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Cyprus News Agency: News in English (PM), 98-07-08Cyprus News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Cyprus News Agency at <http://www.cyna.org.cy>CONTENTS
1440:CYPPRESS:01[01] Rolandis to participate in European Tourism ForumNicosia, Jul 8 (CNA) -- Cyprus' Commerce, Industry and Tourism Minister Nicos Rolandis leaves tomorrow for Tyrol, Austria, to participate in the European Tourism Forum.Rolandis, who will participate in the Forum at the invitation of the Austrian Minister of Economic Affairs, Johann Farnleitner, will return to Cyprus on July 14. The theme of the Forum, which is co-organised by Austria's Ministry of Economic Affairs, the country's Federal Economic Chamber and the European Commission, is "Integrated Quality Management in Tourism". Tourism, earning 20 per cent of Cyprus' Gross Domestic Product yearly, is considered to be the island's core industry. CNA GG/GP/1998ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY1450:CYPPRESS:02[02] Police statement on bank robberyNicosia, Jul 8 (CNA) -- Cyprus police confirmed a bank robbery this morning at Trachoni village, west of the southern coastal town of LimassolAccording to a police statement two men, who had their heads covered with hoods, entered the Laiki (Popular) Bank branch at around 0915 local time (0615 GMT) and with the threat of a gun immobilised its two employees and three clients. The two men stole about 17 thousand Cyprus pounds (one pound is about 2 US dollars) as well as unknown amount of foreign currency. They then left with a white Citroen van, who's license plates they had covered. Police has launched a manhunt to locate the two robbers. CNA MA/GP/1998ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY1600:CYPPRESS:03[03] Israel, Cyprus on "classified" travel adviceNicosia, Jul 8 (CNA) -- Israel has denied that its Premier has sent a document to travel agents encouraging them to prevent Israeli citizens from visiting the Turkish occupied part of Cyprus.The comments came in response to a television report on "Antena TV" that PM Benjamin Netanyahu, in his capacity as Foreign Minister, has sent a classified signed document to Israeli travel agents asking them to avoid organised trips to the occupied areas of the Republic of Cyprus. "There is no signed document by the Prime Minister to travel agents," an Israeli embassy official here told CNA. He also reiterated his government's position that it does not recognise the self-styled Turkish Cypriot regime in the occupied part of the island. The regime, set up in 1983, has been branded "legally invalid" by the UN and only Turkey recognises it. On his part, Cyprus Government Spokesman Christos Stylianides told CNA "the government is aware that Israel through many means deters its citizens from visiting the occupied areas." CNA MM/EC/1998ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY1650:CYPPRESS:04[04] Britain sees no crisis in CyprusNicosia, Jul 8 (CNA) -- Britain does not think there is an imminent crisis in Cyprus and is not calling for caution regarding visits to the island.Commenting on a "Sky News" report, which more or less repeats the scenario that appeared recently in the "Sunday Times", about Ministry of Defence contingency plans to evacuate the island, a Foreign Office spokesman said: "I do not think Sky News know of something in Cyprus that we do not know". Asked what advice the Foreign Office gives to prospective travellers to Cyprus, the spokesman said that "we made it quite clear, that it is not our assessment that there is any crisis in Cyprus, making necessary a change in our stand regarding visits there". He added that "our policy remains the same" and that "we do not see any reason for British citizens planning to visit Cyprus to change their plans". CNA RG/MM/1998ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY1750:CYPPRESS:05[05] EU presidency on CyprusNicosia, Jul 8 (CNA) -- The Austrian presidency of the European Union (EU) has reaffirmed that the start of Cyprus' accession talks with the EU is based on the decision of the Luxembourg European Council.Austrian Chancellor, Viktor Klima, whose country hold the rotating six- month EU presidency, has also called on the British Representative for Cyprus, Sir David Hannay, to continue offering his services during the Austrian presidency. Speaking at a press conference in Brussels today, Klima said the EU began accession negotiations with Cyprus, based on the conclusions of the December 1997 European Council, but the Turkish Cypriots, who were invited to participate, have so far refused to participate in the talks. He said Austrian Foreign Minister, Wolfgang Schussel, will make every effort to solve the problem and expressed the hope that during the Austrian presidency, there will be an overall agreement. Klima said Sir David Hannay, Britain's Cyprus envoy, had worked hard on the Cyprus problem and for this reason, he was asked to continue his services during the Austrian presidency. Cyprus applied for EU membership in 1990. It signed an association agreement with the European Community in 1972 and a customs union protocol in 1987. Along with five Central and Eastern European countries, Cyprus began accession talks on March 30, 1998. CNA NB/EC/MM/1998ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY1810:CYPPRESS:06[06] Motion backs peaceful solution in CyprusLondon, Jul 8 (CNA) -- British MPs have tabled an early day motion to the House of Commons recognising the right of the Republic of Cyprus to defend itself.The motion, submitted on Tuesday under the heading "Cyprus: Efforts to secure peace", also calls on Turkey to accept the demilitarisation of Cyprus. "This House recognises the right of the Republic of Cyprus to defend itself but welcomes President Clerides' readiness to suspend the importation and deployment of S-300 Russian ground-to-air missiles...on the condition that progress is forthcoming on an agreed schedule of action which includes measures leading towards the goal of demilitarisation," the motion said. It "calls upon the Turkish government to accept as a matter of principle, the demilitarisation of Cyprus as a matter of urgency". The motion, supported by 122 deputies so far, also calls upon "all sides in negotiations for a solution to the Cyprus problem to settle their differences by peaceful means". Furthermore, it "urges the UN Secretary General to undertake intensive efforts to secure an agreement between the parties on all security matters". Concluding, the motion calls on the British government, as a "guarantor power and permanent member of the Security Council to redouble its efforts to reduce the tensions on the island and oversee a peaceful and lasting solution to the tragic division of Cyprus". Cyprus has been divided since 1974 when Turkish troops invaded and occupied 37 percent of its territory. CNA KT/EC/MM/1998ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCYCyprus News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |