceful settlement on the basis of international legality.

Speaking after a meeting with Cyprus Foreign Minister Ioannis Kasoulides, Kaddoumi said "I hope they (US) might do better in the Cyprus problem but to the Palestinians unfortunately there is a big failure by the US."

Invited to comment on US and European involvement in the Middle East process, Kaddoumi said he did not think the US could do anything more than what they did on the Palestinian track.

"We insist the UN should be involved but the Israelis did not want the UN to play the positive role," he said.

Stressing that "peace should be based on international legality, Kaddoumi noted "it has shown that unfortunately the US is not willing or is unable to activate its role."

The Palestinian official underlined that Cyprus and his country "both have problems of refugees, problem of partition, we have to deal with this in a very sensible way and be patient enough to solve such problems."

Describing Cyprus as a friendly country, Kaddoumi said he discussed "common interests" and added "both sides have the same problems and are trying to establish peace in this part of the world, peace which is relied on the international legality, the integrity of our countries."

He said he exchanged views with Kasoulides and added "we are friends in defending each other in order to attain such peaceful solutions."

"Cyprus is a friendly country, they support our cause and the cause of peace, we are always keen to come to Cyprus and exchange views and cooperate in order to serve our common interests," he said.

Welcoming Kaddoumi, Kasoulides said it is "always a great pleasure to welcome in Cyprus a consistent friend and it has been also extremely useful that we had the opportunity to exchange views on developments in the Middle East in efforts for peace in the Middle East and talk a bit about Cyprus."

"I want to express the support of Cyprus to the efforts of the Palestinian people to achieve peace and security in the Middle East," Kasoulides added.

CNA MM/GP/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1530:CYPPRESS:02

[02] Cyprus Stock Exchange

CSE All Share Index                   75.90 (+0.15)

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

Sectural Indices

Banks                                  87.47 (+0.18)
Approved Investment Companies          60.12 (+0.08)
Insurance Companies                    55.48 (+0.09)
Industrial Companies                   73.10 (+0.26)
Tourist Industries                     63.23 (-0.30)
Commercial Companies                   41.16 (-0.05)
Other Companies                        58.51 (+0.17)

Trading Volume                         CYP 430470.756

CNA AP/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1700:CYPPRESS:03

[03] US interest backs UN efforts for settlement, says Spokesman

"With the US leading international interest for a settlement to the Cyprus problem, we believe the UN has at its disposal the dynamism needed to proceed towards a solution," Government Spokesman Manolis Christofides told his press briefing today.

Christofides pointed out the UN lacks the power to implement its resolutions on Cyprus.

The Spokesman reiterated that the government welcomes the US initiative for a Cyprus settlement and said it believes in its sincerity.

"We believe US intentions are sincere and we look forward to the US initiative," he said.

Christofides described the US initiative as "serious and dynamic."

In a press conference last week President Glafcos Clerides said a visit here by US presidential emissary for Cyprus, Richard Holbrooke, signals the beginning of the US initiative.

Holbrooke was in Cyprus last Monday and Tuesday and had both separate and a joint meeting with the leaders of the two communities.

It was his first visit to Cyprus since his appointment, earlier this year.

After leaving Cyprus, the US envoy went to Ankara for meetings with the Turkish government on the Cyprus question.

Yesterday he was in Germany where he briefed officials on his meetings in Nicosia and Ankara.

Christofides described these meetings as "impressive" and said they prove the importance of the US initiative.

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

CNA MCH/MA/AP/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1735:CYPPRESS:04

[04] Presidential candidate presents election programme

He also said he would promote rapprochement with the Turkish Cypriots and prepare the way for Cyprus' accession to the European Union (EU).

Presenting his election programme, Iacovou stressed the need to reform and update social policy and the public sector and promised to introduce measures to enhance business activity.

"We have formulated realistic proposals for the modernization and development of all sectors, giving emphasis to public life and the citizens relationship with the state," he said.

The 59-year-old former Foreign Minister said his programme includes proposals for the development and protection of the natural, social and cultural environment.

He described the settlement of the Cyprus question a top priority and said his government would break away from what he described as current "inactivity and dangerous impasse."

Iacovou pledged to take up "initiatives which would break the deadlock and create the preconditions for a just and viable settlement."

He said collectivity in decision making and the handling of the Cyprus problem is a prerequisite for a settlement.

Iacovou said that during his first 15 days in office he would call systematic meetings of the National Council, the top advisory body to the President on the Cyprus issue.

In this way, he explained, a "comprehensive strategy on the general handling of the Cyprus problem would be drawn."

"We will promote initiatives for rapprochement with the Turkish Cypriots, to create feelings of friendship and respect."

Regarding Cyprus' bid to join the EU, he said "harmonisation with economic indexes and procedures is not enough" and stressed the need for updated social and political views.

EU accession talks with Cyprus are scheduled to begin next spring.

Iacovou said he would design a contemporary defence policy, in close cooperation with Greece that "would not bring about confrontation and adventures and would ensure the security of the state and its people."

"Our aim is to reinforce Cyprus' international role, especially in our region where there is an increased European and international interest," he said.

Replying to questions, Iacovou supported that in the past five years there has been no progress towards a Cyprus settlement and that ground had been lost in the Republic's EU bid.

Iacovou, who served as Foreign Minister between 1983 and 1993, is backed by main opposition left-wing party AKEL.

CNA MA/AP/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

2000:CYPPRESS:05

[05] House condemns British military exercises in Akamas

In a resolution approved unanimously, the MPs call on the government to ask Britain to stop its military exercises in Akamas, one of the few regions in the Mediterranean where the green and loggerhead turtles hatch their eggs.

Britain retains two sovereign Bases in Cyprus since 1960, when it granted the island its independence from colonial rule.

British Forces exercise in designated areas. They are scheduled to begin a four-day military exercise in Akamas next Sunday, November 16.

The House "calls on the government of the Republic to stop giving its approval to exercises in this region" and to "take all necessary measures."

It also authorised House President, Spyros Kyprianou, to make a recourse on the issue to the European Parliament, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association and the House of Commons.

The House expressed "serious concern" with the environmental damage by the military exercises, adding that if these continue the unique Akamas' flora and fauna will be completely destroyed.

It also described Britain's right to use the area for military purposes as a colonial legacy.

Groups of environmentalists staged a protest outside the House of Representatives against the British military exercise.

For more than eight years local environmentalists and Greenpeace Mediterranean have been supporting that the Akamas peninsula should become a national park.

Environmental groups are planning to hold a protest in the region on the day the next British exercise will begin.

CNA MA/AP/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

2010:CYPPRESS:06

[06] "Return March" organisers ask UN chief for assistance

In a letter to the UN Secretary-General, Kofi Annan, the coordinating committee for the march appeals for his assistance and calls on the UN peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP) to assist "in the exercise of our to return to our homes."

"UNFICYP troops must escort us on our way to ensure our safety," the letter added.

"After waiting vainly for more than 23 years for the international community to do something about the implementation of the various UN resolutions, calling for the institution of urgent measures for the voluntary return of the refugees to their homes in safety, we decided we cannot wait any longer."

The letter said "if we are prevented from returning, then this action must emanate only from the Turkish occupation troops" and should therefore be attributed to Turkey "as the party solely responsible."

The march will be held on Saturday, November 15, to protest the 14th anniversary since the unilateral declaration of the pseudostate in the areas occupied by Turkey since it invaded the island in 1974. The puppet regime is recognised only by Turkey.

UN Security Council resolution 541, adopted November 1983, considered the declaration of the pseudostate as "legally invalid" and "calls upon all states not to recognise any Cypriot state other than the Republic of Cyprus."

Some 200.000 Greek Cypriots were forced to flee their homes after the Turkish invasion.

The organisers of the march have called on refugees to load their cars with their belongings to return home and have pledged it would be peaceful.

CNA MA/AP/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

2100:CYPPRESS:07

[07] Holbrooke meets EU official and Papandreou

Holbrooke met here this afternoon with EU External Affairs Commissioner Hans Van den Broek and Greek Alternate Foreign Minister, George Papandreou.

It was the second meeting the Greek official had today with Holbrooke. Earlier today Papandreou and Foreign Under-Secretary Yiannos Kranidiotis had a one-hour long meeting with Holbrooke.

Present at Holbrooke's second meeting with Papandreou was US State Department special coordinator for Cyprus, Thomas Miller.

Both US officials were in Nicosia and Ankara earlier this week for meetings with government officials.

On his first visit to Cyprus since his appointment Holbrooke had both a separate and a joint meeting with President Glafcos Clerides and Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash.

Papandreou told the press he had outlined the Greek position on Turkey's bid to enhance its relations with the EU.

According to EU sources, during his meetings in Ankara Holbrooke was given to understand that the Cyprus issue could only be settled if Turkey's relations with the Union were upgraded.

The Turkish side has become more intransigent in efforts to solve the Cyprus problem after the EU decided to start accession talks with the Cyprus government in spring next year.

During the two rounds of Cyprus peace talks held in summer, the Turkish side had refused to negotiate unless the EU withholds its decision.

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

CNA NB/MA/AP/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

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