Cyprus News Agency: News in English (AM), 97-04-12

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

CONTENTS

[01] Turkey continues to violate Nicosia FIR, air space

[02] UN denies Cyprus envoy replacement

[03] Cyprus - Russia sign investment agreement

1030:CYPPRESS:01

[01] Turkey continues to violate Nicosia FIR, air space

An official press release said on Friday that 27 Turkish military aircraft entered Nicosia FIR, heading for Israel, in contravention of international air traffic regulations.

Some of these proceeded to violate Cyprus' sovereign air space over the island's eastern-most tip, the Cape of Apostolos Andreas, under Turkish occupation since Turkey's army invaded and occupied part of Cyprus in 1974.

Twenty-four of the 27 aircraft were fighters, the press release said.

The same pattern of violations occurred on two consecutive days, April 9 and 10, it added.

There have been repeated violations of Nicosia FIR and Cyprus' air space in the past several weeks, which the government of the Republic has brought to the attention of the UN.

CNA MM/MH/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1400:CYPPRESS:02

[02] UN denies Cyprus envoy replacement

The spokesman refrained from commenting on reports that current Cyprus envoy, Han Sung Joo, will be leaving his post. Han was appointed in May of last year.

"I have heard this, this is not true. Goulding will not replace Han," Rokoszewski told CNA today, when invited to comment on reports published in the mass circulation daily "O Fileleftheros" that Goulding will replace Han in a different capacity.

Han, who arrives in Cyprus later this evening, is due to meet President Glafcos Clerides and Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash on Monday.

The UN spokesman could not, at this stage, give any further details on Han's schedule of meetings over the next few days.

Asked if this was Han's swan-song visit to the island, Rokoszewski replied "I do not know."

Rokoszewski's position was substantiated by foreign diplomatic circles who told CNA today it is "unlikely" that Gouldling will replace Han.

Goulding now heads a massive UN project, entitled "Lessons Learned" to evaluate peace-keeping operations, and is due to take up an academic post in September at Oxford University in the UK.

The same circles hinted that Goulding himself would be unwilling to take up a Cyprus envoy post, knowing that several months later he would have to abandon it.

Past reports suggested that Goulding was one of the top UN aides who would have joined the UN team when direct negotiations between the Greek and Turkish Cypriot sides began, but this idea never took off.

CNA MM/MH/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1445:CYPPRESS:03

[03] Cyprus - Russia sign investment agreement

"A new phase has begun in Cyprus - Russia relations," said Finance Minister, Christodoulos Christodoulou, after signing the agreement in Moscow.

Russian Deputy Finance Minister, Andrei Siapovulianc, who signed the agreement on the Russian Federation's behalf, stressed this is one more step in the ever-deepening links between Cyprus and Russia.

"We are building our ties with Cyprus because we believe in the development of these ties and this is proven by the signing of this agreement, which has tremendous potential," Siapovulianc said.

The Russian Federation wants to see its inclusion in the global investment system through the signing of investment protection agreements.

"For Russia, big or small states don't exist. For us, there are relations on an equal footing and we are obliged to expand those relations, " the Russian Deputy Finance Minister said.

Christodoulou also met with Russian Culture Minister, Evgeni Sitorov. Both men are Co-Chairmen of the Cyprus -Russia Committee on Trade, Economic, Science and Technical Cooperation.

They noted that despite problems faced by Russia in its course towards a free market economy, economic relations between the two countries are developing rapidly.

Christodoulou also referred to the former Soviet Union's financial debts to Cyprus. According to sources, a meeting has been set in Moscow later this month between representatives from Cyprus and Russia to settle this issue through a special agreement.

Both governments also committed themselves to increase contacts with a view to enhance the role of the Cooperation Committee.

CNA CG/MH/MM/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

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