Cyprus News Agency: News in English (PM), 97-08-04

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

CONTENTS

[01] Cyprus Stock Exchange

[02] Government welcomes Denktash's decision

[03] Spokesman on exhumation process

[04] CNA Director member of prestigious US Academy

[05] Government considers junta leader's admission "provocative"

[06] Denktash raises EU issue

[07] PSEKA welcomes agreement on the missing

1445:CYPPRESS:01

[01] Cyprus Stock Exchange

CSE All Share Index                    75.09 (+0.25)

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

Sectural Indices

Banks                                  84.22 (+0.26)
Approved Investment Companies          63.92 (+0.41)
Insurance Companies                    56.85 (+0.71)
Industrial Companies                   75.95 (+0.40)
Tourist Industries                     63.96 (-0.25)
Commercial Companies                   46.25 (-0.15)
Other Companies                        59.58 (-0.10)

Trading Volume                         CYP 307880.350

CNA AP/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1540:CYPPRESS:02

[02] Government welcomes Denktash's decision

The government has also reiterated its readiness to discuss in good faith all the aspects of the Cyprus problem to reach a negotiated settlement.

"We welcome Dentkash's decision to go to Switzerland. Each side will outline its views and arguments at the talks next week," Government Spokesman Manolis Christofides said here today.

The Greek Cypriot side, he added, "will discuss in good faith every aspect of the Cyprus problem to find solutions to each one of them."

Denktash's decision to attend the UN talks was announced earlier today after he consulted with the self-styled "cabinet" in Turkish-occupied Nicosia.

Last week, Denktash had threatened not to go to the talks unless the European Union suspended the start of accession negotiations with Cyprus, due to begin early next year.

President Glafcos Clerides and Denktash met last month in New York state for the first time in nearly three years and last week they had two meetings here, under the auspices of the UN top envoy on the island, Gustave Feissel, to discuss humanitarian issues.

CNA MM/AP/1997

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1640:CYPPRESS:03

[03] Spokesman on exhumation process

He also said that initial tests on genetic material could finish in a matter of months and said tests for Greek and Turkish Cypriots missing could be carried out by the Cyprus Institute of Neurology and Genetics (CING), a bicommunal medical research centre.

The Spokesman was responding to criticism from forensic experts that exhumation of remains of missing persons, feared dead, would be a painstaking operation, requiring a lot of work and massive resources.

The comments came in the wake of an agreement reached here last week between President Glafcos Clerides and Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash to exchange all available information about persons listed as missing and, to the best extent possible, have remains of loved ones proved to be dead returned to their families.

"The collection of samples and the isolation of genetic material from relatives of missing persons is expected to finish by the end of the year," Christofides told the press today.

Analysis of genetic material of all the relatives can be completed within a period of four to eight months, he explained.

A DNA blood-bank is already operating at the CING and is storing genetic material from relatives of the missing for future use, in identifying any remains that may be dug up.

"The process of scientific identification of remains is not time- consuming and could last between four and twenty days," the Spokesman explained.

Replying to questions, Christofides said "we are willing and ready to carry out scientific work of this type for Turkish Cypriot missing, as long as they ask us to do that."

He noted that CING is a bicommunal centre, aimed at serving both communities.

"The nature of this humanitarian problem is such that it necessitates that both sides hand over all the information they may have on persons listed as missing," he said.

The Spokesman reiterated the need to work towards the resolution of this issue and refrain from any political exploitation.

CNA MCH/MM/AP/1997

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[04] CNA Director member of prestigious US Academy

Founded in 1880, the Academy is dedicated to analysis of political, social and economic problems.

Leading scholars and statesmen of all political persuasions, including former US Presidents Jimmy Carter, George Bush, Gerald Ford and Ronald Reagan, have enrolled as members, participated in conferences and contributed to its publications.

The Academy's primary publication, Political Science Quarterly (PSQ), is the most widely read and accessible scholarly journal in the United States on international and American politics, government and policy.

Born in Nicosia in 1937, Andreas Christofides received his M.A. in Education and Mass Communication from Columbia University of New York, and in 1987 was made an Honorary Doctor of Philosophy by the University of Athens on the occasion of its 150th anniversary.

He served as Director-General of the Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation (CyBC) between 1967 and 1983, Government Spokesman between 1983 and 1985 and Minister of Education between 1985 and 1988.

Author of five books of essays and four poetry collections, Christofides received awards from former President of Greece, Constantine Karamanlis and was made a "Chevalier d'ordre du merite" by former French President (Georges) Pompidou.

CNA MH/MM/1997

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Government Spokesman Manolis Christofides described Phaedon Gizikis admission, made in an interview to the Athenian newspaper "Typos tis Kyriakis", as "provocative", but added that this is not something new.

Christofides said that the investigating committee set up by the Greek Parliament in February, 1986 to look into the Cyprus affair says that "it is without any doubt that the fateful coup of July 15, 1974, was decided by Phaedon Gizikis, 'president', Adamantios Androutsopoulos, 'prime minister', Demetrios Ioannides, junta leader and Gregorios Bonanos, 'chief of the Armed Forces'.

The Government Spokesman said that Gizikis testified before the committee that the decision to mount the coup was commonly made by himself, Ioannides, Androutsopoulos and Bonanos.

"We find that these kinds of statements, in 1997, by the leaders of the junta and the coup, incite public sentiment. We have an obligation to convey this to Greece which has the final say on penal claims on this matter," Christofides said.

Archbishop Makarios was temporarily deposed from power on July 15, 1974 by a coup engineered by the junta then ruling Greece. Turkey, using the coup as a pretext, invaded the island five days later. Approximately 35,000 troops continue to occupy 37 percent of the island's territory.

Regarding the four names which, according to Gizikis, were recommended to assume the "presidency" of the junta-backed government in Cyprus, which included the name of President Glafcos Clerides, Christofides said that "historically, this position is unfounded".

Meanwhile, House President Spyros Kyprianou today announced that political party leaders have commonly agreed to convey to Athens the House's ardent view that given Gizikis' admission, the Greek government should start a process to clear up the issue of the coup.

Kyprianou noted that he considered it proper to send, at the same time, a letter to President Clerides in which it is suggested that the President contact the Greek government to exchange views on what should happen.

"It is a tremendous provocation to Cypriot Hellenism and to Hellenism at large, that such an admission is made and that a process not begin as a consequence," Kyprianou said.

CNA/MCH/KN/MH/ /1997

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2030:CYPPRESS:06

[05] Denktash raises EU issue

The ambassador of an EU member-state confirmed to CNA today that Denktash put this issue to him, at their meeting last week in Turkish- occupied Nicosia, but did not ask to have the matter taken any further.

He said Denktash reiterated his opposition to Cyprus' membership of the Union, unless Turkey joins the group and repeated his view that accession cannot materialise without prior solution of the Cyprus problem.

"The EU has made its decision to start accession talks with Cyprus. They will start anyhow and continue regularly," the ambassador, who is based abroad but accredited to Cyprus, told CNA Monday.

He pointed out, however, "it is too early to speculate the pace of these talks."

Replying to questions, the ambassador noted "this will be a long process and one must take one step at a time."

During his brief visit on the island, the ambassador also met President Glafcos Clerides, and Foreign Minister Ioannis Kasoulides.

"This was a routine visit to bring me up-to-date with recent developments in Cyprus and our talks centred on the UN-led peace process," he added.

The ambassador welcomed last week's agreement between President Clerides and Denktash to work towards the resolution of the humanitarian issue of persons listed as missing in Cyprus, both Greek and Turkish Cypriots.

Asked if he shared the view that the EU would not like to have a problem in its ranks, the ambassador replied "what one likes is one thing and what actually happens is something else."

CNA MM/AP/1997

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2040:CYPPRESS:07

[06] PSEKA welcomes agreement on the missing

"It is our hope that this effort supplemented by the results of the US investigation mandated by US law, may finally and fully determine the fate of the 1,619, including five American citizens, captured alive by Turkish troops over 23 years ago," said Philip Christopher, President of the International Coordinating Committee Justice for Cyprus (PSEKA) and the Pancyprian Association of America.

Christopher, along with World Council of Hellenes Abroad (SAE) President, Andrew Athens and Andrew Manatos, President of the National Coordinated Effort of Hellenes, initiated and coordinated in 1994 a major effort in the US on the issue of the missing.

The effort resulted in the enactment of a law directing the US President to undertake an investigation aimed at determining the fate of the US citizens and other persons missing since the Turkish invasion of Cyprus in 1974.

The bill, passed unanimously through the US congress and Senate with overwhelming support, received more co-sponsors than 98 percent of all bills introduced.

"The US law that we fought hard to secure, specifically calls on the President to 'do everything possible to return to their families...the US citizens...and others who have been missing, including the remains of those who are no longer alive," Manatos said.

He added that at the news of the agreement reached between President Clerides and Denktash, Congressmen Eliot Engel (D-NY) and John Porter (R- IL) sent a letter to US President Bill Clinton stating that "we believe that the time has come to release the results of your Administration's probe...and urge you to present...the ample research and analysis conducted...to Congress without delay".

Congressmen Engel and Porter spearheaded the effort to pass the bill through Congress.

Athens noted it is important that the agreement result in determining the fate of all 1,619 missing persons and that "it is our hope that very soon, the over 23 years of suffering that each and every family of the missing has endured will be greatly lessened". CNA/MH/MM/1997

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