Cyprus News Agency: News in English (PM), 97-01-27

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

CONTENTS

[01] Cyprus Stock Exchange

[02] Eliades denies purchase of Tor-M1

[03] British exercise began despite protest

1630:CYPPRESS:01

[01] Cyprus Stock Exchange

CSE All Share Index                    76.66 (-1.67)

Sectural Indices

Banks                                  86.35 (-1.40)
Approved Investment Companies          67.67 (-2.51)
Insurance Companies                    55.81 (-0.25)
Industrial Companies                   75.29 (-2.11)
Tourist Industries                     67.13 (-2.26)
Commercial Companies                   53.34 (-2.98)
Other Companies                        59.95 (-3.85)

Trading Volume                         CYP 630132.955

CNA MCH/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1940:CYPPRESS:02

[02] Eliades denies purchase of Tor-M1

Speaking to CNA, Eliades expressed surprise with reports carried by the Russian news agency ITAR-TASS, also cited by the French and Athenian News Agencies.

He categorically denied that the Cyprus government intends to purchase the Tor-M1 and said such reports ''create many questions''.

''We are surprised that information and statements concerning the government's military programme are made public'', Eliades said.

ITAR-TASS quoted today a Russian military official, who was not named, as stating that Russia explores the possibility of selling to Cyprus the Tor-M1.

CNA AZK/MCH/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

2000:CYPPRESS:03

[03] British exercise began despite protest

A Spokesman for the British Bases told CNA this afternoon ''the exercise was delayed for about two hours'', because of the demonstration, but ''did go ahead'' with the use of live ammunition. The week long exercise was scheduled to begin Monday morning.

Meanwhile, members of environmental organisations held this afternoon a sit-in in central Nicosia, in support of their colleagues who have remained in Akamas and to protest Cyprus police efforts to convince protesters to end their demonstration in the area.

Asked to comment on information that two people, one of whom is centre- right DIKO party MP Marios Matsakis, are still in Akamas, the Bases Spokesman noted ''jurisdiction for the Akamas comes under the Cyprus police.''

''It is their responsibility to maintain all law and order there'' he added, noting the government had cleared this week's exercise, as it always does before a British military exercise is carried out.

The Sovereign Bases Area (SBA) Spokesman said that under the Treaty of Establishment, through which Cyprus gained its independence from British colonial rule, the Bases have the right to exercise for seventy days a year, whereas they only exercise for about thirty or forty days.

Asked if the exercise will continue whether there are people in Akamas or not, the SBA Spokesman said ''exercises will always continue, no matter what.''

He added ''the only difference is that we would never compromise the safety of anybody who was there. At the very worst, if we considered that there was any safety implications, we would stop training or we would switch from live to blank ammunition.''

Replying to another question he said ''a mixture of blank and live ammunition'' was presently used.

According to CNA sources, all but two of the demonstrators left the area in which the British military exercise was to take place after warning shots were fired around 15:00 hours local time (13:00 GMT).

Despite the use of a helicopter the Cyprus police was not able to find the two demonstrators who had hid, refusing to end their protest.

CNA RG/MA/MCH/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

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