Cyprus News Agency: News in English (PM), 97-07-31

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

CONTENTS

[01] Cyprus Stock Exchange

[02] President Clerides wins car in journalists raffle

[03] Jordanian House speaker leaves Cyprus

[04] Senior Hungarian police officers in Cyprus

[05] Clerides, Denktash meet again

[06] Cook, Holbrooke discuss Cyprus peace efforts

[07] President Clerides and Denktash agree on measures

[08] Cabinet appoints new semi-government boards

[09] Clerides and Denktash decide on ways to solve missing issue

1530:CYPPRESS:01

[01] Cyprus Stock Exchange

CSE All Share Index                    74.68 (+0.03)

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

Sectural Indices

Banks                                  83.81 (-0.01)
Approved Investment Companies          63.06 (-0.43)
Insurance Companies                    56.37 (+0.20)
Industrial Companies                   75.21 (+0.01)
Tourist Industries                     64.33 (+1.15)
Commercial Companies                   46.06 (-0.92)
Other Companies                        59.22 (+0.00)

Trading Volume                         CYP 501010.438

CNA MA/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1545:CYPPRESS:02

[02] President Clerides wins car in journalists raffle

President Clerides had bought some 500 raffle tickets during the Union's annual dance, on Boxing Day last December, CUJ President Andreas Kannaouros told CNA.

Although the draw was held last March 16, it was only a few days ago the President's office forwarded his tickets to CUJ to be checked, where to their surprise they found out he had won the second prize, a luxury BMW.

After being informed of his luck, President Clerides decided not to keep the car and offered it to the Union for its own use.

CNA AP/MA/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1750:CYPPRESS:03

[03] Jordanian House speaker leaves Cyprus

The Jordanian official, accompanied by deputies Abdulkareem Al-Dugmi and Aref Batayneh, was received Tuesday morning by President Glafcos Clerides, following a meeting with Foreign Minister Ioannis Kasoulides.

After his meeting with Kasoulides the Jordanian official expressed his country's appreciation for Cyprus' contribution to the Middle East peace process and the wish for closer co-operation between the governments and Parliaments of the two countries.

Jordan's House Speaker was also received by the House of Representatives President and had separate meetings with the leaders or representatives of the five parliamentary parties.

Nicosia Mayor, Lellos Demetriades, accompanied the Jordanian parliamentarians to the capital's cease-fire line that separates the free areas of the Republic from the part occupied by Turkey since its 1974 invasion of Cyprus.

They also visited archaeological sites, including Halla Sultan Tekke, one of the holiest monuments of Islam, and the reservoir of Abu Bekir, near the southern coastal town of Larnaca.

Mohamed's aunt is buried at the mosque of "Umm Haram", as the Halla Sultan Tekke is known.

Also buried there is the wife of El Sherif Houssein, the leader of the 1916 Great Arab revolution, who was exiled by the British to Cyprus after World War I, and is related to present King of Jordan, Houssein.

CNA AP/MA/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1755:CYPPRESS:04

[04] Senior Hungarian police officers in Cyprus

A police press release said the two senior officers would cooperate with the Cyprus police in investigations into a "possible network of the Hungarian mafia."

A police spokesman told CNA their visit will help put an end to reports about money laundering in the government-controlled areas of the Republic.

"Within the framework of investigations which will be carried out and primarily concern money laundering, it is expected the two officers will have contacts with offshore companies", the police statement added.

Police Spokesman Glafcos Xenos told CNA that the Hungarian Police asked to come to Cyprus to carry out investigations into a possible network of the Hungarian mafia.

"Within the framework of cooperation with all the police forces they (the Hungarians) asked to come here, and be granted all facilities to carry out some investigations," he said.

However, he refrained from replying to a question if there are reports about the activity of the Hungarian mafia concerning money laundering in either the free areas or the part of the island occupied by Turkey since its 1974 invasion of Cyprus.

Cyprus is a booming offshore centre with more than 28.000 companies.

CNA EC/MA/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1755:CYPPRESS:05

[05] Senior Hungarian police officers in Cyprus

A police press release said the two senior officers would cooperate with the Cyprus police in investigations into a "possible network of the Hungarian mafia."

A police spokesman told CNA their visit will help put an end to reports about money laundering in the government-controlled areas of the Republic.

"Within the framework of investigations which will be carried out and primarily concern money laundering, it is expected the two officers will have contacts with offshore companies", the police statement added.

Police Spokesman Glafcos Xenos told CNA that the Hungarian Police asked to come to Cyprus to carry out investigations into a possible network of the Hungarian mafia.

"Within the framework of cooperation with all the police forces they (the Hungarians) asked to come here, and be granted all facilities to carry out some investigations," he said.

However, he refrained from replying to a question if there are reports about the activity of the Hungarian mafia concerning money laundering in either the free areas or the part of the island occupied by Turkey since its 1974 invasion of Cyprus.

Cyprus is a booming offshore centre with more than 28.000 companies.

CNA EC/MA/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1900:CYPPRESS:06

[06] Cook, Holbrooke discuss Cyprus peace efforts

Speaking to CNA, after the 40-minute meeting, a Foreign Office spokesman said the two men "had a brief discussion on Cyprus" noting "they look forward to the next phase of face-to-face talks" between President Glafcos Clerides and Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash.

Last month, the leaders of Cyprus' two communities had four days of UN- sponsored negotiations on the Cyprus issue at Troutbeck, New York, and are scheduled to meet again in Switzerland between August 11-16.

The Foreign Office spokesman told CNA that most of the meeting between Cook and Holbrooke was taken up to discuss Bosnia.

However, he noted that both sides (British and American) "remain committed to the UN effort for a solution to the Cyprus problem".

Efforts to solve the Cyprus problem have been going on for nearly 23 years, since Turkey invaded and occupied 37 percent of the island's territory in 1974.

CNA KT/MA/GP/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

2030:CYPPRESS:07

[07] President Clerides and Denktash agree on measures

Announcing the agreement after an hour and 45 minute-long meeting at his residence in the UN-controlled Nicosia airport area, UN resident Representative, Gustave Feissel, said the two leaders agreed to provide each other "immediately and simultaneously" with all information at their disposal regarding the location of graves.

He said they also agreed to appoint persons who will exchange this information by this September.

The announcement said President Clerides and Denktash agreed that the remains of persons killed in action will also be returned to their families.

Feissel said the two leaders consider the issue of the missing as purely humanitarian and agreed not to exploit it politically.

The UN envoy noted a number of other humanitarian issues were also discussed, noting they will have "something to say in a few days."

He added that President Clerides and Denktash found "useful" their two meetings in Nicosia this week, the previous one was held last Monday, and made themselves available to meet again when the need arises.

CNA EC/MA/AP/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

2120:CYPPRESS:08

[08] Cabinet appoints new semi-government boards

Lawyer Antonis Drakos was appointed as the new President of the Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation (CyBC).

Costas Constantinides was re-appointed President of the Electricity Authority of Cyprus (EAC).

Michalakis Zivanaris remains at the helm of the Cyprus Telecommunications Authority (CYTA).

Andreas Erotokritou will serve as head of the Cyprus Tourism Organisation (CTO).

Head of the Cyprus Theatre Organisation will be Michalis Loulloupis.

Lawyer Demos Georgiades will continue for a second three-year term as President of the Cyprus Sport Organisation.

Dinos Erotocritou will remain at the helm of the Cyprus Ports Authority.

Emilios Theodoulou was appointed President of the Industrial Training Authority of Cyprus.

Demetrakis Ioannou remains at the helm of the Cyprus State Fairs Authority.

Takis Kallis will head the Wine Products Board.

Head of the Licencing Authority will be Andreas Evzonas.

The Town-Planning Council President is Andreas Polinikis.

At the helm of the Cyprus Land Development Corporation will be Cleanthis Cleanthous.

Ikaros Tipografos remains head of the Housing Finance Corporation.

Yiannis Toumazis will serve as head of the Cultural Committee of the Cyprus Theatre Organisation.

CNA AP/GP/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

2200:CYPPRESS:09

[09] Clerides and Denktash decide on ways to solve missing issue

Decisions on other humanitarian issues, including that of Greek Cypriots and Maronites still living in the Turkish-occupied part of the Republic and freedom of movement, are expected to be announced before the second round of Cyprus peace talks, scheduled to take place in Switzerland, August 11 - 16.

For the second time this week, President Glafcos Clerides and Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash, met at the residence of UN resident representative Gustave Feissel and discussed humanitarian issues, following a suggestion by President Clerides during the first round of direct negotiations held in the US earlier this month.

The 90-minute meeting was held in the light of threats by Denktash not to attend the second round of direct talks, after a European Union reconfirmation to proceed with accession talks with the government of Cyprus.

The two leaders smiled as the UN envoy read out a statement on the measures agreed to promote a solution to the issue of the persons missing.

Describing the meeting as "useful", the UN envoy also said a number of humanitarian issues were discussed and there will be "something" about them in the next days, before the Switzerland direct talks.

Reading out the statement agreed by the leaders of the Greek and Turkish Cypriot communities, Feissel said they "consider the problem of the G/C and T/C missing persons in Cyprus as a purely humanitarian issue, the solution of which is long overdue."

Noting they agreed that "no political exploitation should be made by either side, of the problem of the missing persons," the statement stressed that President Clerides and Denktash "pledge to work for a solution in order to terminate the agony and the uncertainty of the families of the missing persons, both Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots."

"The two leaders respect the right of the families of the missing to be informed of the fate of their loved ones, in a convincing and conclusive manner, to the best extent possible," it added.

"The two leaders recognise the right of those families whose missing loved ones are proved to be dead, to have to the best extent possible, their remains for proper burial, in accordance with their religious traditions and practices," it said.

Furthermore, "in line with the above, the two leaders agreed as a first step to resolving the problem of the missing persons, to provide each other immediately and simultaneously all information already at their disposal on the location of graves of Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot missing persons."

The statement noted that the two leaders will "designate a person who by the end of September 1997 will exchange information referred to in the previous paragraph, and will prepare the necessary arrangement, leading to the return of the remains of the G/C and T/C persons in question."

"They also agreed that the remains of the persons known to have been killed in action on either side, will be returned to their families," the statement said.

It noted that the first assistant to the third member of the committee on missing persons will assist as necessary.

Feissel said "the two leaders are requesting the Secretary-General of the UN to appoint a new third member of the Committee of the Missing Persons (CMP) in order to expedite the conclusion of the work of the committee," the statement concluded.

Speaking to reporters, Feissel said he was "authorised to say that both leaders have found both meetings here to be useful and they have indicated their readiness to be available for further meetings of this kind dealing with humanitarian matters in the future."

Answering questions, Feissel said no date has been set and added that these meetings will come up as the need arises.

The UN official replied positively if in the meantime he will have proximity talks with the two leaders on these issues.

Feissel said they discussed a number of issues but avoided going into the specifics.

Invited to comment on Denktash's statement before the meeting that he had already taken his decision regarding his participation in the Switzerland talks, Feissel replied: "I do not think he has already made up his mind."

Denktash had not, however, revealed his decision.

Regarding the second round of talks, Feissel said he hoped the meeting "will go ahead as scheduled", noting it was subject to confirmation. "We very much hope everyone will be there," he added.

The UN envoy said today's meeting "sends a positive signal about the attitude of the two leaders and their desire to create a better atmosphere in Cyprus, a more friendly situation, which will be helpful in our main objective which is an overall settlement".

Feissel said the issue of freedom of movement on the island did come up, he described it as "very important", and noted that hopefully something will be done on this issue as well.

Replying to a question, he said they did not discuss the issue of Cyprus' accession to the European Union.

A total of 1619 people were listed as missing persons soon after the 1974 Turkish invasion and occupation of Cyprus' northern third. The number includes Greek Cypriot men, women and children and five American nationals.

The Turkish Cypriot side claims there are around 500 T/C missing since the intercommunal clashes that broke out in 1963.

The CMP was set up in 1981 and consists of a Greek and Turkish Cypriot representative and a third member appointed by the UN. The UN representative in the CMP, Paul Wurth, of the International Red Cross Society, had retired more than a year ago and has not been replaced since.

CNA EC/MA/AP/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

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