Cyprus News Agency: News in English (PM), 98-09-02

Cyprus News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

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

CONTENTS

[01] Mandela - NAM

[02] Cyprus - European youth meeting

[03] Cyprus Stock Exchange

[04] UN Secretary-General - NAM

[05] Turkish Cypriot politician - Proposal - Rejection

[06] President - Annan - NAM

1520:CYPPRESS:01

[01] Mandela - NAM

Durban, Sep 2 (CNA) -- The "twin issue of development and peace", the question of nuclear disarmament and the need for restructuring the UN were among the issues highlighted by South African President, Nelson Mandela, at the inaugural session of the 12th summit of heads of state or government of the Non-Aligned countries.

In his inaurugal speech, Mandela also made special reference to the need for a solution to the Cyprus problem, stressing that "the long- festering problem of Cyprus has to be solved."

The next NAM summit will take place in Bangladesh in 2001. Mandela, whose country took over the NAM chair from Colombia, praised the work of his predecessor towards better coordination among member-states, as well as that of Indonesia, who chaired the Movement before Colombia.

The South African President expressed gratitude to NAM for its critical role in the liberation of his country from the system of apartheid and added "during its tenure, South Africa will seek further to strengthen the Movement as well as contribute to its renewal, so that the NAM can discharge its historic mandate into the next century."

"The achievement of our goals depends critically on the collective interests of the developing countries being effectively addressed," Mandela pointed out.

The South African President wondered whether "wealth in one corner of the globe can be preserved when deprivation thrives in another."

"The question we must ask is whether the leaders in the developed world would have the vision and the courage to defy the inertia of orthodox prescriptions and draw on the impulse which made it possible to have a Marshall Plan and inspired the more recent effort by the Western part of Germany to rebuild the Eastern lander," he said.

He pointed out, however, that if such a demand is made of the peoples of the North "we cannot set different standards for ourselves. Indeed, the challenge we face is that we too should strive to lead by the example of ourselves set of leadership truly dedicated to serve the interests of our peoples."

In his speech, Mandela made special reference to the situation in the Congo, Lesotho, Angola, the Western Sahara, the Middle East, Cuba and Korea and welcomed the process of democratisation in Nigeria.

He said the critical question of disarmament must remain high on the NAM list or priorities and that the member states should continue their efforts in order to "achieve actual movement on this issue."

Mandela said the UN needs to be restructured, stressing that NAM should work towards speeding up the resolution of this question, "ensuring that the restructured organisation becomes reflective of and responsive to the interests of the larger world which this Movement represents."

Concluding, Mandela said that "out of this summit must come the message to which all who adhere to the vision of a humane world should subscribe: that our entire universe has to respond to the challenge to ensure that Africa, recongised as the weakest link in the development chain, itself becomes an example of the new world whose time has come."

CNA MCH/MM/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1525:CYPPRESS:02

[02] Cyprus - European youth meeting

The Nicosia meeting to be attended by 45 representatives from European, national and international youth councils, will be organised by the Cyprus Youth Council for International Co-operation (CYCIC).

Cyprus Justice and Public Order Minister, in charge of youth affairs, Nicos Kosis, will address the opening session on Friday, September 4.

Among the issues to be discussed is youth's position in the European Union. The CYCIC will brief foreign participants on the Cyprus problem and the process of Cyprus' accession to the European Union.

A debate will also take place on "European Union's enlargement", with the participation of an EU commissioner and diplomats from the Foreign Ministries of Cyprus and Germany.

CNA DG/GP/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1555:CYPPRESS:03

[03] Cyprus Stock Exchange

   CSE General Index                          88.40 (-0.15)

   Traded Value            CYP 1,429,474

   Sectural Indices

   Banks                   CYP   897,083     103.10 ( 0.03)
   Approved Investment
   Companies               CYP    49,244      59.01 ( 0.10)
   Insurance Companies     CYP    55,185      60.26 ( 0.22)
   Manufacturing Companies CYP   180,763      86.87 (-0.65)
   Tourism Companies       CYP    26,365      71.40 (-0.75)
   Trading Companies       CYP    23,757      42.65 (-1.11)
   Other Companies         CYP    81,035      77.21 (-0.62)

CNA MM/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1650:CYPPRESS:10

[04] UN Secretary-General - NAM

Durban, Sep 2 (CNA) -- The need for strong and successful states as the best recipe for conflict prevention was pointed out today by UN Secretary- General, Kofi Annan, in his address to the 12th Summit of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM).

Expressing pleasure for the fact that the 12th NAM Summit is being held in South Africa, which was for so many years thought as "the enemy, because of its apartheid regime," the UN Chief said this Summit takes place at "an extraordinary time in human history".

"In many ways it is a time of hope and excitement," Annan said, pointing to new technologies bringing countries closer together, the end of the Cold War, international agreements banning the production of some of the most lethal weapons, the celebration of 50 years of the Universal Declaration of Human rights and the adoption of the Rome Statute on the International Criminal Court.

"Increasingly it is understood that human rights are not simply a matter of civil and political freedom," Annan said and stressed that "genuine freedom of choice requires economic, social and cultural emancipation too."

The UN Secretary-General pointed out, however, that "we are also meeting in a time of turmoil and uncertainty" and made special reference to the problems caused by globalisation.

"Globalisation has raised living standards for many, but its volatility has made life more difficult for many others, whose lives have been dislocated by change. Moreover, it threatens to leave a great part of the world behind," the UN Chief warned.

Annan noted that "the continent of Africa especially has more than its share of the world's problems, from AIDS through poverty and famine to ethnic conflict and even genocide."

Referring to suggestions for a world conference on terrorism, Annan stressed that "this should at least be seriously considered".

The UN chief also pointed to the financial crisis faced by a number of countries, which as he said, "some people blame this crisis on globalisation".

"We cannot hold back the tide of technological and social change," Annan said, but stressed that "the idea that globalisation makes the state unnecessary or irrelevant is utterly wrong."

"We are seeing the birth of global civil society. Non-govenmental groups from all parts of the world come together for global causes - from the ban on land mines or the punishment of war criminals to the eradication of poverty and the promotion of sustainable development," he noted.

He said these groups "cannot replace the state" and stressed that "on the contrary, most of their activities are directed at the state that is, at influencing state policies towards their view of the common good."

The UN Chief said that the groups and individuals who stand to lose from change need protection against its social consequences, while those with most to gain also need to ensure that competition is fair and governed by clear rules.

"The saddest countries in the world today are those where the State has failed, and civil society is left at the mercy of warring factions," Annan said.

"A strong and successful state is by far the best recipe for conflict prevention," he pointed out, stressing that "if a state wants popular support it must be honest, approachable, transparent and above all effective."

"The only answer is for states to work together, making use of the multilateral institutions they have build up over the decades, including this very Movement," Annan remarked, adding that:

"In the end all these efforts must come together at the global level, which means at the UN."

The chance to make progress on a number of global questions will come in two weeks' time when the UN General Assembly holds a high-level dialogue on the social and economic impact of globalisation, the UN Chief said.

"The UN remains the unique, indispensable forum where such global issues can be discussed," Annan pointed out, remarking, however, that the international organisation "is far from perfect".

"I am grateful to the Non-Aligned countries for the support they have already given to my reform proposals, and look forward to working with you to push the process further forward in the coming General Assembly session, "he said and added:

"The UN belongs to you. It is in your own interest to see it work efficiently."

CNA MCH/MM/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1900:CYPPRESS:05

[05] Turkish Cypriot politician - Proposal - Rejection

The proposal was rejected outright by the government of the Republic of Cyprus as unacceptable and absurd and contrary to UN resolutions.

Speaking at a press conference today in Turkish occupied Nicosia, Mehmet Ali Talat said that tension can be defused only through talks, adding that the objective to set up a federation should not have been abandoned.

He also said the proposal for confederation does not comply with the Treaties of Guarantee and Alliance and pointed out that Denktash has been saying he was ready too discuss everything on the basis of two states.

Talat said the international community believed that the word "everything" would include discussions on the idea of a federation.

He pointed out that people now see that federation has been abandoned and there is now talk about confederation, which violates the high level agreements the Greek and Turkish Cypriot sides signed in 1977 and 1979, the UN resolutions, as well as the interests of the Turkish Cypriots.

Furthermore, he stressed, the proposal justifies the Greek Cypriot side, which has been saying that Denktash does not want a federation, but a confederation.

Talat also complained that he was notified of the proposal just a few hours before it was publicised, adding that the so-called "parliament" of the illegal regime in the Turkish occupied areas has not "authorised" Denktash to make such a move.

Finally, he said that the terms of the proposal were outlined in a way meant to be rejected by the Greek Cypriot side.

CNA RG/MM/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1935:CYPPRESS:06

[06] President - Annan - NAM

Durban, Sep 2 (CNA) -- The President of the Republic, Glafcos Clerides, is scheduled to meet here Thursday UN Secretary-General, Kofi Annan.

The meeting is taking place in the wake of a proposal Turkish Cypriot leader, Rauf Denktash, presented to the press for the establishment of a confederation of two sovereign and equal states.

The President rejected the proposal and described it as unacceptable and absurd, and said it is contrary to UN resolutions, international law and agreements Denktash himself has signed to set up a federation in Cyprus.

Earlier today, President Clerides had separate meetings with Algerian President Lemaine Zeroual, and Colombian President Andres Pastrana.

Later today he is meeting Iranian President Sheikh Mohammad Khatami. The President addressed the opening ceremony of the 12th Non-Aligned Summit on behalf of the European group.

Clerides is due to address the two-day meeting tomorrow morning, in his capacity as President of the Republic of Cyprus.

Foreign Minister, Ioannis Kasoulides, in Durban accompanying the President, met today his Chinese counterpart Tang Jiaxuan, who reiterated his country's insistence on UN resolutions on Cyprus and the maintenance of the present basis of negotiations for a Cyprus solution.

Kasoulides also met with Indian Foreign Minister, V. Raje, whom he briefed on the latest developments in the Cyprus question.

CNA MCH/MM/RG/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

Cyprus News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article