Cyprus News Agency: News in English (PM), 97-06-19

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

CONTENTS

[01] Cyprus Stock Exchange

[02] Relay team adds to Cypriot medal haul

[03] China hopes for a speedy solution in Cyprus

[04] US Cyprus envoy faced with "hopeless" task

[05] Cypriot MPs in Moscow

1515:CYPPRESS:01

[01] Cyprus Stock Exchange

CSE All Share Index                    76.49 (0)

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

Sectural Indices

Banks                                  84.98 (-0.15)
Approved Investment Companies          66.36 (-0.55)
Insurance Companies                    60.77 (+0.51)
Industrial Companies                   79.95 (+0.09)
Tourist Industries                     62.59 (+0.14)
Commercial Companies                   50.77 (+0.18)
Other Companies                        57.71 (+1.07)

Trading Volume                         CYP 654639.762

CNA MM/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1550:CYPPRESS:02

[02] Relay team adds to Cypriot medal haul

Yiorgos Skender, Anninos Marcoulides, Prodromos Katsandonis and Yiannis Zisimides shaved 69 one hundredths of a second off the Pancyprian record to finish third in the relay in a time of 39.12, just 12 one hundredths of a second shy of the Panhellenic record.

This is the second medal Marcoulides and Katsandonis have won in these games. Marcoulides won the silver medal in the 100 metres and Katsandonis the bronze in the 200 metres.

Meanwhile, Cypriot wrestler Arout Parsekian had to pull out of the final in the 63 kilogram category, half a minute into the match after suffering an injury to his left leg.

His withdrawal dashed his hopes for a wrestling gold medal in the games, after winning silver in each of the two previous Mediterranean games.

"The Italian had everything going for him. I tried to beat him on his home ground, something which would have been a big deal for me, but I couldn't. I was hurting a lot and that's why I pulled out," Parsekian said shortly after the match.

In the boxing ring, Rudik Kazadjian's hopes for a gold medal in the 51 kilogram category evaporated yesterday as he went down to his Algerian opponent 1 - 9 on points.

Karadjian will not leave Bari empty-handed however. His loss translates to the bronze medal, but this does not exactly leave the diminutive Cypriot boxer all that happy.

"I could have beaten the Algerian. I don't know what happened. I'm satisfied with myself because I've kept my promise of winning a medal, but today I feel disappointed because I believed I would have left Italy with the gold," Karadjian said.

Cyprus is currently 13th in the medal standings with three silver and four bronze.

CNA MH/MM/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1740:CYPPRESS:03

[03] China hopes for a speedy solution in Cyprus

"China, as well as the permanent members of the UN Security Council, have always been concerned about the Cyprus problem and we hope a rapid solution can be brought about through the efforts made by the international community, the UN in particular, to address the issue appropriately," Peiding said on arrival here for a three-day official visit to the island.

Speaking through an interpreter, he said China "has always maintained that the independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity and non-aligned status of Cyprus should be fully protected".

The Chinese official said Cyprus and his country "enjoy a very friendly relationship" since 1971 when both countries established diplomatic relations.

"The bilateral ties between our two countries have developed smoothly," Peiding said.

Welcoming the Chinese official, Foreign Ministry Permanent Secretary Alecos Shambos said Cyprus and China maintain "very friendly bilateral relations" and that China follows "a conscientious policy on the Cyprus problem".

"In the light of the direct negotiations, we hope China will play this role in helping with efforts to find a correct solution to our problem," Shambos said.

During his visit, Peiding will be received by President of the Republic, Glafcos Clerides, and meet Foreign Minister Ioannis Kasoulides to exchange views on the Cyprus problem as well as discuss international, regional and bilateral issues.

Peiding will also sign a Protocol on Cooperation between the two countries' foreign ministries.

CNA MAN/MH/MM/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1915:CYPPRESS:04

[04] US Cyprus envoy faced with "hopeless" task

The article refers to Turkish Cypriot leader, Rauf Denktash, as "the devil" in the peace effort and describes him as "a local warlord" in his "pitiful, unrecognised enclave" (a reference to Denktash's self-styled regime in the Turkish occupied part of Cyprus).

It says that the absence of a government in Turkey may force Denktash to "feel little pressure to bargain" and asks whether he wants to be remembered as the one who "divided Cyprus or helped reunite it."

Noting that Holbrooke is faced with a "hopeless" task, the author says the best incentive for a solution is "Cyprus' pending application to join the European Union."

Holbrooke told the magazine the situation in Cyprus and the Aegean is going to get worse, unless it improves.

On this score, the article refers to the purchase of advanced Russian anti-aircraft missiles by the government of Cyprus and last year's close call between Greece and Turkey when the two countries came to the verge of war over Turkish claims on a Greek island in the Aegean.

On the purchase of the Russian missiles, Cyprus' Ambassador to the US, Andros Nicolaides told "Time" magazine "the moment there is a timetable for demilitarisation, we will propose a ban on the import of weaponry."

The author notes that "notwithstanding the hostility, conditions may actually be the best ever for a solution" and explains that the solution formula envisages a single, sovereign federation.

The article also said that "planning for security guarantees, including the make up of peace-keeping forces and procedures for repatriating refugees is well advanced."

CNA MM/MH/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1945:CYPPRESS:05

[05] Cypriot MPs in Moscow

Speaking in Moscow, where he heads an all-party parliamentary delegation on an official visit, Kyprianou said Russian engagement, at this stage, as part of the team of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council, "is really crucial."

He criticised Turkish intransigence and expressed concern that the Greek Cypriot side may come under pressure at the negotiating table.

Replying to questions, Kyprianou said Cyprus will take delivery of the anti-aircraft missile system it bought from Russia.

He called on the US, which opposes the deployment of the S-300 missile system in Cyprus, to take advantage of the period between now and the delivery of the system to exert pressure on Turkey to withdraw its occupation troops from Cyprus and help promote the demilitarisation of the island.

Today, Cypriot parliamentarians met with President of the State Duma, Gennady Selezniov, and others, including Patriarch Aleksi II.

CNA MM/KN/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

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