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Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 96-12-06Cyprus News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Cyprus News Agency at <http://www.cyna.org,cy>CONTENTS
1130:CYPPRESS:01[01] The US confirm no agreement reached on overflightsWashington, Dec 6 (CNA) -- The State Department confirmed that the United States did not succeed in its effort to impose a moratorium to ban overflights of Greek and Turkish military aircraft in Cyprus.Speaking at his regular press briefing Thursday, the State Department's spokesman Nicholas Burns referred to the discussions US official Carey Cavanaugh had in Lisbon on the issue with Greek, Turkish and other officials, on the sidelines of the Summit Meeting of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE). Burns said that Cavanaugh had discussions on Wednesday with Cyprus' Foreign Minister, Alecos Michaelides, for several hours, and that he met with ''Greeks and Turks and others.'' ''I can say that he was unable to conclude an agreement on steps to reduce political tensions,'' he added. However, Burns said ''the United States will of course continue efforts to try to improve the climate on Cyprus.'' CNA DA/AP/1996ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY1530:CYPPRESS:02[02] Cyprus Stock ExchangeNicosia, Dec 6 (CNA) -- The Cyprus Stock Exchange (CSE) All Share Index closed at today's stock exchange meeting as follows:CSE All Share Index 81.83 (+0.31) Sectural Indices Banks 90.20 (+1.06) Approved Investment Companies 74.87 (-0.31) Insurance Companies 57.22 [0] Industrial Companies 86.20 (-1.93) Tourist Industries 71.60 (+0.21) Commercial Companies 60.47 (-0.61) Other Companies 69.88 (-0.80) Trading Volume CYP 372997.000* The difference in brackets represents the percentage increase (+) or decrease (-) of the index from the previous stock exchange meeting. CNA MM/1996ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY1535:CYPPRESS:03[03] No Turkish control over defence upgradingLimassol, Dec 6 (CNA) -- President Glafcos Clerides has repeated that he will not accept Turkey's control over the Republic's military spending to upgrade its defences.The President was speaking a few days after he stopped short of an outright rejection of a US proposal on a ban of flights by Turkish and Greek military aircraft over Cyprus for a limited period of time. ''Turkey now demands to be allowed to use military force during this period, if we go ahead with certain upgrading of our defences which Turkey does not accept,'' Clerides said. He explained that Turkey has always interpreted articles in the Treaty of Guarantee as giving it the right to undertake military action in Cyprus, in spite of the fact that such an interpretation contravenes the UN Charter and is therefore not acceptable to the Cyprus government. ''We cannot consent to an agreement which would ban flights by Turkish aircraft on one hand but on the other, it would give Turkey the right to pull out of such an agreement and strike us, if we proceed with certain defence programmes,'' the President stressed. Asked if he ran the risk of being branded ''intransigent'', the President said ''I do not think any reasonable person would consider me intransigent, but if we were to choose between being called intransigent and giving Turkey the right to strike against Cyprus on the basis of what we consider necessary for our defences, then we might as well cease to exist as a state.'' The US put forward its proposal to Clerides earlier this week on the sidelines of the summit of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) which ended on Wednesday in Lisbon. CNA PI/MM/MCH/1996ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY1615:CYPPRESS:04[04] Rifkind wants an ''equitable'' settlement in CyprusLondon, Dec 6 (CNA) -- British Foreign Secretary, Malcolm Rifkind, pointed out to Turkey's Foreign Minister Tansu Ciller that every effort should be made to reach a Cyprus settlement in 1997.''Rifkind stressed the need for an equitable solution to be reached on Cyprus. Such a solution will be to the benefit of all sides concerned, including Turkey'', a Foreign Office spokesman has said. ''Every effort should be made so that a solution in reached in 1997,'' Rifkind was quoted as telling Ciller, according to the Spokesman. Furthermore, the Foreign Secretary emphasised that a new factor which must be taken into account is the European Union and that a ''solution must be found before the entry negotiations so that a united Cyprus can accede to the Union.'' While in London, Ciller also met Shadow Foreign Secretary, Robin Cook. According to reliable sources, Cook reiterated the Labour party's position that Cyprus should join the EU, irrespective of a solution. On her part, Ciller said that Turkey supports Cyprus' accession provided Turkey joins the Union as well. The EU has decided to begin accession negotiations with Cyprus six months after the end of the Intergovernmental Conference. CNA KT/EC/MM/1996ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY1620:CYPPRESS:05[05] Cyprus backs increase in UNFICYP numbersNicosia, Dec 6 (CNA) -- The Cyprus government supports an increase in the numbers of the UN Peacekeeping Force on the island (UNFICYP) and is ready to undertake the financial cost, Government Spokesman, Yiannakis Cassoulides, has said.''The government backs an increase in the number of UNFICYP servicemen and is ready to increase its contribution to UN funds for peacekeeping forces around the world'', Cassoulides told the press today. He said the government is aware that the issue of an increase was raised in view of the ongoing military talks between the National Guard and the Turkish occupation forces in Cyprus. An increase may prove necessary if this dialogue, conducted under the UN auspices, leads to an agreement between the two. The Spokesman was commenting on reports carried by Cyprus Radio that the US does not favour a rise in the number of UNFICYP personnel. Asked to comment on Cyprus radio reports that the US does not favour this position, the Spokesman said the government has no knowledge of a disagreement on the part of the US. CNA MCH/MM/1996ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY1640:CYPPRESS:06[06] Government welcomes Albright's appointmentNicosia, Dec 6 (CNA) -- The Cyprus government has welcomed the appointment of Madeleine Albright to the post of US Secretary of State, Government Spokesman.''Albright, has a good knowledge of the Cyprus problem, which is an advantage for the promotion of our cause,'' Government Spokesman Yiannakis Cassoulides told the press today. The US official, who was the US Ambassador to the UN, visited Cyprus last July and had meetings with both President Glafcos Clerides and Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash. During her stay, she proposed a direct military dialogue between the Commanders of the National Guard and the Turkish occupation army. The government accepted the proposal which failed to materialise because of the persistence by the Turkish side to include the so-called Turkish Cypriot security forces in the talks. CNA MCH/MM/1996ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY1940:CYPPRESS:07[07] Britain's Forein Secretary to visit CyprusNicosia, Dec 6 (CNA) -- The prospects for a comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus problem in 1997, before the start of European Union (EU) accession talks will be central in the meetings British Foreign Secretary Malcolm Rifkind will have here next week.According to an official Foreign Office announcement, Rifkind will visit Cyprus from December 16 to 17 for meetings with President Glafcos Clerides, Foreign Minister, Alecos Michaelides and Turkish Cypriot leader, Rauf Denktash. ''The discussion will focus on the prospects for achieving a comprehensive negotiated settlement of the Cyprus problem in 1997, before EU accession negotiations begin'', the announcement says. In a short statement, Rifkind notes that ''this will be the first visit by a British Foreign Secretary since 1960'' when the island, a former British colony became an independent Republic. ''As a guarantor power and a permanent member of the UN Security Council, Britain has always been an active participant in the international efforts to resolve the Cyprus problem'', he adds. Rifkind also notes Britain's ''close links with both communities (Greek and Turkish Cypriot), on the island, and through the Cypriot community in Britain.'' ''We have an important part to play in close cooperation with the UN, the US, the EU and others'', he concludes. Rifkind will be accompanied by British Representative for Cyprus, Sir David Hannay. CNA MCH/MM/1996ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY2010:CYPPRESS:08[08] Government to use preventive diplomacyNicosia, Dec 6 (CNA) -- The government intends to use preventive diplomacy in response to indirect Turkish threats about ''certain moves'' as a result of the Republic's defence programmes.Government Spokesman Yiannakis Cassoulides told the press the threats were communicated to the government in an indirect manner by US State Department official Carey Cavanaugh at a meeting in Lisbon earlier this week on the sidelines of the summit of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe. The threats were presented under the guise of a US proposal for a ban of flights by Turkish and Greek military aircraft over Cyprus. President Glafcos Clerides said earlier today he could not agree to the US proposal because it entailed Turkey's warning that it would revoke any agreement reached and use military force against Cyprus as a result of defence programmes. ''We shall take preventive diplomatic steps to meet Turkey's threats. The diplomatic demarches we take shall be announced when these are decided, '' Cassoulides said. These threats, first mentioned at a meeting between the President and Cavanaugh, affect all aspects of the Cyprus question and primarily the UN- sponsored military talks, he added. The Spokesman also revealed the US proposal concerned only Cyprus' sovereign air space and not Nicosia FIR (flight information region). ''Once the threats were communicated to us, any discussion on the US proposal took second place to the threats, and hampered the discussions,'' Cassoulides told the press. Replying to questions, he stressed that, once the anticipated American initiative is launched and when serious consultations are underway, ''the government will avoid any measures that would affect the climate of negotiations.'' CNA MM/MCH/1996ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCYCyprus News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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