Cyprus News Agency: News in English (PM), 98-03-11

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

CONTENTS

[01] Cyprus-EU talks will start as scheduled

[02] Cyprus proposal to EU formulated

[03] Cyprus Stock Exchange

[04] Government protests against boat attack

1535:CYPPRESS:01

[01] Cyprus-EU talks will start as scheduled

Replying to questions in the House of Commons, Cook said he could confirm "there will be no veto for the regime in northern Cyprus" and added that Turkish Cypriots have "more to gain than anybody else in Cyprus from EU membership".

Turkish Cypriot income is currently a quarter of that of Greek Cypriots, Cook pointed out.

"We have urged the government of Cyprus to bring a mixed delegation of Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot negotiators," Cook added and welcomed President Glafcos Clerides' willingness to do that.

He also noted that "the present stubbornness on the Turkish Cypriot side may prevent that from happening".

The so-called Turkish Cypriot parliament decided on Tuesday not to participate in accession negotiations and not to attend UN-sponsored peace talks unless the self-styled regime is recognised as a state by the international community.

Commenting on Turkey's European prospects, Cook said Ankara was invited to attend the European Conference but has decided against that, in view of the Luxembourg European Council last December.

In order to strengthen its links with the EU, Turkey was asked by the Luxembourg summit, to pursue political and economic reforms, improve its human rights record, relations with Greece and support UN-led negotiations "on a political settlement in Cyprus on the basis of relevant UN Security Council Resolutions".

Concerning Cyprus, the Luxembourg meeting notes that accession should benefit all communities and "requests the willingness of the Cyprus government to include representatives of the Turkish Cypriot community in the accession negotiating delegation".

He said that after the European Conference, Britain "will look for other ways in which to take forward our dialogue (with Turkey), probably through the association partnership, on which the Commission is about to produce interesting and detailed proposals".

CNA KT/MCH/MM/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1610:CYPPRESS:02

[02] Cyprus proposal to EU formulated

They also acknowledged that it is "extremely unlikely" that the Turkish Cypriots will be part of the negotiating team of the Republic of Cyprus at the start of the talks, on March 30.

The same view was expressed by the head of the Cypriot team, former Cyprus President George Vassiliou after a meeting earlier this week with Britain's envoy for Cyprus Sir David Hannay.

The statements came in the wake of a decision by the Turkish Cypriot regime in Turkish occupied Cyprus that it will not participate in the accession talks and will not attend peace talks unless the self-styled regime is recognised.

"We expect a proposal to be made", the same sources said but did not point to a specific time when such a proposal would be submitted or whether it would be in oral or written form.

The same sources refrained from commenting about the government's position that any proposal should not imply in any way recognition of the illegal Turkish Cypriot regime in Turkish occupied Cyprus or undermine the international status of the Republic of Cyprus.

"We would like to see the proposal first and then make any comment, but we hope the government's proposal will be suitable," they added.

The Cyprus and Greek governments adopted joint decisions at their Athens talks on Tuesday on how to handle Cyprus' accession course and the current situation in the Cyprus question.

CNA MM/MCH/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1530:CYPPRESS:03

[03] Cyprus Stock Exchange

CSE All Share Index                    85.23 ( 0,71)

Sectural Indices

Banks                                  97,42 ( 0,36)
Approved Investment Companies          65,19 ( 0,79)
Insurance Companies                    62,45 ( 0,92)
Industrial Companies                   80,25 ( 0,53)
Tourist Industries                     74,53 ( 1,26)
Commercial Companies                   47,10 ( 2,97)
Other Companies                        73,60 ( 2,71)

Trading Voulume                        1.217.476

CNA MCH/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1645:CYPPRESS:04

[04] Government protests against boat attack

Cyprus Police questioned the seven-member crew of "Nemesis", now berthed at Limassol port, which came under attack on Monday while fishing some 25 nautical miles off the coast of Egypt.

Police said two members of the Cypriot-flagged boat sustained serious stab wounds and said the CID (Crime Investigation Department) is investigating a case of piracy, theft and attack.

The damage caused by the attack, which occurred when Egyptian crew boarded the "Nemesis", is estimated at around 20,000 Cyprus pounds (about 40,000 US dollars).

A spokesman of the Department of Fisheries, Emilios Economou, told CNA that a special committee is expected to inspect the vessel and report on the damage.

He also explained that fishing off the Egyptian coast is carried out in international waters where there isn't sufficient policing.

"We believe this was an isolated incident but well planned," he added.

A Foreign Ministry spokesman said the Egyptian embassy in Nicosia has already been informed about the incident and noted the Ministry will wait to see the reports before taking any action.

CNA RM/MM/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

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