Cyprus News Agency: News in English (AM), 98-07-27

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

CONTENTS

[01] SOCCER: Ireland - UEFA U-18

[02] Senator - US statements - Cyprus

[03] Rann - Commonwealth leaders - Cyprus

[04] Illegal immigrants - hanger strike

[05] Seminar - Money laundering

[06] Cyprus Stock Exchange

0920:CYPPRESS:01

[01] SOCCER: Ireland - UEFA U-18

The match held last night ended in a 1-1 draw after a 30-minute extra time.

Croatia won third place, defeating Portugal 5-4 in the penalty procedure. The match ended in a goaless draw even after a the extra time.

Six teams, namely Ireland, Germany, Croatia, Portugal, England and Spain, have qualified for the Under-18 World Cup to be held in Nigeria between April 3-24, 1999.

Cyprus and Lithuania failed to qualify for the final stage of the World Cup.

All eight European teams, separated into two groups, participated in the final stage of the European Championship held in Cyprus.

CNA GP/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1050:CYPPRESS:02

[02] Senator - US statements - Cyprus

In letters to US Congressman Patrick Kennedy and Senator Jack Reed, Senator Leonidas Raptakis expresses hope the White House and Democratic leaders do not support these positions and calls upon their office to seek clarification of these statements and US policy with regard to Cyprus and Greece.

Concerning Rubin's comment that US diplomats visited the Turkish- occupied areas of Cyprus for the 24th anniversary of the Turkish invasion "in a non-diplomatic position", Raptakis reminds that the illegal Turkish Cypriot regime is only recognised by Turkey.

"The action of these diplomats and Rubin's failure to recognise the significance of their action is an insult to Greek Cypriot people", he noted.

He added that this action "is comparable to American diplomats in South Korea crossing the border for a May Day celebration in North Korea".

In addition, he notes that "Mike McCurry's statement on July 23rd that the invasion was not an invasion by Turkey but a conflict between Greek and Turkish Cypriots, only added insult to injury".

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

CNA KN/GP/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1125:CYPPRESS:03

[03] Rann - Commonwealth leaders - Cyprus

Rann wrote letters to British Prime Minister Tony Blair, South African President Nelson Mandela and Australian Prime Minister John Howard, seeking their support.

He proposed the setting up of an Eminent Persons Group, comprising former Commonwealth Prime Ministers and Heads of State, saying that such a group played a key role in bringing to an end the divisions and injustices of apartheid in South Africa.

The Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) will be held between August 29 and September 3, 1998 in Durban, South Africa.

The Australian politician reminded Blair, Mandela and Howard that Cyprus has remained divided for 24 years "following the illegal invasion and occupation of the island by Turkish armed force in 1974."

He said the Turkish government continues to defy international law and to ignore a series of resolutions on Cyprus by the UN Security Council and General Assembly and the European Parliament.

"It is quite clear that Turkey is determined to frustrate moves by Britain and the United States to negotiate a peaceful and just solution to the Cyprus problem. Whenever progress is made the government of Turkey and the Denktash regime take action to torpedo any serious moves towards a resolution of the problem," Rann added.

The Australian MP referred to a series of intransigent positions taken by Turkey and the occupation regime.

He said "it is important for the Commonwealth to become much more pro- active over Cyprus. Cyprus is a fellow Commonwealth nation."

Rann added "I believe it is important for the Commonwealth to again demonstrate and assert its relevance in world affairs and human rights by becoming more actively involved in brining to an end the divisions and injustices faced by Cyprus."

The South Australian politician added that if the current impasse is not broken, the Cyprus problem should be placed at the very top of the CHOGM agenda.

"It is also time for the Commonwealth of Nations to put Turkey's intransigence and human rights violations against a Commonwealth country much higher on the diplomatic agenda.

An Eminent Persons Group, comprising former Commonwealth Prime Ministers and heads of State, should also be seriously considered," Rann added.

Commonwealth has repeatedly stated its full support to the struggle of the Cypriot people against Turkish occupation, calling for the withdrawal of the Turkish troops from the island and supporting Cyprus' unity, independence, territorial integrity and sovereignty.

CNA GP/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1340:CYPPRESS:04

[04] Illegal immigrants - hanger strike

They are protesting against a decision by the Cyprus government to deport them and a decision by the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) granting the status of "political refugee" only to three of them.

The boatpeople are staying under police guard at a hotel in the southern coastal town of Limassol.

They come from Rwanda, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Lebanon, Iraq, Sudan, Libya and Zaire.

They left Tripoli, Lebanon, on June 18, on a small Syrian-flagged fishing boat after paying as much as 5.000 US dollars each to go to either Greece or Italy, although the boat was going to Libya.

Without food or fresh drinking water, the boatpeople were found 11 days later by a Ukrainian-flagged commercial vessel which towed the boat, which had developed engine problems, to Cyprus on June 29.

Two passengers died during the voyage and were thrown into the sea. Syrian captain, Mohammad Mustafa, has been charged with "causing death by failing to take adequate precautions and currying passengers by sea for money on an unsafe vessel".

CNA KN/GG/GP/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1415:CYPPRESS:05

[05] Seminar - Money laundering

Addressing a five-day seminar that got underway in the southern coastal town of Larnaca on "The International Asset Forfeiture Seminar", organised in cooperation with the US Justice Department, Angelides outlined the steps Cyprus has taken to combat money laundering.

"It is a problem that knows no boundaries but, it is probably more acute in certain areas than others, as is the case of the extended region where Cyprus is situated," he said.

Thanking the US Justice Department for its leading role in combating money laundering, Angelides underlined that the training of the Cyprus police is important.

He pointed out that its recent report the European Committee on Crime Problems recognises that "the attractiveness of Cyprus for laundering operations at the placement stage is diminished by virtue of the existence of foreign exchange regulations, the relatively limited role of cash operations in Cyprus' economy and the absence of independent bureau de change and casinos".

The report also refers to the anti-money laundering legislation approved in Cyprus in 1996.

The Police Chief said Cyprus is giving priority to ensuring full compliance with all relevant international standards, enhancing the quality of supervision of the off-shore sector and extending training programmes.

He also said it aims at strengthening cooperation between the banks and other relevant financial businesses as well as the further development of cooperation with other countries and institutions dealing with the issue.

Angelides made special reference to the Unit for Combating Money Laundering, which began operating in December 1996, noting "it plays a critical role" as it is responsible for gathering, classifying, evaluating and analysing information.

"Due to the important role we want to play in the international fight against money laundering, we consider this kind of training seminars useful for the members of the Cyprus police and other officials in enhancing their professional skills," he said.

The Police Chief added that "such seminars strengthen the already close cooperation between our services".

The training of police and customs department officers, ending July 31, is carried out by American instructors.

CNA MAN/MA/GP/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1425:CYPPRESS:06

[06] Cyprus Stock Exchange

   CSE General Index                          83.50 (-0.69)

   Traded Value            CYP 1,018,570

   Sectural Indices

   Banks                   CYP   391,123      98.36 (-0.42)
   Approved Investment
   Companies               CYP     8,789      58.46 (-0.73)
   Insurance Companies     CYP    92,977      57.17 (-2.14)
   Manufacturing Companies CYP     6,499      76.27 (-0.81)
   Tourism Companies       CYP    77,182      69.42 (-1.03)
   Trading Companies       CYP    21,837      39.85 (-2.18)
   Other Companies         CYP    31,446      70.95 (-0.21)

CNA /1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

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