Cyprus News Agency: News in English (PM), 98-08-12

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

CONTENTS

[01] Cyprus Stock Exchange

[02] Cook - National Federation of Cypriots

[03] Tourism - June statistics

[04] US - Cyprus legal cooperation

1530:CYPPRESS:01

[01] Cyprus Stock Exchange

   CSE General Index                          84.68 (-0.49)

   Traded Value            CYP 1,192,967

   Sectural Indices

   Banks                   CYP  1,004,581    100.23 (-0.60)
   Approved Investment
   Companies               CYP     7,168      57.93 (-0.22)
   Insurance Companies     CYP    24,417      58.37 (-0.38)
   Manufacturing Companies CYP     4,041      76.35 ( 0.08)
   Tourism Companies       CYP    11,641      69.61 (-0.03)
   Trading Companies       CYP    33,386      40.19 (-1.62)
   Other Companies         CYP    31,480      71.37 (-0.47)

CNA EC/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1740:CYPPRESS:02

[02] Cook - National Federation of Cypriots

However, it emphasises that a vital component of progress towards a settlement will be a reduction in the military build up on the island.

The positions were outlined by British Foreign Secretary, Robin Cook, in reply to a letter from Haris Sofoklides, President of the National Federation of Cypriots who addressed both Cook and Prime Minister, Tony Blair.

Replying on behalf of both, Cook said that Britain shares many of the Federation's concerns.

Stressing that the British "commitment to a comprehensive settlement in Cyprus on the basis of a bizonal, bicommunal federation remains undiminished", Cook said he regrets that so far this year it has proved impossible for the UN talks for a Cyprus settlement to resume.

The Foreign Secretary reassured that his country takes "every opportunity to persuade all concerned to show the determination and good faith required to achieve this objective".

For this reason, he said, the British Government's Special Representative for Cyprus, Sir David Hannay, during his visit to the island last month, "took with him a strong message of our support for the UN Secretary-General's efforts to broker a settlement".

Referring to Cyprus' accession negotiations with the European Union (EU), Cook said that in welcoming the start of the talks, "we and our EU partners made it clear that we wanted to see progress towards accession make a positive contribution to efforts to find a viable solution to the Cyprus problem, and vice versa".

The Foreign Secretary reiterated that "our aim is that EU membership should benefit all Cypriots".

He added that Britain continues to "urge the Turkish Cypriot side to take up President Clerides' offer of participation in Cyprus' negotiating team".

In his letter, Cook further stressed that "a vital component of progress towards a settlement will be a reduction in military build up on the island".

He also said that Britain, together with its international partners, continues "to impress on all parties our concern that increases in military forces, equipment and activity can only exacerbate tension in the region".

The US, Britain and other countries object to the planned deployment of the Russian S300 anti-aircraft missile system which Cyprus has purchased in an effort to boost its air defence, in view of the increased Turkish armaments in the occupied areas.

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

CNA KT/EC/RG/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1950:CYPPRESS:03

[03] Tourism - June statistics

According to the Department of Statistics and Research, departures reached 297.354, marking an increase of 16,1 per cent.

The arrival of tourists reached 248.426 in June 1998. Of these, 44,5 per cent were males and 55,5 per cent females. The mean age of tourists was 37,6 years and 73,7 per cent of them came from the European Union.

Analytically, UK accounted for 45,7 per cent of tourist arrivals, Russia 10,8 per cent, Sweden 7,0 per cent, Germany 6,8 per cent, Switzerland 3,7 per cent, Norway 2,6 per cent, Denmark 2,5 per cent and Greece 2,5 per cent.

The majority of travellers, excluding excursionists, arrived via air or sea from the UK, which again led the way with 37,9 per cent of traveller arrivals, followed by Greece and Israel with 8,4 per cent each, Russia with 8,1 per cent, Sweden with 5,8 per cent, Germany with 5,3 per cent and Switzerland with 3,7 per cent.

The number of excursionists (transit at ports and cruise ship visitors) reached 8.853 in June 1998 compared to 8.352 in June 1997.

The highest percentage of tourists, 92,3 per cent, stayed in hotels, 5, 4 with relatives and friends and 2,3 per cent elsewhere.

CNA EC/RG/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

2010:CYPPRESS:04

[04] US - Cyprus legal cooperation

The contents of the agreement, which will be signed in the near future, were finalised here Wednesday at the Justice and Public Order Ministry during the second round of talks between the ministries of Justice of Cyprus and the US and a representative of the Attorney-General's office.

The agreement will regulate cooperation between the relevant court and attorney authorities of the two countries in preventing and investigating crimes and in prosecuting offenders.

It also includes provisions for obtaining statements, exchanging documents, and identifying persons or items.

The new agreement complements an existing agreement between the US and Cyprus, regarding the extradition of fugitives.

CNA EC/RG/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

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