Cyprus News Agency: News in English (PM), 98-07-02

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

CONTENTS

[01] Subdued expectations from Cordovez's visit

[02] Bahamas bank to operate on offshore basis

[03] Britain calls for measures to more peace process forward

[04] UN envoy begins contacts - more meetings tomorrow

[05] New provocative measures by Turkish occupation regime

[06] US donation to Cypriot Customs Authorities

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[01] Subdued expectations from Cordovez's visit

"We believe the talks will be useful but we are not anticipating any significant outcome," Foreign Minister Ioannis Kasoulides said here today.

Cordovez arrived in Cyprus in the early hours of Thursday and is due to see the President and Denktash later this afternoon.

Speaking after a meeting the President had with parliamentary party leaders, Kasoulides said it was decided the leaders will accompany the President to New York in September, when he addresses the UN General Assembly.

Kasoulides said party leaders will not be going to South Africa in August with the President, where he will attend the Non-aligned summit.

"We exchanged views about how best to promote the Cyprus question and it was decided it would be more useful and more productive if they accompany the President to New York.

CNA MM/MCH/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1500:CYPPRESS:02

[02] Bahamas bank to operate on offshore basis

Safra Bank (Cyprus) will operate as "Administered Banking Unit" after entering into a management agreement with Bank of Cyprus which will be acting as the "Administering Bank."

The Bank of Cyprus will carry out the day-to-day operations and administration of the bank.

The Bahamas bank will deal only in foreign currencies and transact business only with other offshore and non-resident companies as well as non- resident persons and will be subject to the supervision and inspection of the Central Bank.

The Safra Group is the major shareholder of the Republic National Bank of New York which is the eleventh largest bank in the US. The consolidated assets of Banco Safra (Bahamas) Ltd amount to approximately US 3.5 billion dollars.

CNA MM/MCH/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1820:CYPPRESS:03

[03] Britain calls for measures to more peace process forward

Speaking after a meeting with Chief Negotiator in talks with the European Union, George Vassiliou, Henderson expressed satisfaction with the screening process but also stressed the need for progress in efforts towards a Cyprus settlement as well.

"We had a very good meeting and we discussed many of the moves that I believe Cyprus has to make to build its case for European Union membership, " he noted.

Henderson said the "EU is looking for Cyprus to work through the screening process. This is done," he noted.

He pointed out, however, that "the EU is also looking for Cyprus to take measures to try to build a better climate to get the UN process moving again".

Stressing the importance of resolving differences on the island, the British Foreign Minister said:

"It is crucial that progress is made on that and we all hope and pray that there will be progress in the coming months."

On his part, Vassiliou described the meeting as "useful and positive", adding that Britain once more reaffirmed its support to efforts for Cyprus' accession to the EU.

Vassiliou, noted, however, that the British Foreign Minister also repeated his country's arguments against the deployment of the S-300 defensive missile system to the island.

"We also put forward our position, pointing out that our side has sent messages that it is ready to move forward, provided the feeling of security of the people of Cyprus is boosted," he added.

Vassiliou also expressed satisfaction with meetings he had in London at the British Foreign Ministry, Finance Ministry and the Bank of England.

The meeting lasted some 45 minutes. Cyprus' High Commissioner to Britain, Michalis Attalides was also present.

Vassiliou returns to Cyprus tonight.

CNA KT/MCH/MM/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1955:CYPPRESS:04

[04] UN envoy begins contacts - more meetings tomorrow

Diego Cordovez, UN Secretary-General's Special Advisor for Cyprus, had a 20-minute private meeting with President Glafcos Clerides, before the two men were joined for further talks by their aides for another hour of discussions.

Cordovez did not make any comments to the press after the meeting at the Presidential Palace and referred journalists to his press conference on Saturday.

Government Spokesman Christos Stylianides said "talks are on the basis of UN Security Council resolutions" but refrained from disclosing anything about the content of the discussions.

"We had a meeting with Cordovez, who is continuing his consultations with Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash," Stylianides said.

Discussions on efforts to resume the intercommunal dialogue will continue on Friday morning at a working breakfast the President will offer to Cordovez, he added.

The Spokesman avoided any further comment saying that Cordovez does not wish any public comment on the content of his discussions.

After the Presidential Palace meeting, the UN envoy crossed into the Turkish-occupied areas to meet Denktash.

According to Turkish Cypriot sources, the meeting attended by Denktash's aides lasted one hour.

Cordovez said he will attend a dinner tomorrow night with Denktash while tomorrow morning he will meet again President Clerides.

Denktash stated that things had worsened after the two resolutions adopted this week by the UN Security Council.

With the first resolution, the Security Council renewed the mandate of the UN peace-keeping force in Cyprus (UNFICYP) for a further six-month period, and with the second resolution the Council repeated its support to the good offices mission of the UN Secretary-General on 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 MM/GP/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

2015:CYPPRESS:05

[05] New provocative measures by Turkish occupation regime

The illegal regime today refused entry to the Turkish-occupied northern part of the island, to a Nicosia-based British High Commission diplomat, claiming that it did not recognise his diplomatic identity card.

Both Ankara and Turkish Cypriot leader, Rauf Denktash have expressed dissatisfaction with Security Council resolutions 1178 and 1179, adopted unanimously earlier this week, claiming they obstruct rather than facilitate a Cyprus settlement.

With these resolutions, the international body renewed the mandate of the UN peace-keeping force in Cyprus (UNFICYP) for a further six-month period and repeated its support to the good offices mission of the UN Secretary-General on Cyprus.

Denktash claimed the Security Council continues to make "the same mistake" by only recognising the Cyprus Republic and not his puppet regime.

The British diplomat and his family were refused entry to the Turkish- occupied areas and was told his diplomatic identity card was not recognised, but was not given any further explanation.

Diplomatic identity cards are issued by the internationally-recognised Cyprus Republic.

The British diplomat said this is the first time the Turkish occupation regime has acted in such a way towards foreign diplomats, pointing out that this could be a reaction to the recent UN resolutions.

Meanwhile the Turkish occupation regime did not allow Greek-Cypriot journalists to cover the meeting between Special Adviser to the UN Secretary-General on the Cyprus problem, Diego Cordovez, with Turkish Cypriot leader, Rauf Denktash, this afternoon.

The occupation regime demanded a 14-sterling fee, a demand not accepted by the journalists.

Turkey illegally occupies 37 per cent of Cyprus' territory since it invaded the island in 1974, in violation of repeated UN resolutions calling for the Turkish-troop pull out.

CNA KN/MCH/GP/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

2030:CYPPRESS:06

[06] US donation to Cypriot Customs Authorities

During a special ceremony today, Finance Minister Christodoulos Christodoulou received the van from US Ambassador to Cyprus Kenneth Brill.

Pointing out that "international crime is becoming more and more a real danger for humanity," Christodoulou said the "US is trying to assist us by providing us and other countries with technical equipment and know-how as well".

The Cypriot minister pledged "the government of Cyprus, and specifically the Department of Customs and Exiles, will do our best to make the best possible use of this equipment".

On his part, Brill said "law enforcement needs to cooperate internationally, just like criminals do," and stressed the importance of technology "in dealing with the challenges confronting us from criminal activities".

CNA DP/MCH/GP/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

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