Cyprus News Agency: News in English (AM), 98-01-08

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

CONTENTS

[01] MP rejoins his party

[02] Cyprus not happy with US-Israel-Turkey exercise

[03] Cyprus Airways profits for second half of 1997

1050:CYPPRESS:01

[01] MP rejoins his party

In a written statement, Matsakis said he had asked to rejoin the ranks of DIKO because he wants to fight for the party during "these difficult days for the country".

Matsakis returned to the party one month before the presidential elections on the island. DIKO decided to support independent candidate George Iacovou, a former Foreign Minister, who is also backed by leftwing AKEL party.

Matsakis said he had never questioned the contribution of DIKO President, Spyros Kyprianou, to the struggle of the Cyprus people.

He attributed his withdrawal from the party to the "serious fears regarding the way the Cyprus problem was handled".

He stressed DIKO needed to reunite its forces to avert the imposition of an unacceptable solution to the Cyprus problem.

Last March, Matsakis had said one of the reasons of his resignation from the party, was his party's cooperation with the rightwing ruling Democratic Rally (DISY).

The cooperation ended in November 1997 with DIKO withdrawing its five ministers from the 11-member cabinet of President Glafcos Clerides, who is seeking re-election for a second five-year term.

The composition of the 56-seat House of Representatives is as follows:

Democratic Rally 20 seats

AKEL 19 seats

Democratic Party 10 seats

Socialist EDEK 5 seats

United Democrats 2 seats

CNA EC/GP/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1150:CYPPRESS:02

[02] Cyprus not happy with US-Israel-Turkey exercise

Foreign Minister, Ioannis Kasoulides, told reporters before a cabinet meeting today that the "government considers military cooperation between Israel and Turkey a development which we do not favour".

Kasoulides said the government was "not passive" over the issue and had made "friendly representations" to the government of Israel last month.

"We got the assurances we wanted" but added that "this does not stop us from stating that we are not happy about the exercise between the USA, Turkey and Israel".

Kasoulides noted that relations between Cyprus and Israel are "very good, just as relations with Arab countries in the region".

However, the Foreign Minister explained that there was no need for a military cooperation between Turkey and Israel because such cooperations create concern to neighbouring Arab states and upset balances with friendly countries such as Cyprus, Syria and Egypt.

Yesterday Government Spokesman Manolis Christofides questioned Turkey's participation in an exercise described as "humanitarian", because of this country's bad human rights record.

In a strongly worded statement the Cypriot official said the aim of the exercise was "not compatible with the human rights violations in Turkey and the genocides this state has carried out."

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

The one-day exercise held yesterday and described as a "success" by US and Israeli military officers, was strongly criticised by Greece, saying it does not contribute to "peace and stability".

Egypt, Syria, Iran and other Middle East states also protested over the evolution of an alliance which they said, could change the strategic face of the region.

Adding to the voices of concern, Russia said the manoeuvre could aggravate mistrust and handicap efforts to bring stability to the region.

CNA RM/EC/GP/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1140:CYPPRESS:03

[03] Cyprus Airways profits for second half of 1997

According to a press release of the island's national carrier, preliminary pre-tax profits for July to December 1997 are expected to reach some 5,4 million Cyprus pounds (around 10,8 million US dollars).

Profits for the same period in 1996 reached 0,8 million Cyprus pounds, (around 1,6 million US dollars).

As a result of improvement in the profits of the company during the second half of 1997 estimated losses will be below 4,2 million pounds (8,4 million US dollars).

The initial estimate was 8,1 million pounds (16,2 million US dollars).

CNA MCH/GP/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

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