Cyprus News Agency: News in English (PM), 97-06-26

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

CONTENTS

[01] Cyprus Minister addresses Environmental Summit

[02] Parties leak information on document, UN says

[03] Cyprus Stock Exchange

[04] Cyprus protests new Turkish violations

[05] Opposition decides on candidate for presidential elections

[06] Norway to pay substantial sum for talks

[07] Cyprus aims to harmonise trade policy with the EU

[08] Clerides in Amsterdam

[09] Cyprus Airways opens new office in Moscow

1455:CYPPRESS:01

[01] Cyprus Minister addresses Environmental Summit

This was stressed by Cyprus Minister of Agriculture, Natural Resources and the Environment, Costas Petrides, addressing yesterday the international Earth Summit II at the United Nations.

Petrides outlined the steps Cyprus has taken in this area, including participation in the Barbados Programme of Action for the Sustainable Development of Small Island States, the Tunis MED Agenda 21 of Mediterranean Countries and the Council of Europe's Biological and Landscape Diversity Strategy.

He said that recent actions such as adoption of the Strategic Development has strengthened the powers of the ministry in assuring that the country's record in this area was in harmony with European Union law and directives.

Petrides emphasised that "the right to an environment of high quality and fundamental human rights are indivisible."

"Cyprus is well aware," he told delegates at the UN Earth Summit, "how aggression and occupation can bring about immense suffering, destruction of economic resources and irreparable damage to the environment."

In an interview with CNA, Petrides noted that because of the Turkish occupation, Cyprus has access to only 47 per cent of its coastline. All development, including hotels, marinas, ports, utilities, fish farms and other were therefore tightly regulated.

Regrettably, he added, there appeared to be less concern with the environment in the Turkish-occupied areas.

Petrides lamented the fact that the Denktash illegal regime refused all help last year in fighting the fires that devastated the northern Pentadaktylos mountain range.

He also said Cyprus was "gravely concerned about plans for the construction of a nuclear power plant in an area of high seismic risk" on the southern coast of Turkey, a mere 40 miles from Cyprus.

CNA JD/EC/AP/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1510:CYPPRESS:02

[02] Parties leak information on document, UN says

Asked by CNA to confirm news accounts from Cyprus that a UN document had been prepared to be presented to President Clerides and Denktash at the start of the talks, on July 9, Eckhard said "yes, this is the information we presented to the two sides and they leaked it."

Asked about the nature of the document and whether it refers to talking points or more specific proposals, Eckhard replied that the Cyprus talks "are very sensitive and we can't say anything about the document."

The venue for the talks, Troutbeck, Dutchess County, is a combination of a conference centre and an inn with 42 bedrooms. The managers of the establishment, reached by phone, told CNA that the complex had been fully booked by the UN from July 9 to 13.

Arrangements for press coverage are to be negotiated between the United Nations Correspondents Association (UNCA) and UN Spokesman's office.

Correspondents would be accommodated for the opening statement of the Secretary-General on the first day.

"After that there will be a news blackout," an official in the UN Spokesman's office said.

CNA JD/EC/AP/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1520:CYPPRESS:03

[03] Cyprus Stock Exchange

CSE All Share Index                    77.13 (-0.05)

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

Sectural Indices

Banks                                  85.26 (-0.07)
Approved Investment Companies          66.15 (+0.43)
Insurance Companies                    61.16 (+0.46)
Industrial Companies                   81.00 (+0.32)
Tourist Industries                     64.53 (-0.23)
Commercial Companies                   50.30 (-1.14)
Other Companies                        61.66 (-0.72)

Trading Volume                         CYP 644054.703

CNA AP/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1610:CYPPRESS:04

[04] Cyprus protests new Turkish violations

In a letter addressed to UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, Cyprus' Permanent Representative to the UN, Nicos Agathocleous protested against the violation of the Republic's airspace by two C-160 Turkish military planes on two separate occasions on June 22.

"Such unauthorised intrusions into the Nicosia Flight Information Region and the airspace of the Republic are in violation of international air traffic rules and seriously endanger civil aviation flights over Cyprus, " Agathocleous notes.

He also points out that such violations are "in complete disregard of international law, the UN Charter and the relevant decisions of the Organisation on the question of Cyprus."

The Cypriot ambassador stresses that these violations "which heighten tension in Cyprus are taking place at a most sensitive phase of the efforts to resume the intercommunal talks" for a solution to the Cyprus problem, scheduled to begin in the US July 9-13.

In a second letter to Kofi Annan, Agathocleous protests against the violation by the Turkish occupation regime of the Third Vienna Agreement, reached by the Greek and Turkish Cypriot sides in 1975, providing for the safety and respect of the human rights of enclaved persons.

The occupation regime, he points out, has refused to 10 of the 33 students whose parents live in the Turkish occupied areas to spend their summer vacations with their families, and has not allowed Greek Cypriot teacher Eleni Foka to return to her village in Ayia Triada.

Foka came to the free areas of the Republic to be treated at the Nicosia General Hospital last month. The puppet regime, unilaterally established in the northern part of Cyprus which Turkey occupies since its 1974 invasion of the island, has refused her the right to return.

Agathocleous calls on the UN Secretary-General to take the necessary steps to safeguard the fundamental freedoms and human rights of the enclaved as well as the return of Foka and the ten students to their homes.

CNA MCH/MA/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1755:CYPPRESS:05

[05] Opposition decides on candidate for presidential elections

In a meeting today representatives from left-wing party AKEL, socialist EDEK, and the United Democrats also agreed on a common agenda.

EDEK party leader Vassos Lyssarides said after the meeting that representatives from the three parties "reached agreement on the basic agenda issues", noting that "the agreement is expected to be approved collectively by the parties."

Confirming that Iliades will be the common presidential candidate, Lyssarides refrained from revealing any further details until the candidacy is approved by the parties proper.

Replying to questions, Lyssarided based opposition hopes for winning the elections on "the dynamism stemming from the cooperation between the three parties" and in their firm belief that "the programme as well as the candidate range beyond the traditional voters of the three parties".

Lyssarides added the opposition pact is open to other parties to join, stressing that "they are welcome".

Marios Iliades was born in 1947 and studied law at London's Gray Inn attaining the degree of Barrister-at-Law in 1964. He subsequently continued his law studies in Athens, graduating in 1969.

He served as Communications and Works Minister between 1978 and 1980.

CNA RM/MH/MA/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1845:CYPPRESS:06

[06] Norway to pay substantial sum for talks

In a statement to CNA, UN Senior Advisor in Cyprus, Peter Schmitz, confirmed that Norway will cover part of the cost and noted "it is not unusual when the Organisation faces extraordinary expenses for states to step in and make a contribution."

Norway, Schmitz said, will pay "a big chunk of the cost" but could not however give an estimation of the expenses.

According to Reuters the cost is expected to be between 30.000 to 40.000 US dollars, while an official of the Norwegian UN mission has expressed his country's satisfaction for contributing "to an effort by the UN Secretary- General to get talks going between the two parties in Cyprus."

CNA MCH/MA/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1910:CYPPRESS:07

[07] Cyprus aims to harmonise trade policy with the EU

The WTO's report, along with another prepared by the Cyprus government, were the subject of a two-day meeting held yesterday and today in Geneva by the WTO.

Head of the Cypriot delegation to the meeting was Trade, Industry and Tourism Ministry Director-General, Michalakis Erotokritos.

According to the WTO report, tourism and more recently business services for a booming offshore sector have become the main contributors in the last decade to economic growth in Cyprus. As a result, per capita income in Cyprus has tripled from 4,570 US dollars in 1985 to approximately 13,650 in 1996.

The report notes that Cyprus suffers from a structural trade deficit since merchandise imports represent nearly 40 percent of the Gross Domestic Product, outweighing exports by a factor of almost three.

The EU, the report says, remains Cyprus' most important trading partner, even though the share of Cypriot exports to the EU has fallen in the last five years.

The WTO report also refers to Cyprus' application for EU membership and its efforts to harmonise its laws, policies and institutional structure with the EU acquis communautaire, noting it already meets the Maastricht convergence criteria.

Cyprus' inflation is low, the fiscal deficit stood at 2.9 percent in 1996 and its public debt was reduced to 54 percent of Gross Domestic Product in 1995, the report adds.

Referring to measures taken to harmonise laws and policies with the EU and the WTO, the report cites Cyprus' abolition of its discretionary import licensing, revision of its anti-dumping and countervailing legislation, and its introduction this year of a new foreign direct investment policy.

In its conclusions, the report suggests that Cyprus could take further steps to conform with multilateral rules such as lowering tariffs on certain farm products, lowering non ad valorem duties and refraining from implementing measures such as reduced tax rates for export manufacturing or preferential treatment for domestic content.

CNA GG/MH/MA/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1915:CYPPRESS:08

[08] Clerides in Amsterdam

The President is accompanied by Foreign Minister, Ioannis Kasoulides and Government Spokesman Manolis Christofides.

The briefing, to be held tomorrow, will be conducted by Dutch Prime Minister Wim Kok and Foreign Minister Hans Van Mierlo, and is expected to last around three hours.

Other countries that will attend the briefing are, Poland, Hungary, Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Rumania, Bulgaria, Slovenia, Lithuania, Estonia, Latvia and Turkey.

The EU has decided that Cyprus and Malta will be involved in the next phase of the Union's enlargement, while on March 6 1996 the Council of Ministers decided accession negotiations will begin with the government of Cyprus six months after the end of the Intergovernmental Conference.

CNA NB/MCH/MA/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

2045:CYPPRESS:09

[09] Cyprus Airways opens new office in Moscow by Katerina Nicolaou

The new office in Moscow was inaugurated by Commerce and Industry Minister, Kyriakos Christofi, in the presence of Ambassadors of Cyprus and Greece, Platon Kyriakides and Kyriakos Rodousakis, Company Chairman Takis Kyriakides and Vice Chairman Achilleas Kyprianou, officials of the Russian Foreign Ministry and a representative of the Russian Patriarch.

Pointing to the historic friendly relations between the two countries, Christofi said Cyprus was grateful to Russia for its contribution to the strengthening of the island's tourist industry that forms the backbone of its economy.

Speaking at the ceremony, Kyriakides said the opening of the new office coincides with the 50th anniversary since the establishment of the company and noted that Cyprus Airways' presence in Russia will be strengthened further.

"The Russian market is at the top of our priorities and we will continue paying special attention to it", he said.

Meanwhile, a cooperation protocol was signed by Cyprus Airways Chairman Takis Kyriakides and Aeroflot Commercial Director Leonid Itskov, covering a wide range of activities.

Announcing the agreement, Kyriakides stressed the fact that it also provides for code sharing flights between Moscow and Paphos twice a week. "The ultimate aim is for the two companies to carry out flights as if they are one company," he said.

CNA KN/MCH/MA/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

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