Cyprus News Agency: News in English (AM), 99-12-16

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

CONTENTS

[01] Foreign Minister - Cyprus peace talks

[02] UN Security Council - UNFICYP resolution

[03] Cypriot MPs - Russian elections

[04] Cyprus Chief EU negotiator - Slovenia

[05] Cyprus Stock Exchange

0855:CYPPRESS:01

[01] Foreign Minister - Cyprus peace talks

New York, Dec 16 (CNA) -- The aim of the second round of UN-led proximity talks on Cyprus, in late January next year, aims to conduct an in depth examination of the positions of the two sides and try to ascertain common ground on various points, already discussed in the first round of talks, which ended here Tuesday, Cyprus Foreign Minister Ioannis Kasoulides has said.

The minister told CNA in an interview that he was encouraged by the fact that the talks were adjourned to be continued in Geneva and predicted that there would be no deadlock in the next round as no agreement is anticipated to be concluded in Geneva, an objective expected to be achieved at a later phase of negotiations.

He noted that many issues relating to Cyprus and Turkey have now been placed under the scrutiny of the EU, as both countries are candidates for accession and called on Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash to swim with the flow.

Kasoulides welcomed a reference to a UN resolution to the humanitarian issue of missing persons in Cyprus, stressing this reference rectifies "an unfortunate omission" from the UN Security Council resolution of June 1999.

Assessing the prospects of the Geneva talks in January, the minister said "the fact that the proximity talks, which started on 3 December, are continuing in January and have not collapsed is an encouraging sign."

He stressed this is an "adjournment of the talks" and not a stoppage and said the talks will continue "on the same basis as far as the four core issues are concerned.

"The UN Secretary-General and his special adviser will have the chance to examine in greater detail the views of the two sides on the basic aspects of the problem and try and establish the points on which there is common ground," Kasoulides added.

This target, he told CNA, has been set for the third phase of the talks which is scheduled for the period after the so-called elections in the Turkish-occupied part of Cyprus.

Asked if the Greek Cypriot side will go to Geneva with better prospects that Denktash will not abandon the talks, the minister said he did not expect any such move from Denktash.

"Today's circumstances and conjunctures, relating to the Helsinki summit and Greco-Turkish relations, are such that enable us to make every possible effort to seek a settlement in Cyprus," he added.

The minister pointed out that this is the only way forward, even if it does not yet allow room for optimism.

Asked if he expects more active engagement on the part of the EU in the peace effort, Kasoulides said that many issues concerning Cyprus and Turkey are now under scrutiny from the EU, as both countries are candidates for accession.

Replying to questions, the minister said Turkey, Cyprus, Greece and the EU are heading towards one specific direction and called on Denktash to follow suit.

"It is incompatible for Denktash to be looking the other way," he said, and wondered what would become of the Turkish Cypriots when Ankara finds itself on the threshold of the EU.

Commenting on the reference to the issue of missing persons in a resolution adopted last night by the UN Security Council, the minister said "this rectifies a very unfortunate omission in last June's resolution" and urged the international community to help resolve this humanitarian issue.

"We have already started unraveling the string as far as the fate of missing persons are concerned and have acted in good faith. More goodwill gestures will follow on our part," he concluded.

CNA MM/GP/1999

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

0855:CYPPRESS:02

[02] UN Security Council - UNFICYP resolution

The resolution reaffirms all previous resolutions on Cyprus and in particular 1251 of June 1999 and calls the parties "to assess and address the humanitarian issue of missing persons with the urgency and seriousness".

Resolution 1251 calls for a Cyprus settlement based on a state of Cyprus with a single sovereignty and international personality and a single citizenship, comprising two politically equal communities in a bi-communal and bi-zonal federation.

The Security Council notes in its UNFICYP resolution that "the Government of Cyprus has agreed that in view of the prevailing conditions in the island it is necessary to keep the UN Peacekeeping Force (UNFICYP) in Cyprus beyond 15 December 1999".

The UNFICYP mandate is extended for a further six-month period ending 15 June 2000 and the UN Secretary-General is requested "to submit a report by 1 June 2000 on the implementation of this resolution".

The Security Council "decides to remain actively seized of the matter" and requests the Secretary-General to submit a report by 1 June 2000 on the implementation of its resolution.

CNA MG/MCH/GP/1999

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1030:CYPPRESS:03

[03] Cypriot MPs - Russian elections

Doros Christodoulides and Yiannakis Thoma, members of the respective ad hoc committees of the CoE and OSCE Parliamentary Assemblies leave for Moscow today.

The two MPs will return to Cyprus on December 21.

CNA MCH/GP/1999

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1210:CYPPRESS:04

[04] Cyprus Chief EU negotiator - Slovenia

The focal point of the meeting will be the discussion and evaluation of the Helsinki EU Summit conclusions and the extent to which they influence the accession course of the six applicant countries.

CNA MCH/GP/1999

1425:CYPPRESS:05

[05] Cyprus Stock Exchange

      CSE General Index                         770.64 (-1.61)

      Traded Value            CYP 39,366,260

      Sectural Indices

      Banks                   CYP14,361,605     806.05 ( -2.35)
      Approved Investment
      Companies               CYP 5,305,641     771.03 (  2.20)
      Insurance Companies     CYP 2,270,271     464.23 (  0.63)
      Manufacturing Companies CYP 2,224,127     312.70 ( -0.53)
      Tourism Companies       CYP 4,521,917     939.94 ( -0.90)
      Trading Companies       CYP 3,915,669     384.95 ( -5.06)
      Other Companies         CYP 4,271,819     948.88 ( -0.81)

CNA MA/1999

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