Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 96-12-23

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

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

CONTENTS

[01] Presidential Commissioner dies

[02] Cyprus comments on UNFICYP draft resolution

[03] Cyprus Stock Exchange

[04] Tatarstan wishes to develop relations with Cyprus

0940:CYPPRESS:01

[01] Presidential Commissioner dies

He was born in Nicosia in 1920. After completing his secondary education at the English School in Nicosia, Zachariades studied Business Administration and Commerce abroad. He was appointed to the civil service in 1939 and served in high ranking positions of the District Offices in Nicosia, Larnaca and Limassol.

In 1955, Zachariades left the civil service and began his own business. A close associate of Glafcos Clerides, Zachariades was elected member of the House of Representatives in 1970 for the first time with the Unity Party and was re-elected in 1981 and 1986 with the Democratic Rally (DISY) party founded be Clerides.

Zachariades served as vice-president of DISY, President of the Federation of Employers and Industrialists, Director of the Cyprus Telecommunications Authority and was a member of other board of directors.

Being familiar with the issue of 1619 people missing since the 1974 Turkish invasion and the enclaved people because of his participation in the Committee for Humanitarian Affairs in the bicommunal talks, Zachariades was entrusted in 1993 with the position of the Presidential Commissioner for Humanitarian Affairs.

CNA EC/GP/1996

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1350:CYPPRESS:02

[02] Cyprus comments on UNFICYP draft resolution

However, the Cyprus government was making efforts to improve the text of the resolution, with which UNFICYP's mandate will be extended for another six months.

President Clerides repeated today the Greek Cypriot side's readiness for the island's complete demilitarisation.

At the same time, he recalled numerous UN resolutions calling for the withdrawal of the Turkish occupation troops from Cyprus.

He said ''if Turkey implements the resolutions, then the Greek Cypriot side will not continue spending money on armaments''.

The President remarked that the draft resolution contains ''positive elements''. However, he noted that ''steps are being taken to improve some negative points''.

Foreign Minister Alecos Michaelides, told state radio CyBC this morning, the government was making representations to the ambassadors of the permanent members of the UN Security Council, noting that first reactions were ''encouraging''.

Foreign Ministry Permanent Secretary Alecos Shambos had already meetings with the ambassadors in Nicosia of the big ''5''.

In its draft resolution, the Security Council expresses ''grave concern about the excessive levels of military forces and armaments in the Republic of Cyprus and the rate at which they are being expanded, upgraded and modernised, including the introduction of sophisticated weaponry''.

It ''calls again upon all concerned to commit themselves to a reduction in defence spending and a reduction in the number of foreign troops in the Republic of Cyprus to help restore confidence between the parties and as a first step towards the withdrawal of non-Cypriot forces as described in the Set of Ideas''.

Furthermore, it ''stresses the importance of eventual demilitarisation of the Republic of Cyprus as an objective of an overall comprehensive settlement and calls upon the Secretary-General to continue to promote efforts in this direction''.

Michaelides reiterated that Cyprus would ''continue to improve its armaments as long as the Cyprus problem remains unsolved''.

Commenting on the reference of the draft resolution about the armaments issue, Michaelides said surely the government was not satisfied but would not describe the situation as ''devastating''.

He acknowledged that pressure was being exerted upon the government on the armaments issue but stressed that it would ''continue with the implementation of its arms programmes''.

Michaelides said these programmes ''are an expression of our responsibility to build up our defence.''

At the same time, the Foreign Minister expressed dissatisfaction with the fact that the international community did not show any concern that Cyprus is suffering for 22 years now, since 1974, when Turkish troops invaded and occupied 37 per cent of its territory.

Calls towards the government to limit its military spending were made by the United States and Britain.

The issue was highlighted recently when information were published in the press that Cyprus plans to buy S300 surface-to-air missiles from Russia.

CNA EC/GP/1996

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1450:CYPPRESS:03

[03] Cyprus Stock Exchange

CSE All Share Index                    81.67 (+0.10)

Sectural Indices

Banks                                  91.15 (+0.30)
Approved Investment Companies          73.55 (-1.00)
Insurance Companies                    56.42 (+0.21)
Industrial Companies                   83.56 (+0.02)
Tourist Industries                     71.02 (-0.64)
Commercial Companies                   60.20 (-1.28)
Other Companies                        66.92 (+0.74)

Trading Volume                         CYP 601383.860

CNA GP/1996

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1545:CYPPRESS:04

[04] Tatarstan wishes to develop relations with Cyprus

Shvetsov invited Christofi to visit the Republic of Tatarstan, of the Russian Federation, in the first half of 1997.

He is heading a delegation on a four-day visit to Cyprus on the occasion of the opening of the Tatarstan stall, at the International Merchandising Centre (IMC) in Nicosia.

Shvetsov, who is leaving tomorrow, signed here an agreement for his republic's participation in the IMC.

During its stay, the Tatarstan delegation had meetings with representatives of the Cyprus Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Cyprus Central Bank, as well as Nicosia mayor Lellos Demetriades.

CNA MA/GP/1996

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

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