Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 96-12-10

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

CONTENTS

[01] US reaffirms interest in Cyprus solution

[02] Defence Ministers of Cyprus and Greece meet

[03] Arms acquisition programme to continue, says FM

[04] Cyprus Stock Exchange

[05] National Guard arms purchase programme will continue as planned

[06] Han hopes this to be his last fact finding mission

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[01] US reaffirms interest in Cyprus solution

''The US government remains committed to working on a solution to the Cyprus problem. We recently sent an interagency team to Athens and Nicosia and discussed Cyprus in the margins of last week's OSCE (Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe) summit in Lisbon,'' Davis has said in a statement on a recent trip by the State Department's Director of Southern Affairs Carey Cavanaugh in the region and his discussions with the parties in Lisbon.

Davis also said that US efforts are compatible with those of the international community and noted that the Special Representative of the UN Secretary General for Cyprus Han Sung-Joo and the British Foreign Secretary Malcolm Rifkind will travel soon to Cyprus to continue the efforts for a settlement.

''Our efforts and those of the international community are at common purposes. Han and Rifkind are expected to visit Cyprus shortly to continue efforts to advance a settlement. We remain in close consultation,'' the spokesman added.

CNA DA/MM/1996

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1330:CYPPRESS:02

[02] Defence Ministers of Cyprus and Greece meet

According to an Athens News Agency report, Greek National Defence Minister Akis Tsohatzopoulos and Cyprus Defence Minister Costas Eliades, discussed the implementation process of the defence pact, agreed upon by the governments of Cyprus and Greece in November 1993.

The two Ministers did not make any statements after their meeting, which will be followed up tomorrow morning at the National Defence Ministry.

A decision to review progress on the defence pact was taken during Tsohatzopoulos' visit to Cyprus last month.

The joint defence pact aims to stop Turkey's expansionist designs against the two countries.

Greece has warned Turkey with war in case Turkish troops advance towards the southern government-controlled part of this East Mediterranean island.

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

CNA EC/GP/1996

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1430:CYPPRESS:03

[03] Arms acquisition programme to continue, says FM

''We shall continue to arm ourselves on the basis of our declared programmes. The Republic of Cyprus cannot remain defenceless when the massive Turkish military machine continues to remain'' in occupied Cyprus, Michaelides told the press today before a cabinet meeting.

The Minister was responding to Turkey's threats that it reserves the right to take military action in Cyprus, if the government goes ahead with boosting its defences in the context of a joint Greco-Cypriot defence pact, agreed between the two governments in November 1993.

The Turkish threats were communicated to the government in a thinly veiled fashion through a US-backed proposal for a ban of overflights by Greek and Turkish military aircraft in Cyprus.

''It is unacceptable for Turkey to refuse to discuss our proposal for the demilitarisation of Cyprus (put forward by President Glafcos Clerides) and at the same time to insist on telling us what to do with our arms purchases programme,'' Michaelides said.

Cyprus has made representations to UN Security Council members and European Union member-states to protest Turkey's intent to threaten Cyprus with military action.

The Foreign Minister has already made demarches to the ambassadors of the UN Security Council permanent members accredited to Cyprus.

Foreign Ministry Permanent Secretary Alecos Shambos had made similar demarches to the non permanent member-states of the Security Council, which have embassies in Nicosia.

''We reiterated our readiness to begin substantive talks with a view to find a comprehensive solution of the Cyprus problem, provided we reach common ground,'' Michaelides said.

Replying to questions, he said Turkish threats have become more prominent, because ''our defences are substantially bolstered.''

''We are not seeking to start a war, or create tension. We are ready to talk as soon as possible about the demilitarisation proposal,'' he added.

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

1415:CYPPRESS:04

[04] Cyprus Stock Exchange

CSE All Share Index                    81.68 (-0.33)

Sectural Indices

Banks                                  90.22 (-0.36)
Approved Investment Companies          74.32 (+0.55)
Insurance Companies                    56.60 (+0.18)
Industrial Companies                   86.45 (-0.33)
Tourist Industries                     71.37 (+0.24)
Commercial Companies                   59.91 (-0.27)
Other Companies                        68.76 (-1.77)

Trading Volume                         CYP 541336.950

CNA GP/1996

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1505:CYPPRESS:05

[05] National Guard arms purchase programme will continue as planned

Invited to comment on Turkish threats over the island's defence programme, which includes the purchase of sophisticated weaponry, Clerides said: ''Our defences will continue as scheduled''.

Turkey claims that it reserves the right to take military action in Cyprus, if the government goes ahead with boosting its defences.

However, Cyprus has made representations to UN Security Council members and European Union member states to protest Turkey's intent to take up military action against the island.

Asked about the contents of his meeting today with the UN Secretary- General's Special Representative for Cyprus, Han Sung Joo, Clerides said this is the last time Han is visiting Cyprus to conduct ''investigative work''.

President Clerides also appeared uncertain about meeting Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash next year. Asked if there will be a meeting in 1997, Clerides replied, ''I do not know, developments will show''.

CNA EC/MCH/1996

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1655:CYPPRESS:06

[06] Han hopes this to be his last fact finding mission

This was stated here today by Government Spokesman, Yiannakis Cassoulides speaking after Han's meeting with President Glafcos Clerides.

''Han expressed the hope this will be his last fact finding mission to Cyprus, suggesting that he hopes proximity talks, which will lead to direct talks between President Clerides and Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash, will start during his next visit,'' Cassoulides said.

''The discussion centred on how the government expects Han to act, when the accelerated process towards proximity talks begins,'' he added.

Cassoulides said Han did not discuss the UN-proposed indirect military dialogue between the National Guard and the Turkish occupation forces or the overflights of Turkish military planes over Cyprus.

He added however that President Clerides raised the issue of Turkish threats against Cyprus.

On his part, Han refrained from giving any details about the meting with President Clerides, noting that it was a continuation of the search ''for possibility and feasibility of serious discussions which will hopefully and ultimately lead to negotiations between the two parties.

''I came here with the view of finding the possibility of launching an accelerated process and we are still seeking that possibility,'' he said.

Asked about the prospects for a direct meeting between President Clerides and Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash in 1997, Han said it is ''one of the questions'' he came here with, adding that he hopes ''to have at least a partial answer'' by the time of his departure.

Answering a relevant question, he also said he met with British Foreign Secretary, Malcolm Rifkind, during his recent visit to London but noted that the issue of Cyprus-European Union accession was not mentioned.

He said the UN works in close coordination with Britain, the US and other members of the UN Security Council.

Commenting on the indirect military dialogue, he said that ''unfortunately there has been not much progress so far but the effort is still being made.''

Regarding the US-proposed moratorium to ban flights of Greek and Turkish planes over Cyprus, Han expressed the hope that an agreement will be reached.

Han will meet with Denktash later today in the Turkish occupied part of the island, while tomorrow he will have a working breakfast with President Clerides.

CNA MCH/AP/1996

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

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