Cyprus News Agency: News in English (PM), 98-09-23

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

CONTENTS

[01] Clinton - Bi-monthly report - Cyprus

[02] CyServ '98 - Services sector - OEV

[03] Russia - Denktash's proposal

[04] Bank of Cyprus - New York Representative Office

[05] Kyprianou - Letters - Parliaments

[06] Cem - Denktash's Proposal - Moratorium

1700 CYPPRESS:01

[01] Clinton - Bi-monthly report - Cyprus

In his bi-monthly report to the Congress on progress in the Cyprus problem, covering the period June 1 to July 31, 1998, the US President notes that:

"Landings of combat aircraft on Cyprus by Greece and Turkey in mid-July, escalated tensions in the region and complicated efforts to reach a bizonal, bicommunal settlement on the island".

He stresses, however, that "despite this, we intensified our efforts to restart the negotiating process".

"US representatives underscored my concern with the leaders of both Cypriot communities as well as Greek and Turkish officials, and urged all parties to concentrate on ways to take those steps that will lead to solving the Cyprus problem," the US President remarks.

Clinton also points out that UN Secretary-General, Kofi Annan, "issued two reports on the UN Peacekeeping Forces in Cyprus (UNFICYP) and the UN Mission of Good Offices in Cyprus".

He adds that "thereafter, the UN Security Council adopted two resolutions, one renewing the UNFICYP mandate for a six-month period and another endorsing the Secretary-General's Good Offices Mission".

CNA DA/RG/MCH/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1805 CYPPRESS:02

[02] CyServ '98 - Services sector - OEV

CyServ '98, a professional exhibition, will gather 32 participants from Cyprus, Greece, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon and Malta.

The Exhibition is co-organised by the Employers and Industrialists Federation (OEV), one of Cyprus' two main employers' organisations, and the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Tourism.

Speaking at a press conference on the Exhibition, OEV's Director General Antonis Pierides said Cyprus' economic future lies in the services sector.

He said more than five thousand people are expected to visit CyServ '98 mainly professionals, adding the Exhibition is a major event which constitutes a "bridge for Euro - Mediterranean co-operation".

Participants include companies and organisations related to the services sector such as consultancy, accounting, advertising, information- technology, market research, banking, tourism, education etc.

The European Union and representatives of the employers' organisations from the participating countries will also participate, Pierides noted.

President of the Republic, Glafcos Clerides, will open the Exhibition, while Minister of Commerce, Industry and Tourism Nicos Rolanids and OEV's Chairman Andreas Pittas will address the opening ceremony.

A public debate on promoting the export of services and an international conference on "Business Centres of the Future" which will be addressed by distinguished personalities, will take place on the sidelines of CyServ '98.

OEV's Director General expressed confidence that by the year 2000 the total of the Mediterranean countries will participate in CyServ.

The services sector accounts for around 73 per cent of Cyprus' GDP.

CNA GG/MCH/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1900:CYPPRESS:03

[03] Russia - Denktash's proposal

Pointing out that Denktash's proposal "is contrary to the parametres of corresponding UN resolutions and in fact counterproductive," Spokesman for the Russian Foreign Ministry, Vladimir Rahmanin, said this is just a new attempt of the Turkish occupation regime for recognition.

Speaking to "Novosti", Rahmanin added that the most recent UN Security Council resolution 1179, once more confirmed that:

"A settlement in Cyprus should be based on a single state, with one sovereignty, one international representation and one citizenship within the framework of a bicommunal and bizonal federation."

He said Russia has consistently supported a resumption of a bicommunal dialogue, based on the parametres set by the international community, "to provide a solid and fair settlement in Cyprus for the benefit of all Cypriots, Greek and Turkish".

CNA MCH/RG/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1900 CYPPRESS:04

[04] Bank of Cyprus - New York Representative Office

New York, Sep 23 (CNA) -- The Bank of Cyprus group today announced the inauguration of its New York Representative Office, which it considers "a firm first step" towards internationalising the Group.

Group Vice Chairman, Christos Pantzaris, told a press conference here that "we regard the opening of this office a challenge for the Bank" and said "it gives us the opportunity to be represented in the world's most important financial centre".

Pantzaris expressed the view that in the future, the New York Office "will be of crucial importance to the Group's further progress and expansion".

He said the Office will maintain close contacts with the Cypriot and Greek communities and noted that it aims at catering for their needs and giving them information on the economic, cultural and other developments in Cyprus.

It also aims at developing ties with international banks, institutional investors and offshore companies.

Pantzaris pointed out that a number of US off-shore companies operate from Cyprus and the Bank wants to develop this area.

He said the Bank of Cyprus Group intends to "study the market and then decide when to start full banking operations in the US", noting that this is the procedure followed in Greece, where the Group now operates 13 branches, expected to grow to 25 by the year 2000.

The Bank is the oldest financial institution in Cyprus and in the first six months of 1998 had operational profits of 28.4 million pounds (55.5 million US dollars).

It operates full branches in the United Kingdom, catering exclusively for the Cypriot and Greek communities, and has representative offices in Australia, South Africa and Russia.

CNA MA/RG/MCH/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

2040:CYPPRESS:05

[05] Kyprianou - Letters - Parliaments

Pointing out that Turkish intransigence has reached its peak in 1998, Spyros Kyprianou makes special reference to proposals put forward for a confederation of two states on the island.

Such proposals are contrary to international law, the UN Charter and relevant UN resolutions, Kyprianou noted, adding that for this reason they have been rejected by the UN Security Council and the European Union.

Expressing Greek Cypriot concern over the recent Turkish move, Kyprianou said it shows that Ankara remains negative and prepared to undermine all efforts towards a just and viable solution of the Cyprus problem.

He noted the violation of fundamental human rights and freedoms as a result of the artificial division of the island, since the 1974 Turkish invasion.

He also pointed to the policy of ethnic cleansing practised by Turkey in the occupied part of the island and the influx of Turkish settlers in an attempt to alter the demographic character of the country.

Concluding, the House President expressed the conviction that the international community will assist efforts for justice in Cyprus, and points to the special responsibility of the US and the EU in this direction.

CNA MCH/RG/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

2115:CYPPRESS:06

[06] Cem - Denktash's Proposal - Moratorium

New York, Sep 23 (CNA) -- Turkish Foreign Minister, Ismail Cem, claimed today that the proposal put forward by Turkish Cypriot leader, Rauf Denktash, for a confederation of two states in Cyprus was in line with UN resolutions in Cyprus.

He also answered "why" when asked whether Turkey would be prepared to accept a moratorium of military flights over Cyprus.

Responding to questions by Greek Cypriot journalists, Cem said he believed the proposal put forward last month by Denktash was "constructive, because it is for unity, not for separation".

The Turkish Foreign Minister, claimed that "when we talk about UN resolutions we should not see them as a very rigid set up but we should look into their essence".

He expressed the view that it would be wiser if we considered "what they aim at - unity, a mutually accepted solution".

"When we talk about the resolutions we should not forget they are all for mutual acceptance", he added.

According to Cem, "what Denktash has proposed goes in line with the essence of what supposedly all parties are advocating and is in line with the essence of UN resolutions. I think there should be more serious thought given", he stressed.

Last August, Denktash proposed the establishment of a "Cyprus confederation" which, as he claimed, was "the only structure" to safeguard, the security, identity and well-being of Greek and Turkish Cypriots.

Denktash's proposal is contrary to UN resolutions calling for the establishment of a bicommunal, bizonal federation with a single international personality and citizenship.

CNA MA/MCH/RG/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

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