Cyprus News Agency: News in English (AM), 98-08-13

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

CONTENTS

[01] Cyprus - Algeria

[02] Cyprus - Trade Statistics

[03] Dams - situation

1100:CYPPRESS:01

[01] Cyprus - Algeria

Receiving the credentials of new Cyprus ambassador to Algeria, Andreas Scarparis, on Monday, the Algerian President described the Cyprus problem as complex.

According to an official announcement issued here today, he also said his country considers the Cyprus government's positions on the Cyprus question as correct and its demands legitimate.

Zeroual assured Algeria will continue to support a just settlement to the Cyprus problem, based on UN resolutions.

Describing relations between the two countries as friendly, he said cooperation in the political field is at a very high level but there is space for the further development of relations in other fields.

Zeroual thanked Scarparis for Cyprus' position against terrorism and Nicosia's support to the Algerian government's efforts to safeguard human rights in the country.

During his stay in Algiers, Scarparis met with officials with whom he discussed the Cyprus problem and bilateral relations.

Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkish troops invaded and occupied 37 per cent of its territory.

CNA MA/GP/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1130:CYPPRESS:02

[02] Cyprus - Trade Statistics

Total imports, covering goods for home consumption and imports in bonded warehouses, totaled 783,2 million Cyprus pounds (one pound is about two US dollars) in this period, compared with 765,7 m. pounds in the same period of the previous year.

Total exports were 270 m. pounds in relation to 256,1 m. pounds in 1997.

"As a result of the above developments the trade deficit totalled for 513,1 m. pounds compared to 509,6 m. pounds in January-May 1997," an official information bulletin says.

It adds that the EU countries supplied Cyprus with goods valued at 409, 1 m. pounds or 52,2 per cent of total imports as compared with 367,9 m. pounds or 48,1 per cent in January-May 1997.

The EU countries absorbed 59,3 per cent or 64,2 m. pounds of Cyprus domestic exports (excluding shipstores), followed by the Arab countries with a share of 22,5 per cent or 24,4 m. pounds.

The corresponding shares for EU and Arab countries for January-May 1997 were 53 per cent and 25,4 per cent, respectively.

CNA MA/GP/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1340:CYPPRESS:03

[03] Dams - situation

Nicosia, Aug 13 (CNA) -- Water reserves in the island's dams are rapidly decreasing with fears that many of them will be empty by the end of the year, if there is no rainfall.

Figures depict a bleak picture of what has happened and what is to be expected in the following months.

According to today's figures, a total of 26.900.000 cubic metres of water remain in the island's dams, representing 10 per cent of their total capacity.

The quantity of water in the dams for last year's corresponding period was 44.100.000 cubic metres of water, representing 16,4 per cent of the total capacity.

Kouris, the island's largest dam, contains only 5,8 million cubic metres of water, representing 5,1 per cent of its total capacity.

The Asprokremmos dam has 12,6 million cubic metres of water, representing 24 per cent of its total capacity, while the Evretou dam has 3, 6 million cubic metres of water, representing 15,1 per cent of its total capacity.

Water Development Department Acting Director, Christos Markoulis, told CNA that the recent heat wave, which plagued Cyprus, did not actually contribute to the decrease in the island's dams.

Markoulis said the heat wave did not last long therefore it did not result in great evaporation of the water reserves.

Last week, Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environment Minister, Costas Themistocleous, announced that the government had decided a number of measures to tackle the water shortage, including the introduction of mobile desalination plants.

He said 1999 would be one of the most difficult years because water supplies would run out completely by the end of the year and the second desalination plant would not be ready.

Cyprus has one desalination plant in Dhekelia, on the southeastern coast. A second one is expected to be completed after the year 2000.

According to statistics, last time Cyprus' dams had reached tragic levels was during the year 1990-1991.

However, heavy rainfall during December 1991 virtually saved the island after a flow of 40 million cubic metres of water in the dams.

CNA EC/GP/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

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