Cyprus News Agency: News in English (AM), 99-05-18

Cyprus News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

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

CONTENTS

[01] No explosion - Cyprus embassy in Teheran

[02] Local Authorities - Seminar

[03] Cyprus Stock Exchange

1130:CYPPRESS:01

[01] No explosion - Cyprus embassy in Teheran

The French news agency AFP quoted the Iranian daily "Jomhuri Islami" that a bomb exploded just as Spyros Kyprianou, President of the House of Representatives, was entering the Cypriot embassy in Teheran. According to the report, the bomb caused damage but no one was hurt.

The paper reported that several people had been arrested by the Iranian police and that one confessed to having "links with the Turkish secret services", according to AFP.

In Nicosia, Cyprus Government Spokesman Costas Serezis denied today that there was a bomb explosion.

He told CNA that Cyprus ambassador in Teheran George Virides received last week an anonymous letter containing a threat of a bomb attack against the embassy, unless the amount of 300.000 US dollars was delivered to an undisclosed group.

The Cypriot diplomat reported the case to Iranian police who placed a guard outside the embassy. While Virides was at Teheran airport Sunday to receive Kyprianou, at the head of a Cyprus parliamentary delegation, several people attacked the Iranian guard, injuring him.

Virides' wife and son, who were inside the embassy compound called the police. As soon as policemen appeared on the scene, the intruders fled leaving behind a box which contained explosives. There was no explosion, Serezis told CNA.

The Cyprus Republic today asked the Iranian authorities to provide protection to the Cypriot ambassador in Teheran and to his family on a 24- hour basis.

The Cypriot request was conveyed here this morning to Iran's ambassador to Cyprus Bahman Agha-Razi, who had a scheduled meeting with the newly-appointed Permanent Secretary of the Cyprus Foreign Ministry, ambassador Andreas Pirishis.

CNA GP/1999

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1345:CYPPRESS:02

[02] Local Authorities - Seminar

During the opening ceremony, speakers stressed the important role that local authorities must play in the functioning of the EU and the enlargement process.

They also expressed regret about the absence of Turkish Cypriot representatives, who did not respond to invitations sent to them to attend the meeting.

In his address, Nicosia Mayor and President of the Cyprus Municipalities Union, Lellos Demetriades, said invitations were sent out "but unfortunately we had no response".

Demetriades said Cyprus has been represented for many years at the Council of Europe and the Committee of EU Regions, and welcomed the start of "close contacts with local authorities in Europe".

He pointed out that Cyprus must "familiarise itself with the structure of the EU", otherwise it will lag behind.

Minister of Interior, Christodoulos Christodoulou, told delegates that Cyprus' "harmonisation with the EU is a primary strategic aim", adding that Cyprus' EU accession course will present various challenges.

Christodoulou reassured that the government promotes "the upgrading of local authorities", so that they can deal with local matters "quickly and efficiently".

The Vice-President of the Committee, Roger Kaliff, described the seminar as "an important element in the enlargement process", adding that "it is important to include all the citizens, which means that the political parties must get involved".

The Vice-President of the Cyprus Parliamentary Committee of the Interior, Kikis Yiangou, said "the seminar is especially interesting, because its topics of discussion touch upon serious questions concerning the role of local authorities with regard to the European Union".

Addressing the seminar, the Head of the European Commission delegation in Cyprus, Donato Chiarini, said that people are justified in believing that "the construction of the EU is very complicated" and described it as a "labyrinth".

Chiarini said many sceptics "make the mistake of thinking that the rise of regional awareness is a contradiction".

"This is not so, it is a dynamic process, which increases the effectiveness of the EU", he added and referred to the Euro is a "fundamental element in the construction of Europe".

He said there were "expectations that the Turkish side would participate in EU negotiations", adding that this would allow them to express their views.

CNA RG/MM/1999

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1400:CYPPRESS:03

[03] Cyprus Stock Exchange

      CSE General Index                         138.61 ( 1.06)

      Traded Value            CYP 12,875,681

      Sectural Indices

      Banks                   CYP 7,023,852     186.02 ( 1.40)
      Approved Investment
      Companies               CYP   430,340      74.95 (-0.33)
      Insurance Companies     CYP    63,630      72.65 (-1.70)
      Manufacturing Companies CYP   343,421      86.03 (-0.29)
      Tourism Companies       CYP   993,595      98.26 ( 1.74)
      Trading Companies       CYP   298,398      50.13 ( 0.62)
      Other Companies         CYP   267,439      88.10 ( 0.00)

CNA MM/1999

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

Cyprus News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article