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Cyprus PIO: News Update in English, 98-07-06Cyprus Press and Information Office: News Updates in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office Server at <http://www.pio.gov.cy/>News UpdateMonday, 06/07/98CONTENTS[01] Cordovez says effort to restart talks in Cyprus will continueThe UN Secretary-General's Special Advisor for Cyprus, Diego Cordovez, has said he has received a positive response from both sides in his efforts to restart the peace process in Cyprus.Speaking at a press conference before leaving the island on Saturday, Mr Cordovez said his three-day visit was the first part of a two-phase mission to persuade President Glafcos Clerides and Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash to agree to direct talks. "I told them that what we need is a formula acceptable to both sides, reasonable, practical and fair... Negotiations can only be effective if both sides are comfortable with the arrangements," he said. Cordovez is due to report back to the UN Security Council on Monday on the progress he has made. "I will tell them that discussions here have been positive and the atmosphere good on both sides. "We had substantive discussions and I'm satisfied with the progress, but we are still in the initial phases." Mr Cordovez acknowledged, however, that there was very little confidence between the two sides. "There is tremendous distrust. The only way of decreasing tension is to reduce the distrust and there is no other way but to get them talking." The UN envoy said he would return in September in the hope there would be "concrete arrangements to resume negotiations." [02] EU entry negotiations will continue in the same wayThe Austrian Chancellor Viktor Klima has said that talks between the European Union and Cyprus will continue to be held under the Austrian six month presidency of the EU in the same way as they have been so far.Asked whether he believed there was a deadlock in view of the fact that the EU Commission had invited representatives from both communities to attend entry negotiations and the Turkish Cypriots wanted the Cyprus problem to be solved first, Mr Klima said that he saw no contradiction therein. He said that the EU's invitation to include the Turkish Cypriots in the entry negotiations was not a precondition, just a persistent demand. [03] "Money Show" conference is held in NicosiaA two-day economic and political conference entitled "Money Show-Cyprus '98", comprising a number of parallel conferences, was held over the weekend in Nicosia.The main conferences focused on the Cyprus problem and the island's bid to join the EU, while other conferences dealt with the island's economic prospects. Speakers included Foreign Minister Ioannis Kasoulides, Finance Minister Christodoulos Christodoulou and Cyprus' chief negotiator in talks with the European Union, George Vassiliou. [04] Trade gap widensThe trade deficit for the first quarter of this year has risen to CL308,3 mn compared to CL276,6 mn last year, according to the latest figures released.Imports rose to CL465,8 mn as compared with CL423,1 mn, while exports fell to CL157,5 mn in relation to CL146,5 mn in January - March 1997. Meanwhile the consumer price index for June 1998 increased by 0,52 units or 0,42 per cent. The Department of Statistics said the rise was mainly due to increases in the price of certain fresh fruit, certain clothing items and medical care. From the Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office (PIO) Server at http://www.pio.gov.cy/Cyprus Press and Information Office: News Updates in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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