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Cyprus PIO: News Update in English, 97-07-18
From: The Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office Server at <http://www.pio.gov.cy/>
News Update, Friday, 18/07/97
CONTENTS
- [01] State Department officials on Cyprus visit
- [02] French Prime Minister met with Cypriot Socialist leader
- [03] Western European Union Secretary General visits Cyprus
- [04] Two new offshore Banks to operate in Cyprus
[01] State Department officials on Cyprus visit
A three-member US State Department delegation has arrived in Cyprus and
began contacts. American Ambassador Keneth Brill said the delegation was
"part of the policy-planning staff on an orientation trip". The team,
headed by Greg Craig, newly-appointed Policy Planning Director at the
Southern European Affairs Dept, has already visited Greece and Turkey and
will fly to Brussels from Cyprus. Asked to comment about the purpose of
these visits, State Department Spokesman Nicholas Burns said on Wednesday
(16.7.97) "Greg Craig, who is the Policy Planning Director and a senior
adviser to Secretary Albright, is leading a small delegation of officials
from the State Department to engage in policy planning talks with the
Turkish Government and the Greek Government." He added the focus of the
visit was wider that the recent Madrid Agreement between Greek and Turkish
leaders, saying: "I think it's broader than that. It's not to talk about
Greek-Turkish issues. It's to talk about U.S. relations with Turkey, U.S.
relations with Greece. And of course I'm sure the Aegean issues and the
Cyprus issue will come up, and will be raised in these talks. But it's much
broader than that. It gets to the American relationship with these two
important NATO allies." In Nicosia, the State Department officials were
received on Friday morning (18.7.97) by the President of the Republic
Glafcos Clerides. No statements were made offer the meeting. Their contacts
include meetings with Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash and political
leaders from both sides.
[02] French Prime Minister met with Cypriot Socialist leader
The leader of the Cypriot Socialist party EDEK Vassos Lyssarides had a
meeting on Thursday (17.7.97) with French Prime Minister Lionel Jospin. Mr.
Lyssarides was sent as an envoy of the President of the Republic Glafcos
Clerides to convey a letter from the President to Mr. Jospin regarding the
island's course towards European Union acccession. The letter seeks to
attract France's more active involvement in the efforts towards Cyprus's EU
accession. In statements at his departure from Cyprus Dr. Lyssarides said
he would try to convince France to become "more actively involved, with the
view it would be incomprehensible to connect a solution to the Cyprus
problem with accession to the EU". The Cypriot socialist party has had
traditionally very good relations with the French socialist party.
[03] Western European Union Secretary-General visits Cyprus
Jose Cutileiro, Secretary-General of Western European Union is in Cyprus
for a two-day familiarisation visit. Speaking to reporters on arrival on
Thursday (17.7.97) Cutileiro said he came to Cyprus to hold contacts with
the "authorities within the framework of the dialogue that we have."
Replying to questions, the WEU Secretary-General said the "settlement of
the Cyprus question is obviously a very important element for the peace of
the whole area, and we focus upon the efforts being made under the auspices
of the UN." Mr. Cutileiro gave a speech Thursday night during a dinner
given in his honour by Cypriot Foreign Minister Ioannis Kasoulides. The WEU
Secretary-General was scheduled to have a meeting Friday morning with
President Glafcos Clerides.
[04] Two new offshore Banks to operate in Cyprus
An American Bank will be operating for the first time on an offshore basis
in Cyprus. The Central Bank of Cyprus announced on Thursday (17.7.97) that
it has granted operating licences to the Republic National Bank of New York
to operate an offshore subsidiary here, as well as to the Safra Republic
Holdings S.A of Luxembourg. The new licences will bring to 28 the offshore
banking units, three administered banking units (including the above two
new institutions) and eight representative offices operating from Cyprus on
an offshore basis. The Republic National Bank of New York is the first US
bank to be granted an offshore licence on the island, which has developed
into a regional offshore and banking hub.
From the Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office (PIO) Server at http://www.pio.gov.cy/
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