Cyprus News Agency: News in English (AM), 98-12-15

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

CONTENTS

[01] Holbrooke - Miller - Athens meetings

[02] British Shadow Foreign Secretary - Cyprus problem

[03] Cyprus Stock Exchange

0840:CYPPRESS:01

[01] Holbrooke - Miller - Athens meetings

Greek Foreign Minister and Under-Secretary, Theodoros Pangalos and Yiannos Kranidiotis, US Presidential Emissary Richard Holbrooke and State Department Cyprus Coordinator Thomas Miller attended the dinner, given at the residence of US ambassador Nicholas Burns.

No statements were made after the dinner, but according to Athens News Agency sources the possibility of the UN Security Council undertaking an initiative, towards the end of the year, for the restriction of arms was the focus of discussions.

Before the working dinner the two US officials met Greek National Defence Minister Akis Tsohatzopoulos.

Holbrooke and Miller went to Athens on Monday from Constantinople (Istanbul), where they attended a meeting of Greek, Turkish, Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot businessmen.

Referring to the meeting, State Department spokesman Jim Foley told his briefing yesterday that "this was the third meeting of the group and the largest so far".

He said that "among the highlights were, first, an agreement to address Cyprus' increasingly critical water shortage in a non-political fashion with cooperation by both sides."

Foley said the second agreement was the establishment "of several pilot projects in the areas of culture, communications, trade and environmental management and third the establishment of working groups to move projects forward between meetings."

The group, he concluded, agreed to hold another meeting in 1999 but the exact time and location are to be determined.

CNA DA/MA/GP/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1250:CYPPRESS:02

[02] British Shadow Foreign Secretary - Cyprus problem

In an interview with London Greek Radio (LGR), the Conservative MP also said that protracted and slow negotiations are necessary in order to achieve a bizonal, bicommunal federal solution in Cyprus.

He expressed the view that the proposed installment of a surface-to-air missiles system by the Cyprus government would not have a positive influence on Ankara's attitude towards a solution of the Cyprus problem.

"We have put forward proposals. We favour a bizonal, bicommunal federal solution to the difficulties which presently exist, we still think this is the best way forward," Howard said.

Pointing out that the Conservative party had appointed Sir David Hannay as its special Cyprus envoy when it was in power, the Conservative MP expressed satisfaction with the fact that the present Labour government renewed his appointment.

"We hope that all the parties will cooperate with him to achieve a lasting, peaceful settlement," he added.

Invited to comment on Britain's role in the problems Turkey creates, such as the fact that it opposes Cyprus' EU accession and continues to keep more than 35-thousand troops on the island since its 1974 invasion, Howard expressed the view "it is much more than paying lip-service to it."

He underlined that "Turkey does not have a veto over which country becomes a member of the EU and when we were in government we made it absolutely clear that if necessary the application of Cyprus could and should be considered even if the island remains, as presently, a divided state."

At the same time he expressed the hope that there is a settlement in Cyprus.

Asked if Turkey's allies, who are pressuring the Cyprus government not to deploy the Russian-made S300 missile system, should also pressure Ankara to show more goodwill in a Cyprus settlement, Howard replied that he does not think "the installation of the Russian missiles would help matters at all."

"I don't think that they would have a positive influence on the attitude of Turkey, quite the opposite," he said, adding that he understands the frustration the people of Cyprus feel.

Howard said that "it would be a mistake to suppose that necessarily the best way of achieving a solution is through the exertion of pressure."

"What you need and this is what might do it in the end, is what happened in Northern Ireland, in Middle East and elsewhere, that is protracted, patient, slow negotiations, very unglamorous, very undramatic that would lead to any quick results," he added.

The Shadow Foreign Secretary said "that is the best way to have results that will last and we have done all that we can to encourage that process."

CNA FZ/MA/GP/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1500:CYPPRESS:03

[03] Cyprus Stock Exchange

      CSE General Index                          90.47 ( 0.07)

      Traded Value            CYP 1,887,475

      Sectural Indices

      Banks                   CYP   830,429     105.83 ( 0.85)
      Approved Investment
      Companies               CYP    49,298      59.39 (-0.40)
      Insurance Companies     CYP   523,168      66.32 (-2.74)
      Manufacturing Companies CYP    31,574      86.82 (-0.52)
      Tourism Companies       CYP    55,879      67.03 (-0.92)
      Trading Companies       CYP    29,316      42.07 (-0.80)
      Other Companies         CYP   108,762      82.08 (-0.91)

CNA MCH/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

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