Cyprus News Agency: News in English (PM), 98-08-25

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

CONTENTS

[01] Cyprus - Russian company

[02] Cyprus Stock Exchange

[03] Spokesman - Fishermen - Turkish Shots

[04] Spokesman - British Bases - Tractor

[05] Ireland - Labour Party - Visit

[06] UN - Protests - Turkish Military

[07] Spokesman - Pangalos

1420:CYPPRESS:01

[01] Cyprus - Russian company

Finance Minister, Christodoulos Christodoulou told reporters today that the Cyprus government was taking advantage of the capabilities the island's geographic position offers.

He said according to the Cyprus law, "I believe that the company can be established in Cyprus".

Christodoulou said he did not predict any reactions since there were no competitors.

"ANT1" TV station last night revealed that the Russian company "NICNI NOVKARAT" applied for permission to construct a factory on the island.

It said the government gave its consent while a final decision would be taken by the Council of Ministers.

ANT1 said Commerce, Industry and Tourism Minister, Nicos Rolandis and a spokesman for the Russian company confirmed the report.

More than 300 jobs are expected to be created with the establishment of the factory which will be a multi-million pound investment.

CNA GG/EC/GP/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1500:CYPPRESS:02

[02] Cyprus Stock Exchange

   CSE General Index                          89.21 ( 1.55)

   Traded Value            CYP 1,344,529

   Sectural Indices

   Banks                   CYP    484,869    105.26 ( 1.25)
   Approved Investment
   Companies               CYP    58,825      59.99 ( 1.54)
   Insurance Companies     CYP    72,593      61.02 ( 1.70)
   Manufacturing Companies CYP   258,662      82.67 ( 2.44)
   Tourism Companies       CYP    94,032      72.38 ( 1.80)
   Trading Companies       CYP    48,982      44.24 ( 4.39)
   Other Companies         CYP    71,924      74.45 ( 1.11)

CNA MA/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1640:CYPPRESS:03

[03] Spokesman - Fishermen - Turkish Shots

Government Spokesman, Christos Stylianides, said today the government is investigating the incident.

He said in such circumstances, "there will be strong protests to UNFICYP and relevant bodies abroad regarding the violation of specific rules of international law."

Defence Minister, Yiannakis Omirou also said Police and the National Guard are investigating the incident.

Greek Government Spokesman, Demetris Reppas said the incident was part of the Turkish occupation forces' efforts to secure so called "state recognition", and an example of their aggression.

The incident, which was confirmed by UNFICYP spokesman, Waldemar Rokoszweski, occurred in the early hours today when four fishermen were out at sea to collect their fishing nets.

The nets were placed way off buoys the Turkish occupation forces have placed at sea to mark an area under their control, since Turkish troops invaded and occupied Cyprus' northern areas.

Stylianides also said the Republic of Cyprus will defend each one of its citizens.

The four fishermen, Antonis Tamenos, 50, Christodoulos Koletsios, 46, Takis Anamisis, 55 and Neofytos Psaras, 48, all from the eastern town of Paralimni noticed the Turkish patrol boat as they were gathering their nets.

Three Turkish soldiers fired shots indiscriminately against the four men. One of the boats, where Tamenos was, was hit by eight bullets.

The Turkish boat sped away, having collected the fishing nets worth more about eight thousand dollars.

CNA MA/MAN/MM/EC/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1725:CYPPRESS:04

[04] Spokesman - British Bases - Tractor

The government has welcomed this as a positive move. The Turkish Cypriot, who was driving the tractor, was charged with a variety of motoring offences and is due to appear before a British court in about three weeks time. He was released on bail.

"This is a positive incident as the British Bases have behaved in an appropriate manner that shows respect for the sovereignty of the Republic and the human rights of its citizens," Government Spokesman Christos Stylianides said here today.

Lazaros Petrou, 69, from Agios Theodoros village in the Karpass peninsula, abandoned his tractor in the summer of 1974 as he fled the Turkish advancing forces, which now occupy the island's northern areas.

Police, in one of the sovereign bases Britain has retained since it granted Cyprus its independence in 1960, located the vehicle in Dhekelia area earlier this month and stopped it for breach of driving regulations.

The police established the tractor did not belong to the Turkish Cypriot, who had come from the occupied areas, and with the assistance of the Cypriot police they found its legal owner, who identified his tractor.

CNA MA/MM/EC/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1730:CYPPRESS:05

[05] Ireland - Labour Party - Visit

Quinn will have talks with EDEK on the Cyprus question, Cyprus' European Union accession course and matters of mutual interest, including enhancing the already close ties between the two parties.

The Irish politician will be received by Acting President of the Republic, House President, Spyros Kyprianou.

Quinn will be accompanied by party press officer Tom Butler.

CNA MM/EC/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1955:CYPPRESS:06

[06] UN - Protests - Turkish Military

The UN will also remind the government of Cyprus that care should be taken to avoid crossing into the area at sea, which the Turkish occupation forces claim as theirs.

"UNFICYP strongly protested to the Turkish army through military channels over the excessive use of power and told them that delivering shots, which they claim were warning shots, is inexcusable conduct because it may endanger lives," UN spokesman Waldemar Rokoszweski told CNA today.

The protests came after a Turkish patrol boat fired shots at the fishermen, claiming they had crossed a maritime security zone the Turkish occupation forces enforce illegally.

The zone, they claim, is an extension of the areas of the Republic Turkey occupies since 1974 when its troops invaded the island.

There were no injuries during the incident but one of the boats was hit.

"This is not the first time we have protested to Turkish army," the UN spokesman said, but refrained from revealing any further details about either the Turkish response or the nature of the protest.

He also said there are no buoys marking the maritime security zone but there is a UN observation post on land, clearly marking where the UN buffer zone is.

Rokoszweski said the UN has often reminded the Cyprus authorities that people should do their utmost to avoid crossing the security zone.

He said the UN will make the same reminder to the government on this occasion too.

CNA MM/EC/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

2040:CYPPRESS:07

[07] Spokesman - Pangalos

"There is no issue at hand, arising from the Minister's comments. He made it clear that Greece backs Cyprus and conveyed the message that the sovereignty of the Republic of Cyprus should be respected," Government Spokesman Christos Stylianides said here today at his daily press briefing.

The Greek FM, Theodoros Pangalos, said Monday in Athens that Greece "intervenes in an advisory manner, whenever asked, and the issue of the Russian anti-aircraft missiles the Cyprus government has purchased is a matter for the Republic of Cyprus alone."

Pangalos, who was speaking only a few days before a crucial meeting in the Greek capital between the two governments, pointed out that the joint defence pact between Athens and Nicosia does not mean joint decisions for "every move the government of Cyprus makes."

Stylianides said Pangalos' comments "had specific recipients, mainly abroad" and stressed that "the essence of the joint strategy and tactics Cyprus and Greece apply is not revoked at any one time."

He pointed out that decisions by the Cypriot political leadership are taken at the level of the National Council, the top advisory body to the President on the handling of the Cyprus question.

He clarified that the decision to purchase the Russian missiles was a joint decision, taken as part of the defence pact, agreed in November 1993 between the two governments.

Referring to the Athens meeting, Stylianides said "Cyprus and Greece meet to assess jointly the current situation in the Cyprus problem, to evaluate Cyprus' accession course to the European Union and discuss how to deal with both issues in the future."

The Athens meeting, on Thursday, will also tackle defence matters, including the purchase of the Russian missiles, the Spokesman said.

The Spokesman added that the issue of the Russian missiles will not be decided in Athens but it will be discussed as part of the joint defence pact.

Replying to questions, he said both governments consider the resumption of the intercommunal dialogue and the demilitarisation of Cyprus as very important matters and look at the accession course as a significant strategic goal.

The Spokesman's comments about Pangalos' views were echoed by Defence Minister Yiannakis Omirou who said "the central point of Pangalos' comments is that Greece stands by our side and Hellenism has a unified front."

Omirou, who will also be in Athens for Thursday's meeting, said the defence pact cannot be undermined in any way."

CNA MA/MM/EC/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

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