Cyprus News Agency: News in English (AM), 98-07-03

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

CONTENTS

[01] New UN envoy arrives

[02] UN envoy looks into ways to resume Cyprus peace process

[03] Cyprus Airways one-day excursion to Holy Land

[04] Cyprus Stock Exchange

0930:CYPPRESS:01

[01] New UN envoy arrives

She came from her home country New Zealand. She will assume office on Monday. The same day she will give a press conference.

Hercus replaces Gustave Feissel, who left the island last night. Tomorrow she will meet UN Secretary-General's Special Adviser on the Cyprus problem, Diego Cordovez, who arrived on the island yesterday and has already met President Glafcos Clerides and Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash.

Today Cordovez will have more meetings with Clerides and Denktash, in a fresh bid to achieve resumption of the Cyprus peace process, which has been in an impasse because of the Turkish intransigent stance.

The top UN envoy came to Cyprus reinforced by two UN Security Council resolutions adopted unanimously earlier this week, renewing the mandate of the UN peace-keeping force in Cyprus (UNFICYP) for a further six-month period and repeating its support to the UN Secretary-General's good offices mission on Cyprus.

The Cyprus government has welcomed the recent resolutions while the Turkish side expressed dissatisfaction with the content of the two resolutions.

CNA/GP/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1220:CYPPRESS:02

[02] UN envoy looks into ways to resume Cyprus peace process

Government Spokesman, Christos Stylianides, told reporters after President Glafcos Clerides' 75-minute working breakfast with Cordovez today that the UN envoy is considering returning to the island in September.

Stylianides said that during today's meeting, the second in less than 24 hours, "an exchange of views based on the current situation of the Cyprus problem took place."

"Mr Cordovez is thinking and investigating the possibility to resume the negotiations", the Spokesman said, noting that the UN envoy is also considering another visit to Cyprus in September.

Despite repeated questions, the Spokesman avoided any further comment on the content of the talks.

Stylianides pledged the government's readiness "at any moment to discuss a procedure to solve the Cyprus problem, based on resolutions and especially the recent (Security Council) resolutions which so strongly call for a resumption (of the talks)."

With resolutions 1178 and 1179, earlier this week, the Security Council 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 UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan on Cyprus.

It further pledged support to Cordovez's current visit to the island. Invited to express the government's view on Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash's positions, Stylianides replied "our view has not changed since Denktash retains his well known intransigent positions."

Referring to yesterday's incident where the illegal regime refused entry to the Turkish-occupied north of the island to a Nicosia-based British High Commission diplomat, claiming it did not recognise his diplomatic identity card issued by the Cyprus Republic, the Spokesman said that the government will react in accordance with international and diplomatic institutions.

On his part, Cordovez said he had no statement to make. When asked if there will be a third meeting with President Clerides, he replied, "I don't think so".

Cordovez arrived at the Presidential Palace, accompanied by a UN aide and UNFICYP's Senior Advisor, Peter Schmitz.

The meeting was attended by Foreign Minister Ioannis Kasoulides, Attorney-General Alecos Markides, Government Spokesman Christos Stylianides and Under-Secretary to the President Pantelis Kouros.

The UN envoy will attend a working dinner hosted by Denktash later this evening.

Cordovez will end his visit tomorrow with a private meeting with Dame Ann Hercus, the Secretary-General's new Deputy Special Representative in Cyprus, who arrived here earlier today.

He will depart later tomorrow, after a bicommunal press conference at the Ledra Palace hotel in the UN-controlled buffer zone, dividing Cyprus since 1974 when Turkish troops invaded and occupied 37 per cent of the island's territory.

CNA EC/GP/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1400:CYPPRESS:03

[03] Cyprus Airways one-day excursion to Holy Land

Included in the price of the excursion which costs 99 Cyprus pounds are the flight to the Israeli coastal town of Haifa, the coach tour together with the services of a tourist guide, and a lunch at a Bethlehem restaurant (one Cyprus pound is equal to 1,9 US dollars).

The excursion is at present available twice a week, every Thursday and Sunday, and the 45-minute morning flight to Haifa is carried out by AEROEL, an Israeli company, in cooperation with Cyprus Airways.

Cypriots and even foreign holidaymakers visiting Cyprus having limited free time, may find the excursion a unique opportunity to visit the Holy Land in Jerusalem and Bethlehem.

The most important sites of the Holy Writ, such as the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, the Nativity Church, the Mount of Olives and David's Tower are included in the visitors' schedule.

According to Cyprus Airways officials, the high education level of tourist guides available in the visitors' language of preference, guarantees a useful cultural and religious experience.

The guides focus on the history of the three religions of the Middle East, Christianity, Judaism and Islam, as well as the political events which have led to the region's present situation, they added.

The launch of the excursion aims at upgrading Cyprus' tourist product, the officials said, adding that in case of high demand the excursion will take place more than twice a week.

CNA GG/GP/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1430:CYPPRESS:04

[04] Cyprus Stock Exchange

   CSE General Index                          84.32 ( 1.39)

   Traded Value            CYP   620,582

   Sectural Indices

   Banks                   CYP   248,911      98.25 ( 1.47)
   Approved Investment
   Companies               CYP    32,715      58.88 ( 0.99)
   Insurance Companies     CYP    55,791      61.28 ( 3.53)
   Manufacturing Companies CYP     6,013      76.81 ( 0.01)
   Tourism Companies       CYP    56,704      69.45 ( 0.83)
   Trading Companies       CYP    79,190      45.17 ( 1.05)
   Other Companies         CYP    40,122      70.18 ( 1.01)

CNA MM/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

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