Cyprus News Agency: News in English (AM), 99-01-17

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

CONTENTS

[01] Foreign Minister - Czech Republic - Slovenia

[02] Cyprus Airways - Increase in passengers

[03] Interior Minister - Lebanon - Illegal

Immigrants

1000:CYPPRESS:01

[01] Foreign Minister - Czech Republic - Slovenia

Kasoulides is expected to convey a personal message to Czech President Vaclav Havel from Cyprus President Glafcos Clerides.

During his stay the Foreign Minister will discuss with Kavan the Cyprus problem, bilateral relations, the two countries' European Union accession course as well as bilateral cooperation in international fora.

He will also meet the Czech Deputy Prime Minister and the Chairmen of both the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate and will sign a cooperation agreement on social security.

From the Czech Republic Kasoulides will fly to Slovenia and will return to Cyprus on Friday, January 22.

CNA MA/GG/1999

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1215:CYPPRESS:02

[02] Cyprus Airways - Increase in passengers

According to a Cyprus Airways press release, the two companies carried 1,72 million passengers in 1998 against 1,60 million in 1997.

Flights from and to Sweden presented the largest increase in passengers (42,3%), followed by Holland (32,1%), Norway (25,4%), Italy (24, 9%), Greece (19,2%), Germany (14,3%) and Israel (11,8%).

However, Britain remains the national carriers' biggest market as 491 thousand people chose to fly with Cyprus Airways in 1998, followed by 380 thousand passengers from Greece and 235 thousand from Germany.

CNA MA/GG/1999

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1335:CYPPRESS:03

[03] Interior Minister - Lebanon - Illegal Immigrants

In statements to "ANTENNA" private television Saturday evening on the issue of 23 illegal immigrants the Cypriot authorities tried to ship back to Lebanon, the minister said a visit to Beirut on this issue was postponed until after elections in the country.

Michaelides said that "an agreement has been prepared which I was going to sign during a visit to Lebanon, that was postponed until after the elections and the formation of a new government."

"We are expecting a reply in the next few days and I hope this (agreement) will be made possible soon," he added.

The Interior Minister expressed surprise with the fact that Beirut had turned away 23 of 29 persons that had illegally arrived here Wednesday evening by boat from Lebanon.

The Cypriot police tried to take them back on Friday on a police boat, but the Lebanese authorities only allowed six Egyptians who had entry permits to disembark.

"We expected them to be accepted as they were taken back within the seven-day period that the Lebanese government had said it would take in people that had left from the country," Michaelides said.

The boat people, mainly Iraqis, told the Cyprus police that they had come here from the Lebanese port city of Tripoli.

Michaelides said that according to information gathered, around 15 thousand foreigners are in Tripoli expecting to find a way to leave for Cyprus, Greece, Italy or other countries.

He pointed out that the reason for the increase in the number of people illegally arriving in Cyprus is a decision taken a few months ago by the Lebanese government that it would throw all illegal immigrants out of the country.

CNA MA/GG/1999

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

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