Cyprus News Agency: News in English (PM), 98-12-08

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

CONTENTS

[01] Cyprus Stock Exchange

[02] Kurds - Protest - French embassy

[03] New British High Commissioner - Cyprus

[04] Cyprus - Maldives

[05] Britain - Cyprus problem

[06] German envoy - Missiles - Cyprus - EU

1600:CYPPRESS:01

[01] Cyprus Stock Exchange

      CSE General Index                          90.44 (-0.17)

      Traded Value            CYP 2,577,118

      Sectural Indices

      Banks                   CYP   983,163     104.35 (-0.29)
      Approved Investment
      Companies               CYP    48,182      59.65 ( 0.27)
      Insurance Companies     CYP   741,887      69.03 ( 0.91)
      Manufacturing Companies CYP   107,710      87.61 (-1.28)
      Tourism Companies       CYP   115,189      68.62 (-0.32)
      Trading Companies       CYP   217,188      43.75 ( 1.11)
      Other Companies         CYP    86,689      83.18 ( 1.04)

CNA MA/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1610:CYPPRESS:02

[02] Kurds - Protest - French embassy

According to the Cyprus representative of the National Liberation Front of Kurdistan (ERNK), Nucan Derya, the French Attorney General visited Ocalan on Monday "asking for information about some persons wanted by the French police."

She said those wanted claim Ocalan had ordered them to "take money from some people" and added that the Kurdish leader does not know nor does he have anything to do with the people accusing him.

Dozens of Kurds staged a protest outside the French embassy in the capital Nicosia and handed a petition to an embassy official who assured she would examine the issue.

"The Turkish state is trying to use its relations in France against the Kurdish cause," the petition says, adding that the statements made by Ricard are "against the approach of his own country for a political solution to the Kurdish question."

It says that Ocalan "has been persisting towards opening the road of a political dialogue and a political solution" to the Kurdish problem.

Derya said that the French Attorney General's action "does not solve the problem".

CNA AA/MA/MM/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1710:CYPPRESS:03

[03] New British High Commissioner - Cyprus

The cabinet approved the appointment at its last meeting on Wednesday, December 2nd.

Martin served in Cyprus as head of the High Commission's political section from 1978 to 1982 and will arrive to take up his post here from London.

His last ambassadorial post was in Malawi. Martin replaces David Madden, who has been posted to Athens.

Madden is due to leave the island early next year, after more than four years of service here.

CNA MM/MA/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1725:CYPPRESS:04

[04] Cyprus - Maldives

Accepting the credentials of the new High Commissioner of Cyprus to Maldives, Rea Yiordamli, yesterday, President Gayoom expressed support to the UN's Secretary General's efforts for an immediate solution to the Cyprus problem.

Presenting her credentials, Yiordamli, who is based in India, noted the mutual interests the two island states have regarding security issues, pointing out that they are both members of the Commonwealth and the Non- Aligned Movement.

She expressed gratitude for Maldives' support to Cyprus' struggle for a settlement and the reunification of the island, divided since Turkish troops invaded and occupied 37 per cent of its territory in 1974.

CNA RM/MA/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1915:CYPPRESS:05

[05] Britain - Cyprus problem

In a reply letter to President of the Federation of Cypriots living in Great Britain Haris Sophoclides, Blair also says his government continues to encourage the Turkish Cypriot side to participate in Cyprus' European Union accession talks.

"The government will continue to do everything it can to encourage all parties concerned with the Cyprus problem to cooperate with UN efforts to achieve a political settlement in line with UN Security Council resolutions, " Blair says in the letter, signed by his private secretary Philip Barton.

He adds that his government "warmly welcomed" the announcement made in New York in September, that the UN resident representative Dame Ann Hercus would begin on-island contacts with the goal of reducing tensions and promoting progress towards a just and lasting settlement.

"The government fully supports this process and hopes that it will lead to a resumption of direct talks between the two leaders and an eventual solution involving the demilitarisation of Cyprus," Blair says.

He expressed the hope that the parties will continue to cooperate with Dame Ann "in a constructive and flexible manner."

"Similarly," the British Premier says, "the government continues to encourage Mr Denktash to take up President Clerides' proposal for Turkish Cypriot participation in Cyprus' EU negotiating team."

In March, President Glafcos Clerides put forward a proposal for Turkish Cypriot participation in the official team negotiating accession, which was welcomed by the EU but rejected by Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash.

Denktash supports that Cyprus cannot join the EU if Turkey is not also a member, a position rejected by the Union itself.

The Cyprus Republic began substantive accession talks with the EU last month.

Blair underlines that "the EU has made its view clear that Cyprus' accession should not only benefit all Cypriots but should also contribute positively to the search for a political solution."

However, Denktash is refusing to participate in peace talks unless the Cyprus Republic withdraws its application to join the EU and his illegal regime in the areas of Cyprus occupied by Turkey since 1974 is recognised.

CNA KT/MA/GP/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

2000:CYPPRESS:06

[06] German envoy - Missiles - Cyprus - EU

He warned that such a deployment is likely to change the environment of accession talks Cyprus is conducting with the European Union.

Rantzau also said that Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash does not intend to return to the negotiating table with a view to finding a Cyprus settlement until the status of his illegal regime in the Turkish occupied areas of Cyprus is acknowledged.

Speaking today at the close of his brief visit to the island, Rantzau said Germany does not "perceive, as the Cypriots do, a security threat from the Turkish side."

"Even if there were a threat, we would feel that the deployment of the missiles would not enhance the security situation because the missiles could not defend Cyprus, if anybody wanted to attack Cyprus," he added.

The missiles, he said, "would be taken out by Turkey before any hostilities would begin" and as a result their deployment would increase the risks of destabilisation on the island and in the area.

"If there is an armed conflict, it has the potential of becoming a far wider conflict and not limited to the island," Rantzau said.

He pointed out that a Turkish attack against the Russian-made missiles would lead to Greek involvement to defend Cyprus and this in turn would engage Greece and Turkey into an armed conflict.

Rantzau supported that "given the realities of the region, Cyprus is not defendable militarily against a military attack of a determined attacker, even if Cyprus were armed to the teeth."

His idea of the best security Cyprus could have lies "in the best possible relations all round and a constant attempt to come to a political solution on the island."

The German envoy also said he finds it "very likely that the deployment of the missiles will change the environment of the negotiations" Cyprus is engaged in with the EU.

Rantzau indirectly backed a proposal by President Glafcos Clerides for the demilitarisation of Cyprus saying that any attack against a demilitarised Cyprus would be "such a great violation of any international law one can think of that then indeed the international community would come to the defence."

Replying to questions, he said Denktash would not hold talks on demilitarisation until he gains recognition of the self-styled regime he unilaterally set up in the areas of Cyprus occupied by Turkey since its troops invaded in 1974.

Denktash, he said, remains firm on his position for a Cyprus confederation and considers the EU as responsible for the division of the island.

"His position was put in a nutshell in his proposal of 31 August and he was quite critical of the EU and the fact that, as he put it, the EU is responsible for the partition of the island because it is negotiating with the government of the Republic of Cyprus," he said, outlining Denktash's views.

Denktash's proposal for the establishment of a confederation of two states in Cyprus has been rejected by both the UN and the Cyprus government as it is contrary to Security Council resolutions providing for a bizonal, bicommunal federation.

The German envoy said he did not necessarily share these views and explained to the Turkish Cypriot leader that the "EU is not responsible nor the reason for the partition of the island but on the contrary we are convinced that via the EU a beneficial progress could be set in motion."

Invited to outline Germany's position on Denktash's demand for international recognition, he expressed the view that "it is rather unlikely that, in particular the Greek Cypriots, would grant him what should normally be at the end of the negotiations."

He also pointed out that as long as both sides stick to positions the other side will not or does not accept, there will be no negotiations.

Asked what would persuade Denktash to return to the negotiating table, Rantzau said "he will come back when the Greek Cypriot side tells him his status is being acknowledged" but would not elaborate.

CNA MM/MA/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

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