Cyprus News Agency: News in English (PM), 97-09-15

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

CONTENTS

[01] Cyprus Stock Exchange

[02] Turkish Cypriot leader in bad mood, Lord Bethel says

[03] Direct talks on security issues

[04] Protest over illegal lease of Greek-Cypriot properties

[05] Albright says Clerides and Denktash to discuss security

[06] EU reconfirms decision on Cyprus' accession

[07] FM says Clerides to enter dialogue in constructive spirit

1530:CYPPRESS:01

[01] Cyprus Stock Exchange

CSE All Share Index                    78.60 (+0.10)

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

Sectural Indices

Banks                                  89.72 (+0.19)
Approved Investment Companies          65.26 (+0.32)
Insurance Companies                    56.28 (+0.12)
Industrial Companies                   78.09 (-0.08)
Tourist Industries                     65.85 (+0.15)
Commercial Companies                   47.05 ( 0.00)
Other Companies                        59.67 (-0.77)

Trading Volume                         CYP 572766.896

CNA AP/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1700:CYPPRESS:02

[02] Turkish Cypriot leader in bad mood, Lord Bethel says

"I'm afraid that the UN will probably have to wait a bit more and hope for a better climate. At the moment, the Turkish Cypriot leader seems to be in a bad mood and Mr. Feissel will hold himself in readiness to jump in and act when the time is right," Lord Bethel said after a meeting today between the group and top UN envoy to the island, Gustave Feissel.

The "Friends of Cyprus" President said the group will visit the Turkish- occupied areas of the island on Wednesday for contacts with Turkish Cypriot community leaders, but noted the group will not meet with Denktash.

"We would like to see him, we would like to see all the significant players in the game, but I think he doesn't feel he wants to see us just at the moment," Lord Bethel said.

He avoided, however, to say why Denktash is in a bad mood.

Lord Bethel said Feissel told the group that progress will be made in efforts to determine the fate of persons missing since Turkey's 1974 invasion of the island and in meetings between business people from the Greek and Turkish communities.

However, Lord Bethel noted that two rounds of UN-led direct negotiations in July and August between President Glafcos Clerides and Denktash aimed at reaching a comprehensive solution to the Cyprus problem "didn't really produce much in the way of progress".

"Friends of Cyprus" Vice-President and Labour MP Robin Corbett said that even though it was only recently voted in power, Britain's new government is determined to assist in efforts towards a Cyprus solution.

"It's a very new government, but it is determined to assist in this process. But as Lord Bethel has said, relations between the leaders of the two Cypriot communities are not in a good shape and that's really very critical. You know, nobody should give up on this and the new government won't give up on it at all," Corbett stressed.

New "Friends of Cyprus" member and British Liberal Democrat MP Mike Hancock echoed his Tory colleague, adding that the group will convey back to both the British parliament and fellow European deputies a message of optimism that a resolution of the Cyprus problem will benefit everyone on the island.

"It's in everybody's best interests that there is a settlement for both Cypriot communities and indeed for wider international reasons. We believe this, many others believe this and I think we've just got to keep on and see that this view prevails. It will prevail, it's a question of time," Hancock noted.

On his part, Feissel said the process towards an overall settlement of the Cyprus issue is likely to be on hold until after the February, 1998 presidential elections on the island, but urged both sides here to try and create a more positive climate in which the peace process can proceed.

"It's important that both sides remain active in creating the right kind of atmosphere, avoiding tension and generally creating a more positive mood which will obviously help things once the process gets started again," Feissel said.

CNA MH/MCH/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1715:CYPPRESS:03

[03] Direct talks on security issues

This was disclosed today by ruling Democratic Rally (DISY) leader, Nicos Anastasiades, who speaking after a meeting of the National Council (top advisory body to the President on the Cyprus problem).

Anastasiades said Miller has today informed Foreign Minister, Ioannis Kasoulides, that Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash had accepted President Clerides' proposal to discuss security issues, which include demilitarisation and reduction of armaments.

Miller had earlier today met Denktash in the Turkish-occupied part of Nicosia, after being received by President Clerides.

Anastasiades noted that during face-to-face negotiations in Montreux, Switzerland, August 11-16, President Clerides suggested that a dialogue on demilitarisation should begin, under UN auspices.

Asked to comment on statements made by Denktash before his meeting with Miller, stressing that demilitarisation can only be discussed after a solution to the Cyprus problem is reached and under the provision that the 1960 Treaty of Guarantee remains, Anastasiades said "guarantees are a completely different issue and should not be related to security issues at the present stage."

According to the Treaty of Guarantee Greece, Turkey and Britain are given the right of joint or even unilateral action for the purpose of re- establishing any attempts against the independence and integrity of the Republic of Cyprus.

DISY President clarified that by security "we mean issues relating to demilitarisation."

That is, he explained, "the withdrawal of Turkish occupation troops, the reduction of National Guard armaments and the possible disbanding of the National Guard."

He said "conditions under which both communities will feel safe without the presence of occupation army and the existence of a National Guard" will be discussed.

CNA KK/MCH/AP/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1730:CYPPRESS:04

[04] Protest over illegal lease of Greek-Cypriot properties

In a letter, circulated earlier this month as a document of the UN General Assembly and Security Council, Cyprus' Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Nicos Agathocleous, points out the illegal regime agreed to lease the "Salamis Bay Hotel" in the occupied area of Famagusta to "Istanbul Airlines", a Turkish company for a period of 49 years.

"Such properties belong to their legal owners and thus their transfer to others is illegal and in violation of the Geneva Convention Relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the relevant UN resolutions on Cyprus," he underlines.

Agathocleous also cites the recent ruling of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) on behalf of Greek Cypriot Titina Loizidou who owns property in the occupied areas of Cyprus.

"In its binding decision, the Court concluded that the applicant remained the legal owner of her property in the occupied area and that Turkey was in violation of the ECHR Convention," the letter points out.

"These actions by Turkey", Agathocleous adds, "which are aimed at consolidating the fait accompli created through the use of military force, are in violation of the principles and norms of international law and the Charter of the UN" and the relevant UN resolutions.

"On behalf of the government of the Republic of Cyprus, I wish to protest strongly over these illegal Turkish actions and to request the immediate intervention of the UN to prevent them from taking place," Agathocleous concludes.

Cyprus has been divided since 1974 when Turkish troops invaded and occupied 37 per cent of the island's territory. The Turkish occupation regime unilaterally declared itself as an independent state in November 1984, recognised by no other country but Turkey.

CNA EC/MCH/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1935:CYPPRESS:05

[05] Albright says Clerides and Denktash to discuss security

Congratulating both leaders for "their wisdom and foresight", Albright described the development as "a substantial step", that would help "reduce tensions and improve the overall atmosphere for serious negotiations to tackle the core issues of the Cyprus problem".

Albright, on a quick stop-over from Lebanon, returning to Washington, said both President Clerides and Denktash have informed State Department Special Coordinator for Cyprus, Thomas Miller and US Ambassador to Cyprus, Kenneth Brill, of "their willingness to meet soon to discuss security issues".

Miller left this evening after a four-day visit to the island during which he discussed the Cyprus problem with President Clerides and Denktash. He also had meetings with UN resident representative Gustave Feissel and other foreign diplomats. Prior to his visit here, he held talks in Greece and Turkey.

"Today's agreement represents a significant step in the right direction", Albright said, adding that it "symbolises the same spirit to settle differences peacefully and not through the threat of force", citing as a similar example the agreement reached between the leaderships of Greece and Turkey in Madrid earlier this year.

She reaffirmed the commitment of President Bill Clinton to a resolution of the Cyprus problem, pointing to the appointment of Richard Holbrooke as Presidential Envoy for Cyprus as "concrete manifestation of the American commitment to use all resources at our disposal to help the people of Cyprus help themselves".

The date of the Clerides-Denktash meeting has not been set yet.

Albright said the US looks forward to the further reduction of tensions through the talks that herself, Ambassador Holbrooke, Assistant Secretary Marc Grossman, and Miller will be conducting next week in New York with officials from the region.

Both Albright and Miller departed this evening for the US.

CNA MAN/MCH/GP/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

2035:CYPPRESS:06

[06] EU reconfirms decision on Cyprus' accession

This was stressed here today in a joint statement adopted by the Foreign Ministers of the 15 EU member states after a discussion regarding Cyprus' accession process, that took place at the initiative of Greece.

In their statement, the Foreign Ministers condemn Turkish threats against the territorial integrity of the Republic of Cyprus if it proceeds with EU accession.

Pointing out that accession should be to the benefit of both communities on the island, the Foreign Ministers, welcome the invitation extended by the Cyprus government to the Turkish Cypriots to participate in the Republic's delegation that will take part in the negotiations.

Regarding the Cyprus, problem, the 15 Foreign Ministers express regret for the fact that there has been no progress despite two rounds of direct talks between President Glafcos Clerides and Turkish Cypriot leader, Rauf Denktash and call for the resumption of the talks.

They call both sides to refrain from actions that could endanger negotiations.

Meanwhile, Italian Foreign Minister Lamberto Dini said his country recognises only one government in Cyprus and described statements he made earlier referring to "two governments" on the island as a "misunderstanding".

He added that after a meeting with his Greek counterpart Theodoros Pangalos the issue has been made clear and is considered closed.

On his part Spanish Foreign Minister Abel Matutes pointed out that there are two communities in Cyprus but only one government, the internationally recognised government of the Republic of Cyprus.

Matutes also said he was certain there would be no war in the area but noted that everybody should work for a solution to the Cyprus problem.

CNA NB/MCH/GP/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

2045:CYPPRESS:07

[07] FM says Clerides to enter dialogue in constructive spirit

In a written statement Monday, Kasoulides says "President Clerides, has today accepted the proposal by US State Department Special Coordinator for Cyprus, Thomas Miller, to start a dialogue with Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash, in Nicosia, under the auspices of UN Resident Representative Gustave Feissel, to discuss all issues concerning security, without any pre-conditions or a set agenda."

Kasoulides makes note of President Clerides' proposal, during last month's second round of UN-sponsored direct talks in Glion, Switzerland, to enter a dialogue in Nicosia on security issues.

"It was proposed that all issues mentioned in recent UN resolution on Cyprus that concern, armed forces, armaments and measures to reduce tension along the demarcation line, should as a first step, be discussed within the framework of a programme for the complete demilitarisation of Cyprus," the FM says.

Finally he stresses that President Clerides will enter the dialogue with "a constructive spirit and willingness to promote the aforesaid goals."

CNA MCH/AP/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

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