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Cyprus News Agency: News in English (AM), 97-07-28Cyprus News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Cyprus News Agency at <http://www.cyna.org.cy>CONTENTS
1135:CYPPRESS:01[01] Clerides, Denktash to discuss humanitarian issuesNicosia, Jul 28 (CNA) -- President Glafcos Clerides is preparing for a discussion on humanitarian issues at his meeting here this afternoon with Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash.This was stated by Foreign Minister Ioannis Kasoulides this morning, when asked to comment on the meeting. President Clerides and Denktash are scheduled to meet at 1800 local time (1500 GMT) Monday without any advisors. The meeting, to take place at the residence of top UN envoy in Cyprus, Gustave Feissel, situated in the UN-controlled Nicosia airport area, comes two weeks after the end of the first round of their face-to-face talks at the secluded Troutbeck rural retreat New York, from July 9 to 12. A second round of direct talks is expected to take place near Geneva, Switzerland, between August 11 and 16. The two community leaders are expected to discuss humanitarian issues of the protracted Cyprus question. President Clerides is expected to raise the questions of the people missing since the 1974 Turkish invasion of Cyprus and the living conditions of the enclaved people in the Turkish-occupied areas. A total of 1619 Greek Cypriots and Greeks were listed as missing persons after the 1974 Turkish invasion of the island, which resulted to the occupation of 37 per cent of Cyprus territory and the uprooting of 200.000 people from their homes (one third of the island's population). Asked whether during the meeting the two men will discuss any confidence building measures between the two communities or relevant issues, Kasoulides said "we will see how to deal on other issues in the case they are raised." The Foreign Minister said the Cyprus government had no information whether other than humanitarian issues would be discussed during this meeting. Meanwhile, President Clerides stated yesterday he would not hesitate to sign an agreement for a Cyprus settlement. He clarified, however, he will do so once there is a breakthrough to the problem, securing the withdrawal of Turkish occupation troops from the island and the return of refugees to their homes, thus opening the way for Cyprus' full membership of the European Union. Denktash has launched a string of threats over the years since Cyprus first submitted its application for membership in 1990, saying he would incorporate his breakaway "state" into Turkey if the application progresses. After the European Commission formally agreed July 15 to invite Cyprus for EU membership talks in the Union's first enlargement, Denktash threatened not to attend the next round of direct talks. CNA MA/AP/GP/1997ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY1230:CYPPRESS:02[02] Jordanian Speaker visits CyprusLarnaca, Jul 28 (CNA) -- Jordanian Speaker of the House of Deputies Sa'ad Hayel Srour arrived here today on a four-day official visit at the invitation of House of Representatives President Spyros Kyprianou.He was met at Larnaca International Airport by Kyprianou. In a statement at the airport, the Jordanian official said "it's very well known how deep the relations are between your country and Jordan and how deep the relation has been between his Majesty the King and the leaders of your country and I hope that we can strengthen our deep relations that have been built before." On his part, Kyprianou welcomed Hayel Srour and noted the Jordanian Speaker's visit will "contribute to the strengthening of cooperation between the two Parliaments and surely to the strengthening of relations between the two countries". He said "there is no doubt that relations between Jordan and Cyprus are very friendly, but there is still a great margin for bolstering cooperation in all sectors." Shortly after his arrival, Hayel Srour visited the mosque of "Umm Haram" or the Tekke of Halan Sultan in Larnaca for prayers. This tekke is one of holiest shrines of Islam. It was built in memory of Umm Haram, an aunt of Prophet Mohammed. She was buried on the spot near the Salt Lake, where she died after accidentally falling off her mule during one of the frequent Arab raids against Cyprus. Also buried there is the wife of El Sherif Housein, the leader of the Great Arab revolution of 1916, who was exiled by the British to Cyprus after the First World War, related to the present King Housein of Jordan. The Jordanian Speaker will hold talks this afternoon with Kyprianou and later tonight he will a dinner hosted by Kyprianou. Tomorrow he will be received by President Glafcos Clerides and meet Foreign Minister Ioannis Kasoulides and party leaders. He will leave on Friday, August 1. CNA MAN/MH/GP/1997ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY1330:CYPPRESS:03[03] Britain welcomes Clerides-Denktash meetingNicosia, Jul 28 (CNA) -- Britain has warmly welcomed an initiative by President Glafcos Clerides to meet Turkish Cypriot leader, Rauf Denktash, to discuss humanitarian issues, relating to more than 1,000 persons listed as missing and some 500 Greek Cypriot enclaved in the island's Turkish- occupied northern part.Britain has also expressed the hope that Denktash will, in the end, attend a second round of direct talks with the President, called for by the UN. The first round took place earlier this month near New York while the second round is scheduled to take place in Switzerland August 11-16. "We are delighted tonight's meeting was agreed and I think it is an excellent initiative," British High Commissioner to Cyprus, David Madden, said of the Clerides-Denktash meeting here later this evening, at the residence of the top UN envoy in Cyprus, Gustave Feissel, situated in the UN-controlled buffer zone. There is a lot to be discussed, Madden told the press after a 45-minute meeting with Clerides, and added "I think there is a lot of progress that can be made on humanitarian issues." Discussions at tonight's meeting will begin with humanitarian issues, Madden explained, as agreed by the two community leaders in Troutbeck, where they met under UN auspices. "If they want to discuss goodwill measures, that is up to them," he noted. Invited to comment on Denktash's public warning that he may not attend the second round of talks, Madden replied "we hope very much that Denktash will go to Montreux as he has been invited to do so by the Secretary- General." Denktash's warning came after the European Union reiterated its decision to start accession talks with Cyprus early next year, in the context of the Union's enlargement programme included in "Agenda 2000" document. The British High Commissioner pointed out that "there is nothing new" in the reference to Cyprus in the Agenda, noting that Cyprus' EU accession "is a continuing process that has been underway since March 1995", when the Union decided to open accession talks with the Republic of Cyprus six months after the end of the Intergovernmental Conference. Replying to questions, Madden said he did not think Cyprus' EU course will be an obstacle to make headway towards a solution and reiterated his hope that "Denktash will turn up at Montreux and there can be detailed and substantial negotiations there." CNA MA/MM/GP/1997ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY1450:CYPPRESS:04[04] Cyprus Stock ExchangeNicosia, Jul 28 (CNA) -- The Cyprus Stock Exchange (CSE) All Share Index closed at today's stock exchange meeting as follows:CSE All Share Index 74.60 (-0.15) Highest: 82.46 (2/1/97) Lowest : 73.90 (30/1/97) Sectural Indices Banks 83.36 (-0.19) Approved Investment Companies 63.72 (-0.14) Insurance Companies 57.18 (-0.73) Industrial Companies 75.62 (-1.70) Tourist Industries 63.66 (-0.08) Commercial Companies 46.68 (-0.34) Other Companies 59.48 (-1.18) Trading Volume CYP 199418.890* The difference in brackets represents the percentage increase (+) or decrease (-) of the index from the previous stock exchange meeting. CNA MCH/1997ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY1445:CYPPRESS:05[05] Australian labour MP arrives in CyprusLarnaca, Jul 28 (CNA) -- The occupation of 37 per cent of Cyprus' territory by Turkish troops and the consequent division of the island can no longer continue and efforts to resolve the issue under UN auspices must be progressed, an Australian MP stressed here today."From a personal point of view, I want to see a resolution to the (Cyprus) problem. It's something that, from our point of view, can no longer continue in the present situation. It needs to be progressed under the auspices of the United Nations and hopefully, that will happen in the coming months," Australian Labour MP Daryl Melham said on his arrival. Melham, who is on a three-day visit to the island, said he is in Cyprus to be updated on the latest developments in the Cyprus issue and will be reporting his findings to Australian Labour Party Leader, Kim Beazley on his return. "I look forward to meeting with various representatives to assess the situation first hand. There's nothing like coming here and seeing for yourself rather than some of the propaganda that emanates from some sides of this debate," Melham said. The Australian MP will be received separately tomorrow by President of the Republic Glafcos Clerides and Foreign Minister Ioannis Kasoulides and will meet with political party leaders. CNA MAN/MH/GP/1997ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY1445:CYPPRESS:06[06] Bank of England looks into drug flow from occupied areasNicosia, Jul 28 (CNA) -- The Bank of England has launched investigations involving two Turkish banks with connections to the Turkish occupation regime in Cyprus suspected of laundering illegal drug money for rival Turkish and Turkish Cypriot gangs in London, London-based newspaper, "The Observer" reported yesterday.According to "The Observer", the Bank's inquiries into the activities of the "Cyprus Credit Bank (UK)" and the bigger "Turkish Bank (UK)" forced the first bank to close operations. The newspaper reported that the "Cyprus Credit Bank" is owned by the Boyaci family, which is related by marriage to occupation regime leader Rauf Denktash while the "Turkish Bank" is controlled from the occupied areas. "The Observer" also noted that record amounts of heroin are flowing into Britain, up to 90 percent from or through Turkey and the occupied areas, while UK Customs have seized more than a tonne of the illicit substance in the past three months. The drug flow, the newspaper wrote, has sparked a war between rival Turkish and Turkish Cypriot gangs which has led to several murders in London. "The Observer" quoted a Turkish bank official as saying that other Turkish banks in London have been targeted by drug traffickers. Although Turkey passed last year a law against money laundering, "The Observer" reported, British banking regulators believe it is inadequate and have advised caution when dealing with Turkish banks and clients. The newspaper further pointed out that dozens of "brass plate" banks with links to organised crime have sprouted in the Turkish-occupied area of Cyprus since 1992 because of lax banking laws. It noted that British efforts to combat the heroin trade "are being hampered by suspicions of links between drug barons, high-level politicians and senior police chiefs in Turkey." CNA KT/MH/GP/1997ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY1500:CYPPRESS:07[07] Cyprus' Under-5 mortality rateNicosia, Jul 28 (CNA) -- Cyprus' efforts in curbing children's mortality are acknowledged in UNICEF's recent report "The Progress of Nations 1997".The under-5 mortality rate, one of the basic social indicators analysed in the report, shows the number of deaths of children under the age of five per 1.000 live births, in a year's time for each country, and it indicates the country's level of sanitation. According to the report, Cyprus' 1995 rate is 10, the same as that of the United States, Belgium and Greece. The under-5 mortality rate ranges worldwide from 5 (Finland and Sweden) to 320 (Niger). Japan and Singapore follow with a rate of 6, and Austria, Denmark, Germany, Ireland, Switzerland, and the UK with 7. Apart from Niger, other bad-perfoming countries are Angola with a rate of 292, Sierra Leone with 284, and Afghanistan with 257. CNA GG/GP/1997ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCYCNA ENDSCyprus News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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