Cyprus News Agency: News in English (AM), 98-12-30

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

CONTENTS

[01] S300 - Party reactions

[02] EU - Cyprus - Missiles

[03] Cyprus Stock Exchange

0030:CYPPRESS:01

[01] S300 - Party reactions

President Clerides announced his decision not deploy the missiles and instead to negotiate with the Russian government their deployment in the Greek island of Crete, following the failure of the party leaders making up the National Council to reach a unanimous decision on the S300 issue.

The top advisory body to the President on the handling of the Cyprus problem met for three hours tonight after talks President Clerides had in Athens earlier today with Greek Prime Minister Costas Simitis.

The ruling rightwing Democratic Rally party leader Nicos Anastasiades told the press after the National Council session that his party fully backs the decision taken jointly by the governments of Greece and Cyprus.

Otherwise, the two countries' common targets for a peaceful, just and lasting solution to the Cyprus problem and the island's entry into the European Union would be in danger, he added.

Andreas Christou, parliamentary spokesman of the leftwing AKEL, the main opposition party, said today's decision was the "inevitable end" of the original decision.

He said his party always considered that this decision did not belong to the National Council as it was not the body that took the original decision for the purchase of the S300 missiles back in January 1997.

Spyros Kyprianou, leader of the centre-right Democratic Party, said he completely disagrees with President Clerides' decision, describing it as "a very sad development".

Vassos Lyssarides, leader of the socialist EDEK party, which participates in the government with two ministers (Defence and Education) reacted strongly to President Clerides' decision, describing it as "a political defeat".

He anticipated that this "wrong" decision would bring "more negative consequences". The party's organs will meet to decide whether to stay in Clerides' government.

George Vassiliou, leader of the United Democrats, who also participates in the government, fully backed President Clerides' decision, describing it as "correct and courageous".

Nicos Koutsou, leader of the small New Horizons party, which had failed to enter the island's parliament, reacted angrily, describing the decision as "an irregular retreat". He suggested that President Clerides should resign.

CNA GP/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1350:CYPPRESS:02

[02] EU - Cyprus - Missiles

Austrian Foreign Minister Wolfgang Schuessel described the decision as a success of behind the scene efforts made by the US, Britain and the EU presidency.

In a dispatch from Vienna the French News Agency (AFP) quoted Schuessel as saying that "this decision is an important success for diplomatic efforts made behind the scenes by the US, Britain and notably the Austrian EU presidency."

According to Reuters the Austrian Foreign Minister also said "now we see that this vote of confidence (to open accession talks with Cyprus) was justified".

Cyprus opened accession talks with the EU in March, along with five eastern and central European countries, and substantive negotiations got underway in November.

"Membership prospects obviously motivated Cyprus to make a significant contribution to stability in the region," Schuessel added.

In a written statement issued Tuesday evening President Clerides announced his decision not to deploy the S300 missiles in Cyprus and instead to negotiate with the Russian government their possible deployment in the southern Greek island of Crete.

The decision followed the failure of the island's National Council, the top advisory body to the President on the Cyprus problem made up of political party leaders, to reach a unanimous decision on the S300 issue.

Greek Prime Minister Costas Simitis fully backed President Clerides' decision also welcomed by the United States.

Cyprus has been divided since 1974 when Turkish troops invaded and occupied 37 per cent of its territory.

CNA MA/GP/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1445:CYPPRESS:03

[03] Cyprus Stock Exchange

      CSE General Index                          90.64 (-0.53)

      Traded Value            CYP 2,841,309

      Sectural Indices

      Banks                   CYP 1,154,785     106.62 (-0.42)
      Approved Investment
      Companies               CYP   194,318      57.99 (-0.09)
      Insurance Companies     CYP   114,902      64.64 (-1.13)
      Manufacturing Companies CYP   332,516      86.23 (-0.27)
      Tourism Companies       CYP   122,439      69.42 (-0.59)
      Trading Companies       CYP   637,520      40.64 (-0.47)
      Other Companies         CYP    50,353      81.36 (-1.63)

CNA MA/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

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