Cyprus News Agency: News in English (AM), 98-11-20

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

CONTENTS

[01] US President - Cyprus Problem - Bimonthly report

[02] Cyprus pound - Euro

[03] House President - Visiting deputies

[04] Cypriot Deputies - Albania

[05] Clerides - Hannay - London

[06] URGENT: Israelis - Espionage - Charges

[07] Israelis - Espionage - Charges

[08] Cyprus Stock Exchange

0815:CYPPRESS:01

[01] US President - Cyprus Problem - Bimonthly report

In his report covering the period August 1 to September 30, Clinton says "US officials encouraged the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot leadership to focus on the core issues of the Cyprus dispute and encouraged all parties to prepare for eventual comprehensive negotiations."

The US President adds that his Special Emissary for Cyprus Richard Holbrooke and Special Cyprus Coordinator at the State Department Thomas Miller "underscored this message in a series of important meetings in September with Cypriot, Greek and Turkish representatives attending the UN General Assembly."

In September, the US officials had meetings in New York with President Glafcos Clerides, Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash and high-ranking officials from Greece and Turkey in a bid to overcome the deadlock in the Cyprus peace process.

Denktash has been refusing to attend peace talks since the beginning of this year unless his illegal entity in the areas of Cyprus occupied by Turkey since 1974 is recognised and the Republic's European Union accession bid is halted.

Before the New York meetings, he also put forward a proposal for the establishment of a "confederation of two states" in Cyprus.

The Cyprus government, the UN and the permanent members of the Security Council have rejected this proposal as it is not in line with UN resolutions calling for a bizonal, bicommunal federation.

CNA DA/MA/GP/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1030:CYPPRESS:02

[02] Cyprus pound - Euro

Cyprus' Council of Ministers decided that the current implied parity of 1,7086 ECUs to the Cyprus pound will remain the same as from January 1st 1999, when the Euro will replace the ECU (the Cyprus pound is trading at 2, 0 US dollars).

The flotation margins of the Euro will temporarily range from -2,25 per cent to +2,25 per cent.

Cyprus along with Estonia, Slovenia, Hungary, Poland and the Czech Republic, started substantive accession negotiations with the European Union on November 10, 1998.

CNA GG/GP/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1040:CYPPRESS:03

[03] House President - Visiting deputies

Kyprianou met with Vice-President of the Estonian Parliament, President of the European Affairs Committee, Tunne Kelam, who is visiting the island at his invitation.

Kelam also met the House Foreign Affairs Committee and is scheduled to meet the chief negotiator in Cyprus' accession talks with the European Union George Vassiliou and the head of the Cyprus delegation to the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly Panayiotis Demetriou later today.

The South African delegation, made up of the Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee, Ismail Ebrahim and members Gerrtrude Shope and Nomsa Mtsweni, is here on a six-day visit at the invitation of the Cyprus Parliament.

During their stay the deputies will have separate meetings with leaders or representatives of parties participating in Parliament and the House Foreign Affairs Committee.

They will also meet the Foreign and Defence Ministers and will visit the cease fire line created in Cyprus since 1974 when Turkish troops invaded and occupied 37 per cent of its territory.

CNA MA/GP/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1050:CYPPRESS:04

[04] Cypriot Deputies - Albania

Hadjidimitriou will participate in a delegation of the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly while Kyprianou in a delegation of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe.

CNA GG/GP/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1340:CYPPRESS:05

[05] Clerides - Hannay - London

Government Spokesman, Christos Stylianides, confirmed here Friday that the meeting was requested by Sir David but the date and time has not been set yet.

Asked if the purpose of the meeting will be Sir David's visit to Ankara, the Spokesman replied that "it is a meeting which was requested by Sir David..."

Stylianides said it is already known from Sir David's statements that in Ankara he will discuss issues concerning the substance of the Cyprus issue, especially the constitutional aspect."

However, he said the British High Commission in Nicosia has not informed the government on the subject of the meeting.

Sir David, who is also EU presidency representative for the Cyprus problem, arrived in Ankara yesterday and will hold a series of meetings today with Turkish officials.

President Clerides leaves for London on Sunday. On Thursday he will fly to Athens where on Friday midday he will meet Greek Prime Minister, Costas Simitis.

CNA MA/EC/GP/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1345:CYPPRESS:06

[06] URGENT: Israelis - Espionage - Charges

Amid tight security measures, Udi Hargov, 37 and Igal Damary, 49, were charged with spying, conspiracy to spy and possession of banned listening equipment.

The two Israelis were did not reply to the charges. They will remain in custody until the trial begins at the Assize Court on December 8. (More later)

CNA MAN/EC/GP/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1420:CYPPRESS:07

[07] Israelis - Espionage - Charges

Amid tight security measures, Udi Hargov, 37 and Igal Damary, 49, were charged with spying, conspiracy to spy and possession of banned listening equipment.

The two Israelis, who appeared in a good mood, did not reply to the charges. They will appear before the Assize Court on December 8.

Present was a representative of the Israeli Embassy in Nicosia and their Israeli lawyer who, according to sources, is employed by Mossad (Israeli secret services) to defend them.

The Public Prosecutor said the alleged offences took place between October 15 - November 6, including both dates, at the fishing village of Zygi on the southern coast, "with an intent to harm the safety or the interests of the Cyprus Republic, the accused collected information on the defence of the Republic and passed this information on to a foreign country."

They were also charged with possession of three scanners without a permit from the Communications Ministry and that they conspired to commit a crime, that is espionage.

One of the scanners was tuned into the police radio frequency when police raided their apartment and they were seen loitering under suspicious circumstances near National Guard camps.

Spying carries a maximum sentence upon conviction of 10 years in prison under Cyprus law.

The two were reportedly in Cyprus last month, during the National Guard's annual military exercise code-named "Nikiforos".

CNA MAN/EC/GP/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1500:CYPPRESS:08

[08] Cyprus Stock Exchange

      CSE General Index                          89.32 (-0.06)

      Traded Value            CYP 1,565,460

      Sectural Indices

      Banks                   CYP   458,273     102.52 (-0.20)
      Approved Investment
      Companies               CYP    33,677      59.34 (-0.67)
      Insurance Companies     CYP   329,271      66.79 (-1.02)
      Manufacturing Companies CYP   116,825      88.62 ( 0.58)
      Tourism Companies       CYP   170,746      68.82 ( 0.09)
      Trading Companies       CYP   148,142      43.00 ( 1.44)
      Other Companies         CYP   149,197      84.31 ( 1.59)

CNA MCH/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

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