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Cyprus News Agency: News in English (PM), 97-11-14Cyprus News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Cyprus News Agency at <http://www.cyna.org.cy>CONTENTS
1630:CYPPRESS:01[01] Government protests against illegal visitNicosia, Nov 14 (CNA) -- The government condemns once again the illegal visit to Cyprus' Turkish occupied areas by Turkey's Vice President Bulent Ecevit, who ordered his troops into Cyprus 23 years ago purportedly to restore constitutional order.Ecevit will be on the island Saturday with Turkish Foreign Minister Ismail Cem to participate in "celebrations" marking the 15th anniversary of the establishment of the breakaway Turkish Cypriot regime. "The international community does not forget Turkey's hypocritical and nazi behaviour claiming it invaded Cyprus to restore constitutional order but continues this kind of behaviour to this day", Government Spokesman Manolis Christofides said today. Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash declared his self-styled "state" in November 1983, a move the UN Security Council described as "legally invalid". Denktash is still seeking international recognition, which has eluded him because of the firm stand the UN has taken on the matter, by calling all states "not to recognise any Cypriot state other than the Republic of Cyprus." Ecevit, the Spokesman said, "has returned to the scene of his crime and proves that crimes committed in Cyprus against international law and order are carried out by Turkey." Today students took to the streets to protest the continuing Turkish occupation and the establishment of the illegal regime in occupied Cyprus. A petition adopted by the students calls on the five permanent members of the Security Council to exercise their influence on Turkey "to change its intransigent stand and pave the way for the reunification of Cyprus and its people." "Cypriot students shall not recognise the faits accomplis of the Turkish invasion and will continue to strive for a just and viable solution, " the petition said. Tomorrow bikers, who set off from ancient Olympia in Greece, are due to end their rally along the UN controlled buffer zone. Christofides said the government expected the protest rallies, which it endorses and approves, to be within the bounds of legality. Political parties issued statements denouncing the Turkish Cypriot regime. CNA MM/MCH/1997ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY1640:CYPPRESS:02[02] Minister praises women's peace effortNicosia, Nov 14 (CNA) -- Minister of Justice and Public Order, Nikos Koshis, paid tribute to the role of women in efforts to find a peaceful settlement in Cyprus.He advocated more women participation in the political arena but also acknowledged the obstacles facing the female population in such endeavours. Addressing a women's meeting in Istanbul (Constantinople), Turkey, Koshis said "Cyprus has achieved legal equality, a very high standard of education for women and high participation in the labour market." Cypriot women are "highly politicised" primarily because of the illegal division of the island and the unacceptable status quo, the Minister told the 4th Ministerial conference between women and men, organised by the Council of Europe. "Greek and Turkish Cypriot women either as individuals or through their respective organisations have been very active in promoting and assisting the efforts for a peaceful, just and viable solution, which will effectively restore and safeguard human rights and fundamental freedoms for the people of Cyprus as a whole," Koshis said. Referring to women's participation in public life, Koshis said there are "invisible and visible barriers" that restrict women from taking an equal role in politics. Social, cultural and religious traditions, the structure of political parties, he said, are just some of the obstacles that need to be tackled through strategies. CNA MM/MCH/1997ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY1640:CYPPRESS:05[03] Cyprus Stock ExchangeNicosia, Nov 14 (CNA) -- The Cyprus Stock Exchange (CSE) All Share Index closed at today's stock exchange meeting as follows:CSE All Share Index 75.73 (-0.22) Highest: 82.46 (2/1/97) Lowest : 73.90 (30/1/97) Sectural Indices Banks 87.42 (-0.06) Approved Investment Companies 59.97 (-0.25) Insurance Companies 55.33 (-0.27) Industrial Companies 72.72 (-0.52) Tourist Industries 62.96 (-0.43) Commercial Companies 40.34 (-1.99) Other Companies 58.35 (-0.27) Trading Volume CYP 409299.800* The difference in brackets represents the percentage increase (+) or decrease (-) of the index from the previous stock exchange meeting. CNA MCH/1997ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY1655:CYPPRESS:04[04] Protests against British manoeuvresNicosia, Nov 14 (CNA) -- The military exercises the British Bases in Cyprus conduct in the Akamas nature reserve, scheduled for November 16-21, will be the last carried out in the area.According to the Ecologist-Enviromentalist Movement, which expressed this view in a press conference today, the military exercises will probably not be terminated completely, but will be transferred to another location. At a press conference today, the Movement analysed the full programme of the demonstrations planned to condemn the exercises, with special emphasis on the demonstration on Sunday in Akamas, which is supported by political parties and other movements, such as Greenpeace. Britain has retained two military bases on the island after it granted Cyprus its independence in 1960. It has also secured the right to train its troops in designated areas but in the past few years there has been increasing opposition to this policy from environmental organisations. CNA RG/MM/1997ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY1710:CYPPRESS:05[05] More Israeli tourists visit CyprusNicosia, Nov 14 (CNA) -- The number of Israeli tourists who visited Cyprus in the summer has increased by sixty-nine per cent, bringing up the total to 23,000.The Israeli Department of Statistics of the Ministry of Finance communicated these figures to Israel's Ambassador to Cyprus, Shemi Tzur. An embassy press release said the increase occurred for the period between June and August 1997. Over 23,000 Israelis chose Cyprus as a holiday destination during this summer period, compared to almost 14,000 the same period last year. Ambassador Tzur said "this upward trend in the number of visitors to Cyprus is a reflection of the close relations enjoyed between Israel and Cyprus and the awareness by Israelis of Cyprus as an excellent tourist destination." CNA RM/MM/1997ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY1920:CYPPRESS:06[06] EU, Britain, US hail business meetingBrussels, Nov 14 (CNA) -- Major players in the Cyprus peace process said a meeting of businessmen from Cyprus' two communities, Greece and Turkey is "a significant step towards reconciliation, peace and prosperity."European Union Commissioner for foreign affairs, Hans Van den Broek outlined to some 25 entrepreneurs attending the meeting the benefits the Greek and Turkish Cypriot communities will reap from Cyprus' accession to the Union. "The prospect of Cyprus' accession to the EU can act as a catalyst for UN efforts to find a lasting settlement," he said, and pointed out that reconciliation in other conflicts has been brought about through a process which started with economic cooperation. The Commissioner said the start of accession talks would facilitate efforts to resolve the protracted Cyprus problem and ease ties between Greece and Turkey. Van den Broek said the Community considers it important that Turkish Cypriots should participate in membership talks, expected to start in April next year. Referring to Turkey's European aspirations, the Commissioner said the Commission backs Turkish participation in accession talks. US Presidential Emissary Richard Holbrooke backed the notion of offering business incentives to both sides as one pillar of the process the US is trying to advance. He noted that businessmen can contribute to the lowering of tensions and an increase of communications which the US strongly supports. Britain's Special Representative for Cyprus Sir David Hannay said the importance of the Brussels encounter lay in that cooperation among ordinary people can help the efforts of the politicians to find a settlement of the protracted Cyprus question. Sir David noted the impasse in Greco-Turkish relations and warned it might lead to a worsening of the situation. CNA NB/MM/MCH/1997ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY2015:CYPPRESS:07[07] Representations against Turkish provocationsNicosia, Nov 14 (CNA) -- Cyprus has made representations to the Ambassadors of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council about the strengthening of the Turkish occupation forces and tomorrow's visit to occupied Cyprus by Turkish government officials.Turkey has recently increased the number of troops it maintains in the northern part of the island since its 1974 invasion of Cyprus. Moreover, Turkish Vice President Bulent Ecevit, who order the troops into the island, and Foreign Minister Ismail Cem will pay an illegal visit to the occupied areas. Permanent Secretary of the Foreign Ministry, Alecos Shiambos stressed to the Ambassadors that the new Turkish provocations constitute another flagrant violation of international law, the UN Charter and Security Council resolutions on Cyprus. Shiambos also pointed out that Turkish actions are another indication of Ankara's real intentions to perpetuate its occupation of the northern part of the island. He called on the ambassadors to take the necessary measures to persuade Turkey to abandon its intransigent positions and conform to UN Resolutions. Similar representations will be made to UN Secretary General Kofi Annan. CNA MCH/MM/1997ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCYCNA ENDS Cyprus News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |