Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 96-10-31

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CONTENTS

[01] China backs Cyprus' just cause

[02] US condemns shooting against Britons

[03] Cyprus expects positive outcome from Russian message

[04] Cyprus Stock Exchange

[05] Cyprus protests against British representations

[06] Minister reiterates Cyprus' commitment for EU entry

1110:CYPPRESS:01

[01] China backs Cyprus' just cause

Speaking after a meeting here today with President Glafcos Clerides, Huang said he was very pleased with his talk with the President and other contacts he has had with political parties.

''China has tried to facilitate a Cyprus solution and understands the feelings of the people of Cyprus, who live in a divided country,'' Huang said, speaking through an interpreter.

He pledged China will continue working for a speedy resolution of the Cyprus question.

The Chinese official expressed satisfaction with the enhanced relations between his party and DISY.

In his remarks to the press, DISY President Yiannakis Matsis, who accompanied Huang, said the delegation saw for itself the reality of the situation in Cyprus and noted it was important to develop further ties with China.

CNA MM/GP/1996

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1305:CYPPRESS:02

[02] US condemns shooting against Britons

A statement issued by the State Department says two British military engineers in uniform but riding a rented civilian vehicle were shot at by Turkish Cypriot security forces.

The engineers were adjusting markers demarcating the British Sovereign Base Area, when they apparently strayed a few metres into the Turkish-occupied areas. The vehicle was hit twice, no one was hurt.

The United Kingdom High Commission in Cyprus has protested this action. The Commander of the SBA is investigating this incident.

''From the circumstances as we understand them, the firing appeared completely unjustifiable'', the State Department statement says.

It adds this incident ''once more underscores the need for the implementation of measures to reduce the potential for violence along the cease fire line and the UN buffer zone.''

Meanwhile, State Department Spokesman Nicholas Burns warned the Turkish forces in Cyprus to stop shooting against civilians just for straying one or two metres over the cease fire line.

''We think that the Turkish Cypriot security forces ought not to be firing at people when they stray a metre or two over a line,'' Burns added.

''We think this kind of thing should not happen again in the future. We join the British in protesting this.''

Four Greek Cypriot men were murdered by Turkish troops and extremists in the last four months.

CNA DA/GP/1996

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1445:CYPPRESS:03

[03] Cyprus expects positive outcome from Russian message

Government Spokesman Yiannakis Cassoulides told the press Thursday that ''something positive'' is expected from President Clerides' reply to Primakov, but declined to elaborate.

The Spokesman clarified that absolute secrecy will be kept, both on Primakov's message to Clerides and on the President's reply.

The Russian Foreign Minister's message was conveyed to President Clerides last week by Demetris Christofias, General Secretary of the opposition leftwing AKEL. Christofias had visited Moscow and held talks on the Cyprus question with Primakov.

The AKEL leader had denied to comment on the letter and described its content as ''confidential.''

Meanwhile, Cassoulides did not give specific dates for British Foreign Secretary Malcolm Rifkind's working visit to Cyprus.

As it was reported, the visit will take place early in December.

During his stay on the island, the British Foreign Secretary will be received by President Clerides and have meetings with Foreign Minister Alecos Michaelides and Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash.

CNA AP/GP/1996

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1615:CYPPRESS:04

[04] Cyprus Stock Exchange

CSE All Share Index                    84.66 (-0.60)

Sectural Indices

Banks                                  94.14 (-0.97)
Approved Investment Companies          78.81 (-0.64)
Insurance Companies                    61.73 (-0.32)
Industrial Companies                   79.50 (+0.19)
Tourist Industries                     73.61 (+1.71)
Commercial Companies                   66.53 (+0.03)
Other Companies                        76.43 (-1.60)

Trading Volume                         CYP 1048236.520

CNA GP/1996

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1700:CYPPRESS:05

[05] Cyprus protests against British representations

British Deputy High Commissioner John Buck had made oral representations to the self-styled foreign minister of the occupation regime Taner Etkin after shots were fired by Turkish soldiers against two British military engineers last Tuesday.

Speaking to the press Government Spokesman, Yiannakis Cassoulides, indicated that representations should have been made to the commander of the Turkish occupation forces and not to a representative of the illegal regime.

Cassoulides said the incident also ''confirms that the Turkish soldiers were given orders to shoot indiscriminately against anyone crossing the cease-fire line''.

The Spokesman referred to a US State Department statement, which condemned the shooting, noting that it ''appeared completely unjustifiable''.

Meanwhile, Cassoulides said representations are made to European countries, whenever cases of exports of products from the Turkish-occupied areas are observed, in violation of a decision taken by the European Court, banning exports of certain agricultural products from the breakaway state to European Union member-countries.

CNA MCH/GP/1996

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1910:CYPPRESS:06

[06] Minister reiterates Cyprus' commitment for EU entry

The conference on ''Cyprus in the European Union'' was organised by the European Institute of the London School of Economics and the Hellenic Institute.

The Minister's speech was based on Cyprus' economy in the context of the EU economy, its compatibility with the Maastricht criteria and the economic and monetary union.

He described as a ''milestone'' the decision of the EU Council of Ministers, of March 6, 1995, that negotiations for the accession of Cyprus to the EU will begin six months after the completion of the current Intergovernmental Conference.

Christodoulou said ''at the time, in 1990, when the Republic of Cyprus applied for full membership of the European Community, the economy was experiencing fast economic growth accompanied by relative price stability and a viable payments position.''

He said the per capita Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in the government-controlled area had increased rapidly since the 1974 Turkish invasion and ''by 1990 had reached nearly 10.000 US dollars.''

The Finance Minister pointed out that since 1990 ''Cyprus economy continued to expand rapidly and the growth rate averaged 5 per cent over the five years, from 1990 to 1995.''

He said conditions of virtual full employment prevailed and a relatively low rate of inflation was recorded, while the current account deficit of the balance of payments was kept within comfortably manageable margins.

He added ''the foreign exchange value of he Cyprus pound has remained strong and has been pegged to the ECU since July 1992.''

Christodoulou noted that for the government ''it has been a basic objective of fiscal policy to meet the Maastricht Treaty convergence criteria for the government deficit and public debt''.

He said in 1995 these were satisfied with the ratio of the government deficit to the GDP being reduced to 0,9 per cent and the ratio of government debt to GDP declining to 54 per cent.

''Thus, in terms of macroeconomic indicators the performance of Cyprus economy compares favourably with the performance of most EU members,'' he said.

The Cypriot Minister explained that economic growth has been higher, the rate of unemployment much lower and the rate of inflation slightly less than the average for the EU.

''It is noteworthy that in 1995, Cyprus along with Luxembourg, were the only counties to fully satisfy all the Maastricht convergence criteria,'' the Minister noted.

He said according to latest 1996 Human Development Report, Cyprus ranked 23rd worldwide on the basis of Human Development Index, estimated by the UNDP.

Referring to the 1996 economic indicators, Christodoulou said although the growth of the Cyprus economy moderated, ''we still expect the growth rate of real GDP to be around 2,5 per cent in 1996'', noting this is ''favourable'' in comparison with the performance of EU economies.

''Per capita GDP is forecast to reach around 13.400 US dollars in 1996, which exceeds that of Greece and Portugal'', he said.

The Minister said it is expected that government deficit will be contained and kept under 3 per cent of GDP in 1996 and the government debt to GDP ratio to be limited to 54 per cent.

Christodoulou referred extensively to the compatibility of the Cyprus economy with the EU and numbered a series of measures the government takes to reduce any deviations from the EU institutions. He noted ''the adoption of the acquis communautaire by Cyprus will pose no insurmountable problems.''

He said the government committed itself to obtaining as early as possible entry of Cyprus into the EU and noted this has led to an intensificatio

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