Cyprus News Agency: News in English (PM), 98-10-08

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

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

CONTENTS

[01] Galanos - Eurodemocratic Renewal Party

[02] "CyServ '98" - Services

[03] Omirou - Greek Air Industry

[04] House President - Cyprus question

[05] Cypriot artist - Anti-drugs campaign

[06] House sessions resume

1445:CYPPRESS:01

[01] Galanos - Eurodemocratic Renewal Party

"The Eurodemocratic Renewal Party has a very important role to play," Galanos told a press conference, at which he announced the decision taken yesterday by the central committee.

Galanos had broken ranks with the centre-right Democratic Party (DIKO), of which he served as Vice-President, before last February's presidential elections after disagreing with a DIKO decision to back independent candidate George Iacovou. He had backed the re-election of Glafcos Clerides.

The party leader reiterated his support to the Clerides government, but said it would not hesitate to criticise it particularly on internal issues.

Galanos underlined the need for "better governance and greater emphasis to economic issues."

He said the Eurodemocratic Renewal Party (ERP) aims at upgrading political behaviour, attitudes and ideology "which is necessary in Cyprus' political life today".

The ERP president said it demands an equal role to other political parties and wants to participate in the National Council (the top advisory body to the President on the Cyprus issue).

On the Cyprus question, Galanos fully backed President Clerides' handling of the issue, especially with regard to the possibility of peace talks taking place and the Republic's European Union accession course.

However, he did not appear very hopeful for a breakthrough in the protracted Cyprus problem due to the Turkish side's intransigence.

Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkish troops invaded and occupied 37 per cent of its territory.

CNA GG/MA/GP/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1745:CYPPRESS:02

[02] "CyServ '98" - Services

Opening the four-day exhibition, President Glafcos Clerides said "the government is promoting and staunchly supporting the efforts to turn Cyprus into a regional services centre."

Noting the services sector contributes 73 per cent to the country's GNP (Gross National Product), he said Cyprus aims to achieve even better results that will have a positive effect on all sectors of the country's economic activity.

"This year's exhibition offers the opportunity for strengthening ties with the European Union, the neighbouring countries of the Middle East and the Balkan states," he said.

Some 30 services companies from Greece, Israel, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon and Malta, and more than fifty from Cyprus are participating in this year's exhibition.

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

The exhibition, co-organised by the Employers and Industrialists Federation (OEV), one of Cyprus' two main employers' organisations, and the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Tourism is expected to attract more than 5,000 visitors.

In his remarks at the opening, Industry Minister Nicos Rolandis said "we are confident that this effort will be crowned with success and strengthen the bonds of friendship and cooperation both with countries in Europe and with the friendly neighbouring states."

"Prospects for the further enlargement of the services sector not only in Cyprus but also in other countries are good, particularly as regards non- traditional sectors and sub-sectors of the broader field of services," the minister said.

He noted that the globalisation of the economy and the liberalisation of trade have created new demands, which resulted in a substantive increase of productivity of services.

Rolandis said the government aims to maintain Cyprus as a competitive centre which offers quality services.

OEV President Andreas Pittas described the exhibition as a "landmark" event and added "we are convinced that efforts to render "CyServ" more of an international exhibition must continue.

CNA GG/MM/MA/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1830:CYPPRESS:03

[03] Omirou - Greek Air Industry

Athens, Oct 8 (CNA) -- The prospects for cooperation between the Cyprus Republic and the Greek Air Industry (EAB) will be examined, Defence Minister Yiannakis Omirou said today.

"We are impressed with EAB's standard, especially its high technology," Omirou told reporters during a visit at the industry's premises.

He added that "we have discussed the possibility of cooperation between the Cyprus Republic and EAB" and said this issue will be looked into in the next few months.

Omirou, who went to Greece to attend the "Defendory International 1998" exhibition, will return to Cyprus tonight.

CNA RG/MA/MM/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1835:CYPPRESS:04

[04] House President - Cyprus question

Kyprianou also believes that the recent US attempts to break the deadlock in Cyprus has not yielded any positive results and is convinced that Turkey's objective is some kind of a settlement tantamount to ethnic cleansing.

Speaking on arrival from Athens, Kyprianou said he has information indicating that the fresh UN effort "aims at this stage to find a formula to avoid bringing to Cyprus the Russian S300 missiles."

Commenting on the fact that the UN process will be conducted behind closed doors, Kyprianou backed the idea of some degree of confidentiality but noted that people who have a say should be informed in order to outline their views on the matter.

Kyprianou, who met the Greek Prime Minister as part of a series of meetings Costas Simitis is having with Greek Cypriot party leaders, said "neither Greece nor Cyprus are prepared to accept ethnic cleansing in Cyprus, which many are now asking of us."

The Turkish side, he added, has not shifted from its intransigent position since no pressure was exerted.

"Everybody acknowledges that the US involvement has not yielded positive results and nobody doubts that Turkey's aim is to find some kind of settlement which in reality means ethnic cleansing," Kyprianou said

Describing his meetings in Athens as "significant and substantive", he said he exchanged views with the Greek political leadership about current developments in the Cyprus question, the present deadlock and the difficulties ahead.

Cyprus' course for European Union accession was also part of the Athens talks, Kyprianou noted and added "this continues to be the only ray of hope in the horizon."

CNA RM/MM/MA/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1950:CYPPRESS:05

[05] Cypriot artist - Anti-drugs campaign

Minister of Justice and Public Order Nicos Koshis praised the effort as it serves a social cause and said the concert is part of a wider campaign to bring home to people and especially the younger generation the perils of drug taking.

Koshis told a press conference today Tokas' work "Virgin Mary, the god bearer" is one of the artist's most creative work.

Replying to questions, the minister said a study about the use and trafficking of drugs is underway to bring to light the extent of the problem.

Tokas said the choice of the particular work is not coincidental as the music is based on texts written by a monk from the world famous monastery of Ayio Oros, northern Greece.

"Virgin Mary, the god bearer" is a beautifully composed work of art reminiscent of Byzantine hymns.

CNA AA/MM/MA/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

2020:CYPPRESS:06

[06] House sessions resume

The House honoured the 38th anniversary of the Cyprus Republic (celebrated on October 1) and deputies held a minute's silence in memory of its first president, the late Archbishop Makarios III.

"The Republic of Cyprus, in spite of all the imperfections and obstacles it had to tackle as a result of the circumstances of its establishment, has given the opportunity to the people of Cyprus to live in freedom and to prosper in democratic conditions," House President Spyros Kyprianou said.

The Cypriot people continue the struggle for freedom and justice, after the 1974 Turkish invasion and continuing occupation of Cyprus which divided the country.

"Ankara's intransigence and provocative attitude are hardened and the international community should be objective and support Cyprus until the end," he added.

CNA MM/MA/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

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