Cyprus News Agency: News in English (PM), 98-06-19

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

CONTENTS

[01] Cyprus Stock Exchange

[02] Cyprus protests violations of its airspace

[03] No reason for British citizens not to visit Cyprus

[04] Clerides sends letter to Annan proposing demilitarisation

[05] Greek government on "Eisenhower"

[06] Turkish fighters leave Cyprus

[07] "Eisenhower" to Kosovo, says Kasoulides

[08] Aeroporos brothers not guilty

[09] Greek Cypriot held by Turkish occupying forces released

1500:CYPPRESS:01

[01] Cyprus Stock Exchange

   CSE General Index                          84.89 (-1.33)

   Traded Value            CYP 1,204,958

   Sectural Indices

   Banks                   CYP   743,528      98.06 (-1.32)
   Approved Investment
   Companies               CYP     4,585      60.40 (-0.92)
   Insurance Companies     CYP   163,229      63.79 (-0.44)
   Manufacturing Companies CYP    13,956      78.37 (-1.16)
   Tourism Companies       CYP    69,311      69.60 (-1.67)
   Trading Companies       CYP    41,189      46.29 (-3.24)
   Other Companies         CYP    41,217      71.04 (-1.69)

CNA MCH/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1510:CYPPRESS:02

[02] Cyprus protests violations of its airspace

An official statement said, Permanent Representative of Cyprus to the UN, Sotos Zackheos pointed out:

"It should be stressed to the Turkish side that these actions are in violation of international law and Turkey should act according to the principles and norms of this law".

Six Turkish F-16 fighters violated the Republic's airspace Thursday and then landed at the illegal Lefkoniko airport in the Turkish occupied areas.

Turkish officials said the violations came in retaliation for the landing of Greek warplanes at the military airbase "Andreas Papandreou" in Paphos earlier this week.

Cyprus has been divided by Turkish troops since 1974 when Turkish troops invaded and occupied 37 percent of the island's territory.

CNA EC/MCH/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1545:CYPPRESS:03

[03] No reason for British citizens not to visit Cyprus

At the same time, Britain's Special Representative for Cyprus and European Union presidency representative, Sir David Hannay, is planning to visit the island next month.

Asked to comment on the situation in Cyprus, a British Foreign Office Spokesman stressed:

"Our position regarding visits to Cyprus by British citizens, has not changed as a result of recent developments on the island," and added:

"British citizens can visit Cyprus as usual and we do not see any reason for those who are planning such visits to change their plans."

Replying to CNA a question on whether Britain has been approached by Turkey for intervening in Cyprus, the Spokesman said:

"We have not been approached by the Turkish government for any move on our behalf regarding the tension on the island."

He added, however, that "it is well known that we have been and are working for a settlement through intercommunal talks under UN auspices."

The Spokesman also said Sir David Hannay, "is planning a visit to the island next month".

CNA KT/EC/MCH/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1720:CYPPRESS:04

[04] Clerides sends letter to Annan proposing demilitarisation

The announcement was made here Friday by Government Spokesman, Christos Stylianides during his daily press briefing.

He said "there is an initiative underway by President Clerides, in a letter he sent yesterday to UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, with specific proposals, also made in the past, aiming for a timetable for demilitarisation".

In the letter, President Clerides asks that the issue is examined. Stylianides noted that the letter challenges not only Britain, which is a guarantor power of Cyprus, but also the UN Security Council and the international community to undertake their responsibilities.

"The Cyprus government has practically proved with specific suggestions that it is in favour of reducing the tension" but "unfortunately we have not had any response from the other side", he added.

Invited to comment on the increased tension, Stylianides said the government is calmly monitoring the situation and does not think it is worthwhile to enter Ankara's game of sensationalism.

The Spokesman said Ankara's behaviour is a reaction to the results of the Cardiff European Council.

At the Cardiff summit earlier this week, European Union leaders reiterated their official policy towards Turkey, namely that it may one day join the Union.

Turkey sent six F-16 warplanes to the areas of the island it occupies since 1974 and violated the Cyprus airspace yesterday in retaliation to a visit on Tuesday by four Greek F-16 fighters.

Commenting on Turkish Premier Mesut Yilmaz's statement that he intends to deliberate with Britain which is the third guarantor power of the Cyprus Republic, Stylianides said:

"It is absurd that a country which violated the Treaty of Guarantee, the constitutional order which it should have defended, to appear now as a guarantor, quote the treaty and ask another guarantor power to help her reduce the tension".

The Spokesman said the "issue of tension is exclusively created by the Turkish occupation forces which continue to violate international law and create all kinds of tension in the region".

Stylianides said the arrival of Greek warplanes to the "Andreas Papandreou" airbase in Paphos was a scheduled routine exercise, and was part of the joint defence pact between Cyprus and Greece.

He said it should not have been considered a provocation because defence is Cyprus' sovereign right.

Asked whether the arrival of the American carrier "Eisenhower" and its battle group in the area will contribute in maintaining tension, Stylianides said the visit was already scheduled.

Meanwhile American diplomatic sources in Nicosia describe the carrier's visit as "routine" and stress that it has nothing to do with the current situation in Cyprus.

The Cyprus government has also received similar assurances.

CNA MK/EC/MCH/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1830:CYPPRESS:05

[05] Greek government on "Eisenhower"

He also pointed out that Turkey, often shortly before or after European Union summit meetings, "attempts to cause tension in the region".

Reppas said "we should be calm before provocations and determined and ready to handle them in every manner".

The Spokesman said the Greek warplanes which came to Cyprus on Tuesday were invited by the lawful Cyprus Republic and added that their training flight has been completed.

"Any kind of reaction is not justified, especially when it has taken such dimensions which have nothing to do with the Greek warplanes' training flight", the Greek Spokesman added.

Six Turkish F-16 fighters violated the Republic's airspace Thursday and then landed at the illegal Lefkoniko airport in the Turkish occupied north of Cyprus.

Turkish officials said the violations came in retaliation for the landing of Greek warplanes at the military base "Andreas Papandreou" in Paphos earlier this week.

CNA KI/EC/MCH/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

2000:CYPPRESS:06

[06] Turkish fighters leave Cyprus

This was reported by Athenian News Agency (APE), which was quoting a report by the Turkish News Agency (Anatolia).

According to the report three fighters flew back to Turkey yesterday while the other three around 13.50 local time (10.50 GMT).

Turkish officials said the violations came in retaliation for the landing of Greek warplanes in the military air-base "Andreas Papandreou" in Paphos, earlier this week.

CNA DP/MCH/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

2005:CYPPRESS:07

[07] "Eisenhower" to Kosovo, says Kasoulides

Foreign Minister Ioannis Kasoulides said today after a House meeting of the Foreign Affairs Committee, he has received assurances by the American Embassy that the carrier is not heading to Cyprus as reported earlier.

Pointing out that agency reports say the ship will sail in the eastern Mediterranean, Kasoulides added that this is does not necessarily mean only Cyprus.

The Foreign Minister expressed the view that an effort is being made to create "artificial tension and therefore it is advisable that we are aware of the intentions and respond accordingly".

Kasoulides said the Cyprus government had "no intention to create either tension or to provoke anyone" with the arrival of the four Greek F- 16 aircraft on Tuesday.

He said the Greek warplanes were on a training mission which was scheduled a long time ago.

Kasoulides said the government does not intend to play games and stressed that no Greek warplanes are scheduled to come to Cyprus this summer before the annual "Nikiforos" military manoeuvre.

Invited to comment on the damage the recent tension will create to the island's tourism influx, the Foreign Minister said "we should remain calm and composed, even if there is an intention to damage our economy".

Cyprus has been divided since 1974 when Turkish troops invaded and occupied 37 percent of the island's economy.

CNA SD/EC/MCH/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

2025:CYPPRESS:08

[08] Aeroporos brothers not guilty

Charalambos, 35, Andros, 30, and Panicos 25, Aeroporos of Kolossi village near the south-western coastal town of Limassol were freed by the Assize Court which ruled that there was no case against them.

In his ruling, Assize Court President, Demetris Hadzihambis said the three brothers were accused of conspiring to kill Antonis Fanieros outside his Larnaca night club on May 29, 1997.

They were also accused of attempted murder, use of a machine gun and possession of explosives.

Anastasios Simillides, is serving a nine-year prison sentence for the attempted murder of Fanieros.

Referring to the prosecution's chief witness Simillides, Hadzihambis said what he had testified did not coincide with the Police findings while nothing was found during lab analysis that could incriminate the Aeroporos' brothers.

CNA RG/EC/MCH/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

2030:CYPPRESS:09

[09] Greek Cypriot held by Turkish occupying forces released

Andreas Kyriacou was abducted when he entered into the Turkish-occupied areas of the island accidentally, while driving on the old Nicosia-Larnaca road.

According to a Police statement an illegal court in the Turkish- occupied areas sentenced Kyriakou to either one-month-imprisonment or a 202 Cyprus pounds fine (one Cyprus pound is equal to 1,9 US dollars).

He paid the fine and was released.

CNA GG/MCH/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

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