Cyprus News Agency: News in English (PM), 98-10-14

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

CONTENTS

[01] Cyprus - Cordovez - Confederation

[02] Minister of Labour - ILO - Seminar

[03] Rolandis - Israel

[04] Kythrea - "Big 5"

[05] Finance Minister - Stockbrokers - Economy

1700:CYPPRESS:01

[01] Cyprus - Cordovez - Confederation

"Either confederation or division are clearly not within the mandate of the UN Secretary-General's good offices mission," Kasoulides said Tuesday, invited to comment on statements made by Kofi Annan's special advisor on Cyprus, Diego Cordovez.

Speaking at a seminar organised by the European-Atlantic Group, in London on Monday, Cordovez described a proposal put forward by the Turkish Cypriot leader, which included the establishment of a confederation in Cyprus, as "substantive".

The Cyprus government, the UN and the Security Council permanent members have rejected the establishment of a confederation of two states in Cyprus and insist on the creation of a bizonal, bicommunal federation as stipulated by UN resolutions.

In his speech, Cordovez said that some commentators and analysts "have been saying for some time that Cyprus is slowly but inexorably sliding towards partition."

"In fact, several analyses affirm that partition has already taken place. Other commentators have seen Mr Denktash's latest proposal as confirmation that at least the Turkish Cypriot side has decided to formalise such political and legal situation. I do not agree," he added.

The UN chief's Cyprus advisor expressed the view that "it is much less important to argue about the name of a particular constitutional system as it is jointly to define what it means."

Noting this it not something that can be done publicly, Cordovez said "it is something that must be considered, in very specific terms, across a negotiating table."

"All kinds of ideas can then be exchanged and all sorts of proposals can be advanced. That is part of any negotiating process," he added.

UN and other efforts to reach a settlement in Cyprus, which has been divided since Turkish troops invaded and occupied 37 per cent of its territory in 1974, have so far been fruitless.

A new process has now been undertaken by UN resident representative Dame Ann Hercus who will begin shuttle talks between the two sides.

CNA MA/MCH/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1810:CYPPRESS:02

[02] Minister of Labour - ILO - Seminar

Moushouttas' hope was expressed in his address at the opening ceremony of the Seminar "Labour Policy Development and Social Dialogue in Central and Eastern Europe".

The address was read by acting Minister of Labour and Social Insurance, Minister of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environment, Costas Themistocleous.

The seven-day Seminar is being organised for the 13th year in a row by the Ministry of Labour and Social Insurance in cooperation with the International Labour Office (ILO).

Deputy Director of the ILO European Regional Office Orphal Hembrechts also attended the opening ceremony.

Participants in the first seminars were people representing the social partners of African and Asian countries and the Carribean, while in the past five years the seminars are organised exclusively for social partners from Central and Eastern Europe states.

This year the 26 participants come from nine countries, Albania, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia.

Referring to EU accession, which is the aim of many of these states, Moushouttas said it "will benefit our countries enormously in all spheres of activity, but specifically for Cyprus we hope that it will foster the establishment of permanent peace for the benefit of the Cyprus people as a whole".

In his address, Moushouttas noted that cooperation between Cyprus and the ILO "goes back to 1960", adding that the Seminar is the result of "the realisation by ILO officials that Cyprus has developed very good systems in the fields of labour administration and tripartite cooperation".

These systems, he said, "can be considered as models for other countries".

The main objective of this year's seminar "is to expose the participants to the most recent international thinking and development on selected issues of labour policy development and social dialogue in Central and Eastern Europe", he explained.

Referring to Cyprus, Moushouttas stressed that "the predominant and distinguishing feature of our labour administration system was, and still is, the consensus amongst social partners".

The government, he added, "bases its labour and social policy on the principle of social justice in conditions of economic freedom".

As a result, "the threat of strikes is avoided through tripartite dialogue" on many occasions, he pointed out.

Participants in the tripartite dialogue are representatives of the state, the employers and the employees.

CNA GG/MCH/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1900:CYPPRESS:03

[03] Rolandis - Israel

According to an official press release issued today, at a meeting with Rolandis on the sidelines of the Prime Minister's Jubilee Summit, Netanyahu referred to Cyprus' economic achievements and the prospects for cooperation between the two countries.

The Cypriot Minister, who is an official guest at the Summit, also met Israeli Industry and Trade Minister Natan Sharansky whom he invited to visit Cyprus.

The two men expressed their political will to develop cooperation in the trade and industry fields and agreed that Cypriot specialists will visit Israel to be briefed on issues relating to high technology.

Rolandis and Sharansky expressed satisfaction with trade exchanges between the two countries and agreed that there are prospects for their further development.

An agreement for the mutual promotion and protection of investments, which creates prospects for bilateral cooperation in this field, was signed.

Speaking at the Jubilee Summit on "Cyprus as a tourist destination", Rolandis referred to the island's rich history, its variety of landscapes, its customs and traditions and the importance of the tourist sector.

CNA MA/MCH/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1900:CYPPRESS:04

[04] Kythrea - "Big 5"

In a resolution handed today to representatives of the "Big 5" in Nicosia, the people of Kythrea, in the north of Cyprus, underlined that they "will never abolish our right to return to our homes and properties for all the riches in the world."

"We will continue our struggle until a just and lasting solution to the Cyprus problem is found that will restore and safeguard human rights for all Cypriots," they add.

They also stress that Turkey has been violating the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Cyprus Republic since its forces invaded and occupied 37 per cent of its territory in 1974, disregarding UN resolutions.

"We call upon you to face your responsibilities in achieving peace in this country and for the region and to take all measures necessary so that UN resolutions on Cyprus will be implemented," the people of Kythrea add.

They express certainty that the UN Security Council permanent members agree "that the policy of double standards is not a good paradigm for safeguarding world peace and Turkey must, at last, receive the 'right message' from the international community to bring its aggression to an end."

CNA MA/MCH/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1920:CYPPRESS:05

[05] Finance Minister - Stockbrokers - Economy

Christodoulou was addressing the annual meeting of the island's stockbrokers, who are members of the Cyprus Stock Exchange (CSE).

He said growth rate this year would reach 4,5 per cent, compared with 2, 5 per cent in 1997, while unemployment would be around 3,0 per cent and inflation would fall to 2,5 per cent.

Referring to the government policy, Christodoulou pointed out that the liberalisation and modernisation of the financial system and the capital market was one of its top priorities.

He said the Ministry of Finance had carried out its own screening of the acquis communautaire on capital markets, which showed that progress towards harmonisation was satisfying.

He pointed out, however, that four EU directives had yet to be adopted. Finance Minister said the government could be proud of both the progress of the CSE, which turned into a modern stock exchange, and the incentives it introduced to help boost the island's stock market.

In achieving that, cooperation between the government and stockbrokers "was really valuable", Christodoulou noted, adding that this cooperation "is perhaps the best example of harmonious cooperation between the public and private sectors".

The incentives introduced by the government have already delivered as a number of companies are seeking listing in the CSE, he noted.

Christodoulou praised the island's stockbrokers for their achievements and reassured them about the government's support for the CSE.

The total market capitalisation (shares) of the CSE reached 1,83 billion Cyprus pounds in June, while the total market capitalisation including the corporate and government bonds reached 1,75 billion pounds (the Cyprus pound is trading at 2,0 US dollars).

In the same month the average daily volume of transactions at the CSE reached more than one million pounds.

CNA GG/MCH/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

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