Cyprus News Agency: News in English (PM), 98-02-16

Cyprus News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

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

CONTENTS

[01] Clerides to visit Athens

[02] Russia reaffirms S-300 delivery as agreed

[03] Archbishop congratulates Clerides

[04] Deliberations for new government start tomorrow

[05] Cyprus Stock Exchange

[06] US administration congratulates Clerides

[07] Former US senators support imminent US initiative

1420:CYPPRESS:01

[01] Clerides to visit Athens

Greece's ambassador to Cyprus, Kyriakos Rodousakis, called on President Clerides today to congratulate him on his re-election, on behalf of the Greek President, the Premier and the Foreign Minister.

"Once again I assured President Clerides of Greece's support and solidarity with all challenges, initiatives and decisions that lie ahead," he said.

Clerides won Sunday's presidential election runoff, receiving 50.82 per cent of the vote as against 49.18 per cent polled by former Foreign Minister George Iacovou.

On February 28 he will give the prescribed affirmation for a second five-year term during a ceremonial session of the 56-seat House of Representatives.

"President Clerides plans to visit Athens after he takes over his duties" for the next five years, Rodousakis told the press.

He announced that Greek Foreign Under-Secretary, Yiannos Kranidiotis, will be visiting Cyprus next week.

Replying to questions, Rodousakis said Kranidiotis will hold discussions on President Clerides' visit to Athens as well as the Cyprus problem and Cyprus' bid to become a full member of the European Union.

The EU will open accession talks with the Cyprus Republic on March 31, 1998.

CNA KN/MA/GP/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1440:CYPPRESS:02

[02] Russia reaffirms S-300 delivery as agreed

At the same time, Moscow fully backed President Glafcos Clerides' proposal for the complete demilitarisation of the island.

Russian Foreign Minister, Yevgeni Primakov, currently visiting Greece, told the Athens News Agency "the demilitarisation of Cyprus would eliminate the need for any kind of armaments".

However, he reaffirmed his country's pledge that the S-300's would be delivered as agreed in the contract signed with the Cyprus government, noting that "this position is well known to Ankara as well".

Primakov expressed satisfaction with the position of certain representatives within the Turkish leadership, as he said, who object to Turkish threats to take military action against the deployment of the S-300 missiles in Cyprus.

The Russian Foreign Minister is visiting Athens at the invitation of his Greek counterpart, Theodoros Pangalos.

Turkish troops have been occupying 37 per cent of Cyprus territory in violation of repeated UN resolutions calling for their withdrawal.

CNA MCH/GP/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1500:CYPPRESS:03

[03] Archbishop congratulates Clerides

Speaking after the meeting the Archbishop gave his backing to the idea of a national unity government, pointing out that such a move would avert divisions.

"If we have a government of national unity, there will be no divisions and we shall be able to make long-term plans," the Archbishop said.

Asked to comment on a US initiative expected to be launched on the Cyprus problem, Chrysostomos said he did not know how this would develop.

He stressed however the need to the Turkish occupied part of Cyprus and restore human rights.

CNA KN/MCH/MM/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1530:CYPPRESS:04

[04] Deliberations for new government start tomorrow

He said invitations are expected to be sent to left-wing AKEL, socialist EDEK, United Democrats, New Horizons, the Liberals and Alexis Galanos, who had broken ranks with centre-right party DIKO.

The Spokesman congratulated Clerides' opponent in yesterday's presidential election, George Iacovou, for the dignified way he accepted the result.

He also expressed satisfaction with a statement by AKEL Secretary General, Demetris Christofias, pledging his party will work for greater unity on the Cyprus problem in the National Council, the top advisory body to the President on the Cyprus question.

The new President of will give the prescribed affirmation on Saturday morning, February 28, before the House of Representatives.

The new cabinet will give its affirmation to the President of the Republic in the afternoon of the same day.

CNA MM/MCH/MA/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1600:CYPPRESS:05

[05] Cyprus Stock Exchange

CSE All Share Index                    81.62 (-0.15)

Highest: 81.74 (2/1/97)
Lowest : 76.20 (30/1/97)

Sectural Indices

Banks                                  94.43 (-0.20)
Approved Investment Companies          61.91 (-1.99)
Insurance Companies                    60.80 (-0.11)
Industrial Companies                   76.20 (+0.70)
Tourist Industries                     68.12 (-0.93)
Commercial Companies                   41.25 (+0.49)
Other Companies                        67.41 (-0.03)

Trading Volume                         CYP 958337.799

CNA MA/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1645:CYPPRESS:06

[06] US administration congratulates Clerides

Describing relations with President Clerides as excellent, the Clinton administration expressed the wish that this close relation will continue during Clerides' second term in office.

"We congratulate President Clerides on his victory and welcome the opportunity to continue working with him on further strengthening our bilateral relationship", the State Department statement says.

"We also plan to work closely with him in bringing about a lasting and viable settlement", it adds.

The US is expected to be involved in new UN-led efforts to reach a settlement in Cyprus, divided since Turkish troops invaded and occupied 37 per cent of the island's territory in 1974.

CNA DA/MCH/MA/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1840:CYPPRESS:07

[07] Former US senators support imminent US initiative

Republican Charles Percy and Democrat Claiborne Bell, commend US State Department's "recent more evenhanded policy toward Turkey, Greece and Cyprus".

They point to the recent State Department's position regarding overflights of Turkish fighters violating Greek and Cypriot sovereign territory and airspace.

"If Greece or Cyprus were to carry out similar activities against Turkey, our State Department should be equally critical," they add.

Percy and Bell also commend the criteria set by the European Union in order for Turkey to proceed with its European course, which include respect for human rights and support of UN negotiations for a Cyprus settlement.

"It is in the best interest of the people of Turkey, Greece and Cyprus for their governments to act in accordance with these principles of civilisation cited by the EU," the point out.

They also express the belief that "many people in Turkey want their government to follow these principles so that they and their country may be better able to be secure and to prosper in the modern world".

Percy and Bell conclude commending "those in the US and the EU who have moved in that direction the efforts to deal with this dangerous situation in the Eastern Mediterranean".

CNA DA/MCH/MA/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

Cyprus News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article