Cyprus News Agency: News in English (AM), 98-04-14

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

CONTENTS

[01] Cypriot ambassador refutes Turkish claims

[02] IPU rejects Turkish demands

[03] Austrian FM arrives tomorrow

[04] House President receives British officials

[05] Cyprus Stock Exchange

1000:CYPPRESS:01

[01] Cypriot ambassador refutes Turkish claims

Eftyhiou had this thought after hearing claims from his Turkish counterpart, before the 54th Commission session, that his country had not invaded Cyprus and there were no refugees here.

The Commission was discussing the issue of human rights, mass exoduses and displaced persons.

"The first thought that came to my mind when I heard the Turkish representative was to rush to the phone to find out if Turkey had withdrawn its troops from Cyprus and all consequences of the 1974 Turkish invasion had been removed," Eftyhiou said.

He went on to ask his Turkish counterpart about the estimated 35 thousand heavily armed Turkish troops in Cyprus, the 110 thousand Turkish nationals illegally brought to the occupied areas and the 200 thousand Greek Cypriots, who were forced to flee their homes in 1974.

Eftyhiou also accused Turkey of refusing to comply with international law, not withdrawing its troops and settlers, and not allowing the refugees to return to their homes.

Speaking on behalf of the federation for the protection of the rights of ethnic, religious, linguistic and other minorities, Kyriakos Kalattas referred to the consequences of the Turkish invasion of Cyprus.

"The demographic character of the territory under Turkish occupation has undergone a radical change, not only through the expulsion of the Greek Cypriot indigenous population, but also through the mass exodus of Turkish Cypriots and the importation of thousands of Anatolian settlers," he said.

Kalattas pointed out that an estimated 50 thousand Turkish Cypriots have been forced to emigrate, about one third of their population before the 1974 Turkish invasion.

Referring to the oppressive acts faced by some 500 Greek Cypriots that have remained in the Turkish-occupied areas, as well as Turkish Cypriots, Kalattas stressed they are "in direct violation of the European Convention of Human Rights."

Pointing out that human rights in Cyprus are violated by Turkey, the NGO representative said "it is expected the Commission will no longer tolerate the continuation of this attitude."

CNA MA/GP/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1010:CYPPRESS:02

[02] IPU rejects Turkish demands

At the same time the Committee noted the only internationally recognised state on the island is the Cyprus Republic, stressing that talks on Cyprus should be held under the provisions of relevant UN resolutions, thus between the island's Greek and Turkish Cypriot communities.

The Committee met during the 99th IPU Conference, held in Namibia.

A five-member delegation of the Cyprus House of Representatives took part in the Conference. It was made up by deputies Nicos Anastasiades, Andreas Filippou, Doros Theodorou, Stathis Kittis and Androulla Vassiliou.

Anastasiades addressed the Conference's plenary on the present political, economic and social situation in the world.

Filippou and Kittis took part at the meeting of the Committee on Political Questions International Security and Disarmament, which discussed prevention of conflicts, restoration of peace and the return of refugees back to their countries.

Theodorou and Vassiliou attended the meeting of IPU Committee on Education, Science, Culture and Environment Committee, which focused on the issue of the Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS).

Anastasiades and Kittis also attended daily meetings of the "Twelve Plus" group, attended by parliamentary delegations of the Council of Europe and the European Union member-states, the US, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.

Also, a meeting of the Mediterranean countries' parliamentary delegations focused on future IPU events within the framework of the Inter- Parliamentary Conference on Security and Cooperation in the Mediterranean.

CNA AP/GP/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1140:CYPPRESS:03

[03] Austrian FM arrives tomorrow

Schussel's visit is related with Cyprus' course for European Union (EU) membership, since Austria will take over (from Britain) on July 1 the six- month rotating EU presidency.

Cyprus, along with Poland, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Slovenia and Estonia, began on March 31 accession negotiations with the EU.

Cyprus applied for EU full membership in 1990. It signed an association agreement with the European Community in 1972 and a customs union protocol in 1987.

During his visit here, the Austrian official will be received by President Glafcos Clerides and House of Representatives President Spyros Kyprianou.

He will have talks with Foreign Minister Ioannis Kasoulides and Finance Minister Christodoulos Christodoulou.

The Austrian Foreign Minister will also visit his country's contingent serving with the UN peace-keeping force in Cyprus.

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

CNA AP/GP/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1240:CYPPRESS:04

[04] House President receives British officials

Baroness Smith and MP Valerie Davey, called on House of Representatives President, Spyros Kyprianou, who briefed them on the protracted Cyprus problem.

"We had a good talk about the situation in Cyprus," the wife of late Labour Party leader John Smith, said after the meeting.

She added "we are among the group of parliamentarians in Britain who take a particular interest in Cyprus and we very much support your application to join Europe and we look forward to welcome you into the EC."

The Baroness praised the people of Cyprus for the warm welcome they gave them.

She said they made them feel at home here and welcomed them in their homes and lives helping them "to understand what life is like in Cyprus".

On his part Kyprianou said the British officials were visiting Cyprus "to get a first hand idea of the situation here and for meetings."

Cyprus has been divided since Turkish troops invaded and occupied 37 per cent of the island's territory in 1974.

CNA KN/MA/GP/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1545:CYPPRESS:05

[05] Cyprus Stock Exchange

CSE All Share Index                    92,78 ( 1,11)

Sectural Indices

Banks                                 106,93 ( 1,31)
Approved Investment Companies          67,20 ( 0,63)
Insurance Companies                    67,10 ( 0,37)
Industrial Companies                   84,62 (-0,04)
Tourist Industries                     76,56 ( 1,43)
Commercial Companies                   55,60 ( 1,40)
Other Companies                        80,96 ( 2,16)

Trading Volume                      3.271.401

CNA MM/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

CNA END

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