Cyprus News Agency: News in English (PM), 97-12-03

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

CONTENTS

[01] Minister to attend UN conference on ageing populations

[02] PSEKA head: Overseas Cypriots participation in SAE important

[03] Cyprus Stock Exchange

[04] Italian official holds meetings

[05] Meeting of Greek and Turkish Cypriot party leaders

[06] EU Commissioner on accession talks with Cyprus

1450:CYPPRESS:01

[01] Minister to attend UN conference on ageing populations

The Minister will attend the Intergovernmental Conference on Ageing Populations in the Mediterranean Region, to be organised between December 4- 6, in Malta.

Papadakis will present Cyprus' national report on ageing population and analyse the present situation on the island, an official press release said today.

The conference, to be attended by 22 Mediterranean countries, is organised by the UN International Institute on Ageing Populations in cooperation with the Maltese government.

CNA AP/GP/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1500:CYPPRESS:02

[02] PSEKA head: Overseas Cypriots participation in SAE important

Salonica, Dec 3 (CNA) -- A top official of Cypriots living abroad stressed here today the importance of the participation of overseas Cypriots in this year's meeting of the Council of Hellenes Abroad (SAE).

In a statement to CNA, President of the International Coordinating Committee - Justice for Cyprus (PSEKA), Philip Christopher, said "this is the first time that officially PSEKA and POMAK (World Federation of Overseas Cypriots) are being represented in SAE with 40 members."

"The 40 members of the Central Committees of PSEKA and POMAK are here today as overseas Hellenes, because Cypriots are Hellenes and where we live we may be American citizens, but we are of Hellenic heritage," US-based PSEKA head said.

The first regular meeting of Salonica-based SAE, which has been set up in 1995 to consult the Greek government on overseas Hellenes issues, will be held here between December 6 and 8.

Cyprus President Glafcos Clerides, Greek Premier Costas Simitis and Greece's President Costis Stefanopoulos are to address this three-day biennial meeting.

PSEKA President told CNA "it is very important for us to be part of this whole thing and it is also strategically important for us, in view of the Cyprus problem and the fact that 37 per cent of the island is still occupied (by Turkish troops)."

Stressing the importance of overseas Cypriots' participation in the SAE meeting, Christopher said their voice would be heard and their resolutions would be passed.

He said it was also important "for us to give the direction in regard to how we should be speaking overseas when it comes to the Cyprus problem."

CNA RG/AP/GP/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1545:CYPPRESS:03

[03] Cyprus Stock Exchange

CSE All Share Index                    75.88 (-0.21)

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

Sectural Indices

Banks                                  87.61 (-0.28)
Approved Investment Companies          58.99 (-0.35)
Insurance Companies                    56.43 (+0.44)
Industrial Companies                   73.23 (+0.26)
Tourist Industries                     61.99 (-0.78)
Commercial Companies                   39.42 (+0.08)
Other Companies                        58.74 (-0.89)

Trading Volume                         CYP 348204.990

CNA MA/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1610:CYPPRESS:04

[04] Italian official holds meetings

Italy's position was conveyed here Wednesday by visiting Piero Fassino, Italy's Deputy Foreign Minister, responsible for European Affairs, who noted, however, that it is up to the two sides to decide how to solve this issue.

He told reporters after meeting Foreign Minister, Ioannis Kasoulides, the purpose of his visit was to discuss with Cypriot leaders "the strategy of the Luxembourg European Council which is supposed to decide on the enlargement of the EU".

Fassino said "Italy always supported the strategy for the enlargement of the EU" and that within this strategy it has always supported Cyprus' EU accession.

EU accession talks with Cyprus are scheduled to begin in spring 1998.

The Italian official supported that the EU and Italy "are convinced that it is important that this negotiation should be held by a delegation which could be representative of all components of the island".

He told both President Glafcos Clerides and Turkish Cypriot leader, Rauf Denktash, with whom he had separate meetings today, that "Italy wishes there is a joint delegation representing all the island."

Stressing that he is in Cyprus to help, Fassino said that it "is clear that this is a problem that has to be decided and solved within Cyprus and we cannot interfere in this."

Invited to comment on whether there will be a problem to start accession negotiations if the Turkish Cypriot side does not want to participate in the delegation, Fassino noted that "the enlargement process is extremely important".

"I hope there will be a solution according to which negotiations could proceed without difficulties during their development and that all the obstacles are solved before this," he added.

Welcoming the Italian official, Kasoulides said his visit "demonstrates Italy's interest in Cyprus, its political problem and its efforts to join the EU."

Fassino also met today with President of the House of Representatives, Spyros Kyprianou.

CNA KN/EC/MA/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1620:CYPPRESS:05

[05] Meeting of Greek and Turkish Cypriot party leaders

The decision was taken during a meeting of Greek and Turkish Cypriot party leaders and representatives at the UN-controlled Ledra Palace Hotel, in the Nicosia buffer zone.

A joint communique said the meeting was held "in a friendly and constructive atmosphere."

The leaders "decided to reactivate the Coordinating Committee of the Parties, which will discuss and suggest concrete rapprochement measures to the party leaders meeting."

The bicommunal meetings began in 1989 by the former Czechoslovak Ambassador to Cyprus, Emil Keblusek.

The initiative continues by the Slovak Embassy.

Slovak Charge d' Affaires in Nicosia, Dusan Rozbora, in an interview with CNA, had pledged to continue the meetings.

Cyprus has been divided since 1974 when Turkish troops invaded and occupied 37 per cent of the island's territory.

CNA EC/MA/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1945:CYPPRESS:06

[06] EU Commissioner on accession talks with Cyprus

Speaking Wednesday before the European Parliament, Van den Broek also said that ways should be found for Turkish Cypriot participation in the accession talks, scheduled to begin in spring 1998.

The EU Commissioner had paid a two-day visit to Cyprus earlier this week, during which he met President Glafcos Clerides and Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash.

During his meetings here, Van den Broek supported Turkish Cypriot participation in the EU talks and said cooperation between the two communities on the EU prospect could facilitate a settlement to the protracted Cyprus problem.

Elaborating today on EU enlargement, the Dutch Commissioner supported the Commission's recommendation that accession talks should begin with Cyprus and five former eastern and central European countries, namely Estonia, Poland, Hungary, Slovenia and the Czech Republic.

He supported that the accession process with the five remaining eastern and central European countries should be reinforced.

Van den Broek said Turkey should also participate in the European Conference, scheduled for next year, and added that the EU should make clear its intentions regarding Ankara.

On its part, the EU has asked Turkey to clarify its position regarding the Cyprus problem, its relations with Greece, and human rights in the country, Van den Broek said.

EU President, Luxembourg Foreign Minister, Jacques Poos, said the Union has pledged to accept Cyprus and the 10 former eastern and central European countries as members, in this way leaving Turkey out.

Acknowledging that Turkey does not fulfil the EU's political criteria, Poos said he favours Ankara's participation at the European Conference.

The Luxembourg Foreign Minister appeared positive regarding Cyprus' wish to reinforce its pre-accession strategy, by participating in EU programmes, and reassured the EU will take the island's needs into consideration.

Tomorrow, the European Parliament is expected to adopt a resolution on enlargement.

CNA NB/MA/EC/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

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