Cyprus News Agency: News in English (PM), 98-07-30

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

CONTENTS

[01] Cyprus - Russia - Double taxation

[02] Government - ECHR decision

[03] Cyprus government - representations - UN

[04] Youth delegation - Lisbon - International Youth Festival

[05] UNFICYP - contacts with illegal regime

1500:CYPPRESS:01

[01] Cyprus - Russia - Double taxation Please replace the million with billion in paragraph 8

Two rounds of discussions between Moscow and Nicosia on the issue have taken place so far, and talks are expected to resume in September, according to Cyprus' Finance Minister Christodoulos Christodoulou.

Christodoulou met today with Christofias as well as a group of representatives from law and accounting firms who deal in Russia, whom he briefed on efforts to renew the 1982 agreement (signed then with the Soviet Union) and asked for their backing.

The Finance Minister said "differences between the two countries have diminished, we are not at a deadlock, talks will continue."

He said "the only difficult issue that remains to be discussed is the taxation of interest".

Christodoulou, who visited Moscow for talks earlier this month, explained that the government is trying to achieve an agreement by which investments from Cyprus are treated equally to investments from other countries, such as the US.

"The agreement has proved to be beneficial to both countries, and substantively contributes to the Russian government's efforts to revive its economy," Christodoulou added.

He pointed out that about 20 b i l l i o n dollars per year are invested in Russia, through Cypriot firms.

The Finance Minister said he has asked both Cypriot firms dealing in Russia and the opposition AKEL party General Secretary, who has always maintained close ties with Moscow, to help efforts to renew the agreement.

Christofias reassured the Finance Minister that both he and his party "will use their influence in all directions to help bridge differences."

He did not rule out the possibility of visiting Moscow before September's talks begin.

President Glafcos Clerides had also discussed the renewal of the agreement with his Russian counterpart Boris Yeltsin, during their talks in Moscow in mid-July.

CNA MA/GP/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1525:CYPPRESS:02

[02] Government - ECHR decision

Welcoming the decision, Government Spokesman, Christos Stylianides said it will "further help the struggle of the Cyprus Republic in conveying the right messages abroad, for a just, correct, viable and workable solution to the Cyprus problem."

"The ruling confirms that Turkey is an occupation force in Cyprus, it is responsible for the violation of the right to property and for depriving the right of freedom of movement, access and enjoyment of property," Stylianides said.

It also confirms that Titina Loizidou remains the legal owner of her property, he added.

On Tuesday, the European Court ordered Turkey to pay pecuniary damages of 300.000 to Titina Loizidou from the Turkish occupied town of Kyrenia, a further 20,000 for non-pecuniary damage and 137,084 for her costs and expenses. (One Cyprus pound equals to two US dollars).

Cyprus has been divided since 1974 when Turkish troops invaded and occupied 37 percent of the island's territory

In its ruling in December 1996, the ECHR found Turkey guilty of continuous human rights violations with respect to the peaceful enjoyment of Loizidou's property.

It ordered that within the next six months the applicant and the Turkish government submit written observations with respect to the issue of compensation and costs.

CNA KN/EC/MCH/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1620:CYPPRESS:03

[03] Cyprus government - representations - UN

Government Spokesman Christos Stylianides today said the UN response was that "meetings with the two sides in Cyprus were necessary and that the specific meeting does not in any way constitute recognition (of the illegal entity unilaterally declared in the Turkish-occupied areas)".

Styianides added the government pointed out to the UN that its representatives in Cyprus "may have contacts with the two sides in the framework of their mission".

He noted, however, that these meetings should always be in line with the UN Security Council resolutions on the Cyprus issue, particularly resolutions 541 and 550".

The UN Security Council has repeatedly condemned all secessionist actions by the Turkish-occupation regime in Cyprus and called upon all states:

"Not to recognise the purported state of the 'Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus' set by secessionist acts" and "not to facilitate or in any way assist the aforesaid secessionist entity".

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

In 1983 the occupation regime unilaterally declared itself into a state which is, however, not recognised by any other country but Turkey.

CNA KN/GG/MCH/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1650:CYPPRESS:04

[04] Youth delegation - Lisbon - International Youth Festival

The Festival will take place from August 1-10, under the auspices of the UN and the Portuguese Government, and about six thousand young persons from all over the world are expected to participate.

The Cypriot delegation comprises representatives from youth, political, social, student and trade union organisations, and will take part in all the workshops that are of interest to Cyprus.

Meanwhile, a two-member delegation from the Cyprus Youth Council for International Cooperation will depart for Portugal on Saturday, to take part in the UN International Youth Forum.

Five hundred delegates from all over the world will participate in the conference, to be held on August 2, while the Cypriot delegation will take part in discussions regarding human rights.

CNA DG/RG/MCH/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

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[05] UNFICYP - contacts with illegal regime

Responding to criticism by Greek and Greek Cypriot media against contacts UN Resident Representative Cyprus, Ann Hercus, had with so-called foreign minister, Taner Etkin, of the breakaway entity in the Turkish occupied areas, UNFICYP stressed:

The meeting "under no circumstances constituted any deviation from the established practice".

The announcement added that "UNFICYP has always been a bridge across the buffer zone and between the two communities" and that it could not offer its assistance on "eminently practical issues", if it did not have "daily contacts with the appropriate interlocutors on both sides".

Furthermore, UNFICYP pointed out that as other UN missions worldwide, it "maintains working relations with all parties concerned".

Government Spokesman, Christos Stylianides pointed out earlier today UN representatives "may have contacts with the two sides in the framework of their mission".

He added, however, that they should abide by UN resolutions, which call for no recognition of the illegal entity unilaterally declared in the northern Turkish-occupied part of the island.

The puppet regime is not recognised by any other state but Turkey and the UN Security Council has repeatedly called upon all states "not to facilitate or in any way assist the aforesaid secessionist entity".

CNA RG/MCH/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

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