Cyprus News Agency: News in English (AM), 97-06-10

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

CONTENTS

[01] US senators welcome Holbrooke's appointment

[02] Cyprus' imports-exports increase

[03] Cyprus solution must exclude secession, says British envoy

[04] President in Athens for talks

[05] New DISY President assumes office

[06] Clerides - Hannay round up talks on board "Kate II"

1000:CYPPRESS:01

[01] US senators welcome Holbrooke's appointment

Senator Kennedy's move followed his meeting with over 120 Greek- American leaders and Cypriots from around the world at last week's 8th annual conference of the International Coordinating Committee - Justice for Cyprus (PSEKA), in Washington.

The letter was sent last Friday, the day after the conclusion of the conference, and was signed by 11 key Democratic and Republican senators, serving on the key aid authorisation and Appropriations Committee as well as the Armed Services Committee, who were involved with conference participants.

Welcoming Holbrooke's appointment, the letter noted "this decision indicates the high priority the (US) administration is giving to the resolution of the Cyprus problem."

"Many of us in the Congress have long supported a peaceful and just resolution of the Cyprus issue," the Senators added.

They told Holbrooke "your appointment, the imminence of the accession negotiations (between Cyprus and the EU), and recent positive developments in the relationship between Greece and Turkey give us all hope that we stand on the threshold of genuine progress" on the protracted Cyprus problem.

Ranking minority member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Democratic Joe Bidden, and Committee Democratic members Paul Sarbanes and Chuck Robb signed the letter.

From the Senate Foreign Operations Appropriations Subcommittee the letter was signed by Democratic senators Barbara Mikulski, who has been working with Secretary of State Madeleine Albright on this issue, Frank Lautenberg and Republican Arlen Specter.

From the Senate Armed Services Committee it was signed by Democratic senators Edward Kennedy, Joseph Lieberman, Robert Torricelli and Jack Reed, as well as Republican Greek-American Olympia Snowe.

During PSEKA's conference, participants presented Senator Bidden with a plaque containing an actual piece of the barbed wire that divides Cyprus, for his efforts to help remove this barbed wire that keeps the island divided for 23 years.

CNA AP/GP/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1010:CYPPRESS:02

[02] Cyprus' imports-exports increase

This was announced by the official Department of Statistics and Research, in its 1996 Foreign Trade Report, which says total exports in the year under review increased by 16,8 per cent to 649 million pounds, from 556 million in 1995.

As a result of the above developments, the trade deficit rose to 1.208 million pounds, compared to 1.115 million pounds in 1995.

Imported goods for home consumption increased by 9,2 per cent to 1.465 million pounds.

The European Union continued to be the main source of supply of goods to Cyprus, with an increased share of 839 million pounds or 57,3 per cent, compared to 792 million or 59,0 per cent in 1995.

Total exports to the European Union decreased to 184 million pounds, representing 28,4 per cent of total exports, compared to 193 million pounds in 1995.

Domestic exports including shipstores fell to 228 million pounds, compared with 239 million pounds in 1995.

CNA GG/GP/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1030:CYPPRESS:03

[03] Cyprus solution must exclude secession, says British envoy

"I don't believe there will be a deal if the right to secession for example, was claimed as a right by either of the two cantons. So, I'm sure that any constitution that could be agreed would have to state quite explicitly that secession is not a possibility," Sir David said in an interview to the CyBC television last night.

The British envoy, who is in Cyprus for contacts with the Greek and Turkish Cypriot sides, said he was pleased to hear Foreign Minister Ioannis Kasoulides saying during his recent visit to Washington that the Cyprus government is approaching the upcoming direct negotiations in a spirit of give and take.

"I saw what the Foreign Minister said when he was in Washington that the Cyprus government would be approaching the negotiations in a spirit of give and take. I noticed that that has caused a certain amount of emotion back here. I can't imagine why," Hannay said.

He added however, that he himself has never attended any negotiation that had any chance of success if the parties involved did not negotiate in a spirit of give and take.

The British envoy also noted that Denktash stated late last year that he would enter into negotiations in a similar spirit of give and take.

"I'm very glad that both parties have publicly stated that this is the way they are approaching the negotiations," Hannay said.

CNA MH/GP/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1400:CYPPRESS:04

[04] President in Athens for talks

The talks, to take place at Maximou Palace, will be followed by a working lunch.

President Clerides will visit the Greek capital for one day in view of UN-sponsored face-to-face negotiations between the President and Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash, expected to begin early July in New York.

CNA MM/MA/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1430:CYPPRESS:05

[05] New DISY President assumes office

The 51-year-old DISY leader presided over a meeting of the party's Political Bureau under its new composition.

Anastasiades and Matsis had a 25-minute private meeting after which the latter handed over the party's presidency.

In a brief statement, Matsis referred to his 21-year long service as a DISY high-ranking official.

He expressed the opinion that once a party president is elected as President of the Republic he should maintain both capacities.

Matsis was apparently referring to current Cyprus President Glafcos Clerides, who left the party's presidency soon after his election as President of the Republic.

Anastasiades praised Matsis' contribution to his party and his country and called for unity among the party's officials, members and supporters.

Meanwhile, Anastasiades announced that MP Panayiotis Demetriou will replace him as DISY's Parliamentary Spokesman. Demetriou has been elected DISY Deputy President unopposed.

CNA KK/AP/GP/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1450:CYPPRESS:06

[06] Clerides - Hannay round up talks on board "Kate II"

Sir David, accompanied by British High Commissioner to Cyprus, David Madden, joined this morning President Clerides on board the vessel, docked at Larnaca marina.

After a brief talk on the docked yacht, the two men sailed out in the sea for a four-hour journey during which they had further talks on the Cyprus problem. "Kate II" returned to the marina around 1300 local time (1000 GMT).

The President's yacht was escorted by police cost-guard vessel "Evagoras". The two men did not make any statements either on their departure or on their return.

This is the third time since Sir David's appointment, in April 1996, the two men hold talks on board the President's yacht. The British envoy visited Cyprus six times.

Later today, Sir David will have a meeting with the ambassadors to Cyprus of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council.

This afternoon the British envoy will give a bicommunal press conference at the Ledra Palace hotel, situated in the UN-controlled buffer zone in Nicosia.

This evening Sir David will cross into the Turkish-occupied part of Nicosia to attend a working dinner given by Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash.

A planned meeting yesterday with Denktash was cancelled the last minute due to the Turkish Cypriot leader's insistence that Sir David should meet with the self-styled president of the illegal assembly (parliament) in the areas occupied by Turkish troops since 1974, recognised only by Turkey.

The British envoy leaves tomorrow for Athens and Ankara where he will discuss the Cyprus issue.

CNA TA/AP/GP/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

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