Cyprus News Agency: News in English (AM), 97-07-15

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

CONTENTS

[01] Holbrooke sees long way ahead for Cyprus solution

[02] US State Department very pleased with direct negotiations

[03] Anastasiades on direct negotiations

[04] Parliament condemns 1974 coup - invasion

[05] Cyprus Airways carries 1,2 m. passengers

[06] Cyprus Stock Exchange

0900:CYPPRESS:01

[01] Holbrooke sees long way ahead for Cyprus solution

New York, Jul 15 (CNA) -- US Presidential Emissary for Cyprus, Richard Holbrooke, believes it is "pretty clear" that there is a wide gap between the views of the two sides in Cyprus and considers that they have a long way to go before the two leaders agree on a joint declaration.

In statements to CNA after an hour-long meting here Monday with Turkish Cypriot leader, Rauf Denktash, Holbrooke also pointed out "our effort has already started", referring to US efforts in support of UN attempts to settle the Cyprus issue.

The US envoy also met President Glafcos Clerides, in New York, yesterday, after the conclusion of the first round of direct negotiations for a Cyprus settlement, that took place in Troutbeck, July 9-12. A second round of talks are expected to take place near Geneva, August 11-16.

Asked if he shares the view of the Secretary-General's special advisor for Cyprus, Diego Cordovez, that there is still a wide gap between the two sides, Holbrooke noted he had not seen Cordovez's statement "but I think that is pretty clear".

Invited to say if efforts to solve the Cyprus problem are back to square one, the American Presidential Emissary said "you have to ask the two participants, adding, however, "I'm really glad the two leaders met with each other, that is a step forward".

To a question if one should expect a joint declaration to be issued during the Geneva talks, Holbrooke said this is something President Clerides and Denktash should reply to. "I think they have a long way to go before they agree on a declaration," he added.

The UN are giving emphasis on getting the two leaders to agree on a joint declaration, which will also include the fundamental aspects of the Cyprus problem, during the second round of talks.

Invited to define the timing of US intervention in the Cyprus peace process, Holbrooke said he was not going to intervene but to assist. He expressed the hope that the US is already facilitating by showing "a great deal of interest and keeping in involved with everyone."

"We are doing what we can but we are not going to be very visible right now, this is a UN show for the time being," Holbrooke told CNA.

Asked when one should expect to see the "American show", he replied "obviously we are supporting the UN, we are part of the UN."

Replying to questions, the US envoy said he is leaving for Europe "to talk to the European governments about their views and particularly the European Union (EU) factor."

However, Holbrooke made it clear he is not going to "inform the European governments about the (Troutbeck) talks as they are informed directly by Cordovez."

EU representatives were in Troutbeck during the talks, along with foreign government envoys, and were briefed on their outcome by the UN special advisor who chaired the negotiations.

Cyprus' EU accession prospect is considered an important factor in efforts for reaching a settlement on the island, which has been divided since 1974 when Turkey invaded and occupied 37 percent of its territory.

Accession negotiations are scheduled to begin with Cyprus next year.

CNA MM/MA/GP/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

0935:CYPPRESS:02

[02] US State Department very pleased with direct negotiations

Washington, Jul 15 (CNA) -- The US government is very pleased with the direct negotiations between President Glafcos Clerides and Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash and feels face-to-face dialogue on the Cyprus dispute is essential, State Department Spokesman Nicholas Burns said.

"The United States government believes that the talks on Cyprus, concluded over the weekend, were positive and useful. We're very pleased they took place. We think that face-to-face dialogue on the issue of Cyprus is quite important; in fact it is essential," Burns said yesterday in an official announcement on the outcome of the talks.

UN-sponsored talks between President Clerides and Denktash wrapped up Saturday in Troutbeck, New York. It is the first time the two leaders have met face-to-face to try to hammer out a settlement to the long-standing Cyprus problem since October, 1994.

The two men will work now on a non-paper presented to them by the UN Secretary-General's Special Advisor to Cyprus Diego Cordovez during the Troutbeck talks.

A second round of talks has been tentatively planned for August 11 through to the 16 in Montre, Switzerland, where the two leaders are expected to set negotiating parameters for rounds of talks to follow.

On the second round of talks, Burns said "the United States would certainly support a second round of talks, if that can be agreed to. We hope very much it will be agreed to".

The State Department spokesman announced that US Presidential Emissary on Cyprus, Richard Holbrooke, will be travelling to Western Europe in two weeks' time to consult with US allies on the Cyprus problem, but will not visit Cyprus or the east Mediterranean region for now.

"(Holbrooke) does not plan to travel to Cyprus or to the Eastern Mediterranean until at least after the next round of talks, which we assume will be held some time in August," he said.

Burns explained that Holbrooke feels that it is not yet appropriate for him to visit either Cyprus, Greece or Turkey because the US primarily wants to support the current United Nations effort on Cyprus.

"And if there is to be a second round of discussions in Europe in August, and we hope there will be, we support that (and) very much want to happen, then (Holbrooke) feels he ought not get in the way of that, he ought to just do everything he can to support the United Nations," Burns said.

Asked about a recent European Union (EU) announcement on the start of accession talks with Cyprus and if the US feels this is helpful in the current UN-led peace process, the State Department spokesman said the US has long been in favour of EU enlargement and has supported the idea that Cyprus and Turkey "ought to be associated with the European Union".

The European Commission has recently announced its decision to recommend to the EU that the next round of EU enlargement includes Cyprus and five other east European countries.

Asked to comment, however, if the US supports the accession of Cyprus to the EU prior to a resolution of the island's problem, Burns said that issue was up to the EU itself to decide.

"The United States cannot decide the timetable of European Union expansion," Burns said. "We have too much respect for the EU to try to do that and give it public advice. We just think that the expansion of the EU is a good idea and we think stability in the eastern Mediterranean is a good idea."

Asked to comment on the issue of the Russian S-300 anti-aircraft missiles purchased by the government of Cyprus, Burns said the US government is "satisfied now with the pledge of the Cypriot government that no part of this missile system will be introduced into Cyprus for a great period of time".

The Cyprus government said last January that no part of the state-of- the-art missile system will be brought into Cyprus for at least 16 months.

The decision to purchase the missiles has raised concerns both in Washington and Ankara. The US government said it is against the purchase, while Turkey, which maintains a 35,000-strong force occupying 37 percent of Cypriot territory since its invasion of the island 23 years ago, threatened a pre-emptive military strike against the missile batteries if and when they are deployed in Cyprus.

"The Cypriot government is handling this responsibility in letting a period of time unfold where we have an opportunity to resolve the problem," Burns said.

CNA DA/MH/GP/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

0950:CYPPRESS:03

[03] Anastasiades on direct negotiations

At the same time, he noted that the UN initiative has not born fruit, even though this was not expected at this stage.

Anastasiades referred to the Cyprus question Monday evening, on his return from the US where along with other political party leaders he had accompanied President Glafcos Clerides to the UN-led Cyprus peace talks, that took place in Troutbeck, near New York, July 9-12.

The ruling party leader pointed out that the new effort for reaching a Cyprus settlement is carried out in a different atmosphere than that which prevailed in the 1992 negotiations.

"The government did everything possible to create new factors," Anastasiades said.

He mentioned Cyprus' European Union accession prospect, a joint defence pact agreed between the governments of Cyprus and Greece in 1993, a decision to buy the Russian made anti-aircraft missile system S-300 and the appointment of foreign government representatives on the Cyprus problem.

CNA KK/MA/GP/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1400:CYPPRESS:04

[04] Parliament condemns 1974 coup - invasion

A military coup engineered by the junta then ruling Greece toppled President Makarios on July 15, 1974.

Five days later (July 20) Turkey, using as a pretext the protection of the Turkish Cypriots on the island, launched an invasion campaign against the defenceless island situated in the Eastern Mediterranean, 75 kilometres south of Turkey.

Turkish troops still occupy 37 per cent of Cyprus territory, in violation of numerous United Nations calling for their withdrawal.

Sirens wailed at 0820 local time (0520 GMT), the exact time the military coup began with an attack on the Presidential Palace in Nicosia. Makarios escaped unhurt.

A memorial service for those who fell during the coup and the Turkish invasion was held this morning at a Nicosia church.

The service was conducted by the Primate of the Cyprus Orthodox Church, Archbishop Chrysostomos. The main speaker was socialist EDEK party leader Vassos Lyssarides, Makarios' private doctor.

Archbishop Chrysostomos told the press that "our duty" is to fight until justice is prevailed in Cyprus.

Party leaders or representatives in the island's House of Representatives denounced the coup and the invasion and paid tribute to those who fell while defending their homeland. A one-minute silence was observed in their memory.

Acting House President, rightwing Democratic Rally (DISY) party President Nicos Anastasiades noted in his address to the House that reflection surrounding the coup and the Turkish invasion lead to the conclusion that "anti-democratic methods in politics breed fanaticism, hatred and division which can lead, in turn, to civil conflict and national destruction."

"The strict adherence to democratic practises and the spirit of calm dialogue in the aim of consensus, are the teachings we derive from black commemorations, Anastasiades said, adding that "we are obliged to put these teachings into practice."

Leftwing AKEL General Secretary Dimitris Christofias stressed that the struggle waged by Cypriots "is difficult and fraught with adverse circumstances," and noted that "with the right struggle, we can justify our dead and Cyprus."

"Faced with difficulties, we do not have the right to be disheartened or capitulate to the occupation, but can neither be lead to ostensibly heroic acts which may in essence, lead to disaster," Christofias said.

The AKEL leader also conveyed a message of peace to the Turkish Cypriots, adding that "we have the obligation to build a common future in our common homeland."

Speaking on behalf of the centre-right Democratic Party, MP Nicos Moushoutas urged for an in depth analysis of the past, to extract the right conclusions and chart a new strategy for the future.

The Democratic Party MP noted that in an effort to reach a Cyprus solution, "and show our good will for a solution, we made painful concessions...".

Socialist EDEK party President Vassos Lyssarides stressed that if commemorations are held for the coup and the invasion, they must be held not only with "verbal condemnations, but with reflection on reversing the unacceptable results of treachery and not making them permanent and legitimate."

Lyssarides strongly reacted to a non-paper presented to the Greek and Turkish Cypriot sides by UN Secretary-General's special advisor on Cyprus Diego Cordovez, during the four-day direct talks held last week in Troutbeck, New York.

On his part, centre-left United Democrats (UD) party President George Vassiliou said commemorations of this kind "are the only therapy which we can offer to heal the wounds festering on our homeland's body."

"We have the obligation to thousands of our refugees, our dead who fell defending democracy and our homeland and to the missing, to work towards re- unifying our country in which we have leave peacefully and in harmony with our Turkish Cypriot compatriots," Vassiliou said.

CNA MH/GP/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1425:CYPPRESS:05

[05] Cyprus Airways carries 1,2 m. passengers

The national carriers' total revenue reached 111,2 million Cyprus pounds in 1996, compared to 113,4 million pounds in 1995 (one Cyprus pound is equal to two US dollars).

The figures were included in the company's 1996 annual report.

In 1996, Cyprus Airways' fleet consisted only of Airbuses, eight Airbus A320, and four Airbus A310.

At the end of the same year, its permanent staff numbered 1.587 employees.

Cyprus Airways will hold its annual general assembly on Saturday, July 26, in Nicosia.

CNA GG/GP/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

Nicosia, Jul 15 (CNA) -- The Cyprus Stock Exchange (CSE) All Share Index closed at today's stock exchange meeting as follows:

CSE All Share Index                    75.14 (-0.66)

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

Sectural Indices

Banks                                  83.49 (-0.74)
Approved Investment Companies          63.86 (-0.28)
Insurance Companies                    58.54 (-0.49)
Industrial Companies                   77.60 (-0.37)
Tourist Industries                     63.78 (-0.53)
Commercial Companies                   48.21 (-0.04)
Other Companies                        61.00 (-1.77)

Trading Volume                         CYP 822097.706

CNA MCH/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

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