Cyprus News Agency: News in English (AM), 98-07-01

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

CONTENTS

[01] New Police Chief assumes office

[02] Cyprus to issue travel documents for migrants

[03] Cyprus Stock Exchange

[04] UN envoy in Cyprus

[05] US urges Turkish side to cooperate on Cyprus

1015:CYPPRESS:01

[01] New Police Chief assumes office

During a ceremony at the Presidential Palace, President Glafcos Clerides, urged Angelides to "impose discipline, meritocracy and effective action against organised crime".

Angelides pledged to do his best to prove worthy of the President's and the people's expectations and create a police force which will be the "guardian of order, security and will protect all citizens".

After the Presidential Palace, Angelides went to Police Headquarters to take over from Hadjiloizou.

Angelides is the first Police Chief who was not a member of the police force. He will take over a force made up of 5.000 men and women.

Born at Kato Dri village in 1942, Angelides was a member of the EOKA liberation movement between 1955-1959. He was wounded and jailed by the British colonial rule for his action.

In 1962, he joined the police force and served in various posts until 1965 when he went to Britain and studied Law at the University of Birmingham.

In 1969, he returned to Cyprus and practised law. In 1974, he was appointed legal assistant at the Attorney-General's office. He became Attorney of the Republic in 1976. On a number of occasions, Angelides served as acting Attorney-General, when the Attorney-General was abroad.

Angelides undertook a number of criminal cases and closely cooperated with various police departments.

He retires in four years.

CNA MM/EC/GP/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1330:CYPPRESS:02

[02] Cyprus to issue travel documents for migrants

Minister of Interior, Dinos Michaelides, told reporters that the government will prepare travel documents for all the people, believed to be illegal immigrants, found crammed and half-starved on a small Syrian- flagged fishing boat.

He said every possible assistance will be given to the migrants from Rwanda, Iraq, Nigeria, Lebanon, Sierra Leone, Sudan, Liberia, Egypt, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Bangladesh.

They all departed from Tripoli, Lebanon, on June 18 and were found stranded off the coast of Cyprus in the early hours of Monday.

Michaelides said that so far, none of the migrants have asked for political asylum but if they do, the asylum will be given where the relevant conditions apply.

Two of the illegal immigrants died during their journey and were thrown into the sea. The remaining are now staying at a hotel in the coastal town of Limassol under guard.

The migrants' plight received extensive local press coverage. In interviews, the migrants spoke of their ordeal in Eastern Mediterranean without food and drinking water.

The island's daily English-language "Cyprus Mail" described their plight in a front-page story as "Nightmare voyage".

Showing a Kurdish Iraqi boy holding a piece of bread, the newspaper said their journey began filled with optimism turned into a harrowing trip that only ended when a Ukranian ship miraculously spotted two passengers who had left the boat on a raft, seeking help.

The island's top selling newspaper, "Fileleftheros" today run numerous reports including interviews. It dedicated a whole page to the migrants, who said the boat's captain forced them to hide to avoid being seen by the police.

Syrian captain, Mohamed Hadimoustafa, 31, is in custody of suspicion of causing death through negligence and loading passengers on an unsafe boat.

He had repeatedly told authorities he was planning to sail to Benghazi, Libya, although the passengers, some with five-member families, had paid up to 5.000 US dollars to go to Italy or Greece.

In a front page article, "Simerini" said the aim of the authorities is to repatriate the migrants.

CNA EC/GP/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1445:CYPPRESS:03

[03] Cyprus Stock Exchange

   CSE General Index                          83.50 (-0.10)

   Traded Value            CYP   650,286

   Sectural Indices

   Banks                   CYP   122,215      97.13 ( 0.15)
   Approved Investment
   Companies               CYP    12,009      58.80 (-0.89)
   Insurance Companies     CYP    65,403      60.33 (-1.11)
   Manufacturing Companies CYP    39,061      76.44 (-0.43)
   Tourism Companies       CYP   185,590      69.12 ( 1.30)
   Trading Companies       CYP   125,710      44.88 (-0.40)
   Other Companies         CYP    23,309      70.00 (-1.53)

CNA MCH/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1440:CYPPRESS:04

[04] UN envoy in Cyprus

Cordovez will be received Thursday afternoon by President Glafcos Clerides and will see Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash later on.

The UN envoy may have more meetings with the President and Denktash during his stay on the island.

On Saturday, he will have private talks with Dame Ann Hercus, the new Deputy Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Cyprus and chief of mission of the UN operations in Cyprus, who arrives here Friday morning to replace outgoing Gustave Feissel.

Cordovez will give a press conference on Saturday.

CNA MM/GP/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1445:CYPPRESS:05

[05] US urges Turkish side to cooperate on Cyprus

He further reassured of the US commitment for a just and lasting solution to the Cyprus problem.

In a statement, Richardson said "the US is committed at the highest levels to resolution of the Cyprus dispute".

"We are, and will remain, actively involved in efforts to promote a permanent settlement of this longstanding and tragic conflict", he added.

Richardson said the US "continues to support the UN in its effort to achieve a just and lasting solution based on a bizonal, bicommunal federation that addresses the security and other needs of all the people of Cyprus".

In this regard, he said, "we strongly support (UN Security Council) resolution 1179 on the need for the leaders of the Greek and Turkish Cypriot communities to commit themselves to serious negotiations to resolve the Cyprus dispute."

"In light of our most recent efforts, we call on the Turkish side to cooperate with the Secretary-General and his Special Adviser, Diego Cordovez, in their efforts to promote a comprehensive settlement", he added.

Richardson also said the US "welcomes and strongly supports" the upcoming visit to Cyprus by Cordovez.

The UN envoy arrives in Cyprus tomorrow and will meet President Glafcos Clerides and Denktash in the afternoon.

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

CNA EC/GP/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

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