Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 96-10-09

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From: "HR-Net News Distribution Manager" <dist@hri.org>

CONTENTS

[01] Lake: Cyprus is one of the top ten outrages in the world

[02] Greek fighters overfly parade

[03] No serious damage, no injuries from tremor

[04] Cyprus Stock Exchange

[05] Cyprus, Yugoslavia sign cooperation agreements

1120:CYPPRESS:01

[01] Lake: Cyprus is one of the top ten outrages in the world

In a speech at the Georgetown University in Washington and responding to a question about the potential US initiative on Cyprus, Lake said ''I don't want to get into a contest of what are the top ten outrages in the world. But I think probably among those ten is the fact that it is now over two decades that the Cyprus dispute has not been resolved, and that UN peacekeepers are still there after all these years''.

He expressed regret that the Clinton administration could not do anything the last four years and stressed that Cyprus is one of the top priorities of President Clinton.

''It should have been resolved long ago. I regret that we were unable to get it resolved over the past four years, although this is one of the President's priorities'', he said.

Lake explained that problems between Greece and Turkey created difficulties for progress in the Cyprus problem.

''The problem has been, as you know, that we had very difficult and I think unnecessary dispute - as over Imia -between Greece and Turkey, but internally within both Greece and Turkey there's never been a good moment in which both of them apparently politically could come to grips with that issue''.

The US official reaffirmed President Clinton's commitment to a Cyprus solution if he is re-elected. And if he is not, he expressed the hope that a Dole administration will understand that it is in interest of the United States to have a solution in Cyprus.

''I can tell you that the President is committed to making progress on this issue. If he is re-elected, I have no doubt that he will be pursuing this vigorously. If he is not re-elected, then I would hope that the Dole administration will understand what America's interests are. And our interest, as well as our desire, is to see that dispute reconciled for the sake of our NATO relations in the areas and for the sake of the people of Cyprus''.

CNA DA/GP/1996

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1310:CYPPRESS:02

[02] Greek fighters overfly parade

The aircraft flew in formation three times over marching troops and vehicles, along Larnaca's main avenue, and two of them landed at Paphos airport, on the western coast. The remaining two F-16 returned to base.

President Glafcos Clerides, flanked by Defence Minister Costas Eliades and National Guard Commander Nicolaos Vorvolakos, took the salute.

Present at the parade were Greece's Ambassador to Cyprus Alexandros Sandis, Government Spokesman Yiannakis Cassoulides, Ministers and other officials.

CNA MM/GP/1996

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1750:CYPPRESS:03

[03] No serious damage, no injuries from tremor

The epicentre of the tremor, which sent people out in the streets in panic, is believed to be some 50 kilometres west of Paphos, on the western coast, seismologist Vasilis Karakostas, of Thesaloniki University, has said.

Karakostas said that more tremors are expected in the next couple of days.

The epicentre of today's tremor is in the same area where another earthquake shook Paphos district in February 1995.

Nicosia Mayor Lellos Demetriades said there were some ''cracks and minor damage in the capital but no serious damage.''

He appealed for calm and urged people to stop blocking telephone lines, unless they needed to make an emergency call.

Telecommunications were affected throughout the island and communication was very difficult.

A Spokesman for the Fire Services Department told CNA they received no extra calls for help because of the earthquake.

''We have not had any additional calls for help than the usual number of calls we get on a normal day,'' the spokesman said.

Reports from Paphos say that about ten to fifteen people were taken to hospital with minor injuries, sustained when people were running in panic because of the tremor.

In Limassol district, efforts are underway to clear rocks which have blocked a road near Pissouri village (some 20 kilometres west of Limassol).

CNA MM/MCH/1996

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1745:CYPPRESS:04

[04] Cyprus Stock Exchange

CSE All Share Index                    83.88 (+0.18)

Sectural Indices

Banks                                  91.41 (+0.12)
Approved Investment Companies          75.36 (+0.44)
Insurance Companies                    62.74 (+0.74)
Industrial Companies                   81.75 (+0.86)
Tourist Industries                     75.82 (-1.51)
Commercial Companies                   67.98 (-0.21)
Other Companies                        80.12 (+0.69)

Trading Volume                         CYP 422709.320

CNA MM/1996

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

2130:CYPPRESS:05

[05] Cyprus, Yugoslavia sign cooperation agreements

Speaking in Belgrade, where he is paying an official visit, Foreign Minister Alecos Michaelides remarked on the close relations between the two countries and said Cyprus will make every effort to further encourage trade and economic cooperation.

Michaelides, in Belgrade at the invitation of his Yugoslav counterpart Milan Milutinovic, had a meeting with Serbian President Slobodan Milosevic and discussed with him matters of mutual interest.

The Cypriot Minister welcomed the lifting of the embargo on Yugoslavia and briefed Milutinovic on recent developments in the Cyprus problem and the island's accession process to the European Union (EU).

On his part Milutinovic reaffirmed that the Cyprus problem is one of invasion and occupation and said that his country always stands by the people of Cyprus.

Milutinovic has accepted an invitation to visit Cyprus, divided since Turkish troops invaded and occupied its northern areas.

CNA MCH/MM/1996

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

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