Cyprus News Agency: News in English (AM), 99-01-30

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

CONTENTS

[01] Cyprus - Tourism - Statistics

[02] Albanian parliamentarians - Cyprus

[03] Russia - Diplomats - S-300

1250:CYPPRESS:01

[01] Cyprus - Tourism - Statistics

The Chairman of the Cyprus Tourism Organisation (CTO) board, Andreas Erotokritou, said that a total of 2.222.000 tourists visited Cyprus in 1998, noting that the year under review left behind it a series of concerns about the future.

Erotokritou said that the main problem was the fuss about the Russian S-300 missiles, ordered by the Republic of Cyprus, which figured broadly in foreign press.

He said that the press reports "were so exaggerated in some cases, which makes us suspect that they may have been tendentious".

Erotokritou said that although the government decided recently not to deploy the missiles on the island, "possibly some people will exploit the issue again or create similar situations" regarding the issue.

He added that "the rapid changes on the international tourist map and tourist demands, necessitate the readjusting of our guidelines", and that the CTO is conducting market surveys to this end, in cooperation with specialists.

CTO statistics showed that a total of 2.222.701 tourists visited this east Mediterranean island in 1998 compared to 2.088.000 in 1997.

Tourist traffic from Britain, which continues to lead in visitors to the island, rose by 19,96% to 1.015.228 arrivals in 1998, compared to 846.309 the previous year.

Germans, on the other hand, recorded a decrease of 16,68%, falling from 250.053 visitors in 1997 to 208.349 in 1998.

Those countries which recorded an increase in 1998 compared to 1997, apart from Britain, were Greece (4,45%), the Nordic countries (7,73%), the Netherlands (5.47%), Austria (2,24%), Italy (10,12%), Israel (2,12%), countries of Eastern Europe (8,48%), and Ireland (8,86%).

Other countries which recorded a decrease in 1998, apart from Germany, were France (11,61%), Switzerland (12,12%), Belgium (1,69%), Arab countries (1,03%), and ex-Soviet Union republics (10,99%).

CNA RG/GP/1999

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1250:CYPPRESS:02

[02] Albanian parliamentarians - Cyprus

The delegation comprises the Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Albanian Parliament, Sabri Godo, and its members Sevet Pellumbi and Liguraq Karamolo.

During their stay, the Albanian officials, who depart from the island tomorrow, met with the Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Cyprus House, Tassos Papadopoulos, with whom they discussed bilateral relations and exchanged views on specific measures and initiatives to be taken.

Papadopoulos briefed the delegation on the Cyprus problem and stressed the need for insistence on the implementation of UN Security Council resolutions on Cyprus and the prevalence of international law.

They also discussed Euro-Mediterranean cooperation and issues of bilateral, regional and European cooperation in the fields of economy and development.

The Albanian delegation had meetings with Minister of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environment, Costas Themistocleous, and Minister of Commerce, Industry and Tourism, Nicos Rolandis.

The delegation also visited the cease-fire line in Nicosia and Dherynia and had an on-the-spot briefing on the division of Cyprus since 1974, when Turkish troops invaded and occupied 37 per cent of the island's territory.

CNA RG/GP/1999

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1430:CYPPRESS:03

[03] Russia - Diplomats - S-300

Yelena Urazova, leading expert with the Institute of Oriental Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences, who has been a specialist on Cyprus for many years, said that she regarded the decision as a "bold and courageous step".

She was quoted by Novosti news agency as saying that "the leadership of Cyprus wants to preserve stability on the island, and this position has enjoyed unfailing support and understanding in Russia".

Urazova said she believed the decision was "completely in harmony" with the Cyprus Government's proclaimed policy for demilitarisation of the island and solving disputed international issues through negotiations.

She added that Rosvooruzheniye, the Russian company which sells the S- 300 system abroad, will "suffer no losses" over the deployment of the missiles in the Greek island of Crete, instead of Cyprus.

Meanwhile, Russian Colonel-General Eduard Vorobyov, member of the Defence Committee of Russia's State Duma, told Novosti that the entire issue should be seen "from an economic, rather than a military perspective".

He also spoke highly of the combat qualities of the S-300 system, adding that "many armies would like to have it".

The Russian military officer said that Cyprus was under pressure from NATO and Turkey.

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

CNA CG/RG/GP/1999

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

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