Cyprus News Agency: News in English (PM), 98-09-08

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

CONTENTS

[01] Cyprus Stock Exchange

[02] Water - Minister - US

[03] Party leaders - Cyprus question

[04] Cyprus - Israel - Turkey

1505:CYPPRESS:01

[01] Cyprus Stock Exchange

   CSE General Index                          88.28 (-0.07)

   Traded Value            CYP 1,161,717

   Sectural Indices

   Banks                   CYP   653,393     103.83 ( 0.26)
   Approved Investment
   Companies               CYP    55,044      58.92 ( 0.41)
   Insurance Companies     CYP    44,113      58.95 (-0.67)
   Manufacturing Companies CYP    71,586      84.95 (-0.71)
   Tourism Companies       CYP   135,883      71.34 (-0.45)
   Trading Companies       CYP    30,476      41.02 (-2.15)
   Other Companies         CYP    49,979      76.88 (-0.39)

CNA MCH/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1600:CYPPRESS:02

[02] Water - Minister - US

Minister of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environment, Costas Themistocleous, met here today US Ambassador to Cyprus Kenneth Brill and carried their discussions forward with a view to defining projects of cooperation.

Brill said he briefed the Minister on the work of a US geological survey team which is looking into putting together a project useful for those who have a responsibility for managing ground water supplies in Cyprus.

Noting work is still in its early stages, Brill said there is excellent cooperation with ministry officials, whom he described as "very excellent professionals."

The Minister said US know-how and expertise will prove useful for Cyprus, adding that cooperation and contacts on the issue of water are continuing.

"American help is important for us as the situation in terms of water is very difficult. We hope that soon we will see some results," he said.

He added the US and the UN assist contact with the Turkish Cypriot side to talk issues relating to water.

"We expect to have some kind of response from the Turkish Cypriots," he said.

Water reserves in the country's dams are only 6,5 per cent of the total capacity and are expected to last until the end of the year.

"We hope that the operation of a second desalination unit near Larnaca will solve the water shortage by the year 2000," the minister concluded.

CNA RG/MM/MCH/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1740:CYPPRESS:03

[03] Party leaders - Cyprus question

Leaders of all parties, in and out of Parliament, who make up the National Council outlined their views at a lengthy meeting here today, chaired by President Glafcos Clerides, in the aftermath of the unacceptable proposal, already rejected by the government.

Ruling rightwing Democratic Rally Deputy President, Panayiotis Demetriou said the Council discussed in depth the current situation and said the Turkish Cypriot proposal is both a strategic goal as well as a tactical move on the part of Turkey.

On the possibility of a Cyprus debate before the UN General Assembly, Demetriou said the international political arena within the UN and the difficulties of such a move should be taken into account before a decision is made.

The main opposition leftwing party AKEL believes the government should take its case to the UN Assembly and respond in a decisive mood to the new Turkish provocation.

AKEL General Secretary Demetris Christofias said "we have to turn to our advantage the decisions of international organisations about a unified state with one sovereignty and a single personality."

He said the government does not appear too eager to take the Cyprus question to the Assembly and called on the Greek Cypriot side to insist on a solution based on the high level agreements, providing for a bizonal, bicommunal federation.

House President and leader of the centre-right Democratic Party Spyros Kyprianou said "we must turn out attention to the 1960 agreements (which set up the independent, sovereign Republic of Cyprus) and not to a confederal solution, if the Turkish side formally rejects a federation."

These agreements, he pointed out, are a historic compromise which the Greek Cypriot side had to make.

Denktash's proposal, he added, is not a new plan for a settlement in Cyprus but a composition of the various positions of the Turkish side.

Kyprianou said the response of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council should be taken into account when deciding whether to take the matter to the Assembly.

Socialist EDEK leader Vassos Lyssarides called for pressure on Turkey to shift its intransigent positions on Cyprus and added "the Turkish position is an affront to international law and the UN resolutions on Cyprus which call for respect of the Republic's independence, territorial integrity and sovereignty."

"We have to launch a campaign to inform the world community about the realities of the Turkish proposal and outline our reaction to it," he said.

Leader of the United Democrats, George Vassiliou, fully backed today's decision to consider a possible recourse to the UN Assembly after the New York contacts party leaders will have at the end of the month.

He said the new element in Denktash's proposal is the fact that Turkey identified itself fully with the proposal, which is contrary to the Treaty of Guarantee which rejects division.

"Turkish intransigence is at its peak following Denktash's proposal," he added.

Nicos Koustou, leader of the New Horizons party, pointed to the need for a new strategy and said Turkey had been for quite some time now promoting systematically the idea of confederation.

"This is a change of strategy and we need a new strategy ourselves to confront this and free ourselves from the choices Turkey has put forward," Koustou said.

CNA RG/MM/MCH/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1940:CYPPRESS:04

[04] Cyprus - Israel - Turkey

He reiterated his government's position that the agreement is not directed against any third party and welcomed the improvement of bilateral relations between Cyprus and Israel, as reflected in the exchange of visits by officials.

Speaking to the press, Tzur said the possibility of Israeli help to Turkey in case of hostilities in Cyprus was not raised at Monday's meeting between Israeli Premier Benjamin Netanyahu and his Turkish counterpart, Mesut Yilmaz.

Israeli Defence Minister, Tzur explained, denied that the issue of the Russian missiles Cyprus intends to deploy on the island was on the agenda of talks with Yilmaz.

"We are not involved in it, we have not been asked about it and this is our stand," he said.

Replying to questions, he said the defence agreement with Turkey "has nothing to harm Cyprus or any third country," noting that the Defence Minister himself "referred specifically to Cyprus because he is aware of what is going on."

Commenting on the upgrading of Turkish aircraft with Israeli technology, Tzur repeated that whatever Israel does with Turkey is not turned against any third party.

He said that Turkey did not buy aircraft from Israel and Turkish planes are not equipped with Israeli technology.

"I think singling out Israel is a bit misleading," he added. Referring to a statement by Netanyahu that the agreement with Turkey forms an axis on which a new regional security system is developed, Tzur said the Prime Minister was referring to regional security.

"We want to see many countries joining the security region, if you have 10-15 countries from the Eastern Mediterranean taking part in this kind of cooperation, this region will be safer and secure," he concluded.

CNA MM/MCH/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

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