Cyprus News Agency: News in English (AM), 98-11-24

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

CONTENTS

[01] Foreign Trade Statistics - January-September 1998

[02] Brill - Turkish violations - Cyprus settlement

[03] Cyprus - US - GLOBE Agreement

[04] Limassol Bishop - Resignation accepted

[05] Clerides - Hannay

0940:CYPPRESS:01

[01] Foreign Trade Statistics - January-September 1998

The trade deficit in the period under review totalled 967,9 m. pounds compared to 932,6 m. pounds in January-September 1997. (One Cyprus pound is approximately two US dollars)

Total imports, covering imports for total consumption and imports into bonded warehouses, valued at 1.406,3 million pounds as compared with 1.419, 3 m. pounds in January-September 1997.

A decrease was also shown in total exports from 486,6 m. pounds to 438, 4 m. pounds.

The statistics show the European Union to be the bigger supplier and buyer of goods.

EU goods rose to 53,6 per cent (754 m. pounds) of total imports in 1998 as compared to 46,3 per cent (656,9 m. pounds) in the previous year.

At the same time, EU countries absorbed 54,3 per cent (90,5 m. pounds) of Cyprus domestic exports, while the previous year had reached 50,4 per cent.

The second biggest importer of Cyprus domestic exports were the Arab countries with a share of 25,7 per cent (42,8 m. pounds) as compared with 27,5 in 1997.

Industrial products of domestic produce exported during January- September 1998 (excluding shipstores) accounted for 77,7 per cent (129,6 m. pounds) as compared with 80,5 per cent (129,1 m. pounds) during the corresponding period in 1997.

Exports of agricultural products increased by 19,1 per cent (36,2 m. pounds) as compared with 30,4 m. pounds in the same period last year.

CNA MCH/GP/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1150:CYPPRESS:02

[02] Brill - Turkish violations - Cyprus settlement

Replying to questions of the press, after signing the Global Learning and Observations to Benefit the Environment (GLOBE) agreement, with Education and Culture Minister, Lykourgos Kappas, Brill said US efforts for a Cyprus settlement would continue, pointing out however, that "problems can take a long time to be resolved."

The US Ambassador also refrained from replying on whether his country would be willing to exert pressure on Turkey to respect international law and American law and especially the Foreign Assistance Act.

"The US is ready to do everything that needs to be done to help get a settlement," he replied.

Asked to comment on recent repeated Turkish violations of the Republic's airspace during military exercises, and within the framework of a military agreement between Turkey and Israel, Brill said "I have seen the reports but I do not have any particular comments to make. There are a lot of things that happen in the world everyday and I do not comment on."

He pointed out, however, that the US "do not like to see events happen on the island or near the island that take away from stability and detract from efforts to solve this political problem".

Asked to comment on a pledge by Bill Clinton to Greek American leaders, for continued efforts towards a Cyprus settlement, Brill said, the US President "has demonstrated over the years his commitment in solving a number of problems and trying to deal with all the unresolved issues on the international agenda".

Describing, Clinton's diplomacy as "vigorous", he pointed out that the US President wished "to leave behind in his administration a record of problems solved".

Replying to a comment that there have been no results as far as the Cyprus problem is concerned so far, the US Ambassador said "Problems can take a long time to be resolved but the effort is there and I think ultimately we are going to get the result."

Turkish troops have been occupying 37 per cent of Cyprus territory since 1974, in violation of repeated UN resolutions, calling for their withdrawal.

CNA MCH/GP/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1310:CYPPRESS:03

[03] Cyprus - US - GLOBE Agreement

The agreement signed here today by Education and Culture Minister Lykourgos Kappas, on behalf of the Cyprus Republic, and US Ambassador to Cyprus, Kenneth Brill, on behalf of the US administration, aims at increasing student awareness of the global environment.

Speaking after the signing of the agreement, Ambassador Brill pointed out that in the new era of globalisation "no island is an island" and "this is particularly true of the environment".

The US Ambassador said Cyprus is the 74th country to implement GLOBE programme which was initiated by US Vice President Al Gore in 1994 and is in essence "a worldwide network of students, teachers and scientists working together to study and understand the global environment".

He explained that GLOBE is administered by a federal inter-agency team, including the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, NASA, the National Science Foundation, the Environmental Protection Agency and the Departments of Education and State.

"Through this agreement Cypriot students will be helping scientists by taking a regular set of environmental measurements at their schools and reporting their data via the Internet," Brill added.

On his part, Minister Kappas stressed that "environmental education represents a permanent target of our education in recent years and is an integral part of the National Action Plan for the Environment".

He said six schools from all over the island would participate in this programme, namely Enieo Kykkos Lyceum A', Lanitio Lyceum, Paralimni Lyceum and the Gymnasia of Solea, Polis and Geroskipou.

Kappas pledged that "the Ministry of Education and Culture will give every possible support and assistance for the implementation of this programme".

CNA MCH/GP/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1400:CYPPRESS:04

[04] Limassol Bishop - Resignation accepted

The Church leaders discussed the issue after the Limassol Bishop handed his resignation to Primate of the Orthodox Church of Cyprus Archbishop Chrysostomos, yesterday. According to the statement, "the Holy Synod decided to accept the resignation and to impose a two-year suspension on every holy duty."

However, replying to a question the Holy Synod Secretary Archimandrite Vassilios Papafotis said the Bishop will remain a clergyman. The announcement also said that the decision was taken in the light of the Bishop's letter of resignation and the conclusions of a three-member investigation committee appointed by the Holy Synod which indicted the Limassol Bishop on eight breaches of ecclesiastical law.

Charges against him include acting from greed and for his own benefit, profiteering through currency speculation and taking advantage of his ecclesiastical position for illicit profit.

Bishop Chrysanthos' case had made headlines in the foreign press as he has also been accused of being involved in questionable business dealings abroad, involving millions of pounds. Cyprus Police were still investigating these cases.

CNA RG/MA/GP/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1440:CYPPRESS:05

[05] Clerides - Hannay

Speaking after an hour-long meeting in London with President Glafcos Clerides, British and European Union Austrian presidency envoy for Cyprus, Sir David Hannay, said they covered a very wide range of issues, but did not elaborate.

"I think at the moment it is a period of quiet diplomacy. I hope our talks will contribute to that," the British diplomat said.

Asked about his conclusions from his recent visit to Turkey, Sir David said he did not wish to draw any, pointing out that "it is a very rapidly moving situation in Ankara with the prospect of elections in April".

He said he had talks with ministers and officials and "I was able to cover a wide range of issues" while ways of assisting the UN initiative led by UN resident representative Dame Ann Hercus was also discussed.

"It is a process to which we give our full support," Sir David pointed out, adding, however, "we do not anticipate a great and immediate breakthrough in every issue but we hope that steady progress can be made through it."

Asked what Britain and the EU could do to assist Ann Hercus, he replied, "one of the things we can do is not to interfere too much. She has got to contact her conversation with discretion and I hope she will come forward gradually with some ways of making progress in reducing tensions and in laying the foundations for a lasting and just settlement in Cyprus.

I do not think we should do anything that cuts across her efforts and we will not," Sir David added.

President Clerides will be talking later today at the London School of Economics, on the issue of Cyprus and the EU.

CNA KT/MCH/GP/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

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