Cyprus News Agency: News in English (PM), 98-10-15

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

CONTENTS

[01] Cyprus Stock Exchange

[02] Cyprus - British parliamentarians

[03] Cypriot - AIDS - Sentence

[04] Slovenia - Credentials

[05] Uruguay - Credentials

[06] Audiovisual seminar - Cyprus

[07] Europa Nostra - Monastery

1500:CYPPRESS:01

[01] Cyprus Stock Exchange

   CSE General Index                          85.12 ( 0.11)

   Traded Value            CYP 924,141

   Sectural Indices

   Banks                   CYP   433,999      99.06 (-0.20)
   Approved Investment
   Companies               CYP   147,230      58.80 ( 0.86)
   Insurance Companies     CYP    76,926      58.09 ( 0.38)
   Manufacturing Companies CYP   116,737      83.32 ( 0.76)
   Tourism Companies       CYP    19,405      68.72 ( 0.91)
   Trading Companies       CYP    33,815      37.85 ( 0.24)
   Other Companies         CYP    34,480      78.78 ( 0.47)

CNA EC/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1450:CYPPRESS:02

[02] Cyprus - British parliamentarians

Lord Bethell, the President of the "Friends of Cyprus" Group, was speaking after a meeting here today with Cyprus President Glafcos Clerides.

Asked how he sees a solution to the Cyprus problem, Lord Bethell said "there must be a bi-regional, bizonal federation, withdrawal of foreign troops from the Republic's territory and a federal central government of Cyprus, with a considerable amount of autonomy for the two federal states."

The British official said this "is more or less common ground between many people" in the occupied and the free areas.

Lord Bethell said although there is really a fairly firm consensus about what that ought to be, there is a problem about who makes the first move.

"In the north (the occupied areas) there are some people close to Mr. Denktash, who want a recognition of his so-called state before any discussions take place," Lord Bethell said, adding that "this of course is not acceptable" in the free areas.

Asked if recognition of the pseudostate is acceptable for the international community, Lord Bethell replied "I do not think so. The UN have made this position clear."

Invited to say who should make the first move, Lord Bethell said although the European Union debates "are under way", there is still uncertainty about who moves first.

He said there is a minority in the occupied areas which is happy to talk to people in the south to join the Cyprus delegation, which is negotiating accession. However, the majority's point of view in the occupied areas is that they want the recognition of their "state" first.

Referring to their meetings in Cyprus, Lord Bethell said yesterday they visited the occupied areas and met "elected representatives of the Turkish Cypriot community", according to his expression.

Lord Bethell said the "Friends of Cyprus" Group "are very sorry that there has been a breakdown in informal contacts" between the two communities and in particular that Turkish Cypriots in the north are not permitted (by the occupation regime) to come to the free areas.

President Clerides, said Lord Bethell, wants these contacts to continue and understands quite well why the British parliamentarians think it right to visit the north every time they come to Cyprus.

Lord Bethell also referred to the Turkish settlers in the northern occupied territory, imported as part of Ankara's designs to alter the island's demographic structure.

Noting that they number 65.000, Lord Bethell said that after a Cyprus settlement, "a large number of them or most of them will go back to Anatolia with or without some inducement to do so."

Those who were born in Cyprus "that is a more complicated question," he said, stressing that it is something which will have to be discussed during settlement discussions.

Cyprus has been divided since 1974 when Turkish troops invaded and occupied 37 per cent of the island's territory.

CNA GG/EC/GP/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1700:CYPPRESS:03

[03] Cypriot - AIDS - Sentence

The case was brought to light after the former wife reported Andreas Nicolaou Michael, 28, a waiter from the southern coastal town of Larnaca, to the police both in Sweden and in Cyprus.

The woman tested positively in December 1994 and initially Michael had denied he was infected.

The couple then married in January 1995 after Michael admitted to his former wife that he was a carrier but failed to inform her.

On her return to her native Sweden, she reported the case to the police and then to Larnaca police where Michael had another two similar cases pending against him from Cypriot women.

The current sentence will run concurrently with the previous sentence.

CNA MAN/MM/EC/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1730:CYPPRESS:04

[04] Slovenia - Credentials

Slovenian Ambassador to Cyprus, Borut Mahnic, also expressed his country's firm support for UN resolutions on Cyprus and stressed the importance of keeping intact in Cyprus financial resources of the former Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (SFRY) until the matter is resolved.

Presenting his credentials, the Ambassador said Slovenia "is looking forward to close cooperation and consultation between our two governments on issues concerning the negotiations on the accession of both countries to the EU."

Noting his government's support for the effort of the international community to solve the Cyprus problem, the Ambassador said "it goes without saying that we support the relevant UN resolutions concerning the solution of the Cyprus question including Security Council resolutions 1178 and 1179 adopted with the active participation of the Slovenian delegation."

Slovenia, he said, participates in the UN peace-keeping force in Cyprus within the Austrian contingent.

He also referred to the planned visit to Slovenia of Cyprus' Foreign Minister Ioannis Kasoulides at the beginning of 1999.

Mahnic said his government is satisfied with the efforts of the government of Cyprus to safeguard the financial resources of the former SFRY, deposited in Cyprus, for the legitimate interests of all successor states.

"We expect this property to be kept intact until a solution to this issue is found," he said.

Receiving the letters of credence, President Glafcos Clerides noted the "excellent relations" between the two countries and said Cyprus has been following developments in Slovenia since it emerged as an independent state.

Welcoming the start of accession negotiations of Cyprus and Slovenia with the EU in early November, the President said "we look forward to continue working closely with you in sharing our experiences and exchanging information towards the achievement of our common goal."

The accession process, he added, is an event of "major political importance and a foremost priority".

The President reiterated the view that this process can and should act as a real catalyst in the effort for a just and viable solution to the problem of Cyprus.

"We do hope that the continued interest and active involvement of the international community to explore anew the ground for a possible resumption of the negotiating process, coupled with our EU accession process may eventually help us in breaking the deadlock and make progress," the President said.

The President thanked Slovenia for the "principled position and continuing support" in the peace effort to achieve a settlement on the island which has been divided since 1974 when Turkish troops invaded and occupied the island's northern third.

CNA MM/EC/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1740:CYPPRESS:05

[05] Uruguay - Credentials

Receiving the credentials of the new Ambassador of Uruguay, Guido Yerlas, the President pointed out that the Greek Cypriot side "lacks no will or determination to pursue efforts for the right settlement, within the framework of the good offices mission of the UN Secretary-General and on the basis of UN resolutions and high level agreements."

These provide for a bizonal, bicommunal federation in Cyprus, but the Turkish Cypriot side recently put forward a proposal for a confederation.

The President noted the friendly bilateral relations and said they should be extended into the economic sphere as well.

He thanked the Ambassador warmly for his country's unwavering support "especially during times when our very national survival was at stake."

Ambassador Yerlas backed exchanged visits of government officials and businessmen to improve trade.

He also welcomed an "effective technological exchange" and cooperation in the tourism area and boosting reciprocal investments.

He said his country considers dialogue and negotiation "as essential elements to settle down controversies" and added that each country could back the other's candidacy to international organisations and maintain periodical consultations on matters of mutual interest.

CNA MM/EC/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1755:CYPPRESS:06

[06] Audiovisual seminar - Cyprus

"Cyprus as a future member of the European Union gives particular emphasis to the development of technical infrastructure and know-how in the audiovisual and television sectors and maintains close cooperation with European countries and international organisations," an address by the Interior Minister to the workshop said.

The address, read out by the Ministry's Permanent Secretary Thanos Michael, said Cyprus has already taken measures to adjust its legislation with the acquis communautaire and is very close to full participation in the EU MEDIA II programme.

The Minister noted the increasingly important role the audiovisual sector can play in society and the economy and added "this could prove to be a useful tool in the creation of jobs and in promoting prosperity in European and Mediterranean countries."

The Cypriot government set up a Film Advisory Committee in 1993 to deal with the funding of Cypriot film productions. The Committee's budget has increased from 250.000 ECUs in 1993 to 850.000 for 1999, the Minister said.

"We hope the conclusions of this seminar will help us to take the right decisions in this sensitive sector and contribute to more investment from the private sector," he said.

Welcoming the guests, Press and Information Director George Hadjisavas said "the needs and expectations are becoming even more pressing in all fields of human activity," noting that the cinematographic sector has been rather neglected in Cyprus.

"One of the goals of this workshop is to provide ideas and structures that could be used in the process of setting up a modern and functional legislative framework for Cyprus," Hadjisavas added.

CNA MM/EC/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1930:CYPPRESS:07

[07] Europa Nostra - Monastery

The Monastery of Panagia tou Sindi (Virgin Mary of Sindi), in Paphos district, received today an honorary diploma from Europa Nostra for the "successful maintenance and restoration of the building with the use of the right technical methods and with respect to the maintenance of its original character."

Restoration work started in 1994 at the initiative of the Abbot of one of Cyprus' biggest monasteries, Kykko Monastery, at an estimated cost of 380,000 Cyprus pounds (one pound is about two US dollars).

The diploma was handed over by Europa Nostra vice president Costas Karras.

CNA SS/MM/EC/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

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