Cyprus News Agency: News in English (PM), 99-03-02

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

CONTENTS

[01] Cyprus - Turkish propaganda

[02] House President - Israeli Ambassador

[03] Cyprus Stock Exchange

[04] Cyprus - US - Trade

[05] Orthodoxy meeting - Discussion

[06] Britain - Cyprus - EU accession

1525:CYPPRESS:01

[01] Cyprus - Turkish propaganda

Foreign Minister Ioannis Kasoulides said Cyprus is focusing on its own problem and the Turkish occupation of 37 per cent of the island's territory since 1974.

"Unfortunately, we have to face a concerted propaganda effort by Turkey which is trying to associate the Cyprus issue with the Kurdish question," he said.

Kasoulides added that Ankara is trying to convince that "the reason for which Cyprus and Greece are struggling for their rights is because they are hostile towards Turkey."

"This is a distortion of the truth. The truth is that Turkey invaded Cyprus and occupies 37 per cent of its territory in violation of international law and UN resolutions," he said.

The Foreign Minister underlined that Cyprus is struggling for its own freedom, but at the same time it stands by other peoples fighting for their rights as other countries do.

"However, these two issues have no connection," he added. Asked if he expects the US to clarify that Cyprus will not be included in the list of countries supporting terrorism, as it did with Greece, Kasoulides was adamant that nobody could include the Cyprus Republic in this list.

"It would be monstrous and unforgivable if anybody dared to include Cyprus, after all our efforts and cooperation with Interpol and other countries in combatting terrorism," he remarked.

The Foreign Minister said the same applies to Greece. To a question if a visit to the region by State Department special coordinator for Cyprus Thomas Miller has anything to do with the abduction of Kurdish rebel leader Abdullah Ocalan, Kasoulides said it is a scheduled visit.

He pointed out that Miller's visit was scheduled to take place in the first two weeks of this month, and he was informed by the US envoy himself before Ocalan's abduction.

CNA RM/MA/GP/1999

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1545:CYPPRESS:02

[02] House President - Israeli Ambassador

Speaking to the press after a meeting here today with Cyprus House of Representatives President Spyros Kyprianou, Tzur was asked to comment on the accusations expressed against Israel in connection with Ocalan's capture.

He said the Kurds "accused half of the world, they accused also Israel. But I can tell you as it has been stated by our Prime Minister that we have nothing to do with this case whatsoever."

The Israeli diplomat dismissed today as figments of the imagination reports that two Mossad agents were found searching for Kurdish military camps near Pafos, in western Cyprus.

Replying to questions Tzur said reports of the arrest and then release of two Mossad agents by the police, was "imagination working overtime".

Two Israeli agents are serving a three-year jail sentence in Cypriot prisons for approaching a prohibited military area without permission from the Cypriot authorities.

The Israeli Ambassador described his meeting with Kyprianou as "routine", pointing out they discussed for its largest part the future elections in Israel as well as the House President's postponed visit to Israel.

"We discussed his visit, very soon after the elections in Israel," Tzur said, adding, however, that no exact date has been set.

Replying to a remark that after its military agreement with Turkey all suspicions are directed towards Israel, Tzur said he could understand that, pointing out, "after all you have your problems with Turkey".

He assured, however that the agreement "is not directed against third parties, and definitely not against Cyprus".

"We maintain good relations with Cyprus and we proved it," Tzur said and suggested that certain "elements" wished to undermine that.

CNA FZ/MCH/GP/1999

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1615:CYPPRESS:03

[03] Cyprus Stock Exchange

      CSE General Index                         120.30  ( 1.30)

      Traded Value            CYP 10,219,597

      Sectural Indices

      Banks                   CYP 2,639,048     148.24 ( 1.74)
      Approved Investment
      Companies               CYP   363,701      75.51 ( 0.25)
      Insurance Companies     CYP   163,703      78.25 ( 1.03)
      Manufacturing Companies CYP 4,402,206     108.16 (-0.95)
      Tourism Companies       CYP   171,526      82.76 ( 2.95)
      Trading Companies       CYP   244,763      53.24 ( 1.08)
      Other Companies         CYP   774,457      91.85 (-0.52)

CNA MA/1999

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1745:CYPPRESS:04

[04] Cyprus - US - Trade

The US diplomat discussed the issue here today with Cyprus' Commerce, Industry and Tourism Minister Nicos Rolandis.

He said afterwards that he briefed the minister on some activities that the US Embassy was sponsoring in a bid to promote trade and business relations between the two countries.

Brill thanked Rolandis for accepting his invitation to attend the Embassy's Commercial Excellence Awards Dinner that will take place next week.

"The trade relations between the two countries continue to grow and we want to do all that we can to promote both trade as well as investment", he said.

Rolandis said Cyprus plans to follow a new trade policy aimed to promote the island's trade relations with other countries.

The minister particularly mentioned the tourist industry, saying that many ways and means were being examined to attract tourist traffic from the United States.

CNA DG/GP/1999

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1910:CYPPRESS:05

[05] Orthodoxy meeting - Discussion

Opening a panel discussion on the "Role and Perspective of Orthodoxy in a United Europe", the House President said Orthodoxy is a major part of European history and tradition.

The discussion, organised by the Cyprus House, was held within the framework of a two-day meeting of the international secretariat of the European Interparliamentary Assembly on Orthodoxy (EIAO), that ends here today.

Delegates from Greece, the Russian Federation, Lithuania and Yugoslavia took part in the meeting.

Noting the major changes taking place in Europe, Kyprianou said "Orthodoxy, a major part of European history and tradition, should take part in efforts to find a common cultural identity."

"Our backing of Orthodoxy does not come in contrast or opposition to other dogmas or religions or cultural roots, which we always respect," the House President said.

He referred to the role Orthodoxy plays in the Greek Cypriots' struggle to survive both ethnically and physically, as they face the consequences of the 1974 Turkish invasion and occupation of 37 per cent of the island's territory.

Kyprianou pointed out that Turkey continues its policy of ethnic cleansing in the areas it occupies and a change in their cultural identity.

EIAO President Victor Zorkaltsev, member of the Russian State Duma, was to speak on "The role and perspective of Orthodoxy in a United Europe", whereas the organisation's Secretary General, Greek MP Stylianos Angelos Papathemelis, was to deal with the subject "Orthodoxy and Politics".

Stavros Olympios, Chairman of the Cyprus Union of Greek Theologists, was to speak on "The Orthodox Church and United Europe" and Associate professor of Byzantine Art at the Cyprus University Demetrios Triantafyllopoulos was to elaborate on "Orthodoxy in Europe - Historical situation and perspective".

CNA MA/GP/1999

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

2000:CYPPRESS:06

[06] Britain - Cyprus - EU accession

After a speech at the Royal Institute of International Affairs, on EU enlargement, she said "we do hope negotiations for accession will provide a catalyst in terms of trying to make progress towards a settlement to the Cyprus problem."

However she added that "at the same time it is not a precondition." Cyprus, along with five central and eastern European countries, opened accession talks with the EU last year.

The British official said "we very much support the initiative which is taking place in terms of trying to achieve a settlement (in Cyprus)."

"We will continue to support and indeed take initiatives ourselves," she added.

To another question regarding reports that after the April elections in Turkey there will be a new collective initiative, she said she is "not in a position to speculate about that".

The Foreign Minister expressed Britain's full support to the effort by the UN Secretary-General's resident representative Dame Ann Hercus and noted that two UN resolutions on Cyprus approved in December 1998 "have interesting ideas for this initiative".

"We certainly would not rule out taking new initiatives in the future, but I haven't anything definite to say about that at this stage," she added.

Dame Ann began on-island contacts with the two sides in Cyprus in October 1998, aiming at the reduction of tensions and an overall settlement.

Cyprus has been divided since Turkish troops invaded and occupied 37 per cent of its territory in 1974.

Asked whether countries like Cyprus and Malta, which are small in size, will have their own Commissioners as well as the rights the other member states enjoy, when they join the Union, Quinn noted that "these countries are sovereign countries members of UN".

Pointing out that she sees no reason why they would not follow the precedent, she said that "all these questions will be discussed within the EU."

CNA KT/MA/GP/1999

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

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