Cyprus News Agency: News in English (PM), 99-06-30

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

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

CONTENTS

[01] Cyprus Stock Exchange

[02] Finland - Cyprus - EU

[03] Foreign Minister - UN Security Council resolutions

[04] German envoy - Vassiliou

1530:CYPPRESS:01

[01] Cyprus Stock Exchange

      CSE General Index                         165.24 ( 1.20)

      Traded Value            CYP  16,046,423

      Sectural Indices

      Banks                   CYP 3,976,543     215.24 ( 1.87)
      Approved Investment
      Companies               CYP   960,380      87.63 ( 0.08)
      Insurance Companies     CYP   246,747      86.87 ( 0.64)
      Manufacturing Companies CYP   306,879      98.26 (-2.47)
      Tourism Companies       CYP   415,684     123.89 (-0.94)
      Trading Companies       CYP 4,396,910      95.88 ( 2.28)
      Other Companies         CYP 1,049,869     124.07 (-0.20)

CNA EC/1999

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1540:CYPPRESS:02

[02] Finland - Cyprus - EU

He expressed hope that the Cyprus peace effort can proceed on the basis of a recent statement by the G8 group (seven most industrialised nations and Russia) and the value of UN Security Council resolutions.

Speaking at a press conference after talks with Foreign Minister Ioannis Kasoulides, Sasi said "enlargement is our first priority" and in that context there will be a lot of contact in the coming months with Cyprus, being a candidate country.

"We will try to open another eight chapters during our presidency (15 out of 31 have already been opened) and hope to proceed in the negotiations with as many chapters as possible and close them provisionally," Sasi said.

Finland aims to open difficult chapters "to come to the real crucial issues" Sasi said and added that by the end of the French EU presidency (in the second half of 2000) all chapters will have been opened for discussion.

He said the reconstruction effort in Kosovo is the second most important item on the programme of the EU Finnish presidency.

Replying to questions, he said Cyprus' accession negotiations with the EU are proceeding "quite well" and Finland intends to carry them forward.

On the Cyprus peace effort, Sasi said Finland "appreciates highly the work done by the G8 and the UN Security Council and hope we can proceed with the Cyprus question on that basis."

Jaakko Blomberg, Finland's Cyprus envoy, who is accompanying Sasi on his visit with the country's Ambassador to Cyprus, Pasi Patokalio, said he stressed to the leader of the Turkish Cypriot community the importance of success at this particular moment.

He also pointed out the significance of UN resolutions and the G8 declaration on Cyprus, calling on the UN Secretary General to invite the Greek and Turkish Cypriot sides to talks in autumn without preconditions where all issues will be on the negotiating table.

Foreign Minister Kasoulides said Sasi's visit demonstrates Finland's interest in Cyprus and added that the presidency programme and the Cyprus peace effort were discussed at today's talks.

Earlier today, Sasi met with Cyprus' chief negotiator with the EU George Vassiliou and said Finland will try to keep up a rapid pace in the accession negotiations.

Vassiliou described his meeting as "very productive" and welcomed Finland's intention to hold three ministerial meetings and other meetings of civil servants.

"We covered many other subjects like EU employment and environmental policy, the need to protect the EU from illegal immigrants and how to combat drug trafficking," Vassiliou said.

CNA MM/EC/1999

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1540:CYPPRESS:03

[03] Foreign Minister - UN Security Council resolutions

The Security Council on Tuesday called for unconditional talks for a settlement in Cyprus with all issues on the table, endorsing a statement by the Group of seven most industrialised countries plus Russia (G8).

It also reiterated that a settlement on the island must provide for the establishment of a bizonal, bicommunal federation, as stipulated in its resolutions.

The Council adopted two resolutions, one on Secretary-General Kofi Annan's good offices mission (1250/1999) and another on the extension for a further six month period of the mandate of the UN Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (1251/1999).

Invited to comment on the resolutions, Kasoulides told the press here today the two sides should exhibit good will to create the (necessary) preconditions and wait for the Secretary-General's invitation.

"Resolution 1251 completely clarifies the parametres in which the Security Council, on behalf of the international community... believes it should move in its search for a Cyprus settlement," the minister added.

These parametres, he said, are based on "a state of Cyprus with a single sovereignty and international personality and a single citizenship with political equality, as defined in the UN Secretary-General's report of 1990, within the framework of a bizonal, bicommunal federation, which excludes union in a whole or in part with any other country or any form of partition or secession."

Referring to resolution 1250, Kasoulides said it basically reiterates the G8 leaders' appeal to the two sides in "Cyprus for an unconditional dialogue on all aspects of the Cyprus problem with the aim to achieve results at the end of the negotiations, bearing in mind the contents of the UN resolutions."

Invited to interpret the reference to a discussion on "all issues", Kasoulides said it means "whatever constitutes the Cyprus problem" and added that the international community has clearly outlined its position on the parametres of a settlement in paragraph 11 of resolution 1251.

"If (Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf) Denktash raises issues outside those parametres, then he will be handled accordingly," the minister said.

Kasoulides made special reference to the Security Council call to the Greek Cypriot side in resolution 1251 "to agree to the implementation of the UNFICYP package of measures" aimed at reducing tensions.

He said "the position of the Cyprus President is that we are ready to proceed with the implementation of the proposed measures, provided they are within the framework of resolution 1218, which says that the other side should be ready to implement the package in its entirety for a reduction of tensions in Cyprus, including the reduction of forces and armaments with the aim to gradually demilitirise Cyprus."

The minister said he was disappointed because no mention was made in resolution 1251 on the missing persons question.

Kasoulides revealed that the Secretary-General's Resident Representative Dame Ann Hercus had said she asked for the issue not to be included since her efforts on the issue are at a point where they are expected to produce results.

"We hope her efforts will produce results, because if it is proved that the provision (on the missing persons issue) was removed falsely, then it would be a wrong service in efforts to implement all that was agreed (on the issue)...", the minister concluded.

The Turkish side has failed to implement an agreement between the two sides providing for the exchange of information about locations of graves and return of remains of people killed during the Turkish invasion.

The UN-sponsored agreement was signed on July 31, 1997 by President Glafcos Clerides and Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash.

A total of 1619 Greek Cypriots and Greeks (including five US citizens), were listed by the Cyprus government as missing persons as a result of the Turkish invasion and occupation of 37 per cent of Cyprus territory in 1974.

CNA MCH/EC/GP/1999

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

2020:CYPPRESS:04

[04] German envoy - Vassiliou

Rantzau, who represents the German presidency of the European Union, arrived yesterday in Cyprus for a five day visit.

He met today with Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash and tomorrow he will be received by President Glafcos Clerides.

The German envoy said he and Vassiliou talked about the "G8 initiative on an invitation for talks (in autumn) under the auspices of the UN" and "exchanged views on the possibilities and the potentials of such a conference and how it may come about".

Invited to comment on the outcome of his meeting with Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash, Rantzau said it was "a usual exchange of views and the outlook" that Denktash has on the situation.

Rantzau said he reiterated the position of his country and that of the EU, adding "there is nothing new."

Asked if there have been any positive steps towards a solution to the Cyprus problem, he said "I believe indeed there have been some concrete steps as manifested by the G8 initiative."

On his part, Vassiliou described their meeting as "very interesting", noting the German envoy expressed his views on the situation and his country's desire to see substantial progress on Cyprus through the implementation of the G8 invitation.

Vassiliou said in order to achieve substantial progress the Turkish side needs to alter its attitude, adding that "I cannot see any such signs at the moment."

During their meeting in Cologne earlier this month, the Group of seven most industrialised countries plus Russia (G8) called on the UN Secretary- General to invite the two sides in Cyprus to negotiations to discuss all issues, without preconditions and with full consideration of the UN Security Council resolutions and relative treaties.

CNA EC/MM/1999

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

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