Cyprus News Agency: News in English (AM), 97-09-23

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

CONTENTS

[01] Kasoulides leaves for New York

[02] Cyprus Church leader meets US official

[03] Annan, Clinton refer to Cyprus

[04] Cyprus settlement not EU prerequisite, says Britain

[05] Cypriot President to address General Assembly

[06] Cyprus - Greece welcome Clinton's reference

[07] Cyprus Stock Exchange

[08] Cyprus appreciates Cook's statements

0945:CYPPRESS:01

[01] Kasoulides leaves for New York

Ioannis Kasoulides is expected to meet US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright and US Presidential Emissary for Cyprus, Richard Holbrooke, on Wednesday, to discuss the Cyprus question.

On Thursday, he is scheduled to meet EU External Relations Commissioner, Hans van den Broek.

The Cypriot Minister will also meet UN Secretary-General's Special Advisor on Cyprus Diego Cordovez.

Cyprus President, Glafcos Clerides, is scheduled to leave for New York on October 2, to address the 52nd session of the UN General Assembly.

CNA MA/GP/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1030:CYPPRESS:02

[02] Cyprus Church leader meets US official

Archbishop Chrysostomos met the US State Department Cyprus Coordinator in Washington, yesterday, as part of his meetings in the US capital on the Cyprus question.

Outlining to Thomas Miller his views on the Cyprus question, the Primate said a solution envisaging for a bicommunal, bizonal federation would create problems.

Miller pledged that he and Presidential Emissary, Richard Holbrooke, would do everything possible for a just and viable settlement and that his effort had no date of expiry.

Archbishop Chrystostomos concluded his first day in Washington with a meeting with the head of the American Hellenic Institute, Eugene Rossides.

Turkey invaded and occupied 37 percent of Cyprus' territory in 1974.

UN efforts for a settlement have been focusing on an agreement between the Greek and Turkish sides on the island for a bicommunal, bizonal federation.

The Primate of the Cyprus Church believes this solution would not fully restore human rights and would not be viable.

CNA DA/MA/GP/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1040:CYPPRESS:03

[03] Annan, Clinton refer to Cyprus

United Nations, Sep 23 (CNA) -- The UN Secretary-General and the US President referred to the Cyprus question as one of the problems of the world, seeking for a solution.

"The UN continues to keep many nations away from bloodshed. In El Salvador and Mozambique. In Haiti and Namibia. In Cyprus..." Bill Clinton told the 52nd session of the General Assembly.

Revising the world's trouble spots and conflicts, Clinton also said the people the world over "long for a solution of the differences between Greece and Turkey."

Kofi Annan, told the world's heads of state and foreign ministers that he had taken initiative to "revive peace processes in several conflict situations, some of which have long defied resolution."

In this respect, he mentioned Cyprus as one of the areas he had appointed a "special representative".

Annan appointed Diego Cordovez as his special advisor on the Cyprus problem.

Cordovez chaired two rounds of talks between President Glafcos Clerides and Turkish Cypriot Rauf Denktash in the US, in July, and a month later in Switzerland.

The talks achieved no substantive progress, the UN Security Council President reported, because of Turkish Cypriot insistence on "bringing preconditions to the table."

Turkish troops have been occupying 37 per cent of Cyprus territory since 1974, in violation of repeated UN resolutions calling for their withdrawal.

CNA JD/MA/GP/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1050:CYPPRESS:04

[04] Cyprus settlement not EU prerequisite, says Britain

Robin Cook also said that it would be preferable if a settlement in Cyprus was reached beforehand and reiterated support to on-going efforts for a solution.

In an interview with CNN International, Cook said "we've made a commitment that we believe Cyprus should have the opportunity to join the EU and that should not be dependent on resolving the division of the island.

Of course, it would be much better if we could resolve the division of the island and I have had a number of conversations, both in Cyprus and in New York, to support the process of trying to bring the two sides together, " Cook added.

Speaking from New York where he is attending the UN General Assembly, the British Foreign Secretary referred to his country's "very big role and very big interest in the Cyprus issue".

Britain, along with Greece and Turkey, has guaranteed the island's independence when it granted Cyprus its freedom from colonial rule in 1960.

This country has retained two sovereign military bases on the island. An estimated 200 thousand Greek Cypriots live in London, about as many as in any big town of Cyprus.

"A very large number of Greek Cypriots actually live in the London area of Britain. As many Greek Cypriots live in London and Melbourne as actually live in Cyprus," Cook said.

EU accession talks with Cyprus are scheduled to begin next year, as the island is included in the first group of countries to begin negotiations within the enlargement process.

Cyprus has been divided since 1974 when Turkish troops invaded and occupied 37 percent of its territory.

The Turkish side has stepped up its intransigence, threatening with partial integration of the occupied areas into Turkey if accession talks begin.

CNA MA/GP/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1320:CYPPRESS:05

[05] Cypriot President to address General Assembly

From New York, the President will fly to Strasbourg where he will participate in the second Council of Europe summit, to take place October 10-11.

President Clerides is also expected to go to Edinburgh to take part in the Commonwealth Heads of State or Government Meeting to be held October 24- 27.

CNA MA/GP/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1400:CYPPRESS:06

[06] Cyprus - Greece welcome Clinton's reference

The Cyprus government considers Clinton's reference to Cyprus as a sign that the US gives priority to a settlement to the Cyprus problem.

"This means the Cyprus question is a priority of the US diplomacy," Government Spokesman Manolis Christofides said.

At the same time, the Cypriot official noted that "it is the first time in years that a US President refers to Cyprus in his (UN General Assembly) address,"

In his address Monday to the 52nd UN General Assembly session, Clinton placed Cyprus among the countries where the UN continues to prevent bloodshed.

"The United Nations continues to keep many nations away from bloodshed. In El Salbador and Mozambique. In Haiti and Namibia. In Cyprus. And in Bosnia, where so much remains to be done but can still be done because the bloodshed has stopped", Clinton said.

The US President said "people the world over cheer hopeful developments in Northern Ireland, grieve over the innocent lives lost and the stalling of the peace process in the Middle East, and long for a resolution of the differences between Greece and Turkey, or between the great nations of India and Pakistan, as they celebrate the 50th anniversaries of their independence."

Christofides said the US President's speech coincided with "the atmosphere prevailing in the Cyprus issue and heralds serious developments".

Meanwhile, Greece's Foreign Minister described Clinton's reference as "important".

Theodoros Pangalos said it is important that the US President placed the Cyprus issue and Greek-Turkish relations among the issues that have to be resolved.

CNA RG/MA/GP/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1530:CYPPRESS:07

[07] Cyprus Stock Exchange

CSE All Share Index                   77.86 (-0.22)

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

Sectural Indices

Banks                                  88.48 (-0.35)
Approved Investment Companies          64.34 (-0.26)
Insurance Companies                    56.60 (+0.55)
Industrial Companies                   76.97 (-0.31)
Tourist Industries                     65.81 (-0.32)
Commercial Companies                   46.95 (-0.99)
Other Companies                        61.16 (+1.38)

Trading Volume                         CYP 517153.944

CNA AP/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1440:CYPPRESS:08

[08] Cyprus appreciates Cook's statements

"Statements made by personalities of the calibre of Robin Cook are of particular importance and are particularly appreciated," Government Spokesman Manolis Christofides said.

In a interview with CNN International Monday, Cook reiterated the European Union commitment to Cyprus' accession and said it should not depend on a solution to the Cyprus question.

Christofides expressed the government's satisfaction with "increased international interest in a solution to the Cyprus problem and in our (EU) accession course".

He noted foreign governments have recently issued announcements referring to the Republic's accession course and to an agreement between the Greek and Turkish Cypriot communities to begin talks on security issues.

President Glafcos Clerides and Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash will meet Friday to discuss security issues.

CNA RG/MA/GP/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

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