Cyprus News Agency: News in English (PM), 97-04-15

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

CONTENTS

[01] Cyprus and Greece to hold joint military exercise

[02] Cyprus Stock Exchange

[03] Cyprus welcomes Annan's statement

[04] SBA Administrator issues statement on incidents

[05] Euro-Med Foreign Ministers' Conference under way

[06] Euro-Med Foreign Ministers' Conference begins

1530:CYPPRESS:01

[01] Cyprus and Greece to hold joint military exercise

Christofides confirmed Tuesday that the Republic's National Guard will participate in the "Toxotis" annual exercise of the Greek armed forces.

Asked whether the exercise might cause some problems in view of the ongoing UN-led proximity talks between the Greek and Turkish Cypriot sides, the Spokesman replied negatively.

Meanwhile, Cyprus Defence Minister, Costas Eliades, is currently in Athens where he will have talks today on defence issues with his Greek counterpart Akis Tsohatzopoulos.

Greek Government Spokesman, Dimitris Reppas, yesterday said "Toxotis" will take place as scheduled, early in May.

Cyprus and Greece have adopted a Joint Defence Pact, agreed upon in November, 1993, which provides, among others, for joint military manoeuvres.

CNA RG/AP/GP/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1715:CYPPRESS:02

[02] Cyprus Stock Exchange

CSE All Share Index                    78.77 (+0.05)

Highest: 82.46 (2/1/97)
Lowest : 73.90 (30/1/97)

Sectural Indices

Banks                                  88.35 (+0.24)
Approved Investment Companies          68.68 (-0.35)
Insurance Companies                    60.08 (-0.78)
Industrial Companies                   82.95 (-0.24)
Tourist Industries                     63.41 (-0.86)
Commercial Companies                   52.53 (+0.63)
Other Companies                        55.85 (+0.25)

Trading Volume                         CYP 770616.430

CNA MCH/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1830:CYPPRESS:03

[03] Cyprus welcomes Annan's statement

Reuters News Agency reported Annan is determined to press ahead with "an intensified effort to bring about a comprehensive settlement in the island".

The UN Secretary-General also expressed the hope that direct negotiations between President Glafcos Clerides and Turkish Cypriot leader, Rauf Denktash, will begin "within the next two or three months."

Speaking to the press today, Government Spokesman, Manolis Christofides, said "our side will fully cooperate with the UN in a spirit of good will aiming at an overall settlement that will serve the interests of all Cypriots".

Asked whether UN-sponsored proximity talks, currently underway between the two sides, will be affected by the appointment of a new UN Special Envoy, Christofides said the UN Secretary-General's hope for direct talks within the next couple of months, means that Han's successor will not delay the talks.

"The government hopes the new UN representative will spend more time on the island", Christofides added.

Commenting on the proximity talks, Christofides said "it is our duty to work seriously and responsibly towards this direction".

He also denied that the Set of Ideas put forward by former UN Secretary General, Boutros Ghali, has been proposed as a basis for direct negotiations.

Christofides said however, that if certain positive elements appear on the negotiating table, they will not be rejected simply because they form part of Ghali's Set of Ideas. CNA RG/MCH/MH 1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1850:CYPPRESS:04

[04] SBA Administrator issues statement on incidents

In a written statement, Millar said SBA police have closed the coast road past Episkopi Garrison "in order to better control access and prevent further breaches of the peace", and added the restriction will remain in force "as long as required".

"I regret any inconvenience this will cause to law-abiding road users, but the responsibility lies squarely with the misdeeds of a tiny minority," Millar said.

Demonstrators scuffled with SBA police yesterday outside the police station, demanding the release of 39-year-old Angelos Panaretos who was arrested Monday on assault charges against an SBA Senior police officer and threatening violence, when he refused to comply with a court order to halt construction work on a leisure complex, built without the necessary complex.

Protesters forced their way into the police station trying to free Panaretos but some of them were also arrested, including Panaretos' brother, Nicos.

"I have to make it clear that no one is above the law," Millar said, adding that the Panaretos' brothers will remain in custody "until the law takes its course."

Millar also said SBA authorities "place great value on the close cooperation" they have had with the Cyprus government and the people of Cyprus.

He also noted that the Areas are administered under civil law and are "fully in line with our commitments under the 1960 Agreements."

The Sovereign Base Areas were established under the 1960 Treaty of Establishment granting Cyprus' independence.

"It is disappointing indeed that a tiny minority should behave with such a disregard for the law," Millar said, noting that some demonstrators clashed with SBA police "in the name of opposition to the Bases."

"But it is the Government of Cyprus that represents the people of Cyprus, not this self-appointed minority representing no one but themselves, " he said.

CNA RM/MH/MCH/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

2020:CYPPRESS:05

[05] Euro-Med Foreign Ministers' Conference under way

Valletta, Apr 15 (CNA) -- Cyprus Foreign Minister, Yiannakis Cassoulides, stressed today that true conditions of peace and stability could prevail in the Mediterranean region, "only if the existing problems are settled and the principles of the Barcelona Declaration are respected to the letter by all partners."

Speaking at the second Euro-Mediterranean Foreign Ministers' Conference, that began today in Valletta, Malta, Cassoulides noted that respect for the Barcelona Declaration principles, the UN Charter and international law, "could serve as a basis for the solution to various problems, including the problem of my country."

The Barcelona Declaration signed by the Euro-Mediterranean Ministerial Conference in November 1995 calls for respect of territorial integrity and renounces the use or threat of force against the territorial integrity of other countries.

In his first speech abroad as Foreign Minister, Cassoulides said "noticeable progress" has been achieved in the establishment of conditions of permanent peace, stability and security in the region" and noted that Cyprus "welcomes the inventory of Confidence and Security Building Measures."

He also expressed satisfaction that work has begun on a Euro- Mediterranean Charter for Peace and Stability and added that its adoption "should remain a target for the future."

It is not yet known what reference will be made to the Charter in the final announcement as, according to CNA sources in Malta, France's proposal for the adoption of the Charter has raised objections from some EU-member states as well as Arab countries, due to on-going conflicts and differences in the region and because some states believe another Charter has nothing to add to already existing declarations.

Referring to economic and financial partnership, Cassoulides said Cyprus has raised the need for an in-depth study to examine the possibilities and prospects of the free-trade area and in this context has welcomed the European Commission's suggestion to guide the Euro- Mediterranean network of economic institutes in such a task.

"On our part," he added, "we took the decision to concentrate our efforts in the fields of maritime transport, communications and information technologies, since the central geographic position of our country induces us to offer Cyprus as a hub for the interlinking of such infrastructures of the region."

Cassoulides stressed the need to intensify the impetus for ensuring the success of the Barcelona process and noted that Cyprus has suggested the enhancement of the role of the Euro-Mediterranean Committee. "One way of doing that is the participation of the representatives of all EU member states to the Committee," he added.

Closing his remarks, he told his colleagues from the 15 EU member states and their 12 Mediterranean partners, Cyprus will use its central location in the Mediterranean, its good relations with its neighbours in the Eastern Mediterranean, its infrastructure, human resources and its prospect for EU membership "to maximise the results of our efforts" to turn the region "into an area of peace and prosperity for all."

Earlier today Cassoulides had private, separate meetings with his counterparts of Sweden, Lena Fjelm-Wallen, and Luxembourg, Jacques Poos, on the sidelines of the conference, whereas tomorrow he is scheduled to meet French Foreign Affairs Minister, Herve de Charette. CNA MA/MH/MCH 1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

2100:CYPPRESS:06

[06] Euro-Med Foreign Ministers' Conference begins

Valletta, Apr 15 (CNA) -- The two-day conference of Euro-Mediterranean Foreign Ministers opened here, today, by Maltese Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Environment, George Vella, who stressed the difficulties in bringing about peace, security and prosperity in the area.

"The difficulties in achieving this objective have always been very evident. But for us the validity of this objective, as well as its indispensability, have also always been equally evident."

He also noted that the formula devised in Barcelona lies in the clearly perceived inter-relations between those issues dealing with security and those dealing with economic and social development.

"The many and diverse initiatives which have arisen over the 18 months, since the conclusion of the first Ministerial Conference, prove the vitality of the partnership which has been created", he said.

On his part, Vice-President of the European Commission Manuel Marin described the Barcelona process, for Euro-Med partnership as "a historical landmark, particularly in the light of the current political context, and proof of our political commitment to the Euro-Med dialogue."

Noting that this process is now "irreversible", he said "we must maintain our ambitions for the future without any premature judgement on the results of our enterprise."

In his address, Palestinian leader, Yasser Arafat, criticised the Israeli government for not respecting its agreements with the Palestinians and for continuing its settlement policy, which he described as "aggressive" and a blow to the peace process.

Peace and settlement are two opposites, he said, referring to Israel's intention to settle east Jerusalem, which the Palestinians consider the capital of their future state. However, he expressed willingness to cooperate with the EU and to strengthen Palestinian-EU relations, and once again spoke of the right the Palestinians have to self-determination.

The Palestinian leader's general statement was long-awaited as tense relations between the Palestinians and Israel was one of the main issues preoccupying the delegates and was often the cause of differences expressed during the preparatory phase.

On his part, addressing the Assembly, Israeli Foreign Minister David Levi "firmly politically committed" to the peace process and the road for peace is an irreversible process.

Referring to Palestinians as "friends" Levi called for negotiations "in an open spirit" to resolve outstanding issues.

Denouncing terrorism and stressing that it should be "fought forcefully" he called for cooperation, confidence and trust. He appealed to the Palestinian authorities to refuse terrorism and return to dialogue and make the peace process a common goal.

He said they should sit around the same table for direct negotiations and that a code of conduct will have to be established.

CNA MA/MCH/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

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