Cyprus PIO: News Update in English, 98-11-12

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

News Update

Thursday, 12/11/98

CONTENTS

• [01] Foreign Minister returns to Cyprus
• [02] President Clerides addresses Chamber of Commerce annual meeting
• [03] Death penalty bill
• [04] New ambassadors

[01] Foreign Minister returns to Cyprus

He said he has already contacted two of the four countries that tabled a statement on Monday saying that problems will arise in Cyprus's EU accession talks if there is no settlement here.

The statement was issued by France, Germany and the Netherlands and was backed by Italy.

Kasoulides said he has already contacted France and Germany and will speak with Holland and Italy through diplomatic channels.

"They now have an obligation to turn towards Turkey and invite her to conform with UN resolutions and cooperate with the UN for a Cyprus settlement if they want to keep up a balance," Mr Kasoulides said.

He also pointed out that they have to tell Ankara that it has no veto over Cyprus' accession to the EU. "This would be a fair way to handle the issue since they considered it their obligation to table the statement with their positions," the Foreign Minister concluded.

[02] President Clerides addresses Chamber of Commerce annual meeting

This, he said, would create new opportunities for the island's economy and urged both the public and private sectors commit themselves seriously to raising the island's competitiveness in view of stronger competition from within the EU.

He said the industrial sector in particular needs boosting and in this context the government has formulated additional measures aimed at increasing the sector's competitiveness.

Stressing the importance of the tourist sector to the island's economy in that it earns 20 per cent of Cyprus' GDP, the President said the Cyprus Tourism Organisation has prepared a ten-year plan to upgrade the island's tourist product. This he said will increase competitiveness through higher quality and a more varied forms of tourism such as agrotourism, sports tourism, nautical tourism and conference tourism.

Another of the government's goals, he said, is to boost exports, both through increasing trade with traditional foreign markets as well as by entering new ones.

[03] Death penalty bill

[04] New ambassadors

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

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