Cyprus News Agency: News in English (AM), 99-06-25

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

CONTENTS

[01] EU media workshop

[02] Turkey - European Court - Cyprus

[03] Cyprus Stock Exchange

1345:CYPPRESS:01

[01] EU media workshop

Speakers at the three-day event, taking place at the Ledra Palace hotel in the UN controlled buffer zone, expressed regret at this development and said they hoped ways can be found to resume bicommunal contact, halted after the EU Luxembourg decision in 1997 which did not include Turkey in the list of candidate countries.

EU delegates called on people not to wait for political developments but to take the initiative and try to promote bicommunal contacts now.

Donato Chiarini, head of the European Commission delegation in Nicosia, expressed regret at the absence of Turkish Cypriots and noted this was not the first time this has happened.

"We are concerned about how to inform the Turkish Cypriots about the EU. There is a gap in information," he said, adding that the Internet and bicommunal meetings abroad serve this purpose.

Chiarini said it was important to inform people, especially journalists, about the EU.

Jacques Vantomme, head of the Units Information Service for non-member states, said he was sorry that Turkish Cypriots were not present and added that bicommunal contact now takes place through trade unions.

"May be trade unions are more powerful and can influence the authorities in the northern part of the island," he said.

Expressing the hope that ways will be found in the future to resume these contacts, he said "you must not wait for political developments that will allow such contacts".

Attempts for contacts must be made now, he said, calling for the promotion of cooperation with the Turkish Cypriots to inform them about the EU.

However, Turkish journalist Neslihan Ozgunes, one of the course leaders, said "Turkish Cypriots cannot participate in any EU activities unless the EU changes its attitude".

The two course leaders who will conduct the workshop are Greek Brussels based correspondent, George Terzis and Turkish journalist Neslihan Ozgunes.

CNA RG/MM/MCH/1999

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1350:CYPPRESS:02

[02] Turkey - European Court - Cyprus

Committee chairman, Iceland's Foreign Minister Halldor Asgrimsson stressed in a letter to his Turkish counterpart, inter alia, the obligation incumbent on all member states to abide by the judgements of the Court and expressed the Committee's concern at the position taken by the Turkish authorities in this case.

The European Court of Human Rights ruled in December 1996 that Turkey, which controls the northern part of Cyprus it occupies since 1974, has to pay compensation worth over 800.000 US dollars to Titina Loizidou for continuous violation of her right to enjoy peacefully her property, now under Turkish occupation.

The letter warns Turkey that if it does not comply with the Court ruling, the Committee of Ministers will consider a draft resolution calling on Ankara to abide by the decision.

The Committee chairman also said that Turkey's argument that the issue of compensation should be dealt with in the context of an overall settlement of property claims by the Greek and Turkish Cypriot sides is not valid.

The letter points out that the execution of the Court ruling is not subject to any term or precondition and said damages should be paid as soon as possible.

The Committee is set to discuss the Loizidou case on 6 July, a date which inadvertently sets a deadline for Turkey to outline its intentions on the matter.

Letter writing on the part of the Committee to governments of member states of the Council of Europe is not a normal procedure and is only applied in exceptional circumstances, informed sources have said.

CNA MM/MCH/1999

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1350:CYPPRESS:03

[03] Cyprus Stock Exchange

      CSE General Index                         159.92 ( 0.61)

      Traded Value            CYP  12,162,419

      Sectural Indices

      Banks                   CYP 2,675,905     207.78 ( 0.38)
      Approved Investment
      Companies               CYP   351,385      81.06 ( 0.57)
      Insurance Companies     CYP   317,825      84.57 (-5.12)
      Manufacturing Companies CYP   812,567      96.16 ( 2.41)
      Tourism Companies       CYP   877,159     124.67 ( 2.67)
      Trading Companies       CYP 2,391,185      87.76 ( 4.06)
      Other Companies         CYP 1,261,183     123.95 ( 0.58)

CNA MCH/1999

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

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