Cyprus News Agency: News in English (PM), 97-09-10

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

CONTENTS

[01] Spokesman on T/Cy participation in accession talks

[02] Cyprus Stock Exchange

[03] Cyprus ratifies CoE protocols on torture prevention

[04] Kasoulides pleased with Italian assurances

1515:CYPPRESS:01

[01] Spokesman on T/Cy participation in accession talks

Noting that accession negotiations are slated to begin in early 1998, six months after the end of the Intergovernmental Conference (IGC), Christofides said Cyprus' EU course is difficult, but government policy focuses on preparing for the start of the talks.

Christofides repeated the government's proposal for Turkish Cypriot participation in accession talks as part of the Cyprus Republic's official delegation, adding that this proposal has not been rejected by the EU.

Responding to questions, the Government Spokesman said that if other proposals are made regarding Turkish Cypriot participation in accession talks, "they will be studied, but always measured against the safeguarding of the legal government of the Republic as the sole interlocutor in these negotiations".

He expressed satisfaction with statements by EU Council of Ministers President, Luxembourg Foreign Minister Jacques Poos, which Christofides described as "categorical and absolutely clear."

Poos said after a meeting in Luxembourg yesterday with Foreign Minister Ioannis Cassoulides the EU will abide by all its decisions and fulfill obligations it has assumed regarding the start of EU - Cyprus accession negotiations.

Invited to comment on statements by Italian Foreign Minister Lamberto Dini, who reiterated yesterday that there are two entities in Cyprus, Christofides said "we are not pleased."

He said these do not correspond to UN resolutions, but stressed that Italy's "firm recognition of the Republic and the government is not altered."

"Mr. Dini does not doubt that the government of Cyprus recognised by his government is that of the Republic of Cyprus, and neither does he go against the start of accession negotiations," Christofides said.

The Government Spokesman added that when Dini referred to two "entities" existing in Cyprus, he meant the two communities and stressed that in the Republic's constitution "there is the sovereign Republic of Cyprus which is based on two entities called the Greek Cypriot community and the Turkish Cypriot community".

Moreover, commenting on earlier statements by German Foreign Minister Klaus Kinkel to the effect that the Cyprus problem must be resolved prior to EU accession, Christofides said that Kinkel "is careful to say that this is his personal opinion," and as far as the accession negotiations are concerned, "he has stated that they will begin normally".

Christofides also noted that Kinkel's European counterparts have reminded the German Minister that his country acceded to the EU when it was divided and was besieged by many problems.

CNA MCH/MH/MM/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1700:CYPPRESS:02

[02] Cyprus Stock Exchange

CSE All Share Index                    78.45 (+0.27)

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

Sectural Indices

Banks                                  89.38 (+0.26)
Approved Investment Companies          65.35 (-0.68)
Insurance Companies                    56.44 (-0.07)
Industrial Companies                   77.60 (+0.10)
Tourist Industries                     65.90 (+0.15)
Commercial Companies                   47.45 (+0.81)
Other Companies                        60.57 (+1.71)

Trading Volume                         CYP 1234811.517

CNA MM/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1830:CYPPRESS:03

[03] Cyprus ratifies CoE protocols on torture prevention

Permanent representative of Cyprus to the CoE, ambassador Thalia Petrides, handed Wednesday to the CoE's Secretary-General Daniel Tarchys the instruments of ratification of protocols 1 and 2 to the European Convention for the prevention of torture and inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.

The first protocol "opens" the Convention by providing that the Committee of Ministers of the CoE may invite any non-member state to accede to it.

The second protocol introduces amendments of a more technical nature, with provisions for members of the European Committee for the prevention of torture and inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment (CPT) to be placed in one of two groups for election purposes.

This aims at ensuring that one half of the Committee's membership is renewed every two years.

The second protocol also provides that members of the CTP may be re- elected twice, instead of only once as at present.

Cyprus was the 28th member-state of the 40-nation CoE to ratify the CPT. France has ratified only protocol 2.

The CPT is composed of lawyers, medical doctors, prison experts, persons with parliamentary experience and others.

Its task is to examine the treatment of persons deprived of their liberty and for this purpose it is entitled to visit any place where such persons are held by a public authority and formulate recommendations to strengthen prevention of torture.

The protocols will enter into force after all 35 parties to the Convention have agreed to be bound by them.

CNA AP/MM/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

2020:CYPPRESS:04

[04] Kasoulides pleased with Italian assurances

The assurances were given to Cypriot Foreign Minister Ioannis Kasoulides by his Italian counterpart Lamberto Dini during a meeting the two Ministers had in Rome earlier today. Kasoulides was also received at the Palazzo Chigi by Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi who, on his part, assured the Cypriot Foreign Minister that his country's policy towards a Cyprus solution and entry into the EU has not changed.

This was confirmed by a press release issued by the Italian Premier's office, after the meeting, which noted that both communities on the island (Greek and Turkish Cypriot) will benefit from Cyprus' entry into the Union and expressed hope that peace talks will resume soon.

During his meeting with Dini, Kasoulides noted the importance Cyprus' accession course to the EU has in ongoing efforts for a Cyprus solution, stressing that the government remains committed to the UN-sponsored peace talks in a positive and constructive spirit.

In an interview this afternoon with Cyprus radio, Kasoulides said his Italian counterpart had "welcomed information from Luxembourg that the Cyprus government has the political will to include Turkish Cypriots in the Cypriot delegation" during the accession talks, as proposed by President Glafcos Clerides.

The Cypriot FM said he explained to Dini the Cyprus government wishes that the Turkish Cypriot side would take part in the accession talks, provided it accepts the entry of Cyprus into the EU and that negotiations are to be carried out by the legal government of the Republic.

Kasoulides expressed satisfaction with the assurances he received that "there is no doubt that Italy recognises the legal Cyprus government and has no intention of recognising any other government in Cyprus."

Only Turkey recognises the illegal Turkish Cypriot regime, unilaterally declared in November 1983, and the UN itself has called on all states "not to recognise" the self-styled entity and "not to facilitate or in any way assist the aforesaid secessionist entity."

"I explained there are not two entities in Cyprus, but one illegal entity according to UN resolution 540 and a legal government. There are two communities in Cyprus that negotiate a Cyprus solution," Kasoulides said.

Following his statements in Rome last month, after a meeting with Turkish FM Ismail Cem, that there are two republics, two governments and two entities in Cyprus, Dini once again said earlier this week in Washington there are two entities and border lines in Cyprus.

Dini was speaking to the press Monday during his visit to Washington and prior to a meeting with the US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright.

The governments of Cyprus and Greece protested statements by Dini in Rome. Repeated statements by both the Italian Premier and the country's Foreign Ministry had said Dini's statements were misrepresented by the media and assured that Italy recognises only the Republic of Cyprus and that a Cyprus solution should be based on UN resolutions.

After rounding up in Rome his tour of six European capitals, in Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Germany, Luxembourg and Italy, Kasoulides will travel to Athens Friday for talks on the outcome of his European meetings.

The Cypriot FM said he will meet with his Greek counterpart Theodoros Pangalos, Foreign Under-Secretary Yiannos Kranidiotis and Alternate Foreign Minister George Papandreou.

They will also discuss issues to be raised during the forthcoming discussion on Cyprus by the EU political affairs committee and other fora.

CNA AP/MM/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

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