Cyprus News Agency: News in English (PM), 99-02-08

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

CONTENTS

[01] Defence Ministers - Talks

[02] Foreign Ministry - British Bases - Exercises

[03] Spokesman - UN - US

[04] Cyprus - Russian politician

[05] Ambassador - China

[06] Cyprus - Greece - Defence

[07] Cyprus Stock Exchange

1515:CYPPRESS:01

[01] Defence Ministers - Talks

Athens, Feb 8 (CNA) -- Talks between the Cypriot and Greek Defence Ministers got underway here today with a view to discuss issues relating to the deployment of Russian-made anti-aircraft missiles on the Greek island of Crete.

Yiannakis Chrysostomis of Cyprus and Akis Tsohatzopoulos of Greece are heading discussions which aim at reaching joint positions on the technical and economic aspects of the deployment of the missiles, which the Cyprus government will subsequently present to Russia.

The Cypriot Defence Minister will be in Moscow next week for talks with the Russian government on the matter.

Meanwhile, reliable sources have said that Moscow has already outlined its terms, which Nicosia has taken into account to formulate its own positions on the matter.

The same sources add that Greece is set to provide Cyprus with another anti-aircraft system in exchange for the Russian S300 surface-to-air missile system.

The Russian missiles were initially to be deployed in Cyprus but President Glafcos Clerides announced in December last year the missiles would not be deployed on the island, following UN resolutions calling for a reduction of armaments and tension.

The President's decision was welcomed by the UN, the US, the European Union, Britain, France and Germany.

CNA MA/MM/MCH/1999

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1635:CYPPRESS:02

[02] Foreign Ministry - British Bases - Exercises

Talks will continue this week to try and find an appropriate location for military exercises British troops conduct on the island, other than the environmentally sensitive Akamas peninsula.

Today's discussions involved representatives of the Foreign Ministry the and National Guard General Command, and the British High Commission and the British Bases in Cyprus.

Both sides aim at finding a location other than Akamas for exercises the British military conduct in Cyprus, where Britain has maintained two bases after it granted Cyprus its independence in 1960.

According to a government press release and a British Forces announcement, today's meeting was "useful" and it was agreed to begin detailed consultations about possible use by the British of the National Guard firing range at Kalo Chorio.

"In the light of these developments, the Commander of the British Forces, Major General Angus Ramsey, has decided to postpone the exercise planned for this week in Akamas," the British Forces' announcement concluded.

There will be further meetings between the two sides this week. British military exercises in the Akamas peninsula have caused an uproar among both local and international environmental organisations.

CNA MCH/MM/1999

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1700:CYPPRESS:03

[03] Spokesman - UN - US

Stylianides said UN Resident Representative Dame Ann Hercus was still "in the process of shuttle talks, which she conducts in confidence and in the framework of UN resolutions."

Shuttle talks between Dame Ann and President Glafcos Clerides and Turkish Cypriot leader, Rauf Denktash, have been going on since mid-October last year.

The government, he noted, will assess the situation as soon as the process is concluded.

The Government Spokesman said there was no sign that the US will undertake a new important initiative on the Cyprus problem in 1999.

Commenting on statements by US State Department Cyprus Special Coordinator Thomas Miller, Stylianides said "we consider that Miller's positions are in the framework of UN Security Council resolutions" and reflect the American position that confederation is not an option that can be considered as a solution to the Cyprus problem.

Miller has told CNA "best and intensive efforts" would be undertaken towards a Cyprus settlement and pointed out that the problem the US is facing in its negotiations with the Greek and Turkish Cypriot sides "is with the Turkish side."

Turkish Foreign Minister Ismail Cem repeated, during a recent illegal visit to the Turkish occupied northern part of Cyprus, that the only solution is a confederation of two states in Cyprus. This position is contrary to repeated UN resolutions calling for a bi-communal, bi-zonal federation.

Commenting on press reports, the Government Spokesman also said that no proposal has been brought before the government for a US peacekeeping force in Cyprus.

Stylianides reiterated that any multinational force in Cyprus should be here in the framework of demilitarisation and its role and composition should be approved by the UN Security Council.

CNA RG/MCH/MM/1999

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1835:CYPPRESS:04

[04] Cyprus - Russian politician

He was commenting on a statement by Russian Duma Defence Committee Vice-President, Alexei Arbatov, that certain Russian proposals for cooperation in issues of security, have been put on the "back burner".

"The government wishes for good relations between Cyprus an Russia," Stylianides stressed, pointing out that "Russia has, as a permanent member of the UN Security Council, assisted the people of Cyprus in difficult times".

He said the government "believes these good relations should continue to be strengthened".

CNA RG/MCH/GP/1999

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1910:CYPPRESS:05

[05] Ambassador - China

Receiving the credentials of Cyprus' Ambassador to China Loria Markides, President Zemin referred to the island's strategic geographical location in the region and of the excellent relations between the two countries.

He also noted that in the post cold war era, there is a prevalent trend for peace and economic development.

Ambassador Markides expressed President Clerides' gratitude for China's support in efforts to find a settlement of the Cyprus problem.

She also thanked China for the significant part it plays within the UN Security Council and added that President Clerides looks forward to his visit to China which coincides with the 50th anniversary since the foundation of New China.

CNA RM/MM/1999

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1940:CYPPRESS:06

[06] Cyprus - Greece - Defence

Athens, Feb 8 (CNA) -- Defence Minister, Yiannakis Chrysostomis and his Greek counterpart, Akis Tsohatzopoulos are expected to sign an agreement, either this evening or tomorrow, concerning the deployment of the Russian-made S-300 defensive system on the Greek island of Crete.

A Cyprus delegation together with a Greek Defence Ministry representative will travel to Moscow next Monday to finalise the details of the matter.

Speaking after a two-hour meeting of Cypriot and Greek Defence Ministries delegations in Athens, Chrysostomis and Tsohatzopoulos expressed satisfaction with the outcome.

"We have tied up the loose ends," the Greek Minister said, adding that a relevant agreement will be signed by the two countries.

Tsohatzopoulos said the delegation which will go to Moscow next week will iron out the necessary arrangements to enable the deployment of the missiles to be concluded.

The Greek Defence Minister said talks also covered ways to strengthen the Greco-Cypriot joint defence pact, agreed between the two countries in November 1993, "to maintain the certainty among the Cypriots and the Greeks that Cyprus will be secure and that Greece will guarantee the island's security."

"We shall continue our effort on this basis," he added. The situation in the Balkans, in Kosovo and the Middle East were also part of the bilateral discussions the two ministers had.

Backing in full his Greek counterpart's statements, Chrysostomis described the result of the meeting between the two Defence Ministry delegations as "very satisfactory".

Concluding, he thanked Tsohatzopoulos and the Greek government for their support for Cyprus, pointing to the great help they offer in the struggle of Greek Cypriots to reunite their country, divided since Turkish troops invaded and occupied the island's northern third.

CNA MA/MCH/MM/1999

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1745:CYPPRESS:07

[07] Cyprus Stock Exchange

      CSE General Index                         109.76  ( 2.95)

      Traded Value            CYP 5,038,383

      Sectural Indices

      Banks                   CYP 1,730,383     130.55 ( 4.17)
      Approved Investment
      Companies               CYP   742,364      72.28 ( 4.09)
      Insurance Companies     CYP   300,694      79.71 ( 0.50)
      Manufacturing Companies CYP   194,768      98.21 (-0.75)
      Tourism Companies       CYP   416,489      83.73 ( 2.94)
      Trading Companies       CYP   273,725      51.27 ( 0.91)
      Other Companies         CYP   252,902      90.10 ( 1.51)

CNA MM/1999

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

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