Cyprus News Agency: News in English (AM), 98-01-11

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

CONTENTS

[01] Seven electoral candidacies "valid and final"

[02] Decisive months ahead, says President

[03] Cyprus hosts tourist guide seminar

1315:CYPPRESS:01

[01] Seven electoral candidacies "valid and final"

An official press release from the office of the chief electoral registrar said "following the lapse of the deadline for any objections, all candidacies for the election to the presidency are valid and final."

Ballot papers will be properly printed on special paper and the names of the seven presidential hopefuls will appear in number horizontal columns in the following order: Nicos Rolandis, Nicolaos Koutsou, Vasos Lyssarides, George Vassiliou, Alexis Galanos, George Iacovou and Glafcos Clerides.

The ballot papers will carry photographs of the seven candidates.

CNA MM/KN/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1320:CYPPRESS:02

[02] Decisive months ahead, says President

"After February's presidential elections, we expect to see the new initiative for a settlement in Cyprus culminate and negotiations for accession to the European Union will begin," the President said while unveiling a memorial to commemorate Greek officers who died during the 1974 Turkish invasion of the island.

The President said that as a result of the correct strategy his administration has followed in the past five years, international interest in the Cyprus question has increased.

"Our joint defence pact with Greece has contributed to this and has given our national issue an altogether new dimension, in favour of the Greek Cypriot side," the President noted.

He called for the maximum possible unity and well thought out, delicate and responsible handling of developments, courage and decisiveness.

"If we make mistakes, we shall pay very dearly for them. Our course for EU accession may be hampered and the current status quo on the island may be consolidated," the President stressed.

Cyprus remains divided 24 years after Turkish troops invaded and occupied the island's northern part. Repeated UN-led efforts have not yielded any concrete results and Turkey's positions and those of the illegal Turkish Cypriot regime in occupied Cyprus are still as intransigent as ever.

CNA MM/KN/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1425:CYPPRESS:03

[03] Cyprus hosts tourist guide seminar

Some 30 guide trainers from various countries around the globe gathered in the coastal town of Paphos today for the meeting.

In her remarks to the opening today, the President of the World Federation, Cypriot Titina Loizidou referred to the history of the Federation which today has 22,000 members from 27 countries and said the tourist guide is asked to have a "high level of education and training to be able to guide most groups of people."

"The Federation believes the quality of service provided by the professional guide will only be ensured by the establishment of a uniform educational standard," Loizidou said, noting that "professionalism will ensure quality of service."

Opening the seminar Paphos mayor Fidias Sarikas warmly welcomed participants and outlined the outlined the crucial role guides play in the smooth operation of the tourist industry.

"Paphos, a city with a history of 2,300 years, considers its selection as the venue for this seminar a gesture of high regard as it points to our capabilities in the commensurate areas of services and facilities," he added.

The president of the Cyprus Tourist Guides Association, Popi Chadjidemetriou said six Cypriots are participating in the seminar. She said Cyprus at present has enough guides to cover tourism needs.

Chadjidemetriou expressed concern about the operation of unlicensed guides in certain areas of the island, including Paphos district and called on the Cyprus Tourism Organisation to control this phenomenon.

The seminar, entitled "Training the Trainer", is organised by the World Federation in cooperation with the Cyprus Association of Tourist Guides and will be divided in two parts.

Part one will be a repeat of the course taught at the last convention in Montreal last year and part two will be a continuation for those participated in Montreal and/or for those who will complete part one in Paphos.

The programme, composed of three main areas, training the trainers course, training guides and advising training programmes, aims to establish universal guidelines and techniques for the guiding profession worldwide and create a core of World Federation consultants with expertise as trainers.

The course also aims to advise local, regional and national associations and academic institutions on training programmes, educate professional tourist guides on travel and tourism issues and develop training and testing standards for tourist guides worldwide.

During the seminar, there will be special workshops for techniques tourist guides can use with practical applications on sites such as museums, nature trails, archaeological sites and churches.

CNA MM/KN/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

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