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Cyprus News Agency: News in English (PM), 99-05-07Cyprus News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Cyprus News Agency at <http://www.cyna.org.cy>CONTENTS
1510:CYPPRESS:01[01] EE - Associated Countries - MeetingNicosia, May 7 (CNA) -- Representatives of the six applicant countries to join the European Union will meet here Monday to discuss matters relating to their accession process.The Chairmen of the Parliamentary Committees on European Affairs of the associated countries will hold their second meeting. A total of eleven deputies from Estonia, the Czech Republic, Poland, Slovenia and Hungary will arrive over the weekend for the meeting. Cyprus will be represented by Tassos Papadopoulos, Chairman of the House Standing Committee on Foreign and European Affairs and officials of the House of Representatives. Delegates will be received by President Glafcos Clerides before they start their deliberations, Monday morning. Recent developments in the EU and the current state of the accession process and relations between the national parliaments and the European Parliament will be part of the agenda. The head of the European Commission Delegation to Cyprus Ambassador Giovani Chiarini and Cyprus' chief negotiator with the EU George Vassiliou will be among the key note speakers. CNA MM/GP/1999ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY1720:CYPPRESS:02[02] Spokesman - Cyprus - Turkish allegationsNicosia, May 7 (CNA) -- The presence of Turkish troops on the island and Turkey's violations of human rights create tension in Cyprus and not Greek and Greek Cypriot military activities, the government said today.Replying to statements made yesterday by Turkish Foreign Ministry spokesman Sermet Atacanli, Government Spokesman Costas Serezis recalled the government's proposal for the reduction of arms leading to the demilitarisation of the island. He said Cyprus will continue to reinforce its military strength, in cooperation with Greece, for as long as Turkish troops continue to occupy part of the island. Turkey invaded Cyprus in 1974 and continues to occupy 37 per cent of the island's territory. "Tension in Cyprus is created by the continuing Turkish occupation from the presence of 36.000 Turkish troops, and the violation of human rights by Turkey," Serezis said. He added that "Cyprus has repeatedly proposed the reduction of military arms and demilitarisation, according to UN Security Council resolutions with which Turkey refuses to comply with." Atacanli had accused Greece and Greek Cypriots of exacerbating tension through military activity. He also claimed that four Greek warplanes attempted to land at the Paphos air base, on the western coast, but left without accomplishing the task. The Cyprus Government Spokesman said "the Greek planes came to do what they were meant to do and left." He also dismissed Turkish allegations that Turkish planes had forced the Greek warplanes to leave the region. The Greek warplanes had flown over the Paphos air base within the framework of the Greek military exercise code-named "Toxotis". CNA MCH/MA/EC/1999ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY1740:CYPPRESS:03[03] Cyprus - CoE - Death penaltyNicosia, May 7 (CNA) -- Cyprus signed today a protocol of the European Convention for the protection of human rights concerning the abolition of the death penalty.Protocol Nr 6 was signed on the occasion of the extraordinary meeting of the Council of Europe's (CoE) Committee of Foreign Ministers held in Budapest. The protocol was signed on behalf of Cyprus by Foreign Minister Ioannis Kasoulides who is in the Hungarian capital. CoE Secretary General, Daniel Tarschys, said that these steps "confirm the consolidation of Europe as a death-penalty free continent, showing the way also for other member states of our organisation which have not yet signed or ratified this Protocol". The protocol is the first instrument in international law to make abolition of the death penalty into a legal obligation for the contracting parties, a press release of the CoE said Friday. Along with Cyprus, Bulgaria signed the protocol while Latvia ratified it. The protocol is currently in force in 30 European countries. CNA RM/EC/1999ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY1710:CYPPRESS:04[04] Cyprus Stock ExchangeNicosia, Apr 8 CNA) -- The Cyprus Stock Exchange (CSE) All Share Index closed at today's stock exchange meeting as follows:CSE General Index 119.97 ( 0.37) Traded Value CYP 5,172,502 Sectural Indices Banks CYP 3,088,623 151.88 ( 0.64) Approved Investment Companies CYP 95,500 72.61 (-0.82) Insurance Companies CYP 47,410 76.28 (-0.87) Manufacturing Companies CYP 235,544 95.33 (-0.41) Tourism Companies CYP 279,666 84.17 ( 0.49) Trading Companies CYP 192,653 50.41 (-0.53) Other Companies CYP 94,866 84.93 ( 0.39)The third column presents the percentage variation of the indices as compared to the last meeting. CNA MM/1999ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY2000:CYPPRESS:05[05] Rolandis - Visit - LibyaNicosia, May 7 (CNA) -- Minister of Commerce, Industry and Tourism, Nicos Rolandis, will convey a message on behalf of President Glafcos Clerides to President of Libya, Muammar Al Qaddafi, during his official visit to the country on May 22.Rolandis will visit Libya at the invitation of the Libyan government in an effort to develop bilateral relations in the fields of commerce and industry and to find out ways to encourage cooperation between business people from the two countries, an official statement said here Friday. During his visit, Rolandis, who will be accompanied by officials from his ministry, the Foreign Ministry, and the Cyprus Chamber of Commerce and Industry, will meet with a number of Libyan ministers. He returns to Cyprus on May 26. CNA/RM/EC/1999 ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY2025:CYPPRESS:06[06] Austria - Cyprus - CredentialsNicosia, May 7 (CNA) -- Austria is seriously concerned about the lack of progress in Cyprus and remains fully committed to a peaceful solution to the problem, based on UN Security Council resolutions on Cyprus.The statement was made by the President of the Federal Republic of Austria, Dr. Thomas Klestil, accepting on Wednesday the credentials of Cyprus Ambassador to Austria, Nicolaos Makris. According to an official statement issued today, Klestil said his country has always exhibited an active interest regarding developments in Cyprus and has significantly contributed with an Austrian contingent in the United Nations Peacekeeping Forces in Cyprus. He said Austria sincerely hopes the painful division of the island, which has lasted for far too long, will be overcome. Klestil said the UN should remain actively involved to overcome the current stalemate and find a political settlement. President Klestil added that Austria fully supports the efforts of the UN Secretary General and his Representative in Cyprus for reducing tension on the island and to prepare the ground for a resumption of direct talks. On his part, Makris told the Austrian President that he will work to maintain and expand bilateral relations. Cyprus has been divided since 1974 when Turkish troops invaded and occupied 37 per cent of the island's territory. CNA RM/EC/1999ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY2040:CYPPRESS:07[07] Foreign Minister - CoE - BudapestNicosia, May 7 (CNA) -- Foreign Minister Ioannis Kasoulides has said that for the past 25 years Cyprus has been expecting the enforcement of the principles the Council of Europe (CoE) is now called upon to enforce in Kosovo.In his address to the 104th session of the CoE Committee of Ministers, held in Hungary, Kasoulides also welcomed the operation of the new European Court of Human Rights but said the organisation's credibility depends upon the enforcement of its rulings by member-states. The meeting is taking place in Budapest, which currently holds the chair of the Committee presidency, and is held to mark the CoE's 50th anniversary. Kasoulides welcomed Georgia as the CoE's 41st member state, noting the Council has a pan-european character. The Foreign Minister said the CoE has always been in the forefront of efforts to achieve and safeguard human rights, democracy and the rule of law and said it has the mechanisms to tackle challenges that will arise in the new millennium. Referring to the new European Court of Human Rights, Kasoulides said it contributes towards the further enhancement of the protection of human rights and underlined that its credibility depends on the member states' compliance with its decisions. In his reference to the Yugoslav crisis, the Foreign Minister expressed regret over the fact that while the CoE is celebrating 50 years since its establishment, hundreds of thousands of Europeans have been forced to leave their homes and property and are victims of ethnic cleansing. He pointed out that all CoE principles are being violated, including the right of minorities to maintain their cultural identity and, to some extent, their autonomy. The Foreign Minister also said that other basic principles, such as the protection of borders and the territorial integrity of states in Europe are being questioned. He called for support to the positive messages that came out of the G8 meeting yesterday and expressed the hope that a political, diplomatic settlement will soon be found in Kosovo, with the active participation of the UN Security Council. Kasoulides said our main aim should be the safe return of all refugees to their homes and property, under the protection of an international force without the presence of oppressive armies and paramilitaries. Cyprus has been divides since Turkish forces invaded and occupied 37 per cent of its territory in 1974. CNA MA/EC/1999ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCYCNA ENDSCyprus News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |