Cyprus News Agency: News in English (AM), 98-02-17

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

CONTENTS

[01] Largest ever promotion of Cypriot wines in Ontario

[02] Iacovou criticises mass media

1145:CYPPRESS:01

[01] Largest ever promotion of Cypriot wines in Ontario

Toronto, Feb 17 (CNA) -- The largest ever campaign to promote Cypriot wines and beer in the province kicked off yesterday with the goal of introducing more Canadian consumers to a millennia-old wine making tradition.

"This campaign is one of the steps being taken to promote a greater awareness of Cyprus wines to the Canadian consumer", Cyprus Trade Commissioner Dennis Droushiotis told CNA.

Dubbed "Cyprus, 5000 Year of Wine Making Excellence", the campaign will run in 80 Liquor Control Board of Ontario (LCBO) stores through the month of February.

The campaign, co-sponsored by Droushiotis and the Consulate-General of Cyprus in Toronto, involves an end-aisle display in the LCBO stores featuring KEO beer, Othello Dry Red Wine and Aphrodite Dry White Wine. Also available at LCBO stores in the world famous dessert wine, St. John Commadaria.

In launching the campaign at a downtown LCBO store, Droushiotis remarked how Cypriot wine is quickly catching the fancy of Canadian win connoisseurs.

"The Canadian consumer has been a growing market for us and we feel that not only will the wine be successful, but that the beer will also grow in popularity", he said.

The Trade Commissioner said the Canadian market for Cypriot wine and beer is so far represented by Ontario, but that Quebec and other provinces are being looked into as potentially viable markets.

Droushiotis added that halloumi cheese was introduced to the Canadian market about four years ago with increasing annual sales.

"We have applied to the Canadian authorities for a trademark for halloumi cheese to come only from Cyprus", he said.

The Trade Commissioner noted that Cypriot wine exports to Canada had doubled in 1997 over the previous year, reaching almost one million Canadian dollars in retail sales and is confident that exports will double again this year.

Droushiotis' confidence was echoed by Dionysus Wines and Spirits Ltd. Managing Director, Alexander Patinios.

Patinios, a Cypriot Canadian who imports the wine and beer, said the Cypriot wine's success in sales can be attributed to a simple formula.

"Cypriot wines are very price competitive and that is one of the major factors that has helped our sales. The Canadian public is surprised at the value and at the quality of the wines. KEO beer is also selling phenomenally well here, particularly in the summer", he said.

But as Patinios pointed out, what draws Canadians to Cypriot products is more than just value.

"Canadians are surprised in a pleasant way that we have a lot of experience in wine making, a lot of history and a nice story behind them and that's part of the romance of wine sales", he said.

Consul-General of Cyprus in Toronto Achilleas Antoniades reinforced the point that expanding the Canadian market for Cypriot wines products bodes well for Cypriot wine and beer makers as well as the Cypriot economy.

"Within the scope of the Cypriot government's efforts to promote the diversification of markets for these very good products, the Canadian market presents a very good opportunity and the Cousulate-General is very happy to be associated with this effort", he said.

CNA MH/GP/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1430:CYPPRESS:02

[02] Iacovou criticises mass media

Clerides was re-elected for the next five years with a majority of 50.82 per cent (206.879 votes) as against 49.18 per cent (200.222 votes) polled by Iacovou.

Iacovou, who was supported by the leftwing AKEL party and the centre- right Democratic Party, said had the Socialist EDEK party and the United Democrats lent him their support, he would have won the elections.

Speaking at a press conference, today, Iacovou underlined the important role of the Mass Media, financial resources and state mechanisms during a pre-election period.

"We should consider the question of election finances because public opinion can be influenced simply because one candidate might have a bigger budget than another", he said.

Iacovou gave as an example cases of businessmen, supporting particular parties, chartering flights to bring in voters from abroad.

Replying to questions, he said he was willing to make public his election campaign budget if other candidates would do the same.

The former Foreign Minister criticised the electronic media for not abiding by the code of ethics, noting that considerably more time was given to Clerides and his representatives.

He accused Clerides of using state mechanisms to promote his candidacy.

Iacovou, who returned to Cyprus last year after a five-year stay in Athens where he headed an organisation for repatriated Greeks, said he has not yet decided on his future.

Stressing his will to continue serving his country, Iacovou expressed the hope for a just and speedy solution to the Cyprus problem.

CNA MA/MCH/GP/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

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