Cyprus News Agency: News in English (PM), 98-03-23

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

CONTENTS

[01] Talks on bicommunal basis, says government

[02] Cyprus Stock Exchange

[03] Anti-aircraft missiles to be deployed, unless...

[04] "Byzantine Mediaeval Cyprus" exhibition opens

[05] Government backs Turkish Cypriot participation in EU talks

[06] Kranidiotis meets UN Cyprus envoy

1620:CYPPRESS:01

[01] Talks on bicommunal basis, says government

It also welcomes any efforts to bend the intransigence displayed by Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash, aiming at recognition of the illegal regime in the Turkish occupied areas.

"The basis of the negotiations, conducted by the leaders of the two communities, are the high level agreements and the UN resolutions," Government Spokesman Christos Stylianides said today.

He said the government has informed the UN Secretary-General's special advisor for Cyprus, Diego Cordovez, and other foreign officials involved in the peace effort that it would not accept a change in the procedure of the talks.

Two agreements reached in 1977 and 1979 between the President of the Republic of Cyprus and the leader of the Turkish Cypriot community stipulate that a bizonal, bicommunal federation will be established.

Denktash has said he will no longer take part in negotiations as the leader of his community and demanded recognition of his illegal regime, unilaterally declared in the island's Turkish occupied areas in November 1983.

He conveyed this position to Cordovez, who was on a six-day mission to Cyprus last week.

Following this development, Cordovez said he will have to ask the UN Security Council for guidance as to how the peace effort could continue.

The self-styled regime is recognised only by Turkey and numerous UN resolutions consider it legally invalid and call on all states not to recognise any Cypriot state other than the Republic of Cyprus.

Stylianides pointed out that President Glafcos Clerides represents the internationally recognised Cyprus Republic.

"We welcome international involvement to bend Turkish intransigence, so that the process to solve the Cyprus question begins," he added.

The Spokesman also said the National Council, the top advisory body to the President on the Cyprus issue, will convene next week to discuss latest developments.

CNA KN/MA/MM/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1650:CYPPRESS:02

[02] Cyprus Stock Exchange

CSE All Share Index                    88,66 ( 0,46)

Sectural Indices

Banks                                  98,53 (-0,11)
Approved Investment Companies          66,47 (-0,36)
Insurance Companies                    66,82 ( 1,18)
Industrial Companies                   86,45 (-0,05)
Tourist Industries                     79,84 ( 3,05)
Commercial Companies                   54,79 ( 0,05)
Other Companies                        84,84 ( 4,95)

Trading Volume                         2.068.182

CNA MM/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1715:CYPPRESS:03

[03] Anti-aircraft missiles to be deployed, unless...

"The government will cancel or suspend the deployment of the missile system only if substantive steps for demilitarisation are made or if there is sufficient progress towards an overall settlement of the Cyprus problem, " Government Spokesman Christos Stylianides said.

The Russian-made surface-to-air S-300 missile system, ordered by the government in January 1997, is expected to be deployed in Cyprus later this year.

The Cyprus government's position on the issue was also stressed by Greek Government Spokesman, Dimitris Repas.

According to the Athens News Agency, Repas pointed out that the Republic would no longer face a threat from Turkey and would not need to build up its defences, if demilitarisation is agreed.

"Greece agrees with and supports the Cyprus government's position," he added.

Repas also said that "the Cyprus government is handling this issue with responsibility and good sense."

The Cyprus government has stressed that the S-300 is a purely defensive weapon which will be used only if there is a new Turkish offensive against the Republic.

Heavily armed Turkish troops have been stationed in the northern part of Cyprus since they invaded in 1974.

Turkish Cypriots and Ankara have strongly protested the government decision to purchase the S-300 and other foreign governments have expressed concern.

CNA MA/MM/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1900:CYPPRESS:04

[04] "Byzantine Mediaeval Cyprus" exhibition opens

The "Byzantine Mediaeval Cyprus" exhibition, comprising exhibits belonging to important Cypriot collections, opened at the capital's former power house, now the Municipal Arts Centre.

For the first time, Byzantine icons and ecclesiastical relics, mediaeval ceramics and coins, manuscripts, maps, incunabula and rare books will be displayed together, until May 17.

The aim of the exhibition is to enhance the predominance of Byzantine culture in Cyprus, against the background of its mediaeval political history.

Opening the exhibition the President said it proves that "Cyprus and Europe co-existed and the deep relationship between the two cultures."

He said the exhibition will further promote the island's Byzantine Mediaeval culture to the public.

President Clerides described maps on display as "particularly important" as they show the island's demography and identity.

"A large part of our heritage, representing the Byzantine Mediaeval period, is today in the Turkish occupied part of our island, where it is being looted and destroyed," he added.

The President said this 400-year-old heritage "is an important part of European and international cultural heritage."

Byzantine art and culture developed in Cyprus from the 4th to 12th centuries, and continued even after the island was taken over by the Crusaders (1191) and the establishment of the Medieval Kingdom (1192 - 1489).

The exhibition first went on display for four months in Thessaloniki, Greece, when the town was Cultural Capital of Europe 1997.

It is organised by the Nicosia Municipal Arts Centre, in association with the Pierides Museum of Contemporary Art, the Bank of Cyprus Cultural Foundation and the Greek Ministry of Culture.

CNA MA/MM/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1905:CYPPRESS:05

[05] Government backs Turkish Cypriot participation in EU talks

The government's policy was outlined today by chief negotiator in the talks with the EU, George Vassiliou, at a meeting with German envoy for the Cyprus problem, Detlev Graf zu Rantzau.

"I have stressed that we will do everything possible to see the accession process proceeding smoothly and to secure Turkish Cypriot participation, if they are ready to accept the President's proposal," Vassiliou said.

President Glafcos Clerides has proposed that "the Turkish Cypriot community nominate representatives to be included as full members of the Cypriot team, which will conduct the negotiations."

Vassiliou said he made it clear to the German official that "the Turkish side is to blame for the fact that Turkish Cypriot participation has not been achieved until today."

Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash has rejected the President's proposal, claiming that the internationally recognised government of the Republic does not represent Turkish Cypriots.

He also maintains that Cyprus cannot join the EU if Turkey is not a member of the Union as well.

Both his claims have been rejected by the EU, which opens accession talks with the Cyprus Republic end of this month.

Vassiliou refrained from saying what the government will do if the Turkish Cypriots refuse to participate, stressing that "we will remain steady in our position."

The German official met earlier Monday with President Clerides and is scheduled to meet the Turkish Cypriot leader tomorrow.

CNA RM/MA/MM/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

2000:CYPPRESS:07

[06] Kranidiotis meets UN Cyprus envoy

Speaking after meeting UN Secretary-General's special advisor, Diego Cordovez, in the Greek capital, Kranidiotis rejected conditions set by Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash, for peace talks to continue.

Denktash told Cordovez last week that he would not return to the negotiating table unless the talks are held between "two states" and not between the leaders of the two communities, as envisaged by UN procedures.

The Turkish Cypriot leader is aiming at achieving recognition of his illegal regime, unilaterally declared in 1983 in the areas occupied by Turkey since 1974.

"It is impossible to accept the conditions set out by Denktash," Kranidiotis stressed.

He added that if Turkish intransigence continues, the issue should be brought before the Security Council.

"The Security Council should take up its responsibilities, so that the effort for negotiations can begin," the Greek official said.

Kranidiotis added that the peace talks could be carried out in parallel with Cyprus' negotiations for accession to the European Union.

He reiterated Greece's support for the efforts of the UN Secretary- General for the resumption of the peace talks.

EU talks with Cyprus open at the end of this month, but Denktash has turned out a proposal by President Glafcos Clerides for Turkish Cypriot participation in the official negotiating team.

On his part, Cordovez said the UN has never recognised the illegal regime in the Turkish occupied areas and added he will inform Kofi Annan on the outcome of his meeting in Nicosia.

Cordovez went to Athens on Sunday, after a six-day visit to Nicosia. He will then visit Ankara for two days.

Kranidiotis clarified that the UN mission in Cyprus is based on "UN resolutions providing for a bizonal, bicommunal federation" and said "we believe we cannot move away from this framework."

So far negotiations to settle the Cyprus question have been carried out by the leaders of the two communities.

CNA KI/MA/MM/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

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