Cyprus PIO: News Update in English, 96-10-22

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From: The Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office Server at <http://www.pio.gov.cy/>

News Update

22/10/96

CONTENTS

• [01] UN began contacts for military dialogue to unman guardposts
• [02] Cassoulides: Cyprus accession to the EU integral part of any solution
• [03] Cyprus businessmen urged to adapt to meet competition
• [04] Cyprus offers technical assistance programme

[01] UN began contacts for military dialogue to unman guardposts

"The talks are under way and we are going to pursue them very energetically. We expect the two sides will cooperate with us so that we can reach an agreement very quickly and without delay", Feissel said after a meeting here with President Glafcos Clerides.

Feissel said: "The President reconfirmed his support and agreement to separate talks between UNFICYP and the military on each side".

The UN, he explained, has "specific proposals" to put forward to the two sides on unmanning, including the prohibition of loaded weapons. "We hope the two sides would have the right guidance to make sure that we can conclude these discussions very quickly", he said.

The UN Representative told reporters that the UN proposal to prohibit loaded weapons along the ceasefire line would help avoid tragic incidents (four unarmed Greek Cypriots were killed in the past few months along the line by Turkish occupation troops and one Turkish soldier was found dead in his sentry post).

He said the UN has "well established mechanisms" to monitor the implementation of any agreement on unmanning and the prohibition of loaded weapons. "Experience has shown there is absolutely no need for any loaded weapons along the ceasefire line", he explained.

Feissel also referred to the latest killing on Sunday (13.10.96) of a 58- year old Greek refugee as "unacceptable and very dangerous" and pointed out that "very effective measures must be taken without delay" to ensure this does not recur.

[02] Cassoulides: Cyprus accession to the EU integral part of any solution

Cassoulides was commenting on Turkish Foreign Minister Tansu Ciller's statement in Ankara yesterday rejecting Cyprus joining the EU before Turkey and without a settlement between Athens and Ankara on the question.

[03] Cyprus businessmen urged to adapt to meet competition

Addressing an International Bankers Conference organised by the Bank of Cyprus in Nicosia Monday (21.10.96) Minister Christodoulou stressed that government efforts are now directed towards harmonisation with the European Union and that local business and unions should adopt a dynamic approach, produce high quality goods on competitive terms without the state's financial assistance. He also pointed out that regional markets, as well as those of Central and Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union should be among the targets for Cypriot economic activity.

Giving some indications of the economy of Cyprus, Christodoulou mentioned that the government has managed to keep the deficit below the limits set by the Maastricht criteria, noting that the only EU country who did so for 1995 was Luxemberg. For 1996, he said the budget deficit is estimated to reach 2.9% of Gross National Product and the public debt will be about 54% of G.N.P., again remaining within the EU's Maastricht criteria. He also noted that in the last years the government has drastically reduced the country's external debt to half, i.e. to 11.5% of G.N.P.

[04] Cyprus offers technical assistance programme

Addressing the meeting Monday (21.10.96), Cyprus Minister of Labour and Social Insurance Andreas Mousioutas said that Cyprus is proud to be in a position to provide technical assistance training to other countries, having benefited itself from such programmes offered over the years by international organisations and more advanced countries.

He underlined that small and medium-size businesses in most countries suffer from lack of capable and trained management staff and that this programme aims to help participants fulfil this role.

From the Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office (PIO) Server at http://www.pio.gov.cy/

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