Cyprus News Agency: News in English (AM), 99-08-31

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

CONTENTS

[01] SPORT: Panathinaikos, Zalgiris win in basketball tournament

[02] Trade Unionist - Ceremony

[03] Paphos - AIDA

[04] Cyprus Stock Exchange

0810:CYPPRESS:01

[01] SPORT: Panathinaikos, Zalgiris win in basketball tournament

It was their first match within the framework of the Caretta Sunball Classic tournament, which opened yesterday afternoon at "Eleftheria" indoor stadium in the Cyprus capital.

European champions Zalgiris Kaunas Lithuania defeated runners-up Kinder Bologna 67 - 65.

Earlier in the afternoon, European Cup winners Benetton Treviso beat Partizan Belgrade 86 - 63.

Today Zalgiris will meet Maccabi, Benetton will play against Kinder while Panathinaikos will clash with Partizan.

CNA GP/1999

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1015:CYPPRESS:02

[02] Trade Unionist - Ceremony

Ioannou, who resigned after 26 years at the helm of one of Cyprus' most powerful trade unions, is to be replaced by his deputy Demetris Kitenis, who assumes office today.

In a special ceremony last night honouring Ioannou, President Glafcos Clerides described him as "wise, strong leader, tenacious protector of the interests and rights of working people."

He said Ioannou's contribution to the improvement of the social welfare was "decisive", noting also his input to the liberation struggle in the mid-50s against British colonial rule.

Labour and Social Insurance Minister Andreas Mousioutas said Ioannou was well respected in trade union circles at home and abroad and referred to his pioneering role in social, economic and labour achievements.

The chairman of the Cyprus Chamber of Commerce and Industry Vassilis Rologis described Ioannou as one of the pioneers of the local trade union movement.

"He is not dogmatic, he is not absolute in his views and most of all he is accessible," Rologis added.

A visibly moved Ioannou thanked everybody for their good words and called on the labour movement to keep away from dogmatic policies and define an imaginative progressive policy to protect effectively the workers and prepare to adjust to new institutions and methods to meet new challenges.

Ioannou, born in 1934, started working in the trade unionist movement in 1955 and served in different posts in SEK. He has published many articles and analysis and is a member of international trade union organisations.

CNA MM/GP/1999

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1020:CYPPRESS:03

[03] Paphos - AIDA

At the same time it aims to make this eastern Mediterranean island tourist resort a cultural point, thus promoting quality tourism.

A total of 280 persons including the symphonic orchestra, choir, solists, actors and technicians will arrive in Cyprus to present AIDA outside the medieval castle of Paphos between September 10-12.

Speaking at a press conference on Monday, Fidias Sarikas, President of the "Pafos Aphrodite Festival", the organisers of the event, said AIDA "is the culmination of untiring efforts to officially launch the festival and make it an annual cultural event of international magnitude."

He said this way Paphos, on the island's western coast, "will substantially contribute in putting Cyprus on the international map of high quality cultural events."

"Cyprus does not only have history, monuments and tradition, but also a cultural vision and aspiration", Sarikas added.

The organisers aim to bring to Cyprus renowned international operas every year.

Commerce, Industry and Tourism Minister Nicos Rolandis reiterated his ministry's pledge to include culture in efforts to promote tourism.

"It is a fact that with the passing of time, old perceptions about the sea and sun... are not the only factors for tourism," Rolandis said.

"We want more tourism because markets are so competitive therefore we must enrich our cultural product with new elements to attract quality tourism," the minister added.

Already 80 per cent of the tickets (5.500) have been sold, 1.850 of them to foreigners, Rolandis said, "something which proves that whole point".

Education and Culture Minister Ouranios Ioannides expressed the hope that AIDA will "signal the start of more and bigger productions" on the island, noting that in Cyprus "we are facing a cultural drought" which becomes more evident with the number of festivals taking place lacking quality.

His ministry has put 175 thousand Cyprus pounds into this year's festival (one Cyprus pound trades at 1.8 US dollars), which is estimated to cost 300 thousand.

"Our ministry will continue to support the 'Pafos Aphrodite Festival' more generously, provided it responds with quality productions", Ioannides added.

Cyprus Tourism Organisation Director Phryne Michael said the CTO encourages this effort, which is an example for other areas too.

The CTO has offered a symbolic amount of 15 thousand pounds. Dafni Prodromou, in charge of the Bank of Cyprus' Public Relations Department, said the bank decided to become the main sponsor of the event because it wants to see Cyprus placed on the "European cultural map".

Panicos Schinis from "Papadopoulos & Schinis Productions Ltd", which have undertaken the administration and production of the opera, said he is proud of the fact that the government, the Paphos authorities and the Bank of Cyprus have entrusted his company to undertake such big task.

"We have done all we could to make the performance possible", he said, expressing the conviction that the three performances of AIDA will be a success.

The Ministry of Commerce and the Cyprus Tourism Organisation as well as the Antiquities Department, the Ports Authority and the Cyprus Electricity Authority are also supporting and funding the production.

Conducting Bolshoi's AIDA is Mark Ermler, while artistic director is Bela Rudenko and artistic director and principal of the Bolshoi Theatre is Vladimir Vassiliev.

Starring are Elena Zelenskaya, Marina Lapina, Olga Teryushnova, Badri Maisuradze, Vitaly Taraschenko, Vladimir Matorin and Yuri Nechaevy.

CNA EC/GP/1999

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1420:CYPPRESS:04

[04] Cyprus Stock Exchange

      CSE General Index                         463.70 (-2.82)

      Traded Value            CYP  81,149,016

      Sectural Indices

      Banks                   CYP49,016,116     678.59 (-4.12)
      Approved Investment
      Companies               CYP 2,664,678     291.66 (-3.15)
      Insurance Companies     CYP   878,201     208.22 ( 5.60)
      Manufacturing Companies CYP 1,877,790     138.89 (-0.52)
      Tourism Companies       CYP 2,386,285     296.17 (-2.66)
      Trading Companies       CYP 5,108,050     171.02 ( 5.21)
      Other Companies         CYP 4,612,627     283.71 ( 0.92)

CNA MCH/1999

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

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