Cyprus News Agency: News in English (PM), 98-04-02

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

CONTENTS

[01] Cypriot Minister flies to Russia

[02] Cyprus Stock Exchange

[03] Blair notes difficulties for Cyprus' EU accession

[04] EIAO condemns destruction of Cyprus' cultural heritage

[05] Russia calls for resumption of bicommunal negotiations

[06] Annan and Cook to discuss Cyprus issue

[07] Tchizhov meets Clerides and Denktash

[08] Miller prepares ground for Holbrooke's visit

[09] Cypriot Minister flies to Russia

1530:CYPPRESS:02

[01] Cyprus Stock Exchange

CSE All Share Index                    89,49 ( 0,53)

Highest: 82.46 (2/1/97)
Lowest : 73.90 (30/1/97)

Sectural Indices

Banks                                 102,41 ( 1,56)
Approved Investment Companies          65,96 (-0,41)
Insurance Companies                    64,57 (-0,88)
Industrial Companies                   83,79 (-0,90)
Tourist Industries                     75,52 (-1,67)
Commercial Companies                   52,59 (-2,19)
Other Companies                        79,84 (-1,40)

Trading Volume                        1.901.208

CNA MCH/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1630:CYPPRESS:03

[02] Blair notes difficulties for Cyprus' EU accession

He, however, pointed to the difficulties for accession as long as the problem remains unresolved and reiterated the wish for Turkish Cypriot participation in the accession talks, which opened in Brussels on Tuesday.

Replying to questions in the House of Commons, Wednesday, Blair described the situation in Cyprus as "extremely difficult."

"Although we welcome the start of the accession negotiations with Cyprus, it will be far more difficult for the accession to take place properly within the context of a divided island," he said.

The British Premier added "we have made sure that a settlement should not be a precondition of access, but we want the Turkish Cypriots to participate in the process."

Turkish Cypriot leader, Rauf Denktash, has turned down an invitation by President Glafcos Clerides for the Turkish Cypriot community to nominate representatives in the team to negotiate Cyprus' European Union accession.

Blair reassured that efforts to convince Turkish Cypriots to participate will continue.

"In the end we cannot make this work unless both parts of the island want to work together," he concluded.

CNA KT/MA/MCH/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1800:CYPPRESS:04

[03] EIAO condemns destruction of Cyprus' cultural heritage

In a resolution, submitted by MP Doros Theodorou and unanimously approved at the two-day meeting that ended in Athens yesterday, the EIAO calls for action against this destruction.

The Assembly condemns the occupation of 37 per cent of Cyprus' territory by Turkish troops, since they invaded in 1974, and "the implementation of a policy of ethnic cleansing by the occupying force."

It also expresses "deep concern" about the planned conversion of the Armenian Monastery of Saint Makar, in the occupied Pendadaktylos mountain range, into a hotel.

EIAO points out that this tenth century monastic building is considered one of the most significant places of worship for the Armenian Cypriots and the Armenian people in general.

It points out that the Monastery had an immense spiritual and cultural contribution until 1974 when the occupation regime blocked access, depriving Armenians "of their fundamental human right of freely exercising their religious duties."

The Assembly calls on all Parliament Presidents at the meeting to exercise their influence in all international fora "in order to prevent the conversion of the monastery and to condemn the total lack of respect towards anything that the Turkish occupation authorities consider foreign to their culture and religion."

It emphasizes that the conversion of the Armenian monastery into a hotel would be a violation of the international conventions and UNESCO declarations.

EIAO "believes that this development is yet another example of Turkey's expansionist schemes and its determination to alter even further the character of the occupied part of Cyprus."

It adds Turkey is "implementing a policy of ethnic cleansing, which aims at promoting and consolidating the partition of the island."

The resolution recalls that the protection, maintenance and restitution of all historical buildings belonging to all faiths in Cyprus, both in the free and occupied areas, is of paramount significance to its people and all humanity.

It points out that historic religious buildings "reflect the uniqueness and variety of Cyprus' history and cultural identity as an integral part of world cultural heritage."

The EIAO considers that "the perpetration of such crimes bears not only on the perpetrators but also on the conscience of the international community if these crimes continue to be tolerated."

It is estimated that over 500 religious building in the Turkish occupied areas have been destroyed, are being used for other purposes, such as public lavatories, or are deserted.

CNA MA/MCH/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1820:CYPPRESS:05

[04] Russia calls for resumption of bicommunal negotiations

Tchizhov, who arrived here after meetings in Athens and Ankara, expressed concern about the situation in Cyprus and pointed to the need to renew the bicommunal talks.

"What is needed at the moment is the promotion of the Secretary- General's good offices mission and the resumption of bicommunal talks soon, " he said.

Invited to comment on the Turkish side's refusal to participate in UN- sponsored talks unless the illegal entity unilaterally declared in the Turkish occupied areas of Cyprus is recognised, Tchizhov said "we are one step behind where we were last summer."

Two fruitless rounds of talks between the leaders of the two communities, closely monitored by foreign government envoys, took place last summer.

Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash had refused to negotiate, pending a European Union reconfirmation that accession talks with Cyprus would begin.

The accession talks opened this week in Brussels, but Denktash refused an invitation from President Glafcos Clerides for Turkish Cypriot participation in the negotiating team.

Asked if Moscow will carry out a deal to safely deliver the surface-to- air missile system S-300, ordered by the Cyprus government in 1997 and expected to be deployed later this year, Tchizhov referred journalists to statements made by Russian President Boris Yeltsin on the issue.

Yelstin met Greek Defence Minister Akis Tsohatzopoulos in Moscow this week and confirmed the Russian-made anti-aircraft system will be delivered.

Asked if Russia's proposal to form a Security Council and European Union monitoring group for the Cyprus problem, Tchizhov expressed the view that "such a group exists de facto".

Around 16 governments and the EU have appointed envoys who follow developments in Cyprus and hold meetings with the two communities.

Replying to a question the Russian envoy said he is in contact with US State Department coordinator for Cyprus, Tom Miller, who also arrived here today for meetings.

Tchizhov and Miller both came to Cyprus from Athens, for meetings with both sides.

The Russian envoy, who will call on President Glafcos Clerides later today, said his mission to Nicosia, Athens and Ankara, was scheduled long ago and aims at discussing the situation in Cyprus and ways of promoting a settlement.

CNA MAN/MA/MCH/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1915:CYPPRESS:06

[05] Annan and Cook to discuss Cyprus issue

A Foreign Office spokesman today announced the situation in Iraq and the reform of the UN are also on the agenda.

"The Foreign Secretary is looking forward to strengthen the good working relationship that both sides enjoy," he added.

The UN chief will call on Prime Minister Tony Blair later today.

UN-led efforts to renew negotiations to settle the Cyprus problem have reached a stalemate because Turkish Cypriot leader, Rauf Denktash, refuses to participate unless his illegal regime in the areas occupied by Turkish troops since they invaded in 1974 is recognised.

Britain, along with Greece and Turkey, guaranteed Cyprus' sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity since it granted the island independence from colonial rule in 1960.

It retains two military bases on the island, one in the south and one in the eastern part of Cyprus.

CNA KT/MA/MCH/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

2140:CYPPRESS:07

[06] Tchizhov meets Clerides and Denktash

The Russian envoy, arrived here today, and had meetings both with President Glafcos Clerides and Denktash.

He described his meeting with President Clerides as "useful and interesting" but pointed out he was not optimistic Denktash would abandon his demand for recognition of his illegal regime.

The Turkish Cypriot leader has refused to participate in bi-communal talks aiming at a Cyprus settlement, unless the illegal regime unilaterally declared in the Turkish-occupied part of the island in 1983 receives recognition.

Denktash's puppet state is not recognised by any other state but Turkey.

Asked whether he was more optimistic after his meeting with President Clerides, he said he would be in a position to answer that after the conclusion of his visit.

Tchizhov is visiting Cyprus after meetings in Athens and Ankara.

Commenting on the issue of Russian-made anti-aircraft missiles S-300, purchased by the Cyprus government and expected to be deployed on the island later this year, Tchizhov said it was not the purpose of his visit to Cyprus.

He stressed the purpose of his meetings, here, were the Cyprus problem and ways of resolving it.

Asked to comment on the US opposition to the deployment of S-300, the Russian envoy stressed: "There is another good way" of achieving that, pointing out to President Clerides' proposal for demilitarisation of the island.

The Russian envoy refrained from commenting on whether Chapter seven of the UN Charter on "Action with Respect to threats to the Peace, Breaches of the Peace and Acts of Aggression", could be applied to the case of Cyprus.

"There are many ways of achieving goals", he said, pointing to the UN Security Council resolutions.

CNA MCH/GG/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

2015:CYPPRESS:08

[07] Miller prepares ground for Holbrooke's visit

Speaking after a 75-minute meeting with President Glafcos Clerides, ahead of a visit here by US Presidential Emissary, Richard Holbrooke, Miller also said "we're making some very serious efforts to try to be helpful."

The US diplomat, who was accompanied by the American Ambassador to Cyprus, Kenneth Brill, described the meeting as "very good and productive" but refrained from getting into the substance of his discussions.

Noting that Holbrooke will arrive here tomorrow, he said that when the Presidential Emissary is here "there will be some very important meetings."

Miller will meet Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash tomorrow morning and is expected to have a second meeting either with President Clerides or Foreign Minister Ioannis Kasoulides later on in the day.

Asked if he sees the possibility of a meeting between President Clerides and Denktash during their visit to Cyprus, Miller replied he did not think so.

"I would never preclude any possibility but that is not what the effort is about," he added.

Replying to a question if they are bringing any ideas, the American diplomat said "we've got a number of ideas but I prefer to discuss those inside."

Miller refrained from replying to a question if most of the ideas deal with the security issue, but said that "security is one of the core issues in any settlement in Cyprus."

"I think that you all understand what our efforts are all about, this is very serious and I think it's a very critical point that we've reached at this point of time," he said.

Noting there is a lot of speculation in the press, Miller said much of what he read so far is not accurate.

Calling on the press to refrain from speculation he said "if we succeed you'll all have great stories and if we fail you'll all have stories."

Invited to comment on an editorial in the "Washington Post", that Cyprus' accession talks with the European Union will have a negative effect on efforts to settle the Cyprus problem, he said "we're not in the EU and it's not productive for us to comment on that."

UN-led efforts to solve the Cyprus problem have reached a deadlock because Denktash insists on recognition of his illegal regime unilaterally established in 1983, in the areas occupied by Turkish troops since they invaded the island in 1974.

The Turkish Cypriot leader told UN Secretary-General's special advisor for Cyprus last month he will not return to the negotiating table unless he is on an equal footing with President Clerides.

CNA MA/MCH/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

[09] Cypriot Minister flies to Russia

Nicosia, Apr 2 (CNA) -- Cyprus' Communications and Works Minister Leontios Ierodiakonou flew to the Russian town of Sochi to take part in an international transport conference.

The conference on the development of transport links in western Europe, the Mediterranean and the Black Sea, is organised by the Russian Ministry of Transport, in cooperation with the Greek Chamber of Transport.

The Cypriot Minister is expected to address the meeting, presenting Cyprus' policy and plans concerning this specific field.

He will return on Saturday, April 4.

CNA NG/GP/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

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