Cyprus News Agency: News in English (PM), 97-06-05

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

CONTENTS

[01] Cyprus Stock Exchange

[02] Government welcomes Holbrooke's appointment

[03] Spokesman on direct talks

[04] Parties view Holbrooke appointment favourably

[05] PSEKA conference focuses on issue of the enclaved

[06] Water problems need not worry visitors to Cyprus

1500:CYPPRESS:01

[01] Cyprus Stock Exchange

CSE All Share Index                    75.00 (+0.33)

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

Sectural Indices

Banks                                  83.62 (+0.19)
Approved Investment Companies          64.51 (+0.31)
Insurance Companies                    58.19 (-0.70)
Industrial Companies                   78.32 (+1.67)
Tourist Industries                     61.78 (+0.44)
Commercial Companies                   50.76 (+0.44)
Other Companies                        55.16 (+0.42)

Trading Volume                         CYP 500800.507

CNA MM/1997

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1535 CYPPRESS:02

[02] Government welcomes Holbrooke's appointment

"Bearing in mind US assurances for active, substantial and dynamic presence in direct talks and for support to UN efforts towards a Cyprus settlement, we express our satisfaction with Holbrooke's appointment", Government Spokesman, Manolis Christofides told his daily press briefing.

He also pointed out that the government hopes for a just solution to the Cyprus problem which will be in line with universal values the UN and the US have pledged to abide by.

Christofides said Holbrooke has "a specific mission, ideas and proposals" but noted that since he has just been appointed he should be given some time before he presents them.

Commenting on reservations expressed about Holbrooke's appointment, Christofides said the US have their own interests to serve and have repeatedly stated they consider Greece and Turkey as important allies. CNA MA/MCH/MM 1997

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[03] Spokesman on direct talks

Speaking to the press, Government Spokesman, Manolis Christofides said today, "representatives of Britain, France, Russia and the US will be present at the negotiations."

China, he said, has yet to nominate its representative but the country has shown interest in Cyprus.

Given the interest displayed by the permanent five, the government considers this round of talks "particularly important", Christofides said.

"This is the first time that so many have shown such an interest simultaneously in a Cyprus solution," he said.

On European Union participation in the talks, the Spokesman said "the EU has a keen interest in Cyprus and has expressed an interest to be present at these negotiations."

However, he refrained from clarifying whether the government has asked the UN to examine the possibility of inviting the EU to attend direct talks.

The government, he said, wishes to see any settlement comply with the acquis communautaire, and added "Europe is a decisive factor in such a solution."

Christofides also stressed the need to curb Turkish intransigence which continues to be an obstacle in efforts for a solution to the Cyprus problem.

"It is up to the great powers to decide whether they will accept that this intransigence can continue for ever unpunished and without any consequences", he noted.

Asked what the government expects from direct talks, Christofides said "progress in the Cyprus problem", and added that "this expectation is boosted by the action of states interested in a Cyprus settlement.

CNA MA/MCH/MM/1997

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[04] Parties view Holbrooke appointment favourably

Commenting on Holbrooke's appointment, Acting President of the ruling Democratic Rally party (DISY), Panayiotis Demetriou, said it is obvious that the US government has decided to get involved more actively and resolutely in international efforts headed by UN Secretary-General, Kofi Annan, towards a Cyprus solution.

"Mr. Holbrooke, it is said, is a tough negotiator for whom we have no bias against," Demetriou said.

Dimitris Christofias, General Secretary of the main opposition AKEL party, stressed that everyone must be guarded and that the island's political leadership should examine Holbrooke's possible role "in accordance with the reinvigoration of the US initiative and involvement in the Cyprus problem".

"If (Holbrooke) truly takes interest in the Cyprus issue and puts into use his said trait as tough negotiator, then he must direct his energies towards Ankara and (Turkish Cypriot leader) Rauf Denktash," Christofias said.

On his part, co-ruling Democratic Party President, Spyros Kyprianou, said Holbrooke's appointment, at first glance, means the US will get more actively involved in the direct negotiations process, but added that he does not know which direction US involvement will venture in.

"I have no bias against Mr. Holbrooke," Kyprianou stressed. "What I would like to hope is that he will not push a Dayton-type process and that he will not refer certain points of the Bosnian situation on the Cyprus problem," he added. Socialist party EDEK First Vice-President, Yiannakis Omirou, said the Holbrooke appointment translates to the long awaited, intensified involvement of the US in efforts towards a Cyprus solution.

Omirou added that the Cyprus problem "is not Bosnia and as a result, neither the methods nor the process followed in the Bosnian situation can be applied on the Cyprus issue".

Meanwhile, United Democrats party First Vice-President, Michalis Papapetrou, described the appointment as a "significant development which, among other things, proves the determination of the US to dynamically and firmly deal with the Cyprus problem this time around."

Liberal party president Nicos Rolandis said Holbrooke's appointment sends the message that the Cyprus problem is upgraded to "first category issue and perhaps an issue of first priority regarding for the US Pentagon and the State Department."

CNA MH/MM/1997

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[05] PSEKA conference focuses on issue of the enclaved

Responding to a question from Karpasia Coordinating Committee Chairman, Nicos Falas, National Security Council Special Assistant to the President for European Affairs, Alexander Vershbow, and State Department Acting Special Cyprus Coordinator, Carey Cavanaugh, stressed that the US government expects to see the 3rd Vienna Agreement on the enclaved implemented.

The 3rd Vienna agreement, signed in 1975 between Glafcos Clerides (current Cyprus President) representing the Greek Cypriot side and Rauf Denktash, representing the Turkish Cypriot side, stipulates that Greek Cypriots living in the Turkish occupied part of the island should be afforded every assistance to lead a normal life, including medical care, freedom of movement and the right to education and worship.

Enclaved Greek Cypriots have endured continuous hardships from the occupation regime ranging from death threats to expropriation of their property. From the approximately 20,000 people who remained in the occupied areas immediately after the 1974 Turkish invasion of Cyprus, only 500 or so people remain, mostly elderly.

Both Vershbow and Cavanaugh also stressed that they are making intense efforts to improve the living conditions of the enclaved persons living in the northeastern Karpass peninsula and entrench their human rights in all aspects.

The two US officials added that so far, there has been no change of attitude of the Turks towards the enclaved, but efforts will continue to affect that change.

In statements made after the session, Falas expressed the hope that the sacrifices of the enclaved will be vindicated.

CNA RAG/MH/MM/1997

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[06] Water problems need not worry visitors to Cyprus

Although water levels in the island's dams this year stand at 23 percent of their total capacity, almost half of last year's levels, Georgios Socratous, of the Water Development Department, told CNA that strict measures have been taken so that the water supply to the island's tourist areas remains uninterrupted and plentiful.

Socratous said the Department has reduced the water supply to cities across the island by 20 percent, but tourist centres remain unaffected.

He added that water for agricultural purposes has been cut by up to 75 percent in some areas, just enough to sustain crops to life, while water for private gardening has been reduced by 15 percent.

But cuts to the water supply are not enough to do the trick, Socratous said. These practical measures have been coupled with an island-wide government water conservation campaign to urge Cypriots to do their part in conserving the island's most precious resource.

Socratous said the government is also giving incentives to homeowners to drill for water on their property and to connect the new-found supply to their bathroom installations.

This, Socratous points out, would compensate for the water each household uses in the bathroom, a full 30 percent out of each household's total water consumption.

Meanwhile, the island's first desalination plant started operating last March to serve the southeastern tourist centre of Ayia Napa as well as parts of the southern coastal town of Larnaca.

A second desalination plant is planned to be completed by 1999 to serve the island's other tourist areas as well as the capital Nicosia.

On his part, Pancyprian Hoteliers Association President, Avgerinos Nikitas said almost all hotels have installed reserve water tanks to guarantee hotel guests with a 24-hour supply of potable water.

"It's inconceivable to leave our guests at any time without water," Nikitas told CNA.

CNA MH/MM/1997

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