Cyprus News Agency: News in English (PM), 98-10-07

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

CONTENTS

[01] Cyprus Stock Exchange

[02] Spokesman - Cyprus question

[03] Women - Politics - Seminar

[04] Finland - Foreign Minister - Visit

[05] Hercus - Shuttle talks

[06] Kyprianou - Simitis - EU

[07] Education Ministry - Rizokarpaso school

[08] Cyprus - South-Africa - Ministers - Cooperation

[09] Kasoulides - arrival - statements

1500:CYPPRESS:01

[01] Cyprus Stock Exchange

   CSE General Index                          84.44 (-0.51)

   Traded Value            CYP 1,159,452

   Sectural Indices

   Banks                   CYP   588,158      98.51 (-0.58)
   Approved Investment
   Companies               CYP    18,306      58.99 (-0.46)
   Insurance Companies     CYP    52,390      57.42 (-0.09)
   Manufacturing Companies CYP   228,237      81.22 (-0.17)
   Tourism Companies       CYP    34,339      68.16 (-0.55)
   Trading Companies       CYP    35,795      38.92 (-1.57)
   Other Companies         CYP    77,124      77.21 (-0.35)

CNA MCH/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1500:CYPPRESS:02

[02] Spokesman - Cyprus question

Government Spokesman Christos Stylianides said "our position is clear and specific. There is no doubt how the government and the political leadership will react to should the Turkish Cypriot side put forward proposals for confederation during shuttle diplomacy talks."

The government and political parties rejected outright a proposal by the Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash to set up a confederation in Cyprus, a move contrary to existing agreements between the Greek and Turkish Cypriot sides and to UN resolutions.

Speaking after today's cabinet meeting, the spokesman said the government "believes President Clerides should have some clarifications at the first meetings about talks on the reduction of tension and security issues."

Commenting on the Turkish Cypriot position that UN-sponsored talks will be conducted on the basis of the proposal for a Cyprus confederation, Stylianides replied "once more the Turkish Cypriot side is trying to revoke events and facts as these have been shaped within the framework of the Security Council, the UN Secretary-General and the joint statement of the foreign ministers of the permanent members of the Security Council."

The statement backed the resumption of a sustained process of direct negotiations to achieve a comprehensive political settlement "in accordance with the Security Council resolutions."

Turkish troops have been occupying 37 per cent of Cyprus territory since 1974, in violation of repeated UN resolutions calling for their withdrawal.

CNA EC/MM/GP/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1500:CYPPRESS:03

[03] Women - Politics - Seminar

The President will open the meeting, which will be addressed by prominent overseas activists in women's issues, including MBE (member of the British empire award winner) Lesley Abdela for her contribution to women in politics, Baroness Glenys Thornton and Peter Coleman, who had the principal responsibility for the selection of Westminster Parliamentary Candidates for the 1997 general election in which the number of Labour party women deputies increased from 37 to 101.

Justice and Public Order Minister Nicos Kosis, British High Commissioner David Madden, party leaders and women deputies will also address the opening ceremony.

The three-day seminar is organised by the Cyprus National Machinery for the Advancement of Women in cooperation with the British Council in Nicosia and the Commonwealth Secretariat.

British experts on the theme of the workshop will train about fifty participants, men and women, under Lesley Abdela, who has visited Cyprus in the past and prepared a report on how to increase women's participation in political life.

Participants will exchange views on the Cypriot experience and the hurdles and assets women on the island face in moving up the political ladder.

Workshops will deal with campaigns for a more woman friendly culture in politics, women in politics and the European Union and the British experience in the increase of women deputies.

Discussions will also focus on the role of the media in the creation of a woman friendly environment, advocacy skills, lobbying for change inside and outside a political party.

CNA MM/MA/GP/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1500:CYPPRESS:04

[04] Finland - Foreign Minister - Visit

Finnish Ambassador to Cyprus, Pasi Patokallio, who is based in Tel Aviv, told CNA the purpose of the visit is "to further our good bilateral ties and discuss issues of mutual interest in view of the fact that Cyprus is engaged in accession negotiations with the EU and Finland is an EU member."

He also said talks will cover the Cyprus problem. Halonen will be received Monday morning by President Glafcos Clerides and then meet House President Spyros Kyprianou.

Later on the same day, she will have talks at the Foreign Ministry with Minister Ioannis Kasoulides.

In the afternoon she will see Cyprus' chief EU negotiator George Vassiliou and give a lecture on "Finland in the EU -membership from the perspective of a small country" at the European Institute.

Asked if she will see Turkish Cypriot leader, Rauf Denktash, the Finnish Ambassador said as far as he knows Denktash "will not be on the island so the issue does not arise."

A tentative meeting with UN chief of mission Dame Ann Hercus is scheduled for Tuesday morning, he added.

The Finnish Minister leaves Tuesday afternoon.

CNA MM/MCH/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1630:CYPPRESS:05

[05] Hercus - Shuttle talks

Speaking on her return, Dame Ann clarified that her "introductory visit" to Turkey was scheduled before her recent trip to New York and said that she met the Foreign Minsters of both countries and other ministry officials.

"Both visits were very productive as I now have direct contacts in Athens and Ankara. In both capitals I had very useful discussions which provide a positive perspective for my efforts," she said.

Hercus added she will soon start shuttle talks with the two sides in Cyprus, underlining they "will be held behind closed doors."

"I note there has already been a lot of speculation before the talks have even started which I find, frankly, unhelpful," she said.

She reiterated a statement attributable to the UN spokesman for the Secretary General, issued in New York on September 30, in which she has been asked to develop "a process for on-island contacts with both parties, with the goal of reducing tensions and promoting progress towards a just and lasting settlement".

"Both leaders expressed their support for such a process and have promised to cooperate with it in a constructive and flexible manner," the statement adds.

Hercus reminded what she had said at her press conference in Nicosia, last Saturday, that "the SG believes that the process which he has announced is best undertaken completely away from the media."

"Mr Clerides and Mr Denktash agree with that view so please don't expect me to break rules agreed by the SG, Mr Clerides and Mr Denktash," she added.

The UN resident representative refrained from replying to questions, noting that "diplomacy is best taken behind closed doors" and that she intends to obey her boss.

CNA MAN/MA/MCH/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1640:CYPPRESS:06

[06] Kyprianou - Simitis - EU

"We will also have difficulties in this issue but they could be overcome," Kyprianou said after a meeting with Greek premier Costas Simitis in Athens.

"There is no doubt we will reach a crucial point where some countries will want to associate the settlement of the Cyprus problem to Cyprus' EU accession," he remarked.

Kyprianou, expressed the hope, however, this would not occur and if it did Greece would maintain the same stance it held earlier this week during a discussion on EU enlargement.

According to press reports, during the discussion, some EU member states tried to associate Cyprus' accession with a settlement to the protracted Cyprus problem, but faced strong reaction from Greece.

CNA KI/MA/MCH/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1655:CYPPRESS:07

[07] Education Ministry - Rizokarpaso school

In a written statement the ministry underlines that this is one more provocative and unacceptable act against the few remaining Greek Cypriots in the Turkish-occupied areas who live under unbearable oppression and fear.

Around 500 Greek Cypriots have remained in the areas of the Republic occupied by Turkish troops since they invaded in 1974, most of whom in the Karpass region.

Some 33 children are attending elementary schools in the occupied areas, while secondary school pupils are forced to leave their parents and homes to continue their schooling in the government-controlled areas.

In separate reports both the UN and the Council of Europe have described the living conditions of the Greek Cypriot enclaved as difficult.

According to the Turkish Cypriot press, the illegal "mayor" of Turkish occupied Rizokarpaso intends to illegally occupy one of the two schools used by Greek Cypriots for the school years 1999 to 2000.

The ministry notes that the illegal regime in Turkish occupied Cyprus has been following a policy of ethnic cleansing and is trying to find ways to force the few remaining Greek Cypriots to leave their homes and properties.

"The Ministry of Education and Culture is following the situation carefully and seriously and will take the necessary measures when and if it considers necessary," it concludes.

CNA MA/MCH/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1900 CYPPRESS:08

[08] Cyprus - South-Africa - Ministers - Cooperation

Nicosia, Oct 7 (CNA) -- The South-African government is positive to an agreement on military and technical cooperation with Cyprus Minister of Defence Yiannakis Omirou said today.

Omirou had a working lunch today with his South-African counterpart Joe Modise in Athens on the sidelines of the military fair "Defendory International 1998", which is taking place in the Greek capital.

Speaking to the press after the lunch, Omirou said they discussed the conclusion of an agreement on military and technical cooperation between the two countries, a draft of which has already been sent to the South- African Ministry of Defence.

He said the draft of the agreement deals with issues such as military training, the exchange of intelligence and the supply of armament.

Omirou noted he briefed his South-African counterpart on the latest developments on the Cyprus problem, adding that the new role of the Non- Aligned Movement was also discussed.

Both Ministers accepted invitations to visit each other's country.

CNA RG/GG/MCH/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

2135:CYPPRESS:09

[09] Kasoulides - arrival - statements

Speaking on his return from Luxembourg where he attended the European Conference, Kasoulides also dismissed the idea of a confederation of two states in Cyprus, pointing out that was ruled out by UN resolutions.

Kasoulides said he would brief the National Council (top advisory body to the President on the Cyprus problem) on his contacts both at the Non- Aligned Summit in Durban, South Africa and at the UN headquarters in New York, when it meets on Friday.

He said he would brief the National Council on the prospects of a discussion of the Cyprus problem at the UN General Assembly.

He described the present period at the General Assembly as "favourable", pointing out that "there is particular sensitivity on issues concerning implementation of international law, UN Security Council resolutions and respect of territorial integrity and sovereignty of states".

Kasoulides added that the UN General Assembly was also anxious "to condemn efforts to opening the 'Pandora box', by allowing revision of borders set after the second World War and the decolonisation".

Asked to comment on the UN-led shuttle talks to start on the island, Kasoulides said he was in complete agreement with the call of UN resident representative, Ann Hercus, that they should be kept "behind close doors".

"When we reach the stage of a proposal for a solution to the Cyprus problem, then that proposal will be brought before the people of Cyprus to decide through a referendum", he added.

He pointed out, however, Hercus was expected to move "within the framework set by UN resolutions and the UN Secretary General's good offices".

He said diplomatic contacts would start with no preconditions set, and if successful, they would lead to proximity talks, adding that "if the UN Secretary General considers that the time is ripe we will move to direct negotiations".

Asked, however, if the idea put forward by Turkish Cypriot leader, Rauf Denktash, of a confederation of two states in Cyprus, was ruled out, Kasoulides replied:

"It is not only us that rule it out. It is ruled out by UN resolutions on the basis of which Ann Hercus will work, and by the recent stance of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council."

Kasoulides said there was no time-table for the shuttle talks, but pointed out that they should be within reason.

Responding to a question on recent friction between Turkey and Syria, Kasoulides said, "Cyprus sympathises with Syria, which has our diplomatic support".

Pointing out that any developments in the area affect the Cyprus problem, he said for this reason "our foreign policy aims at good neighbourly relations. Our great wish and desire would be for Turkish troops withdrew from Cyprus so that we could also have good relations with Ankara," he stressed.

CNA MAN/MCH/GG/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

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