Cyprus News Agency: News in English (PM), 98-03-03

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

CONTENTS

[01] EU Commissioner in Cyprus for talks, Denktash rejects meeting

[02] Nicosia to host "Euro-Med Net '98"

[03] Cyprus Stock Exchange

[04] New 20-pound bank-notes

[05] Cyprus deplores cultural heritage continuing destruction

[06] Cyprus presides UN Asiatic group

[07] President Clerides to visit Athens, London

[08] Hannay visits Cyprus tomorrow

[09] New Ministers assume office

[10] Round table meeting on Cyprus ends

[11] More drugs discovered

1510:CYPPRESS:01

[01] EU Commissioner in Cyprus for talks, Denktash rejects meeting

A spokesman for the European Commission delegation in Cyprus has confirmed to CNA Tuesday that a request for a meeting between Van den Broek and Denktash was denied.

The EU Commissioner, who arrives Wednesday evening from Athens, will meet on Thursday morning with President Glafcos Clerides.

Later the same day, he will have consecutive meetings with former President of the Republic George Vassiliou, who will head Cyprus' delegation in the accession talks with the EU, and Foreign Minister Ioannis Kasoulides.

Cyprus-EU accession talks will start on March 31.

On Friday morning Van den Broek will meet the ambassadors of EU member- states accredited to Cyprus and give a press conference at the Ledra Palace hotel, in the Nicosia UN-controlled buffer zone, before leaving.

CNA MM/AP/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1545:CYPPRESS:02

[02] Nicosia to host "Euro-Med Net '98"

Communications and Works Minister, Leontios Ierodiaconou, will declare the opening which will be addressed by a representative of the presidency of the European Union and the Director-General of the DG III Directorate of the European Commission, Stefano Micossi.

More than 300 delegates from European and Mediterranean countries will attend a presentation on latest technology and developments in the Euro- Mediterranean region.

There will also be display of high speed Internet connections via satellite and a host of European companies will present the latest achievements in the field of communication networks.

Those who will not attend will be able to watch the conference live through web casting, satellite connection and a huge screen at the University of Cyprus.

The conference will have its own web site, (http://www/euromednet.ucy.ac.cy).

The conference will be held under the aegis of the University of Cyprus' Computer Department.

CNA EC/AP/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1600:CYPPRESS:03

[03] Cyprus Stock Exchange

CSE All Share Index                    82,71 ( 0,17)

Highest: 81,97 (19/2/98)
Lowest : 76,20 (8/1/98)

Sectural Indices

Banks                                  96,43 ( 0,19)
Approved Investment Companies          62,87 (-1,04)
Insurance Companies                    59,54 ( 0,05)
Industrial Companies                   77,31 (-0,27)
Tourist Industries                     68,20 ( 1,73)
Commercial Companies                   41,26 (-0,48)
Other Companies                        66,68 ( 0,79)

Trading Volume                         CYP 872.434

CNA MCH/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1630:CYPPRESS:04

[04] New 20-pound bank-notes

Speaking at a press conference to present the new bank-note, Central Bank of Cyprus Governor, Afxentis Afxentiou, said its specifications are in line with current safety and technology needs.

The predominant colour of the bank-note is blue and its front features a bust o goddess Aphrodite, while its back the Kyrenia boat, dating from the 4th century B.C.

Its genuineness can be easily checked from a watermark depicting a bust of Aphrodite and a security thread which appears as a continuous line, on which the letters KTK can be seen.

CNA GG/MCH/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1710:CYPPRESS:05

[05] Cyprus deplores cultural heritage continuing destruction

In letter to Council's General Secretary Daniel Tarschys, Permanent Representative of Cyprus to the CoE Thalia Petrides denounced the conversion of the Armenian monastery of "Saint Makar" into a hotel.

The monastery is situated in the northern mountain range of Pentadaktylos, occupied by Turkish troops since their 1974 invasion of Cyprus.

The Cypriot diplomat also protested the desecration of Greek Orthodox churches and cemeteries, pointing out that many churches have been converted into mosques, museums or cultural centres, and provided Tarschys with relevant photographs.

Petrides urged CoE's General Secretary to take all necessary measures to put an end to the continuing destruction of cultural and religious heritage in the occupied part.

A similar letter was addressed to all Permanent Representatives of CoE member-states.

CNA AP/MCH/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1830:CYPPRESS:06

[06] Cyprus presides UN Asiatic group

Cyprus took over the presidency of the 50-member Asiatic group from Bhutan last Friday.

The group usually deals with UN election issues and the candidacies placed for the organisation's bodies and organs.

Cyprus' Permanent Representative to the UN Sotos Zakheos, in his capacity as president of the Asiatic group, will this month undertake consultations regarding the group's position on the enlargement of the Security Council.

CNA AP/MCH/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1815:CYPPRESS:07

[07] President Clerides to visit Athens, London

In the Greek capital, Clerides will hold talks with Prime Minister, Costas Simitis, members of the cabinet and party leaders.

The Cyprus problem and the island's bid to become a full member of the European Union, in view of the start of membership talks end of March, are expected to be high on the agenda.

After Athens, Clerides will fly to London to participate in the European Conference on March 12.

Participating in the Conference will be the 15 European Union member- states and the 11 applicant countries.

CNA GG/GP/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1915:CYPPRESS:08

[08] Hannay visits Cyprus tomorrow

Sir David's Wednesday visit to Cyprus was confirmed to CNA this afternoon by a spokesman of the British Foreign Office.

It is evident that Sir David, who is also the Representative of the European Union presidency for Cyprus will accompany EU External Relations Commissioner Hans Van den Broek who is expected here tomorrow evening.

The EU Commissioner will pay a three-day visit to the island during which he will have talks with President Glafcos Clerides on the forthcoming EU-Cyprus accession negotiations, scheduled to start March 31.

Earlier today, a spokesman for the European Commission delegation in Cyprus told CNA that Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash had refused to meet with Van den Broek.

Last week, Denktash had also refused to meet with Sir David during his two-day visit to the island for talks with the Cyprus government and the Turkish Cypriot side.

CNA KT/AP/MCH/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1920:CYPPRESS:09

[09] New Ministers assume office

In statements, Foreign Minister Ioannis Kasoulides, who was re- appointed, said he was undertaking a "very serious mission because of the critical times ahead."

He explained that the crucial times which lie ahead relate to the European accession course and efforts to reunite Cyprus.

Defence Minister, Yiannakis Omirou, vice-president of Socialist EDEK party, assured he will further upgrade the joint defence pact, agreed between Cyprus and Greece in November 1993.

He also pledged to continue improving the National Guard's combat capabilities.

Interior Minister, Dinos Michaelides, returned to the Ministry after a four-month break, following the departure of the Democratic Party from Clerides' previous government.

Michaelides had broken ranks with DIKO and openly supported the candidacy of Alexis Galanos, former DIKO vice-president, in defiance of the party's decision to back George Iacovou. In the second round, he backed President Clerides.

In statements, Michaelides pledged to organise the Civil Defence, implement the law on the Mass Media and improve the operation of the Immigration Department.

Andreas Moushouttas, also a former DIKO Minister, returned to the Ministry of Labour and Social Insurance.

Moushouttas expressed appreciation for President Clerides, who entrusted him again with this post.

Finance Minister, Christodoulos Christodoulou, who retained his post, said he faces the challenge of making important decisions.

Christodoulou said he will aim to control public expenditure, raise public revenue and modernise the major sectors of the economy to bring them in line with the harmonisation with the acquis communautaire.

Newly-appointed Education and Culture Minister, Lykourgos Kappas, who was one of the five people EDEK proposed for the Ministry, pledged he will work for a Greek-oriented education, free from chauvinism.

Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environment Minister, Costas Themistocleous, of the United Democrats, said he will mobilise all forces to handle the problems of the agricultural sector.

Referring to the continued water shortage, the newly-appointed Minister said he will promote all planned irrigation projects and desalination plants.

Justice and Public Order Minister, Nicos Koshis, who retained the same Ministry, pledged to continue working hard to better serve the citizen and protect the public.

Assuming office, new Minister of Commerce, Industry and Tourism, Nicos Rolandis, referred to the economic changes in the world and said "we need to act carefully with great wisdom in order to overcome this situation."

Rolandis expressed the conviction that Cyprus will manage to stand the fierce competition just like it did in the past.

Christos Solomis, who retained the Health Ministry to which he was appointed in April last year, said all available resources both public and private should be used to upgrade the health sector to help Cyprus become a full member of the European Union.

Solomis said priorities will be focused on the introduction of a National Health Scheme and the completion of the new Nicosia General Hospital, as well as other hospitals and rural centres.

Leontios Ierodiakonou, who remained in the Ministry of Communications and Works, expressed the hope that his staff will continue to work hard to attain the Ministry's objectives.

CNA EC/AP/GP/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

2000:CYPPRESS:10

[10] Round table meeting on Cyprus ends

According to the organisers, the meeting aimed at helping efforts for rapprochement between the Greek and Turkish Cypriot communities on the island.

The meeting focused on the various aspects of the protracted Cyprus problem and the island's European Union accession course.

Former Turkish Foreign Minister, MP Mumtaz Soysal, who is also an advisor to Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash on constitutional issues, supported the recognition of the illegal breakaway entity unilaterally declared in the Turkish-occupied areas of Cyprus.

Soysal claimed that the Turkish troops occupying 37 per cent of Cyprus territory since their 1974 invasion are there in the same way US troops were stationed in Germany after the end of World War II.

Former Greek Foreign Under-Secretary, professor Christos Rozakis played down Soysal's claims.

Rozakis noted that although the UN had recognised a lot of states in the past few years, they had never recognised the Turkish Cypriot breakaway entity since it is the result of a violent invasion, unacceptable by the international community.

Turkish Cypriot politician Mehmet Ali Talat, leader of the Turkish Republican Party, supported the participation of Turkish Cypriots in the EU- Cyprus accession negotiations, scheduled to start on March 31.

Talat urged Turkey not to pose any obstacles to this direction but noted that Cyprus should become an EU member after a Cyprus solution is reached.

Only Turkey recognises Denktash's puppet regime, unilaterally declared in November 1983. The UN itself has called on all states "not to recognise" the self-styled entity and "not to facilitate or in any way assist the aforesaid secessionist entity."

Turkish troops have been occupying 37 per cent of Cyprus territory since 1974, in violation of repeated UN resolutions calling for their withdrawal.

CNA NB/AP/MCH/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

2000:CYPPRESS:11

[11] More drugs discovered

The 24 blocks of compressed marijuana were stashed into the container which had arrived in Limassol on Sunday.

The head of the Limassol Police Drugs Squad, Tasos Panagiotou, said the drugs were part of a quantity of 130 kg which were destined for the Cyprus market.

He said 32 year old Greek Cypriot, Demetris Frangou, from Aradippou, who was arrested in Athens last month in connection with the case, is believed to be the mastermind of the operation. His extradition to Cyprus is pending.

Police last month arrested a number of Greek Cypriots who are allegedly involved in an international drug cartel which pushed marijuana in Cyprus and other countries, through Bulgaria.

CNA CS/EC/MCH/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

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