Cyprus News Agency: News in English (PM), 97-12-23

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

CONTENTS

[01] Church vows to continue search for stolen treasures

[02] Kasoulides proposes meeting with Cem

[03] Cyprus Stock Exchange future discussed

1510:CYPPRESS:01

[01] Church vows to continue search for stolen treasures

The Primate of the Orthodox Church of Cyprus also called on UNESCO, the UN body dealing with culture, to try and put an end to cultural ethnic cleansing in the Turkish occupied areas.

Speaking at a press conference, a day after 32 stolen pieces of mosaics and frescoes returned to Cyprus, the Archbishop said the only way to stop smuggling of art treasures from occupied Cyprus is to end the island's division.

He said the Church was first notified that the treasures were located in Germany in August and by the end of November many items were confiscated from Turkish Cypriot art smuggler Aydin Dikmen.

"So far 210 items have been found and the German authorities said they would return them to us once we prove our ownership," the Archbishop said.

The Archbishop refrained from disclosing any details about either the cost of retrieving the treasures or the means applied to achieve this but said the information available does not implicate any Greek Cypriots.

The press conference heard that UNESCO cannot intervene in the Turkish occupied areas of Cyprus because it does not recognise the self-styled Turkish Cypriot "authorities".

Replying to questions, the Archbishop said "there are no international legal means to apply to for the return of our treasures". He noted the difficulties in bringing home stolen treasures "when the people (Greek Cypriots) who were forced out of their homes are prevented from returning by the Turkish occupation troops."

"The only way to put a halt to this cultural ethnic cleansing is to end Turkey's illegal occupation of the island," the Archbishop said.

He also said he would suggest to the Holy Synod that it bestows on Tasoula Hadjitofi, Cyprus' Honorary Consul in the Netherlands, the medal of Apostle Barnabas, the founder of the Church of Cyprus, for her untiring efforts to retrieve stolen treasures.

Hadjitofi said it was important to publicise the plundering of Cyprus' cultural heritage in the occupied areas, but stressed the need to have solid evidence before any procedure is instigated for the return of art treasures.

Speaking at the press conference, Attorney General Alecos Markides said the government has requested the German authorities to have Dikmen extradited for criminal offences.

He also said the destruction of the cultural heritage in occupied Cyprus cannot take place without the tolerance of the occupation regime.

Police chief Panicos Hadjiloizou said there is cooperation with the German police on two counts, to collect information about the case in hand as well as Dikmen's extradition.

CNA MM/MA/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1705:CYPPRESS:02

[02] Kasoulides proposes meeting with Cem

"Only if there is a public exchange of views and positions between Turkey and Cyprus, will Ankara be convinced to advise Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash to change his position on the solution to the Cyprus problem," Kasoulides said today.

The Foreign Minister said he has proposed to Cem to meet "when and where" he wants, not to negotiate a Cyprus settlement but to exchange views.

Kasoulides revealed he had conveyed a similar invitation to Cem in the past, through a third party which he did not name.

His proposal was rejected, he said, as the Turkish Foreign Minister replied he did not want to give the impression that negotiations were taking place behind Denktash's back.

Elaborating on the reason why he made such a proposal, Kasoulides said that over a meeting the two countries could clarify their intentions on the Cyprus issue.

"If Turkey has the wrong impression on the government's intentions, then we could clarify them and visa versa," he added.

Turkey invaded Cyprus in 1974 and continues to occupy 37 percent of the island's territory.

CNA KK/MA/MM/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1850:CYPPRESS:03

[03] Cyprus Stock Exchange future discussed

It was decided that a committee comprising officials of the government and the CSE, as well as brokers, will study the measures and submit them at a meeting scheduled for January 15.

Finance Minister, Christodoulos Christodoulou, said the CSE operation and its prospects were discussed as well as the introduction of new incentives.

Christodoulou said the possibility of off-shore companies investing in CSE company stocks and of Greek companies introducing their shares to the CSE were discussed.

He added that other issues, mainly regarding tax incentives that would attract the introduction of shares were also under scrutiny.

The Finance Minister expressed the hope the package of incentives will be announced in mid January.

CNA MA/RG/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

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