Cyprus News Agency: News in English (PM), 98-03-20

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

CONTENTS

[01] Cyprus to host International Congress on Phlebology

[02] UN resolutions binding on Cyprus procedure

[03] British Forces postpone training session

[04] Cyprus Stock Exchange

[05] Turks release G/C fishermen

[06] Cyprus, Greece agree on upgrading of defences

1540:CYPPRESS:01

[01] Cyprus to host International Congress on Phlebology

During the Congress, distinguished scientists will give lectures on phlebology, while a number of round-table discussions will take place.

The total of vascular diseases and new methods of both diagnosis and treatment will be the main subject of the Congress.

The meeting is under the patronage of Cyprus President Glafcos Clerides, Health Minister Christos Solomis and the Pancyprian Medical Association.

It is under the auspices of the International Union of Angiology and Vascular Surgery (IUS), the European Society of Vascular Surgery (ESVS), the Mediterranean League of Angiology and Vascular Surgery (MLAVS) and other medical associations.

CNA MK/GG/GP/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1745:CYPPRESS:02

[02] UN resolutions binding on Cyprus procedure

Cordovez, on a mission to achieve resumption of Cyprus peace talks, said if any of the two interlocutors wants changes to this mandate, he shall have to apply to the Security Council.

"I am trying to find a way to proceed with negotiations bridge the differences between the two positions and continue the search for a peace settlement," he told journalists after talks today with President Glafcos Clerides.

Cordovez's comments come as a snub to a fresh demand by Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash, who insists on a dialogue between two "states", whereas UN resolutions specifically refer to intercommunal talks between the leaders of the Greek and Turkish Cypriot communities.

Denktash, the UN envoy explained, rejected the idea of going to the Security Council to change the current mandate and President Clerides does not accept the idea of "state-to-state" talks.

The Turkish Cypriot leader brought up this issue in a bid to press on with recognition by the international community of his self-styled regime, set up illegally in the areas occupied by Turkish troops since 1974.

"We have to follow the resolutions of the Security Council, the Secretary-General has been given a mandate, we have to follow the mandate and try to achieve a settlement which is in line with those resolutions of the Security Council," Cordovez stressed after his working lunch and private meeting with the President.

"Now if one or the other wants to change that, they can try to change it in the Security Council," he added, noting that "unless the Security Council changes this, we are bound by the existing resolutions, and these talk about talks between the two community leaders."

Cordovez, who is accompanied by UN resident representative in Cyprus Gustave Feissel, said he conveyed a letter to the President expressing hopes the process of negotiation is going to be revitalised as soon as possible.

Asked how Kofi Annan intends to revitalise the process, he said "I will try to indicate a little bit and they have basically to indicate to us how they want to proceed."

Replying to questions, Cordovez said he is trying to find common ground between the positions of the two sides and added that if there was agreement on the status of the two interlocutors in the negotiations, there would be no problem.

"I am trying to find a way to proceed with negotiations, and continue the search for a peace settlement. If they want to do that, we proceed in that direction," he said.

The UN envoy was to meet this afternoon with the Turkish Cypriot leader in the occupied part of Nicosia. It is the second meeting between the two men in 24 hours.

Tomorrow morning, Cordovez will have a second meeting with President Clerides before giving a press conference on his Cyprus trip.

On Sunday he will travel to Athens for talks with the Greek government.

After Athens, he will fly on to Ankara for similar talks with the Turkish government.

CNA MM/GP/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1850:CYPPRESS:03

[03] British Forces postpone training session

Demetris Eliades, President of the Committee on the Environment of the island's House of Representatives, told CNA that the Cyprus government insisted on the postponement the military exercises, which will take place in April.

The government had undertaken to suggest an alternative area to be used by the British Forces in Cyprus for training.

The Cypriot MP added the government hopes that the problem of finding an alternative area for the British military exercises, will be solved within six months, when the next phase of the exercises will take place.

Meanwhile, Captain John Brown, a spokesman for the British Forces, told CNA that "there have been discussions going on between the British Authorities and the Republic of Cyprus government about the exercises, which were supposed to take place on the 23rd and the 24th of March."

He said "although the Republic of Cyprus government recognises our right to train there, they've been requesting that alternative arrangements be made and continue to find a permanent training area for us".

He said "we have postponed the exercise on the Akamas... and we intend to carry out training elsewhere."

The British Captain said the Cyprus government "has offered us the use of another area", adding that "if they find us another area we have agreed not to use the Akamas area next week."

The spokesman explained that the exercises had been postponed, not cancelled.

"We said that we are going to look at this area and if we find it suitable then on this occasion we will train there. If the new area that they will find for us turns not to be suitable then the option for us to use the Akamas peninsula is still open", Brown concluded.

The use of Akamas peninsula by the British Forces, using live ammunition, has prompted angry reactions from this East Mediterranean island's legislature, local communities and environmentalists' groups.

The international group "Greenpeace" has launched a campaign against the British manoeuvres and tourist development in this area.

The Akamas peninsula is considered unique area for its flora and fauna and for its beaches, where the Loggerhead and Green turtles hatch their eggs.

Under the 1960 Treaty of Establishment of the Republic of Cyprus, Britain has retained two sovereign military bases on this strategic island and the right to military training in various areas, including Akamas peninsula.

CNA RM/GP/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1855:CYPPRESS:04

[04] Cyprus Stock Exchange

CSE All Share Index                    88,25 (-0,73)

Sectural Indices

Banks                                  98,64 (-0,37)
Approved Investment Companies          66,71 (-1,65)
Insurance Companies                    66,04 (-1,26)
Industrial Companies                   86,49 (-1,67)
Tourist Industries                     77,48 (-0,31)
Commercial Companies                   54,76 (-0,04)
Other Companies                        80,84 (-2.27)

Trading Volume                         CYP 3.034.808

CNA MM/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1920:CYPPRESS:05

[05] Turks release G/C fishermen

Andreas Constantinou, 58, and Georgios Zelou, 65, both from the village of Dherynia, were fishing with their boat in the eastern Paralimni sea area Saturday morning, when armed Turkish soldiers aboard a speed-boat approached them.

The Turkish soldiers fired in the air and towed the fishermen's boat to the nearby Turkish-occupied port of Famagusta.

A so-called court in the occupied areas issued a three-day "remand order" against the Greek Cypriot men.

The Cyprus government protested to the UN against their capture.

Constantinou and Zelou were freed today with the help of the UN peace- keeping force in Cyprus (UNFICYP).

They joined their families at the Ledra Palace check-point, situated in the UN-controlled buffer zone in Nicosia.

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

CNA GP/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

2010:CYPPRESS:06

[06] Cyprus, Greece agree on upgrading of defences

Athens, Mar 20 (CNA) -- Defence Minister Yiannakis Omirou and his Greek counterpart, Akis Tsohatzopoulos, have reiterated their resolve to upgrade and conclude a joint defence pact, agreed between Greece and Cyprus in November 1993.

"There will be no back-tracking in our defence pact; on the contrary we shall speed up its procedures," Omirou said after a meeting with Tsohatzopoulos.

The Greek Minister disclosed that the two military commands agreed on practical measures in the cooperation for training, exercises and regular contact at ministerial level.

Both ministers said the start of accession negotiations between Cyprus and the European Union enhance the Republic's role as a factor of stability, peace and security in the region.

Replying to questions, Omirou said all necessary measures are taken for the security of the Republic, to counteract increased military activity on the part of the Turkish occupation troops, which invaded the island's northern areas in 1974.

Referring to the deployment of Russian anti-aircraft missiles in Cyprus, Omirou noted that those interested in peace and security should direct their attention to Turkey, asking her to respect international law and order and UN resolutions on Cyprus.

"This would create the conditions for the total demilitarisation of Cyprus," Omirou added.

Earlier today, Omirou discussed Cyprus' accession course with Greek Foreign Under-Secretary Yiannos Kranidiotis who reiterated Greek support and solidarity to Cyprus.

On his part, Omirou said they exchanged views on Cyprus' European course and defence issues.

The Cypriot minister returns home Saturday.

CNA CI/MM/GG/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

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