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Cyprus News Agency: News in English (PM), 98-02-17Cyprus News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Cyprus News Agency at <http://www.cyna.org.cy>CONTENTS
1625:CYPPRESS:01[01] Clerides begins consultations with party leadersNicosia, Feb 17 (CNA) -- President Glafcos Clerides held today separate meetings with political party leaders with a view to forming an all-party government.The President also met Alexis Galanos, who broke ranks with the Democratic Party (DIKO) and former Socialist-EDEK MP Efstathios Efstathiou, on the same issue. Clerides, re-elected on Sunday for a second term in office, pledged to form a government of national unity. Democratic Rally (DISI) leader, Nicos Anastasiades, said that according to the Constitution the President has the sole responsibility to decide on the composition of his cabinet. He pointed out that President Clerides will take into consideration the percentage received by candidates during the first round of elections. Speaking after his meeting with Clerides, EDEK leader, Vassos Lyssarides said no conclusions have been reached so far, pointing out that "we are waiting for the response of the rest of the parties to know the composition of the new government". He said he indicated to Clerides that everybody should be involved in this effort to form a cross-party government and that the Democratic Party (DIKO) should also be invited. On his part United Democrats leader, George Vassiliou, said his party will take part in the government and expressed the hope that all political parties, invited by the President to participate in the new government, will give a positive reply. Vassiliou, whom Clerides has promised to appoint as head of the Cyprus team to negotiate Cyprus' accession to the European Union, said the Republic's EU course was also discussed during the meeting. New Horizons leader, Nicos Koutsou said "views were exchanged" during the meeting and that by Thursday certain things will be finalised. Liberal party leader, Nicos Rolandis said they exchanged views on a wide range of issues and noted that the President repeated his wish that the Liberal leader remains in the public domain. Speaking after the meeting, Galanos said the President would most probably ask him to offer his good offices as an advisor, but noted that the matter has not been finalised. He said he expects to meet Clerides again later this week and added that he will not accept a cabinet post. Efstathiou, who backed Clerides' candidature, denied there was any discussion regarding his appointment to a ministerial post and expressed the view that EDEK should participate in an all-party government. CNA MCH/MM/1998ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY1635:CYPPRESS:02[02] Cyprus Stock ExchangeNicosia, Feb 17 (CNA) -- The Cyprus Stock Exchange (CSE) All Share Index closed at today's stock exchange meeting as follows:CSE All Share Index 81.77 (+0.18) Highest: 81.77 (17/2/98) Lowest : 76.20 (8/1/98) Sectural Indices Banks 94.90 (+0.50) Approved Investment Companies 61.79 (-0.19) Insurance Companies 60.32 (-0.79) Industrial Companies 76.39 (+0.25) Tourist Industries 67.84 (-0.41) Commercial Companies 40.46 (-1.92) Other Companies 67.39 (-0.03) Trading Volume CYP 1164808.460* The difference in brackets represents the percentage increase (+) or decrease (-) of the index from the previous stock exchange meeting. CNA MM/1998ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY1750:CYPPRESS:03[03] Greek Premier congratulates CleridesNicosia, Feb 17 (CNA) -- Greek Prime Minister Costas Simitis has sent a congratulatory message to President Glafcos Clerides on his re-election in Sunday's presidential election.Conveying "warm congratulations and wishes for the success of our common goals," Simitis adds "as you are aware, we have before us difficult problems to solve that concern the future of Cyprus." "However, I am convinced that justice and reason will prevail at the end and that our struggles will culminate in Cyprus' accession to the European Union to the benefit of all Cypriots," the Greek Premier added. CNA MM/GP/1998ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY1850:CYPPRESS:04[04] Clerides receives congratulatory messagesNicosia, Feb 17 (CNA) -- President Glafcos Clerides has received many messages of congratulations from various heads of state and international personalities wishing him success in his important tasks.Commonwealth Secretary-General Emeka Anyaoku sent his "warmest congratulations on this impressive reaffirmation of confidence of your leadership by the people of Cyprus." Anyaoku conveyed the Commonwealth's assurances for "full cooperation in your attempts to bring about a peaceful solution to the Cyprus problem and in the furtherance of the objectives which Cyprus and the Commonwealth share." Leni Fischer, President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, extended her "very best wishes for success in the important tasks which face you during your second term of office, in particular, the negotiations for admission to the European Union and the efforts to reach a peaceful and lasting settlement to the Cyprus issue." In his message, Estonian President Lennart Meri notes that Clerides' "statesmanship has led your country into enlargement negotiations with the EU" and expressed confidence that "the negotiations will be successful." He also says he looks forward to "even closer relations" between Estonia and Cyprus. Syrian President Hafez Al-Assad expresses "best wishes for success in your (Clerides') responsibilities" and is confident that "the relations of friendship and cooperation between our two countries will further prosper for the mutual benefit of our two peoples." Finnish President Martti Ahtisaari communicated his "sincere congratulations" for success in Clerides' high office. CNA MM/GP/1998ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY1910:CYPPRESS:05[05] Former Turkish captain tells of atrocitiesNicosia, Feb 17 (CNA) -- A Turkish captain, member of Turkey's invading forces in Cyprus in 1974, has told of horrific attrocities committed by Turkish soldiers against civilians.In an interview with a local private TV channel, ANT1, Yalcin Kucuk, who now lives in self-imposed exile in Paris, said he was told he was "on a cleaning operation." "I do not know why they sent us there. It was an empty village with vines. You were not sure whether it was empty or not, that's why you had to be careful and go into houses one by one," he said. He retold the story of two soldiers who boasted about murdering a woman in cold blood and were then forced by Kucuk to bury the body. "I saw a wealthy villager's house with grapes. Then fire started. Two soldiers, whom I had known, cried triumphantly, I 'killed, I killed'. It was very close to me. I saw a woman. I got the impression she was a mongolate (suffering from Down's syndrome), the two soldiers bound her and then put all the bullets into her vagina", a tearful Kucuk said. He went on to describe the arrival in the area of a captain, whom he referred to as "fascist". The captain, according to Kucuk, congratulated the two soldiers, telling them "the mission is completed." "I jumped up with my weapon, I pointed my weapon, I was out of control. What will happened to that woman," Kucuk told the reporter. "I forced them (two soldiers) to dig a grave, and bury that woman," he added. Asked if he knew of any mass graves, he replied "I know about mass deaths, I don't know about mass graves." He said he had seen dead civilians in the fields whose bodies were distorted by the summer heat. CNA EC/MM/1998ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY1915:CYPPRESS:06[06] Larnaca airport to get area radarNicosia, Feb 17 (CNA) -- Larnaca International Airport will acquire a Terminal Area Radar (TAR) by the summer of 1999, it was officially announced here today.The Cyprus Telecommunications Authority (CYTA) said in a press release that a contract for the supply and installation of the TAR system was signed on Monday with the French company THOMSON-CSF AIRSYS. CYTA bought the system on behalf of the Civil Aviation Department and its installation at Larnaca airport will meet Eurocontrol requirements. The data gathered will be transmitted to Nicosia FIR (Flight Information Region) and appear on the screens of air traffic controllers to ensure air safety within Nicosia FIR. CNA MM/KN/1998ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY2005:CYPPRESS:07[07] AKEL will not participate in new governmentNicosia, Feb 17 (CNA) -- The main opposition left-wing party AKEL decided it cannot participate in a cross-party government under President Glafcos Clerides."We cannot be part of such a government since there are fundamental differences between us and the side Clerides represents," AKEL General Secretary Dimitris Christofias has announced at a press conference. The party line on this matter was decided at a meeting of the Political Bureau here today. He said the differences relate to the handling of the Cyprus question, the approach to the recent political history of the island, local governance and socio-economic policies. Invited to outline the position the party will follow, Chritofias said AKEL will continue to work with consistency within the framework of the National Council, the top advisory body to the President on the handling of the Cyprus problem, to achieve the maximum possible unity, on the basis of principles, as far as decisions on the Cyprus issue are concerned. President Clerides has pledged to form a government of national unity and today started consultations with party leaders and other personalities of the political scene. CNA MM/KN/1998ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCYCNA ENDCyprus News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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