Cyprus News Agency: News in English (PM), 98-11-13

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

CONTENTS

[01] Cyprus Stock Exchange

[02] Clerides - National Council

[03] Attorney General - Israelis

[04] British Bases - Alert

[05] National Council - Disagreement

[06] EU - Cyprus - Committee

[07] House - Committees - EU

1540:CYPPRESS:01

[01] Cyprus Stock Exchange

      CSE General Index                          90.40 ( 0.54)

      Traded Value            CYP 1,663,184

      Sectural Indices

      Banks                   CYP   415,759     103.54 ( 0.20)
      Approved Investment
      Companies               CYP    63,369      61.05 ( 1.73)
      Insurance Companies     CYP   678,654      69.84 ( 3.31)
      Manufacturing Companies CYP   140,674      89.10 ( 0.12)
      Tourism Companies       CYP    35,831      69.07 ( 0.44)
      Trading Companies       CYP    41,607      42.70 (-1.27)
      Other Companies         CYP    93,276      84.33 ( 1.07)

CNA MA/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1605:CYPPRESS:02

[02] Clerides - National Council

The President was speaking after today's meeting of the National Council, comprising the island's political parties, which conferred for more than two hours on the issue.

"The National Council decided to request time for a debate of the Cyprus problem at the new session of the UN General Assembly, which begins either April or May," Clerides said.

On his part, Government Spokesman Christos Stylianides said "the decision to ask for time for a debate has been taken but I believe we would all like to reconsider the matter, if there are positive developments (on the Cyprus issue)."

This, he added, was an initial decision. Stylianides refrained from revealing the content of today's discussions at the Council meeting but explained that the debate would deal with all aspects relating to the Cyprus issue.

Replying to questions, the spokesman said the Council decided to hold a special session to discuss Cyprus' European Union accession course.

He said Foreign Minister Ioannis Kasoulides briefed Council members about the start of substantive talks with the EU earlier this week in Brussels.

The spokesman also said the Council did not discuss the issue of Russian anti-aircraft missiles Cyprus has purchased and intends to deploy.

President Clerides, commenting on the same matter, said the Council decision to bring in the missiles, unless there is sufficient progress towards a settlement or demilitarisation, still stands.

"It is no surprise that the issue of the missiles was not on today's agenda. The media placed the issue on the agenda. You are well aware of the Council decision on the matter and nobody asked to review it," the President explained.

CNA MM/MA/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1605:CYPPRESS:03

[03] Attorney General - Israelis

Replying to questions, Markides said he does not know what stage police investigations have reached but noted that "nothing can be done before the case file comes before the Attorney General's Office".

Pointing out that the eight day remand order issued against Yigal Damary and Udi Hargov expires on Sunday, the Attorney General expressed certainty that "the police will have to ask for its renewal, as obviously investigations have not yet been concluded."

The Cyprus government has said that legal procedures and the law of the state will be enforced in the case of the two Israeli citizens arrested last Saturday.

CNA NG/MA/MM/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1625:CYPPRESS:04

[04] British Bases - Alert

"The Bases in Cyprus are already at a very high standard of alertness, " a Defence Ministry spokesman told CNA here today.

He explained that "their use in any possible situation of operations against Iraq will be the same as on the occasion of the previous crisis in February and during the Gulf War. That is as a staging point for air supplies to other Bases."

Britain retains two military Bases in Cyprus, one in the south-west and the other in the south-east coast, since it granted the island its freedom from colonial rule in 1960.

Some 3,500 British troops are stationed at the Dhekelia and Akrotiri bases.

CNA KT/MA/MM/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1705:CYPPRESS:05

[05] National Council - Disagreement

The Democratic Party (DIKO) of Spyros Kyprianou believes the Council announcement was untimely while the New Horizons party of Nicos Koutsou totally opposes the move.

"DIKO disagrees with the decision and believes a lot can be achieved between now and the new Assembly session, including a recourse to the Security Council," party General Secretary Stathis Kittis said after today's Council meeting.

Noting that DIKO has maintained this view for some time, Kittis added "we believe it is not wise to announce a recourse today while later on, different circumstances may lead us to revoke today's decision."

In a statement to the press, Koutsou said "what Cyprus now needs is not a new debate or a fresh recourse but a new strategy."

"We would be repeating ourselves, if we were to have a new recourse, with moves which have proved to be without a purpose and unproductive," the statement added.

CNA MM/MA/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1820:CYPPRESS:06

[06] EU - Cyprus - Committee

Deputies from the European Parliament and the House of Representatives met ahead of December's Committee meeting in Strasbourg.

Parliamentarians exchanged views on relations between Cyprus and the EU following the start of substantive accession talks on Tuesday, a development welcomed by the meeting.

The statement notes the advanced degree of adjustment to the acquis communautaire Cyprus has reached, as stated in a report by the European Commission on candidate countries.

Furthermore, it calls on the 15 member-states to give Cyprus substantial economic and technical assistance as part of the pre-accession strategy the Union has with candidate countries.

The meeting was co-chaired by Cypriot Tassos Papadopoulos and Belgian Euro MP Philip Monfils.

Present at the meeting were German deputy Mechtild Rothe and Andreas Christou and Demetris Silouris from Cyprus.

CNA NB/MM/MA/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1900:CYPPRESS:07

[07] House - Committees - EU

The decision was taken in Ljubljana at the suggestion of Cypriot MP Tassos Papadopoulos.

The meeting is scheduled for the first half of 1999 and before a joint meeting of European Union committees with those representing candidate countries, to be organised by Germany which assumes the six-monthly rotating EU presidency in January.

The Ljubljana meeting was attended by Estonia, Hungary, Poland, the Czech Republic and Cyprus, who discussed the role of parliaments in the course towards Europe.

CNA MM/MA/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

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