Cyprus News Agency: News in English (PM), 99-02-10

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

CONTENTS

[01] Cyprus government - Bicommunal contacts

[02] Cyprus Stock Exchange

[03] Cyprus - Norway - Bicommunal contacts

[04] Minister of Defence - Return

1650:CYPPRESS:01

[01] Cyprus government - Bicommunal contacts

Government Spokesman, Christos Stylianides, said today that "we want to prove at any time that the co-existence of the two communities is not only desirable but also possible so as to confront Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash's propaganda.

Asked to say whether this issue had been discussed during the meeting between President Glafcos Clerides and the Norwegian Deputy Foreign Minister Aslaug Haga this morning in Nicosia, Stylianides said both expressed their views on the issue, reminding that Haga "believes that such measures should be promoted".

Answering another question, the Spokesman said that "no-one made any dangerous proposals, that may undermine the prestige or the entity of the Republic of Cyprus".

He added that anything done at the level of rapprochement, i.e. contacts between the two communities, "will take place in the framework of the legislation of the Republic of Cyprus", adding that "on no occasion will anything be accepted that may undermine our entity or recognise the 'institutions' of the pseudostate".

Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkey invaded and occupied 37 per cent of the island. In 1983, a puppet regime was set up, recognised by no other country but Turkey.

CNA GY/MK/RG/1999

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1710:CYPPRESS:02

[02] Cyprus Stock Exchange

      CSE General Index                         117.90  ( 5.18)

      Traded Value            CYP 8,071,041

      Sectural Indices

      Banks                   CYP 3,554,338     145.62 ( 8.15)
      Approved Investment
      Companies               CYP   867,855      78.22 ( 6.32)
      Insurance Companies     CYP   426,956      79.60 ( 0.08)
      Manufacturing Companies CYP   251,017      97.94 (-1.34)
      Tourism Companies       CYP   312,338      82.36 (-0.76)
      Trading Companies       CYP   476,114      53.23 ( 2.01)
      Other Companies         CYP   196,259      89.54 (-0.68)

CNA RG/1999

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1805:CYPPRESS:03

[03] Cyprus - Norway - Bicommunal contacts

She said after her three-day visit to Cyprus, she now has "a better and clearer view of the situation", on the island.

Speaking on her departure at Larnaca Airport this afternoon, Haga noted that she had "very constructive and useful talks" with both sides of the divide.

"We had in all the discussions confirmed the excellent bilateral relations between Norway and the Republic of Cyprus", the Norwegian official said.

She pointed out that her meetings with President Glafcos Clerides, Foreign Minister Ioannis Kasoulides, political party leaders and with the business forum of the two communities gave her "a much better and clearer view on what is the situation you are facing on the island".

Haga said Norway believes "that people-to-people contacts are very important. Through other discussions and talks I have learned that there is a genuine interest to follow up on these talks and when we go back home, will do some homework and continue on that track".

Invited to comment on her visit yesterday to the areas occupied by Turkish troops since 1974, and her meeting with Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash, she explained "the reason I went there was to do quite the same as I have done in the south, to promote these people-to-people contacts".

The Norwegian minister added "what I have been told is that there is an interest to follow up on this track. We have to find the right modalities for doing that", she concluded.

Greek and Turkish Cypriot communities live separately since the Turkish invasion of the island and occupation of 37 per cent of its territory in 1974.

Denktash has repeatedly blocked rapprochement efforts being made by the United Nations and various countries wishing to restore trust between the two communities.

CNA MAN/RM/GP/1999

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

2200:CYPPRESS:04

[04] Minister of Defence - Return

Speaking on his return from Athens, where he held talks with his Greek counterpart, Akis Tsohatzopoulos, Chrysostomis said that "the missiles will be transported to Crete" and that they would be under the "control of the Greek state".

For this reason, he explained, it is a matter "concerning the Greek government".

Chrysostomis said he was "very satisfied" with his talks with Tsohatzopoulos, adding that they "discussed in a spirit of mutual understanding" various issues regarding the cooperation of the two Ministries.

He said that they have made the necessary arrangements on deploying the S-300 missiles on the Greek island of Crete and that arrangements must now be made with the Russian company which manufactures the missiles.

Chrysostomis said that on Monday, delegations of the two Ministries would fly to Moscow, to make the final arrangements between the manufacturing company and the governments of Cyprus and Greece.

He also clarified that the missiles would remain in the possession of the Republic of Cyprus.

Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkey invaded and occupied 37 per cent of the island. In 1983, a puppet regime was set up in the Turkish occupied areas, recognised only by Turkey.

The Republic of Cyprus decided to order the S-300 missiles to vend off Turkish threats and safeguard the security of the island. President Glafcos Clerides finally decided not to deploy the missiles in Cyprus, but instead send them to Crete, thus complying fully with UN Security Council resolutions, calling for measures to reduce tension.

CNA MA/RG/RM/1999

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

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