Cyprus News Agency: News in English (PM), 97-09-12

Cyprus News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

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

CONTENTS

[01] Cyprus Stock Exchange

[02] Minister to attend environmental meeting

[03] Cyprus hosts international forum on doing business with Russia

[04] US Cyprus Coordinator arrives for talks

[05] Former DEA informer lied about PANAM bomb passing through Cyprus

[06] UNESCO to do all it can to protect island's cultural heritage

[07] Turkish Cypriot party leader blames Denktash for stalemate

[08] Cyprus' EU accession to be discussed by EU Foreign Ministers

[09] Cyprus federation not dissimilar to Bosnian deal

[10] Friends of Cyprus delegation arrives tomorrow

[11] Cyprus ready to help Albania

1500:CYPPRESS:01

[01] Cyprus Stock Exchange

CSE All Share Index                    78.52 (+0.22)

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

Sectural Indices

Banks                                  89.55 (+0.16)
Approved Investment Companies          65.05 (-0.47)
Insurance Companies                    56.21 (-0.23)
Industrial Companies                   78.15 (+0.93)
Tourist Industries                     65.75 (+0.08)
Commercial Companies                   47.05 (+0.19)
Other Companies                        60.13 (+0.50)

Trading Volume                         CYP 595826.300

CNA MCH/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1530:CYPPRESS:02

[02] Minister to attend environmental meeting

The meeting will deal with ways to control, reduce or ban the production and use of controlled substances.

On his way back, Petrides will stop over in Athens to meet Greek Minister for the Aegean Elisabeth Papazoe to discuss bilateral cooperation.

CNA MM/MCH/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1545:CYPPRESS:03

[03] Cyprus hosts international forum on doing business with Russia

Addressing some 200 international business people attending a two-day business forum titled, "Doing Business With Russia Through Cyprus", at the International Merchandising Centre (IMC) in Nicosia, Christofi said Cyprus is now considered a well developed European country which offers all the necessary amenities required by today's integrated global economy.

The Minister noted that Cyprus offers an advanced socio-economic foundation, one of the world's most advanced telecommunications networks, regular and direct air and sea routes, a large number of well-trained personnel and a highly specialised work force.

Organised by the Central Bank of Cyprus in conjunction with the Association of Russian Businessmen in Cyprus and the IMC, the forum aimed to promote Cyprus as the ideal location to access the emerging markets of Russia and the CIS countries.

There are already some 6,000 Russian offshore companies registered in Cyprus benefiting from advantages available to businesses such as the double taxation treaty.

Also speaking at the forum, Cyprus Central Bank Director Afxentis Afxentiou vehemently denied speculation in the foreign financial press that money laundering has been carried out by Russian businesses in Cyprus.

"Despite various reports which appear, from time to time, in the foreign financial press and which are entirely based either on malicious rumours or anecdotal information, the operations of Russian banks in Cyprus have always been strictly in accordance with our laws and prudential regulations and recommendations," Afxentiou stressed.

The forum, which began yesterday and ended today, was chaired by former president of the Republic of Cyprus, George Vassiliou and also addressed by Ambassador of the Russian Federation in Cyprus Georgy Muradov.

International business people at the forum were presented with many actual business opportunities offered by Russian companies present at the IMC from Moscow, Altai, and Perm regions of Russia.

An Offshore and Financial Services exhibition running parallel to the forum will remain open until tomorrow giving delegates the opportunity to meet companies which provide services in the offshore sector.

Meanwhile, the Russian delegation attending the forum also met yesterday with Finance Minister Christodoulos Christodoulou to discuss bolstering further economic co-operation between the two countries.

Discussion focused on investment with particular emphasis on the existing plan for developing the Krasnodar region of Russia which includes, among others, the creation of a Development Bank as well as a Cyprus - Russia Co-operation Organisation.

The Russian delegation assured Christodoulou of its continued interest on the aforementioned plan and said that some existing technical problems are expected to be overcome since there exists both the political will and commitment to resolve them.

CNA GG/MH/MCH/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1710:CYPPRESS:04

[04] US Cyprus Coordinator arrives for talks

He also made it clear that the US, though very interested in finding a settlement of the protracted Cyprus problem, will persist with its ideas on how this should be brought about.

Furthermore, Miller warned that negotiations for a solution necessitate compromise from the parties involved, as "no-one gets everything they want".

The US envoy backed President Glafcos Clerides' proposal for the demilitarisation of Cyprus and described it "an excellent objective."

Speaking on arrival in Cyprus for his first visit since his appointment a couple of months ago, Miller said he came here "to do a lot of listening" and reiterated his President's interest in the problem.

"President (Bill) Clinton is very very interested in coming up with a solution to the Cyprus problem and Secretary of State Albright is intimately familiar with the issues, and very very interested in working to facilitate a solution to a problem that has gone on far too long," he told awaiting press.

Noting this period is "critical", Miller said "a lot of work needs to be done" and added "I know that any difficult problem, and most definitely the Cyprus problem is in that category, necessitates a certain give and take by the parties."

"No-one gets everything they want, that is the definition of a successful negotiation," he remarked.

Noting that details in the Cyprus problem can often be obstacles to the peace effort, Miller urged everybody "to keep our eye on the big picture, and the big picture is to facilitate a solution to a problem that has gone on for far too long."

Replying to questions, he said he had "very productive discussions in Ankara" and "excellent" talks in Athens before coming to Cyprus, but refrained from disclosing anything about the contents of his discussions.

Invited to comment on Clerides' proposal for the demilitarisation of the island, the American diplomat said "in the context of ensuring the security needs and requirements of the other people, this is an excellent objective, no question about it."

Replying to questions, he said the US would persist with repackaging ideas that did not work initially because "conditions can change" and "just because you got a no the first time, you do not walk away."

"These negotiations about solving the Cyprus problem, as many of my predecessors have learned, require a lot of persistence," he pointed out.

He said he would be discussing issues such as security, constitutional arrangements and international troop presence.

Commenting on Cyprus' intention to deploy Russian-made surface-to-air missiles, Miller said their deployment is not constructive or helpful to the process but also noted that Turkish threats to strike the missiles are "unconstructive and unhelpful."

Miller is scheduled to have a working breakfast Saturday morning with top UN envoy in Cyprus, Gustave Feissel, and see British High Commissioner, David Madden.

On Monday, he will be received by President Clerides and have a meeting with Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash.

He also said there are plans to hold a bicommunal meeting of businessmen from Greece, Turkey and the two Cypriot communities in mid- November in Brussels with the active participation of EU Commissioner Van den Broek.

CNA MAN/MM/MCH/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1715:CYPPRESS:05

[05] Former DEA informer lied about PANAM bomb passing through Cyprus

Lester Coleman admitted before the Uniondale Federal Court in Long Island, New York, information that the DEA had arranged for a drug "mule" to pass through Cyprus' Larnaca International Airport security onto the PANAM jet with an explosive device was his own fabrication.

He also admitted that he was the source of information published by the press in 1990 regarding the plot and added that the reason he lied was to boost his own credibility as a Counsellor on International Security issues and to take revenge on the DEA because the agency no longer used his services.

In a written statement, the former journalist testifying in a law suit filed by the victims' parents, had claimed he identified one of the dead passengers, Khaled Nazir Jaafar, as a DEA drug "mule", whom Coleman said he had seen several times acting as the Agency's secret agent in the island's capital, Nicosia.

The 54-year-old Coleman, who was formerly employed at a Birmingham, Alabama radio station, also admitted guilt to five counts of purgery.

He finally admitted that he had no information which involved the DEA in the so-called security gaps to which the tragic event was attributed.

CNA MH/MCH/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1720:CYPPRESS:06

[06] UNESCO to do all it can to protect island's cultural heritage

Arizpe gave this assurance to the Mayor of the Turkish-occupied village of Lapithos, Nicos Evangelou, who in a letter to the UN body expressed his strong protests over the conversion of the village's historic church of Saint Anastasia and surrounding area into bars, a nursing home and a hotel complex.

The conversion, already underway, was ordered by the occupation regime which has a long track record of pillaging historic sites in the occupied areas and converting them mainly into tourism-oriented complexes.

Arizpe also noted that because of its nature, UNESCO has limited abilities to intervene directly.

The UNESCO official said he is following developments in the issue personally and closely and added that as soon as circumstances allow, UNESCO will take the necessary measures so that absolute respect for the island's cultural inheritance is achieved.

CNA MH/MCH/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1750:CYPPRESS:07

[07] Turkish Cypriot party leader blames Denktash for stalemate

Talat, who is on a two-day visit to Brussels for contacts with European Union officials, met today with European Commissioner Hans Van Den Broek.

The CTP leader pointed out to Van Den Broek that other Turkish Cypriot party leaders do not oppose Cyprus' accession to the EU, adding his party agrees with the participation of Turkish Cypriots in the Cyprus government delegation that will negotiate Cyprus' accession to the EU.

He added that Denktash is the one who is blocking a Cyprus solution.

The EU has confirmed that accession talks with Cyprus will begin within the first six months of 1998.

Talat met with the President of the European Parliament's Socialist Group, Pauline Green, with whom he discussed Cyprus' EU accession.

Describing Talat as an "intelligent politician", Green noted he could constitute the "alternative solution" for the Turkish Cypriot community.

Talat also met with representatives of all the European Parliament's major political groups, as well as the German Vice-Chair of the EU-Cyprus Joint Parliamentary Committee, Mechtild Rothe and the Dutch Chairman of the EU-Turkey Joint Parliamentary Committee, Pieter Dankert.

CNA NB/MH/MCH/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1820:CYPPRESS:08

[08] Cyprus' EU accession to be discussed by EU Foreign Ministers

According to a spokesman for the Luxembourg EU Presidency, the discussion which will be held during a Ministers' luncheon, was requested by Greece and will be addressed by European Council President, Luxembourg Foreign Minister Jacques Poos.

Earlier this month, Poos visited Ankara while last week he received Foreign Minister Ioannis Kasoulides.

On the part of Greece, it is considered certain that Greek Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos will asked for a reconfirmation of the EU position according to which there is no connection whatsoever between Cyprus' EU accession course and Turkey's application to join the EU.

The Greek Foreign Minister will also raise Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash's unacceptable statements against the start of EU-Cyprus accession talks and he will also underline that a solution of the Cyprus problem is not connected to the island's entry into the EU.

EU sources in Brussels stressed today that accession negotiations between the EU and Cyprus will begin normally at the start of 1998, despite strong pressure exerted by Ankara against this.

Meanwhile, the Luxembourg EU Presidency is planning to hold a structured dialogue on a Foreign Ministers' level between the EU and Cyprus on October 6 in Luxembourg, along with other candidate countries from central and eastern Europe.

The final decision will be made in the next few days after the issue is discussed by the permanent representatives of EU-member states.

CNA NB/MH/MCH/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1850:CYPPRESS:09

[09] Cyprus federation not dissimilar to Bosnian deal

Holbrooke, known for his tough negotiating tactics, has also said it would be a disaster for US and British interests if the situation in Cyprus were to explode, because it would bring two NATO allies (Greece and Turkey) into conflict.

Speaking today to BBC World TV, Holbrooke said "the shooting stopped in Cyprus in 1974 but it left a horrendous legacy, an island that is still divided down the middle by a physical wall that looks like the Berlin wall."

Asked if he thought he would be more successful in his effort to facilitate a Cyprus solution where others have failed, he said "we want to have a bizonal, bicommunal federation of Cyprus, not entirely dissimilar from what we did at Dayton, but with a tremendous difference."

Describing the situation in Cyprus as "a festering problem" that could explode, Holbrooke remarked "if it explodes it could bring two of our most important NATO allies, Greece and Turkey, back into conflict with each other."

That, he stressed, "would be a disaster for all of us and I stress particularly for the British who have a security guarantee and troops on Cyprus."

He noted that the situation is not "the fluid situation of a recent war" and added "they have dug in now and it is going to be very tough."

Holbrooke said he is working very closely with Britain's special envoy for Cyprus, Sir David Hannay, and pledged to "give it our best shot."

"Almost every expert on Cyprus says it can't be done and maybe they are right but it does not hurt to try," he told the BBC.

Holbrooke's recently appointed assistant, US Cyprus coordinator, Thomas Miller, arrived here today for talks with the Greek and Turkish Cypriot sides in a bid to push the peace process forward.

CNA MM/MCH/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1855:CYPPRESS:10

[10] Friends of Cyprus delegation arrives tomorrow

Leading the "Friends of Cyprus" delegation will be the President of the group Lord Bethel, who will be accompanied by Group Vice-Presidents Labour MP Robin Corbett and Conservative MP Roger Gale, and group members Labour MP Valerie Davey and Liberal Democrat MP Mike Hancock.

The delegation will be accompanied by Group Secretary Mary Southcott.

During its stay on the island, the delegation will be received separately by President Glafcos Clerides and House of Representatives President Spyros Kyprianou.

The delegation will also hold separate meetings will Foreign Minister Ioannis Kasoulides and political party leaders.

Australian Federal MP and Labour party Shadow Foreign Minister Laurence John Brereton, along with Federal Senator and Labour Party Shadow Attorney- General Nick Bolkus will arrive Sunday for a visit until September 18 on the invitation of the House of Representatives.

During their stay, the Australian parliamentarians will be received separately by President Clerides and House President Spyros Kyprianou. They will also meet separately with political party leaders or representatives.

Brereton and Bolkus will also visit the Green Line which cuts Nicosia into two.

They will also travel to the Dherynia checkpoint in the eastern part of the island where two unarmed Greek Cypriot demonstrators were brutally murdered last year in the UN-controlled buffer zone by Turkish extremists and occupation troops.

CNA MH/MCH/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

2010:CYPPRESS:11

[11] Cyprus ready to help Albania

Cyprus and Albania will prepare, to this effect, the draft framework for bilateral agreements, covering such cooperation.

Foreign Minister Ioannis Kasoulides gave such pledges to his Albanian counterpart Pascal Milo at their meeting in Athens earlier today.

Kasoulides, who is in Athens for talks with his Greek counterpart, briefed Milo about recent developments in Cyprus, and Milo informed the Cypriot Minister about the situation in his country.

Milo expressed the wish that a Cyprus solution would soon be found.

The two Ministers agreed to exchange visits of officials on all levels.

CNA MM/MCH/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

Cyprus News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article