Cyprus News Agency: News in English (PM), 98-07-23

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

CONTENTS

[01] Cyprus Stock Exchange

[02] Cyprus - US policy

[03] Employers - Harmonisation process

[04] US envoy - Cyprus peace effort

[05] Government proposals - Military dialogue

[06] Spokesman - Turkish Cypriot institutions

1425:CYPPRESS:01

[01] Cyprus Stock Exchange

   CSE General Index                          84.74 ( 0.18)

   Traded Value            CYP    722,249

   Sectural Indices

   Banks                   CYP   365,189      99.71 ( 0.52)
   Approved Investment
   Companies               CYP    16,996      58.93 (-1.09)
   Insurance Companies     CYP    80,141      58.47 (-1.15)
   Manufacturing Companies CYP     9,876      77.00 ( 0.33)
   Tourism Companies       CYP    86,824      70.99 (-0.69)
   Trading Companies       CYP    59,883      41.70 (-0.19)
   Other Companies         CYP    51,191      71.16 (-0.18)

CNA MA/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1445:CYPPRESS:02

[02] Cyprus - US policy

Asked to comment on a statement yesterday by White House spokesman Mike McCurry, Government Spokesman Christos Stylianides said "it looks he (McCurry) is confused with dates to consider that in 1974 there was just a conflict and not an invasion."

Stylianides said it would be better if the US official had contacted American citizens, relatives of missing persons or other victims of the Turkish invasion, "to realise the difference between an invasion and a conflict."

Asked to comment whether the US considers the 1974 situation in Cyprus an invasion or a conflict, the White House spokesman said "it's a conflict and I think it's been well characterised."

Stylianides also criticised recent statements by other US officials, when he was asked to comment whether these were in harmony with US efforts to find a just, viable and workable solution to the Cyprus problem.

"It is true we are concerned by the American diplomacy and positions because they appear contradictory in many cases and far from being objective to what the real facts are," he said.

However, the Cypriot Spokesman said the government in no way underestimates the important role the US can play towards a Cyprus solution, because of its leading presence in developments worldwide.

But on the other hand, he added, "we should on every occasion point out the faux pas of American diplomacy and policy, exercising the proper pressure to get things right."

Turkish troops have been occupying 37 per cent of Cyprus territory since their 1974 invasion, in violation of repeated UN resolutions calling for their withdrawal.

CNA EC/AP/GP/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1730:CYPPRESS:03

[03] Employers - Harmonisation process

The briefing took place during a meeting between Vassiliou and the executive committees of the two main employers' unions, the Cyprus Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KEVE) and the Federation of Employers and Industrialists (OEV).

Vassiliou reassured the employers that he will hold regular meetings with their unions, and that they will have a strong say in the island's harmonisation process.

He said the employers' views will be heard and their suggestions will be examined in good faith, in a bid to minimise differences.

The key-issue for a successful and fast harmonisation process is the consensus of all social partners, Vassiliou pointed out.

Referring to the duration of the harmonisation process, he noted "the sooner we finish with the process, the smaller the cost".

Vassiliou said the negotiating team, in co-operation with the official Press and Information Office, are preparing a campaign to familiarise the general public with the EU, its institutions and its goals.

KEVE President Vassilis Rologis and OEV Chairman Andreas Pittas both expressed satisfaction with the briefing and urged Vassiliou to establish a regular dialogue with the unions.

Vassiliou called on the two employers' unions to set up a joint contact group which would hold regular meetings with representatives of the negotiating team.

Cyprus, with a per capita income of 12,7 thousand US dollars in 1997, started accession negotiations with the EU in March.

CNA GG/MA/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1910:CYPPRESS:04

[04] US envoy - Cyprus peace effort

Thomas Miller, State Department Cyprus Coordinator, said he would use any approach that works and reiterated his view that direct negotiations are the only way to make progress.

Miller also said talks will cover security matters, including ideas about a moratorium and implementation of measures along the UN controlled buffer zone relating to the military on both sides.

Speaking on arrival, the US envoy said his visit is part of the search to find a settlement and added "I bring ideas but prefer to keep them within the realm of our close discussions."

He said the "only way to make progress is through direct negotiations" and noted his close working relationship with the UN and the international community.

Miller said the idea of a moratorium of overflights by Greek and Turkish aircraft will be "a subject of discussion" and added he would apply "the approach that works" in dealing with security matters, including demilitarisation of Cyprus and the issue of the arrival of anti-aircraft missiles on the island.

He reiterated US support for the demilitarisation of Cyprus, that will take into account the security concerns of all the people of the island.

Referring to attempts to resume the stalled peace effort, Miller said "when a door is locked, a window is opened and we have to find that window", stressing this will not be meeting the Turkish Cypriot demand for recognition of their self-styled regime in the part of Cyprus occupied by Turkey since 1974.

He explained that the preconditions the Turkish Cypriot side set to return to the negotiating table could not be met and its insistence on changing the status of the intercommunal talks to inter-state talks and on the withdrawal of Cyprus' application for admission to the European Union rendered the resumption of the talks untenable.

Asked if he would initiate talks on security matters, Miller said the US would like to see an agreement on discussion about the unmanning of military posts in close proximity, the code of conduct of troops along the buffer zone and the removal of live ammunition from the area.

He said Secretary of State Madeleine Albright tried to give this effort a bit of a boost, last year, with an announcement that President Glafcos Clerides and Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash would meet to discuss security matters.

Miller explained this attempt did not get too far because the Turkish Cypriot side refused to cooperate, but pointed out the US would render its support to the UN to take the matter further.

"My focus is on the substance," he underlined, noting that whether the two leaders meet or not is immaterial as long as work is done on the substance of the issue and then a process is applied to fit the substance.

Miller refused to comment on a statement by the White House spokesman describing the Turkish invasion in Cyprus as "conflict", saying discussions of this kind "do not take you anywhere."

The US envoy will be received tomorrow by President Glafcos Clerides and see Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash, the UN top envoy in Cyprus Dame Ann Hercus and Greek and Turkish Cypriot businessmen.

He leaves tomorrow evening.

CNA MAN/MM/MA/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1955:CYPPRESS:05

[05] Government proposals - Military dialogue

"The military leadership, in cooperation with the government, has elaborated previous ideas it had put forward which we are ready to discuss, " Government Spokesman Christos Stylianides said today, but refrained from elaborating.

"We have made concrete proposals and ideas," he added. An unsuccessful military dialogue began two years ago, with discussions focusing on the unmanning of military posts in close proximity, the removal of live ammunition and the introduction of a code of contact.

Asked if the new proposals could help overcome the present obstacles and enable the military dialogue to restart, Stylianides said "we should always hope that there could be an agreement" even if this does not relate directly to the main issues under discussion.

He added that success depends on the Turkish Cypriot side and on pressure exercised on it, especially by the UN.

Stylianides underlined that all security matters should relate to the government's proposal for the demilitarisation of Cyprus, which is the ultimate objective.

The Turkish side has turned down the President's proposal, which envisaged the disband of the National Guard and the Turkish Cypriot forces along with the withdrawal of the Turkish occupation troops and the delivery of weapons to UN custody.

CNA MA/MM/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

2025:CYPPRESS:06

[06] Spokesman - Turkish Cypriot institutions

"It would be a grave mistake if we were to reject totally all the institutions of the Turkish Cypriot community, as such a policy would only serve the interests of Turkish Cypriot leader, Rauf Denktash," Government Spokesman Christos Stylianides said here today.

Denktash opposes any contact between the two communities and often bars Turkish Cypriots from attending bicommunal events. He has also introduced a levy for those crossing into the occupied part of the island.

The spokesman said the government recognises trade unions and political parties as institutions.

"These are the political institutions we have contact with. Greek Cypriots meet with Turkish Cypriot political parties and trade unionists organise joint functions," Stylianides said.

He stressed however that the government would not, under any circumstances, recognise any institution that in any way implies recognition of the self-styled Turkish Cypriot regime.

There are social institutions, such as a political parties and trade unions, which express the Turkish Cypriot community, he said.

CNA MM/MA/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

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