Cyprus News Agency: News in English (AM), 99-03-11

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

CONTENTS

[01] National Council - Meeting

[02] Clerides - British Council European director - Education Fair

[03] Cabinet - Interior Minister - Allegations

[04] National Council - No recourse to UN

[05] German envoy - Cyprus

[06] Cyprus Stock Exchange

1010:CYPPRESS:01

[01] National Council - Meeting

The meeting, which began this morning, is chaired by President Glafcos Clerides.

An initial decision to take the Cyprus question before the General Assembly was taken in November 1998, but the Government Spokesman has said it is subject to some new developments.

All political parties are participating in the meeting, as well as Foreign Minister Ioannis Kasoulides, Government Spokesman Christos Stylianides, Attorney General Alecos Markides and Undersecretary to the President, Pantelis Kouros.

CNA MA/EC/1999

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[02] Clerides - British Council European director - Education Fair

Baker said he has just taken over in London as the regional director responsible for European Union and certain other countries, including Cyprus.

He added that the first purpose of his visit is to learn about "the very interesting British Council operation which we have here, for almost sixty years".

Baker will also visit the 12th British education fair, which opens today with the participants of over 80 British universities.

Education and Culture Minister Ouranios Ioannides will open the fair, taking place in Nicosia's International Conference Centre until Sunday March 14th.

According to the British Council, Cyprus is the 13th largest contributor of foreign students to British universities and the sixth country outside the European Union, behind Malaysia, the USA, Hong Kong, Singapore and Japan.

The British Council considers these statistics "astonishing", given the population of the island and believes it speaks eloquently of the very close education ties between the two countries.

The number of Cypriots studying in Britain has increased by almost 50 per cent in four years, from 2295 in 1994/5 to 3253.

CNA MA/GP/1999

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[03] Cabinet - Interior Minister - Allegations

Ruling Democratic Rally (DISI) MP, Christos Pourgourides, President of the House of Representatives Watchdog Committee, had accused Michaelides of unlawful enrichment and abuse of power.

In a decision issued Wednesday night, the Cabinet said that "no further investigation is justified concerning the accusations".

The two accusations against the minister concerned alleged abuse of power at the immigration department and alleged unlawful enrichment through the sale of apartments.

The Minister was absolved last year after the Attorney-General said that an investigation into the accusations showed no evidence justifying the minister's prosecution.

The Ombudsman's office further examined the allegations and presented a report to the Cabinet yesterday.

Michaelides had offered his resignation last year after two state investigators were appointed but was rejected by President Glafcos Clerides.

The Minister, who withdrew from the Cabinet session when the issue was discussed, said he was innocent and believed that there would be a final resolution of the whole issue.

A report on the issue by the Watchdog Committee will be tabled before the House later today.

CNA EC/GP/1999

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[04] National Council - No recourse to UN

All but one political party, the Socialist EDEK party, have agreed not to proceed with an earlier initial decision to take the Cyprus question before the UN Assembly.

The Council is the top advisory body to the President on the handling of the Cyprus problem. More later

CNA MM/GP/1999

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1300:CYPPRESS:05

[05] German envoy - Cyprus

Speaking at a press conference here Thursday at the end of his five- day visit to the island, the German official said that by comparing the situation today with that of his last visit to the island in December 1998, he finds that the general atmosphere has "hardened".

Rantzau said he has "not been able to detect on either side a new flexibility or readiness to enter into a compromise". This, he said, has led him to say to all his interlocutors that to move things forward, all sides concerned should be ready and willing to enter into a compromise.

He explained that President Glafcos Clerides assured him that he is "ready to negotiate with the north or Mr. Denktash or anybody else on the basis of the relevant UN resolutions and without any preconditions".

On the other hand, Turkish Cypriot leader, Rauf Denktash has said he is also ready to negotiate, "provided his status is acknowledged and that without any acknowledgement of his status, there will be no negotiations of any kind".

The German official clarified that he did not bring or propose any plans to either side. "There are, as of today, no plans for any initiative on the part of the EU" because it is not useful at this time when there is no compromise.

He said "you must have at least a shadow of hope that this will fall on truthful ground. I do not have the impression that it is there", he added.

To a remark that President Clerides is willing to negotiate whereas Denktash is not, Rantzau said "all UN resolutions speak about the political integrity and sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Republic of Cyprus".

He said that "if you negotiate on the basis of these resolutions, then this means you insist on the sovereignty" of Cyprus.

However, Rantzau said, Denktash will not negotiate on this basis, "therefore I say it is the reference to these resolutions in the eyes of Mr. Denktash a precondition he cannot accept", Rantzu added.

To the insistence of journalists that Denktash and Turkey should be forced to comply with the UN resolutions, Rantzau said that this situation "has been going on for 35 years" and has not been possible on this basis to come to negotiations.

Asked if this means we should abandon the UN resolutions, Rantzau said "I did not say that, (far from it), that the government of the Republic of Cyprus should abandon the UN resolutions."

However, he proposed that he is certain one could find the way "to formulate things in such a fashion that it would not give a pretext to Mr. Denktash to immediately refuse it".

Specifying he is not a mediator, Rantzau said he had suggested that Turkey and Denktash should abide by the UN resolutions and international principles.

Furthermore, he said he strongly believes a solution can only be found from Cyprus and "that no solution can be imposed from outside".

Asked what his next steps will be, Rantzau said, "that is a good question".

He further said he is "not optimistic at all". During his visit, Rantzau held separate meetings with President Clerides, Denktash, UN Resident Representative, Dame Ann Hercus, Cyprus' EU Chief Negotiator George Vassiliou and other officials from both sides of the divide.

Cyprus has been divided since 1974 when Turkish troops invaded and occupied 37 per cent of the island's territory. It applied for EU membership in 1990.

CNA EC/GP/1999

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[06] Cyprus Stock Exchange

      CSE General Index                         120.98 ( 2.53)

      Traded Value            CYP 10,683,011

      Sectural Indices

      Banks                   CYP 5,314,988     151.58 ( 3.82)
      Approved Investment
      Companies               CYP   327,511      75.67 ( 3.42)
      Insurance Companies     CYP   115,415      77.94 ( 0.35)
      Manufacturing Companies CYP   132,334     103.74 (-0.59)
      Tourism Companies       CYP    83,757      81.64 ( 0.37)
      Trading Companies       CYP    70,132      50.86 (-0.37)
      Other Companies         CYP   155,452      88.21 (-0.34)

CNA MCH/1999

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