Cyprus News Agency: News in English (PM), 99-02-18

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

CONTENTS

[01] Sixth International Educational Fair

[02] Cyprus Stock Exchange

[03] Cypriot - Greek - Turkish - Left-wing parties - Measures

[04] Bank of Cyprus Group - 1998 Results

[05] Attorney General - Passport - Ocalan

[06] Cyprus - Russia - S300

[07] Cyprus House - Ocalan - Resolution

1520:CYPPRESS:01

[01] Sixth International Educational Fair

Educational Fair, to be held here from February 25 to 28 1999. The Fair offers an opportunity for students, their parents and

those involved in education to see first hand the options offered in further education. Speaking at a press conference today, Education and Culture

Minister, Ouranios Ioannides, told a press conference today, the five previous fairs, "bear witness to the success and continual

upgrading of this fair that has become an institution". He also stressed that "the main goal of the Education and

Culture Ministry is to upgrade the quality of the education and further expand it". On his part, Demetris Ioannou, Chairman of the Cyprus State

Fairs Authority, noted that the Educational Fair was jointly organised by the Ministry of Education and Culture and the Cyprus

State Fairs Authority. Ioannou said thirteen countries are represented, "a fact" he

pointed out, "that underlines the international character of the exhibition and the growth of Cyprus as a regional educational

centre". During the Exhibition visitors will have the opportunity to get dependable information and guidance from the managerial

members of educational institutes, about the latest developments and trends in the field of education. The countries participating are, Belarus, the Czech Republic,

France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Lebanon, Romania, Russia, Slovakia, the United Kingdom and the US

CNA MEM/MCH/1999

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1540:CYPPRESS:02

[02] Cyprus Stock Exchange

      CSE General Index                         116.05  ( 1.19)

      Traded Value            CYP 6,343,074

      Sectural Indices

      Banks                   CYP 3,655,263     143.76 ( 1.44)
      Approved Investment
      Companies               CYP   429,991      73.99 (-1.00)
      Insurance Companies     CYP   118,335      78.60 ( 1.79)
      Manufacturing Companies CYP   141,056      94.51 ( 1.17)
      Tourism Companies       CYP   175,056      80.11 ( 0.29)
      Trading Companies       CYP   211,254      55.21 ( 1.02)
      Other Companies         CYP   172,384      87.01 (-0.97)

CNA MA/1999

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1550:CYPPRESS:03

[03] Cypriot - Greek - Turkish - Left-wing parties - Measures

Representatives of six left-wing parties, AKEL (Greek Cypriot), CTP and YBH (Turkish Cypriot), KKE and Synaspismos (Greek) and ODP (Turkish) met in London last week to discuss the Cyprus problem and agreed on practical measures to increase contacts between the two communities in Cyprus.

Announcing the measures aimed at promoting rapprochement and restoring confidence between Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots, AKEL Parliamentary Representative, Andreas Christou, told a press conference today:

"The meeting reaffirmed the parties' intention to continue their contacts on different levels, especially political, and will proceed in examining common positions and strategy in issues concerning the Cyprus problem".

The six parties agreed on a number of political, social and economic and cultural and sport measures.

They include the continuation of contacts between the political parties, various organisations and platforms of the two communities on a bilateral level and at multilateral conferences as well as the establishment of a coordinating action group.

Measures also call for the formation of a common committee to study the education system and particularly school-books in both communities and for efforts to overcome chauvinism by the press and in publications.

CNA MCH/MA/1999

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1550:CYPPRESS:04

[04] Bank of Cyprus Group - 1998 Results

Speaking at a press conference today to present the 1998 preliminary results, Group Chairman Solon Triantafillides said they enable the Group to raise the 1998 annual dividend to 20 per cent.

Referring to the prospects of the island's economy this year, he said they are promising.

Describing the results as satisfactory, Triantafillides attributed them to the satisfactory performance of banking operations in Cyprus, the significant increase of the profitability of the Group's insurance operations, the increase in profit from operations abroad and the better performance of the island's economy.

Last month the Group announced an additional dividend of 3 per cent per share, which increases the 1998 annual dividend to 23 per cent.

According to Triantafillides, the Group capital base increased by 14 per cent in 1998, reaching 318 million pounds.

Referring to the listing of BOC share in the Athens Stock Exchange (ASE), he pointed out the Group has decided to proceed "the soonest possible", adding that "it is the first time that a foreign share will be listed in the ASE".

This year will be important for Cyprus in view of the effects of the anticipated liberalisation of interest rates, free movement of capital and the introduction of Euro, Triantafillides said, adding that the GDP is expected to increase by 4,0 per cent, compared to 4,7 per cent in 1998.

He pointed out that prospects for 1999 are promising and encouraging, but said that the fiscal deficit, which is expected to reach 5,9 of GDP this year, "has to be reduced" mainly through raising the VAT rate.

BOC Group Chairman said the inflation rate will increase to 2,5 per cent from 2,2 per cent in 1998, while unemployment is expected to decrease to 3,2 in 1999, compared to 3,3 per cent last year.

Triantafillides said the Group is envisaging the introduction of internet and telephone banking and announced its decision to expand its insurance business in Greece.

CNA MK/GG/MA/1999

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1830:CYPPRESS:05

[05] Attorney General - Passport - Ocalan

During his daily briefing this morning Government Spokesman Christos Stylianides said a police report on Turkish allegations would be submitted to Attorney General later today.

Turkish television showed pictures of a passport allegedly issued by the Republic of Cyprus bearing the name of Cypriot journalist Lazaros Mavros and the picture of Ocalan.

CNA GG/MCH/1999

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1835:CYPPRESS:06

[06] Cyprus - Russia - S300

According to an official press release the document was signed in Moscow by Defence Minister Yiannakis Chrysostomis and the Director of the Russian manufacturing company Rosvooruzhenie, Gregorki Rapota.

Chrysostomis and his Russian counterpart Igor Sergeiev yesterday exchanged views on issues of technical and military cooperation between Cyprus and Russia, it adds.

President Glafcos Clerides decided against the deployment of the S300 in Cyprus, complying fully with UN resolutions calling for measures to reduce tension and arms on the island.

The Cyprus delegation returns here later today.

CNA MCH/MA/1999

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1930:CYPPRESS:07

[07] Cyprus House - Ocalan - Resolution

In a resolution adopted unanimously the House calls on Ankara to comply with international norms and the international community to do all it can to protect Ocalan's life.

According to Deputy House Representative, Nicos Anastasiades, the resolution will be sent to various international parliamentary organisations.

The resolution described "the kidnapping and arrest" of Ocalan as a "provocative and unacceptable act towards international law, especially in view of Turkey's genocide against the Kurdish people."

It also underlines that every person has undeniable human rights and every country has international obligations.

The House expresses "disappointment and bitterness with the cynicism and indifference with which the international community is following the criminal pursue of the leader of the Kurds."

It also "condemns the continuing systematic policy of violation of the basic human rights of the Kurds in Turkey and the policy of genocide."

The Cyprus parliament expresses "its full solidarity towards the Kurdish people and its just struggle" and calls on the Turkish government "to safeguard the overall implementation of its international obligations, stemming from its participation in international organisations."

It calls on the international community "to display due interest and to intervene so that it is given assurances safeguarding the physical integrity and the life of the Kurdish leader".

The resolution concludes by calling on parliamentary organisations to "activate their mechanisms to interfere into this case."

Ocalan was abducted in Kenya earlier this week and was taken to Turkey where his is being held.

CNA MA/MCH/1999

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

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