Cyprus News Agency: News in English (PM), 99-07-29

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

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

CONTENTS

[01] Spokesman - House President - Hercus

[02] House President - Late King Hassan

[03] Ship - Police - Rescue operation continues

[04] Cyprus Stock Exchange

[05] Stock Market - Down

[06] Greek Americans - Turkish-occupied areas

1630:CYPPRESS:01

[01] Spokesman - House President - Hercus

Government Spokesman Costas Serezis told reporters here Thursday that before Hercus left Cyprus last month, "she had visited the President of the Republic and informed him that she would submit her resignation to the UN Secretary-General."

Serezis said the President of the Republic "expressed his regret to Ms Hercus but did not try to dissuade her because of the serious reasons she had cited." President Clerides further thanked her for her services.

Her resignation was announced yesterday, Wednesday, in a statement attributable to the Secretary-General's spokesman in New York.

Hercus, 57, took up her post as Deputy Special Representative to the Secretary-General on July 1, 1998 and was appointed Special Representative about a month ago. She cited family reasons for her resignation.

Asked what would be the consequences on the Cyprus problem, in view of the impending invitation which the UN Secretary-General is expected to extend to the two sides on the island, Serezis replied that "it might contribute to the delay of the start of the dialogue, if it takes place."

He further said President Clerides informed the members of the National Council, the top advisory body to the President on the handling of the Cyprus problem, that the Secretary-General "is not in a hurry" to extend the invitations.

There are indications that if the dialogue takes place, it will be around the end of October - beginning of November," the Spokesman added.

Meanwhile, House President Spyros Kyprianou expressed certainty that Hercus' resignation will not affect the UN's approach to the Cyprus problem.

The UN Secretary General Kofi Annan is expected to invite the two sides in Cyprus for unconditional talks on all issues in autumn 1999.

Cyprus has been divided since 1974 when Turkish troops invaded and occupied 37 per cent of the island's territory.

CNA RG/EC/MCH/1999

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1710:CYPPRESS:02

[02] House President - Late King Hassan

Signing the book of condolences at the Morocco Honourary Consulate in Nicosia, Kyprianou said he knew King Hassan personally, noting that he "quietly prepared the ground for developments in the Middle East".

He described King Hassan's death as a "loss to the Arab world and generally the Middle East and Mediterranean region".

President Glafcos Clerides, who signed the book of condolences yesterday, described the Moroccan King as a "prominent political personality of the Arab world" and praised his role in efforts for peace in the Middle East.

CNA FZ/EC/MCH/1999

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1715:CYPPRESS:03

[03] Ship - Police - Rescue operation continues

Port Police chief, Theodoros Stylianou, said the sea operation was continuing in an effort to investigate all possibilities which might lead to the two sailors.

Stylianou said that according to reports, one of the sailors jumped ship wearing his life jacket before the explosion on the Honduran flagged cargo vessel "Rofayda".

The six crew members who were rescued by a passing tanker after they were found on a raft are Mohamed Shambri, 61, Hassan el Sayed, 43, Hassan Ali Mahedond, 29, Ahmed Mohamadin, 58 and Ahmed Abdelwah, 20, all from Egypt and Mohamed Abdelwahb, 39, from Sudan.

The six were taken to Limassol by a representative of the company that owns "Rofayda".

The two missing Egyptian sailors still unaccounted for are Ahmed Abdou Aly, 43, and Elsahed Hassona, 56.

Meanwhile, Loizos Loizides, in charge of pollution at the Research Centre of the Fisheries Department said the possible leakage of fuel from the cargo vessel is not expected to create any pollution problems, but his department is closely monitoring the possibility.

He said the ship sank outside the Cyprus waters noting that vessels like "Rofayda" do not carry heavy fuel therefore they do not anticipate mass leakage, allowing time for his department to combat any pollution.

"Rofayda's" last port of call was Limassol where it refueled before leaving on Tuesday evening for the Syrian port of Latakia laden with 3.000 tons of sesame seed.

CNA EC/MCH/1999

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1730:CYPPRESS:04

[04] Cyprus Stock Exchange

      CSE General Index                         271.79 (-7.65)

      Traded Value            CYP 41,719,212

      Sectural Indices

      Banks                   CYP20,989,510     369.84 (-9.33)
      Approved Investment
      Companies               CYP 1,335,199     134.78 (-0.79)
      Insurance Companies     CYP   843,659     120.11 ( 1.94)
      Manufacturing Companies CYP   905,613      99.85 (-4.82)
      Tourism Companies       CYP 2,769,607     201.03 (-3.07)
      Trading Companies       CYP 3,423,078     125.97 (-9.64)
      Other Companies         CYP 2,000,203     226.91 ( 1.54)

CNA MCH/1999

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1755:CYPPRESS:05

[05] Stock Market - Down

The all-share index closed at 271.79, compared to yesterday's 294,29, dropping by 7.65 per cent.

The volume of transactions dropped from almost 69 million Cyprus pounds yesterday to 41,719,212 on Thursday. (One Cyprus pound is trading at 1,8 US dollars.)

Yesterday's sky high record followed the two day break of the CSE which was decided to give brokers time to deal with the massive backlog of uncleared transactions which resulted from the increasing volume of transactions in recent weeks.

Explaining today's trend CSE Director Nondas Metaxas said it was "anticipated" following the closure of the bourse on Monday and Tuesday.

However, he told CyBC state radio that the investing activity remained at high levels, compared to Cyprus standards.

CNA EC/MCH/1999

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1935:CYPPRESS:06

[06] Greek Americans - Turkish-occupied areas

The group, who crossed to the Turkish-occupied areas through the Ledra Palace check point in Nicosia, refused to sign documents recognising the illegal regime in the northern part of the island.

State Representative of Maine, George Mendos, told CNA the group asked to meet with Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash but he refused to see them, saying he would be out of town.

"But he was there the day before and the day after. So I think he just didn't want to meet with us", State Representative of Maine said.

Mendos said on their stay to the occupied areas an illegal "secret police" was following them, adding "it was very obvious they were following us".

He also said it was "very significant" for the group to go to the occupied areas and find out "what it was like there, how the Turkish Cypriots were there", adding "they are suffering under Turkish rule, the conditions are terrible".

Referring to the Turkish occupation, Mendos said "the group will try to pass in all 50 states a condemnation of the action and a request of the Federal Government to bring an end to this and to reunify Cyprus".

CNA AA/MCH/1999

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

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