Cyprus News Agency: News in English (AM), 99-04-05

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

CONTENTS

[01] Russia - Cyprus

[02] Foreign Minister - Athens talks

[03] Cypriot doctors - Pristina

[04] Spokesman - Cyprus - Humanitarian aid

[05] Cyprus Stock Exchange

1040:CYPPRESS:01

[01] Russia - Cyprus

In an interview with the Cyprus News Agency, Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Avteyev said that Cyprus has fulfilled its obligations emanating from its arms purchase contract for the S300 surface-to-air missile system and added that talks are continuing with Greece for their proposed deployment in the Greek island of Crete.

Avteyev will pay a three-day visit to Cyprus later this week for contacts with the Cyprus government.

He also said bilateral ties with Cyprus are based on long standing cultural and historical relations and noted increased cooperation in the fields of investment, science, technology and tourism.

Outlining Russia's role in efforts to settle the Cyprus question, Avteyev said Russia "is working for a solution on the basis of UN resolutions and two high level agreements between the Greek and Turkish Cypriot sides" in 1977 and 1979.

"Russia is ready to discuss the prospect of a bicommunal, bizonal federation with a single international personality and we are ready to back any initiative on this basis," he said.

Expressing full support for bicommunal contact and efforts by the UN, the European Union and the G8 group, Avteyev referred to a proposal for the demilitarisation of Cyprus and added "Russian diplomacy believes that any progress towards this direction will assist the settlement of other aspects of the Cyprus problem."

The Russian official said that the shape of the future state of Cyprus "is a matter for the people of Cyprus and we believe that the only state that could work to the benefit of both communities is a federal structure."

He described a Turkish Cypriot proposal for confederation as contrary to the decisions of the international community which would "essentially lead to the division of Cyprus and the abolition of the Cypriot state."

Avteyev warned also those who back confederation saying that numerous decisions by the UN Security Council and the international community define Cyprus as a unified state, having one international entity with two regions where both communities will feel secure.

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

Referring to the issue of the Russian-made S300 missile system, which Cyprus ordered in early 1997 but subsequently decided not to deploy on the island, he said the Cypriot government has "fulfilled to the full its obligations arising from the purchase contract."

The fate of the system, he explained, is a matter for the Cypriot government to decide and that is why Russia has looked upon the decision not to deploy the missiles with understanding.

Cyprus announced in December 1998 that for reasons of national interest and to avoid tension in the region it would not deploy the missiles but instead it would negotiate their deployment in Crete.

"We have had talks with the participation of the Greek government and we are still working out the final details for their deployment in Crete," Avteyev told CNA.

He said Russia understands the position that Nicosia's decision on the missiles would help initiatives towards a settlement.

"It is therefore reasonable to expect that all those who fought against the deployment of the missiles in Cyprus will make the necessary moves to create the appropriate circumstances for a solution on the basis of UN resolutions," he said.

On bilateral relations, Avteyev said these are "frank, multifaceted and deeply rooted" and noted increasing trade and economic ties.

"In the past several years, we have developed a mutually beneficial cooperation in investments, and we see enhanced opportunities to develop our relations in science and technology," he told CNA.

He explained that Cyprus could be used as a platform for the export of high technology goods and noted that the abolition of visas between the two countries has led to increased tourism.

CNA CG/MM/GP/1999

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1130:CYPPRESS:02

[02] Foreign Minister - Athens talks

The Cyprus problem, the situation in Kosovo, Cyprus' accession course for European Union (EU) membership and bilateral issues will be on tomorrow's agenda.

Kasoulides returns home Tuesday evening. Next week, he will be in Stuttgart to participate in the Euromediterranean Conference from 15-16 April and he will then fly on to Brussels for a meeting of the Republic's ambassadors to EU member-states to discuss EU related matters.

Cyprus' chief negotiator with the EU, George Vassiliou, will also attend the Brussels meeting.

CNA MM/GP/1999

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1130:CYPPRESS:03

[03] Cypriot doctors - Pristina

Speaking to CNA, doctor Eleni Theocharous said it will be a surgical medical team and she pointed out that they have already been contacted the hospitals where they will work.

"The team is expected to leave for Pristina on Wednesday," she said. Theocharous said that members of "Doctors of the World" from different countries are already in the FYROM and Albania providing aid to Albanian refugees from Kosovo, while no doctors have been sent so far to care for the Serbs.

"The Cypriot doctors are the first to go to Pristina to care for the Serbs," she added.

CNA MCH/GP/1999

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1330:CYPPRESS:04

[04] Spokesman - Cyprus - Humanitarian aid

He said the humanitarian aid will include pharmaceuticals, clothing and foodstuffs.

Serezis added that the issue will be discussed tomorrow during Foreign Minister Ioannis Kasoulides' meeting in Athens with his Greek counterpart, George Papandreou.

"Due to its position and its involvement in the whole issue, the Greek government will guide us how to go about it", the spokesman said, referring to the despatch of the aid.

Serezis did not rule out the possibility that the humanitarian aid will be given to Greece, which will then forward it to Yugoslavia, although he pointed out that the government's efforts are independent with that of the Greek government.

CNA MCH/EC/GP/1999

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1435:CYPPRESS:05

[05] Cyprus Stock Exchange

      CSE General Index                        113.67 (-0.28)

      Traded Value            CYP 4,537,270

      Sectural Indices

      Banks                   CYP 2,661,444     142.48 (-0.38)
      Approved Investment
      Companies               CYP   153,749      69.74 (-0.40)
      Insurance Companies     CYP    60,026      75.56 ( 0.09)
      Manufacturing Companies CYP   316,669      92.61 ( 0.18)
      Tourism Companies       CYP   199,489      81.14 (-0.77)
      Trading Companies       CYP   105,487      47.50 (-0.34)
      Other Companies         CYP   103,628      83.11 ( 0.46)

CNA EC/1999

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

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