Cyprus News Agency: News in English (AM), 98-06-18

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

CONTENTS

[01] Holbrooke nominated US Ambassador to the UN

[02] Britain indicated Clinton should call Greek Premier, says US

[03] Turkish violations of Cyprus' airspace

[04] Cyprus Stock Exchange

1215:CYPPRESS:01

[01] Holbrooke nominated US Ambassador to the UN

President Clinton is expected to make the announcements Thursday, ending months of speculation after Energy Secretary, Federico Pana, announced that he would leave government for the private sector.

The White House named Holbrooke as its special envoy to Cyprus last year and as recently as last month dispatched him to the Balkans on a round of shuttle diplomacy for the bloody crackdown in Kosovo.

During his last visit to Cyprus in May, Ambassador Holbrooke's efforts to resume the peace talks stumbled on the Turkish side's demands.

Holbrooke admitted at a press conference in Cyprus that the resumption of the bi-communal talks was not possible due to the Turkish Cypriot side's demands for the withdrawal of Cyprus' application for accession to the European Union and recognition of the Turkish Cypriot self-styled regime in Turkish occupied Cyprus.

The UN has described the regime as legally invalid and called on all states not to recognise it. None does, except Turkey, whose troops continue to occupy the island's northern part since they invaded in 1974.

CNA DA/KN/MM/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1315:CYPPRESS:02

[02] Britain indicated Clinton should call Greek Premier, says US

Clinton called Greek Premier Costas Simitis early Tuesday morning and asked him to accept a draft text of EU conclusions which essentially was attempting to place Turkey into the list of candidate countries for European Union (EU) membership.

"Blair, chairing the EU meeting in Cardiff, sent word to President Clinton it would be very helpful if President Clinton placed a call to Simitis," McCurry told his briefing.

"As you know", he added, "the US is a staunch supporter of EU enlargement and it has played an important role in building a future for Europe". Clinton has a vision of a transatlantic alliance under which the US will be "working closely with a united European continent that stretches all the way from the UK to the Urals", McCurry said.

The White House spokesman pointed out the US welcomes the Cardiff conclusions "following the President's phone call, to implement a strategy to prepare Turkey for membership", and commended the British EU presidency.

Referring to EU-Turkey relations, McCurry said the US commended the EU leaders "on their decision and their commitment to strengthen EU-Turkey ties, which will contribute to Turkey's ability to fulfill EU membership criteria".

"The President", he added, "reviewed this issue, the desirability of a positive outcome of the Cardiff meeting, when he spoke to Simitis".

Asked to comment on reports claiming Simitis referred to "pressure to Greece for concessions to Turkey", McCurry said "that is not correct", adding "I think you are referring specifically to the issue of Customs Union funds".

He pointed out the issue of the funds came up only briefly, and "the President indicated he well understood that those funds were in a status of being blocked".

Asked why Blair had indicated to Clinton that he should call Simitis, McCurry said the British Premier "thought the President's exchange of views with the Greek Prime Minister would be helpful to achieve a desirable outcome" of the Cardiff meeting.

McCurry said Clinton did not have a telephone conversation with Turkish Prime Minister and noted that Greco-Turkish differences over the Aegean and Cyprus were not discussed on the phone.

"The President, of course, said the US encourages good relations between NATO allies and we consider our friendship and warm bilateral relations with both Greece and Turkey to be fundamentally important to the UN as we think of the Aegean and think of that region," the spokesman added.

CNA DA/GG/MM/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1355:CYPPRESS:03

[03] Turkish violations of Cyprus' airspace

According to Defence Ministry sources, the six fighters violated the air space of the Republic of Cyprus around 12.00 local time (0900 GMT), and then illegally landed.

A Turkish official said the F-16 landed in Lefkoniko in retaliation for the landing of Greek military aircraft at the "Andreas Papandreou" military base in Paphos earlier this week.

Meanwhile, Turkish navy warships sailed yesterday at the closed ports of Kyrenia and Famagusta in the Turkish-occupied areas of the island.

Government Spokesman, Christos Stylianides, condemned the Turkish actions as "illegal" and said the government will make the necessary representations.

CNA MCH/AP/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1440:CYPPRESS:04

[04] Cyprus Stock Exchange

   CSE General Index                          86.03 (-0.37)

   Traded Value            CYP 893,315

   Sectural Indices

   Banks                   CYP   389,148      99.37 (-0.43)
   Approved Investment
   Companies               CYP    33,603      60.96 (-1.85)
   Insurance Companies     CYP   100,104      64.07 (-0.08)
   Manufacturing Companies CYP    31,002      79.29 ( 0.33)
   Tourism Companies       CYP    52,358      70.78 (-0.35)
   Trading Companies       CYP    41,295      47.84 (-0.42)
   Other Companies         CYP   105,883      72.26 (-0.71)

CNA AP/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

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