Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 96-12-02

Cyprus News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

From: The Cyprus News Agency at <http://www.cyna.org,cy>

CONTENTS

[01] Strong aftershock hits Cyprus

[02] Some misinterpreted Rifkind's remarks, says Britain

[03] UN Chief warns sides on issue of missing

[04] British bases must leave, says Lyssarides

[05] Cyprus Stock Exchange

[06] Cypriot politician off to London for by-pass surgery

[07] Cyprus to maintain relations with Hong Kong, says Minister

[08] AKEL against meetings of Foreign Ministers with Denktash

1020:CYPPRESS:01

[01] Strong aftershock hits Cyprus

The tremour was mainly felt in the southern and western districts of Limassol and Paphos.

The tremour, described as an aftershock by the Geological Survey Department, was also felt by people living in high apartment blocks in the capital Nicosia.

The Department noted the epicentre of the aftershock, at 0609 local time (0409 GMT), was some 50 kilometres in the sea south west of Paphos.

It had the same epicentre as that of strong earthquake measuring 6,1 on the Richter scale that hit Cyprus last October, injuring more than 50 people.

However, the Geological Survey Department noted seismic activity is ''developing smoothly''.

CNA MA/GP/1996

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1225:CYPPRESS:02

[02] Some misinterpreted Rifkind's remarks, says Britain

He noted that the remarks might have been ''misinterpreted'' by some people.

Cazalet was commenting on strong criticism levelled at Malcolm Rifkind by Acting President of the Republic, House President Spyros Kyprianou, that the remarks give Turkey the right to veto Cyprus' EU accession and the resolution of the Cyprus question.

''What Rifkind has said in the House of Commons does not go beyond anything that we have said before,'' Cazalet noted, adding that Cyprus Government Spokesman Yiannakis Cassoulides shares this view on Rifkind's remarks as well.

Cassoulides had told the press that Rifkind's statement that it would be ''extremely difficult'' for Cyprus to join the EU if it is not reunited is ''nothing new.''

''Maybe some people have misinterpreted or overreacted to Rifkind's remarks. The Foreign Secretary used a different form of words to outline Britain's policy but the content is exactly the same,'' Cazalet said.

British policy on Cyprus, he explained, has not changed, and Rifkind's comments reflect this policy, which is that Cyprus' accession before a settlement would be difficult but not impossible.

Asked to comment on Kyprianou's call to raise the issue of the presence of Britain's two military bases in Cyprus, Cazalet replied ''as far as we are concerned they (Cyprus problem and bases) are unrelated issues.''

On his part, press spokesman for the British bases Mervyn Jones said the ''British sovereign bases have never been part of the Republic of Cyprus, nor on loan by the Republic, nor have they been ceded to the UK in any other way by the Republic.''

Under the 1960 independence agreement Britain has retained two military bases on Cyprus' southern coast and other facilities in various parts of this east Mediterranean island.

The British Foreign Secretary will pay a 24-hour visit to Cyprus in mid December.

CNA MM/GP/1996

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1400:CYPPRESS:03

[03] UN Chief warns sides on issue of missing

Ghali is expected to warn both sides that unless they set about implementing the agreed four points he outlined in his letter in April to them, he will withdraw his support for the Committee on Missing Persons (CMP), they added.

A new letter, expected to reach the two sides in the next few days, is believed to set a deadline of six to eight weeks for the implementation of fresh requests by the UN Chief, relating to the four points, on which both sides have reached an agreement.

These concern the classification of all the cases submitted to the CMP, the sequence in which investigations will be carried out, the priority of cases and the supply of known witnesses to facilitate investigations.

The same sources said the dispatch of the letter was deemed necessary because both sides have questioned the other's actual number of missing persons in that it appears, from close study of files submitted, that some other people may be considered dead, in addition to the 126 persons thought to have died.

The letter, in ''tough'' wording, is believed to aim at achieving movement in the issue of the missing in anticipation of direct negotiations on the Cyprus question, in order to eliminate obstacles that may arise from the issue of the missing, the same sources told CNA.

The UN seem to believe that persons considered as MIAs (missing in action) would have to be classified in a separate grouping and their files should not be a priority during investigations.

According to the sources, who requested anonymity, the UN oppose investigations on the basis of a map submitted to the CMP by the Greek Cypriot side, which suggests that investigations are carried out by geographical locations into which the territory of the Republic has been divided for this purpose.

Furthermore, a report into the fate of five American citizens, of Greek origin, listed as missing, prepared by a specially appointed official, Ambassador Robert Dillon, is still at the US State Department.

It is believed that former US State Department special coordinator for Cyprus, James Williams, is dealing with the matter.

A total of 1.619, including five American citizens, were listed as missing persons soon after the Turkish invasion and occupation of 37 per cent of the island's territory.

The tripartite CMP, established in 1981 by the UN, is made up of a representative from the Greek Cypriot side, a representative from the Turkish Cypriot side and a third member appointed by the UN Secretary- General.

CNA MM/GP/1996

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1410:CYPPRESS:04

[04] British bases must leave, says Lyssarides

''It would not be feasible for the British bases to leave Cyprus at present but that does not mean we do not want them to leave,'' Lyssarides told a press conference here today.

Unfortunately, he pointed out, Cyprus has neither the international backing nor the power to abolish the status of the bases.

''That, however, does not mean we should not try to oust them,'' he added.

Lyssarides' comments were made following calls from House President Spyros Kyprianou to raise the issue of the presence of the British bases.

''On one hand, Britain appears to be a friendly country and on the other it has been the cause of much calamity right from the start,'' Lyssarides said.

EDEK leader has also lashed out against a proposed meeting between Britain's Foreign Secretary Malcolm Rifkind and Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash in the Turkish-occupied part of Cyprus.

''This is the first time something like this happens, and Britain must understand that we shall not stand idle and be slapped in this manner,'' he said.

Rifkind is due to pay a 24-hour visit the island in mid December to discuss the Cyprus problem with Cyprus President Glafcos Clerides and Denktash.

Turkish troops have been occupying 37 per cent of Cyprus territory since 1974, in violation of repeated UN resolutions calling for their withdrawal.

CNA MM/GP/1996

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1440:CYPPRESS:05

[05] Cyprus Stock Exchange

CSE All Share Index                    81.97 (+1.05)

Sectural Indices

Banks                                  90.27 (+1.19)
Approved Investment Companies          75.82 (+1.89)
Insurance Companies                    58.14 (+0.47)
Industrial Companies                   83.40 (+0.32)
Tourist Industries                     72.89 (-1.10)
Commercial Companies                   62.69 (+3.35)
Other Companies                        71.55 (+1.75)

Trading Volume                         CYP 765428.090

CNA GP/1996

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1750:CYPPRESS:06

[06] Cypriot politician off to London for by-pass surgery

Speaking shortly before departure, Matsis expressed thanks to political and church leaders as well as to the people for their support to him and his family during his illness.

Matsis said he expects to be back in Cyprus soon. He is accompanied to London by his wife Roula and their two children.

DISY leader suffered a heart attack last Wednesday while in the southwestern coastal town of Paphos, where he was attending party meetings dealing with municipal elections which will take place on December 15.

CNA MCH/GP/1996

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

2000:CYPPRESS:07

[07] Cyprus to maintain relations with Hong Kong, says Minister

The appointment of Cyprus' new Honorary Consul and Honorary vice-consul in Hong Kong, just a few months before Britain hands over Hong Kong to China, is evidence that ''we believe in the future of Hong Kong and we intend to continue our presence here after July 1997'', Adamides said.

Noting the importance of Cyprus and Hong Kong as business or shipmanagement centres, Adamides said the two countries ''offer to each other's business community interesting possibilities in their immediate and broader geographic region.''

Adamides made extensive reference to recent measures adopted by the Cyprus government in merchant shipping, aiming at ''the continuous improvement of the infrastructure and the fulfillment of Cyprus' obligations under international treaties to the full extent.''

''As Cyprus has applied to join the European Union (EU), our policies and actions aim to harmonise our requirements as regards safety and pollution prevention with those of the EU'', Adamides said, noting that ''adherence to the principle of freedom of navigation and to free and fair competition remain unaltered.''

Adamides noted that growth in the Far East increases trade and the need for ships to carry the goods, Adamides and therefore ''presents an array of business opportunities to Cyprus flag vessels and to those who operate them.''

''Being a well minded register of ships we see that it is about time for Cyprus to establish a more firm presence in the Far East in order to serve the needs of the shipping industry and to monitor the standards of the Cyprus flag vessels'', he added.

CNA MCH/GP/1996

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

[08] AKEL against meetings of Foreign Ministers with Denktash

Speaking at Larnaca airport on his return from London, Christofias stressed that ''Denktash holds no public office but leads an illegal regime that has been condemned by the UN Security Council.''

This is also the position of the National Council (the top advisory body to the President), Christofias added.

The AKEL leader was asked to comment on reports of a proposed meeting between British Foreign Secretary Malcolm Rifkind and Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash in the Turkish-occupied part of the island.

Rifkind is due to visit Cyprus in mid December.

Meanwhile, Acting President of the Republic, House President Spyros Kyprianou, said the Cyprus Foreign Ministry had sent a questionnaire to the British Foreign Office inquiring about Rifkind's statements at the British House of Commons last week.

The British Foreign Secretary said it would be ''extremely difficult'' for Cyprus to join the European Union if it was not reunited.

Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkishtroops invaded and occupied 37 per cent of Cyprus territory.

CNA TA/MCH/GP/1996

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

Cyprus News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article