Cyprus News Agency: News in English (AM), 99-05-03

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

CONTENTS

[01] Socialist party leader - German Chancellor

[02] Symposium - Turkey

[03] Cyprus trade - US

[04] Anorthosis - Cyprus football champions

[05] Spokesman - Yugoslavia - EU - Sanctions

[06] Cyprus President - EIB Chairman

1045:CYPPRESS:01

[01] Socialist party leader - German Chancellor

"The visit is taking place in a bid to convince European countries to speed up Cyprus' accession course and not allow any linking of accession with a prior settlement to the Cyprus problem," Lyssarides told reporters at Larnaca airport.

He said Europe must not give in to any such pressure and punish Cyprus for not being able to do away with the 25-year Turkish occupation of 37 per cent of the island's territory.

"We all wish for an early settlement to the Cyprus problem," Lyssarides said.

The socialist leader said both he and other party leaders will pay similar visits to other European capitals.

Cyprus, along with five eastern and central European countries, opened accession talks in March last year.

The EDEK president said that during his stay in Bonn he will meet with representatives of the Socialdemocratic Party to discuss European issues.

Referring to the Yugoslav crisis, Lyssarides expressed the conviction that "a countdown has begun" and said "Europeans must understand that the prolonging of this crisis and bombing destabalise Europe."

CNA MAN/RG/MA/GP/1999

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1100:CYPPRESS:02

[02] Symposium - Turkey

The one-day symposium is organised by the Department of Turkish Studies of the University of Cyprus and the Office for the Study of the Cyprus Problem, Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Addressing the symposium Dean of the School of Humanities and Social Sciences, Yiannis Ioannou said "the Turkish world is historically, culturally and politically part of the experience of Cyprus."

He added that "whether one thinks in terms of coexistence or in terms of conflict, this relation necessitates an ongoing exploration."

Ioannou noted that "as the bonds of friendship are strengthened by knowing and understanding the other, similarly the bonds between two historically different cultures necessitate a deeper knowledge and understanding of the other."

He expressed the hope "in the long-term this relation with the Turkish world will be based on the principle of peaceful coexistence and mutual understanding".

The Office for the Study of the Cyprus Problem and the Department of Turkish Studies are also organising tomorrow a panel discussion on the subject of "Turkey after the elections" with E. J. Zurcher of Leiden University, Netherlands and G. Seufert, German Research Institute, Constantinople (Istanbul), as the key-note speakers.

CNA MCH/GP/1999

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

The Cyprus Trade Specialist at the US Department of Commerce, Ann Corro, said that the value of Cyprus exports reached a record overall high of 21 million dollars, and that the figure could approach 31 million dollars once the relevant statistics are finalised.

Meanwhile, Cyprus' Trade Commissioner to the US, Dennis Droushiotis, said exports of dairy products, especially halloumi cheese, jumped 22% over 1997, adding that new Cyprus cheeses appeared in the US market in 1998, such as feta, kaskavali and anari.

The same statistics indicated that Cyprus wines brought in nearly half a million dollars, and that light industry products also increased, that is clothing reached 5.2 million dollars and footwear 3.9 million dollars.

Impressive gains were also registered in exports to the US of machinery, precious stones, and metals, reflecting Cyprus' growing position as a regional commercial and shipping hub, with sophisticated transit trade, banking and insurance sectors.

CNA RG/GP/1999

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1300:CYPPRESS:04

[03] Anorthosis - Cyprus football champions

This is the tenth Cyprus League title for the blue-and-white team. Anorthosis collected a total of 67 points, the same as Omonia, but won the title because they scored more goals than the Nicosia club.

Three teams were relegated to the second division. They are Evagoras of Paphos, Doxa of Katokopia and Aris of Limassol.

Three other teams, namely Anagennisis of Derynia, Ethnikos of Assia and APOP of Paphos, were promoted to the first division.

The final table of the Cyprus League stands as follows: 1. Anorthosis 67

2. Omonia 67 3. APOEL 59

4. AEK 45 5. AEL 44

6. Achna 42 7. Apollon 41

8. Paralimni 32 9. Olympiakos 29

10. Salamina 28 11. Alki 25

12. Evagoras 22 13. Doxa 9

14. Aris 9

CNA GP/1999

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1345:CYPPRESS:05

[04] Spokesman - Yugoslavia - EU - Sanctions

Government Spokesman, Costas Serezis made this statement when invited to comment on a local newspaper report that Nicosia is concerned that the EU will demand an implementation from candidate member-states a package of sanctions against Yugoslavia, including freezing of Serb assets.

"When decisions are taken (by the EU) and we are asked to implement them, we will examine them," Serezis said, adding that for the time being no one has approached the Cyprus government.

Serezis said "the government has a specific policy" on the issue and it is examining all matters raised, bearing in mind the national interest.

The Spokesman said Cyprus was not asked to freeze Yugoslav assets. However, the government will comply with the EU regulation calling for an oil embargo against Yugoslavia, he added.

Asked what criteria determine the government's stance on Yugoslavia, the Spokesman referred to Cyprus' European perspective. "We do not want to put it in any doubt, or question it," he added.

Cyprus, which applied for EU membership in 1990, began substantial accession negotiations with the Union last year.

CNA MA/EC/GP/1999

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1450:CYPPRESS:06

[05] Cyprus President - EIB Chairman

Bank Chairman Sir Brian Unwin described moves by the government to remove the cap on interest rates as "absolutely essential for Cyprus if it is to qualify for Union membership" and pointed out that Cyprus will benefit greatly from such a development.

Speaking after a meeting with President Glafcos Clerides, Sir Brian explained that the restrictions on the capital market prevent the Bank from issuing bonds in Cyprus, as it does in other candidate countries to help them develop capital markets.

"The issue of bonds by the EIB in Cyprus pounds convertible into euros will itself be a significant boost to the standing of the reputation of the Cyprus market," he said.

Sir Brian said Cyprus has the highest per capita lending of any country the EIB operates in in relation to its population and said that over the next three years as much as 400 million euros could be made available to local projects.

Cyprus has a population of around 760,000 and in the past three years it has received some 200 million euros for sewerage, water and electricity projects.

He said future funds could go to help finance projects for water development, sewerage system in the capital Nicosia, improvement at Paphos and Larnaca International Airports and major road projects.

Sir Brian said the EIB is a larger lending institution than the World Bank and explained that Cyprus gets loans through a general Mediterranean lending package and a special pre accession facility.

He said the EIB has lent 130 million euros to the Cyprus Development Bank which they subsequently lend to small businesses, following EIB approval.

CNA MK/MM/GP/1999

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

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