[01]

On the sidelines of the meeting, the President will have meetings with many of his counterparts especially at the weekend when the Heads of Missions will retire to the George area for retreat.

[02]

Speaking on the 9th November before the Fourth Commission, the Head of the Department of Antiquities Mr Sophocles Hadjisavvas said that reports of illegal excavations at the well-known archaeological site of Salamina have caused particular concern to the Cyprus Government.

Mr Hadjisavvas refuted claims by the Turkish delegation that tried to back the illegal excavations by saying they are being carried out by a reputable Turkish scholar and under the illegal "antiquities department" in the Turkish occupied areas.

He pointed out that last August, Turkish Professor Ozguner started digging in two areas previously investigated by the French Archaeological team, "after having violated the dig houses of both the Cypriot and French missions, where notes, equipment and finds were kept in storage".

Mr Hadjisavvas underlined that the above actions constitute a direct breach of all archaeological principles, and are also in contravention of the (UNESCO) recommendations of New Delhi , 5th December 1956. "Moreover such actions are illegal and are prohibited specifically by the 1954 Hague Convention as it applies to territories under military occupation," he added.

He urgently requested that the Commission does its utmost to persuade the occupation authorities and the initiators of these actions, to cease their illegal activities and take the necessary measures for the protection of the archaeological site of Salamina.

"Cyprus, a large part of whose heritage is in constant danger under foreign military occupation places the highest value on international cooperation and action to safeguard the cultural heritage of mankind", he concluded.

[03]

The above was stated by Mr T Standbrook, of the Southern European Department of the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office in a recent letter to Mr Frangeskides of the Organisation Lobby for Cyprus.

In his reply to Mr Frangeskides' letter of 20th July 1999, which was addressed to the Prime Minister and the Foreign Secretary, Mr Standbrook also refers to Turkey's non-compliance with the judgement of the European Court of Human Rights in the Loizidou v Turkey case, and points out that the UK has played its full part in the proceedings to date in the Committee of Ministers.

In another letter to Mr Christodoulou, also a member of "Lobby for Cyprus", Mr Standbrook referred to, inter alia, British Government's determination "to see a major sustained effort this autumn towards securing a just, comprehensive and lasting settlement to the Cyprus problem," which will address problems such as foreign troops, property and the freedom of movement.

"As a G8 member and Permanent Member of the UN Security Council the UK has been closely involved in this process. Together with our international partners , including the US we will continue to work hard to take it forward", he said.

[04]

[05]

Total exports fell to CP355,9 mn in relation to CP396,5 mn in January August 1998. The trade deficit accounted for CP885,7 mn compared to CP847,2 mn in January - August 1998.

Domestic exports fell to 145,7 mn as compared to CP156,1 mn in January - August 1998, whilst re-exports were reduced to CP210,2 mn compared to CP240, 4 mn in the same period last year.

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

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