Cyprus News Agency: News in English (AM), 97-09-30

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

CONTENTS

[01] US on Russian missiles deployment

[02] Turkey urged to settle dispute peacefully

[03] Common EU goal to benefit Poland, Cyprus

[04] Archbishop makes plea for reconciliation

[05] Cyprus Stock Exchange

0920:CYPPRESS:01

[01] US on Russian missiles deployment

He also said the US would be "troubled" if the system were to be deployed.

"I do not believe we have any information to suggest that any systems, fully operable have been delivered," he said at his press briefing.

The multi-million arms deal, made public earlier this year, gave rise to criticism against the government's decision to acquire a purely defensive weapon system, as a deterrent in case of a fresh Turkish offensive.

Turkey vouched it will launch pre-emptive strikes against Cyprus, if the Russian-made surface-to-air missiles are deployed and claims they pose a danger to its security.

Commenting on these threats, McCurry said "there have been some things said about the nature of the response that would be given if there were the introduction of this type of weaponry in Cyprus."

This is one of the reasons the US has suggested that such sophisticated weaponry "has no place in an area in which we are actively working to limit tension," he added.

The White House spokesman stressed the US administration "looks negatively on things (Turkish threats) that would increase tension and have publicly said so."

He said the US is working with all the parties on Cyprus to try to ease tensions and create an environment in which we can work together and try to move their dialogue forward.

"The current situation on Cyprus is such that the introduction of that type of weaponry would be seriously troubling to the US," he explained.

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

CNA DA/MM/GP/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

0930:CYPPRESS:02

[02] Turkey urged to settle dispute peacefully

The Centre's Executive Director John Sitilides has said in a statement the US administration "should urge Turkey, in keeping with the spirit of the Madrid non-aggression agreement, to join Greece in peacefully resolving the continental shelf delimitation question before the International Court of Justice."

"Any other disputes should be similarly resolved through peaceful, mutually acceptable mechanisms," the statement added.

The US, Sitilides said, should not pressure allies to negotiate sovereignty or internationally recognised borders.

He pointed out that international treaties and agreements, recognised by both Greece and Turkey for decades, must be defended and upheld against unilateral assault.

He added "Turkey currently challenges the sovereignty of several hundred Greek islands, of Greek territorial waters and of Greek national airspace, but it refuses to recognise International Court of Justice jurisdiction as a resolution mechanism for any of its claims."

CNA DA/MM/GP/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1100:CYPPRESS:03

[03] Common EU goal to benefit Poland, Cyprus

Nicosia, Sep 30 (CNA) -- Poland and Cyprus can and must work together to achieve a common goal, membership of the European Union, Poland's ambassador to Cyprus, Wojciech Lamentowicz, has said.

He believes that Poland's close and friendly ties with both Greece and Turkey and the country's NATO membership could contribute towards ironing out differences between the two countries and facilitate efforts for a settlement in Cyprus.

In an interview with CNA, Lamentowicz said "I believe Cyprus and Poland will join the EU together and this may facilitate the process for a peaceful resolution of the Cyprus question."

He said the two countries "have to steer the boat together" towards accession and acknowledged that "any obstacles in Cyprus' EU accession course would inevitably reflect on Poland's bid for membership and vice- versa.

If we do not make it together, we will not make it," he added and stressed the importance to overcome any crisis that may arise along the path to EU accession.

Poland and Cyprus are due to begin accession talks early next year.

The ambassador said Poland's ties with Turkey "are good and may help our common goal in that we may become a facilitator with Turkey" to everybody's benefit.

Already high ranking officials from both countries meet regularly twice a year to discuss matters of mutual interest, a mechanism set up in the spring of this year.

Lamentowicz said as of next year Poland will be very much involved in NATO activities and by 1999 it will become a full-fledged member.

He said closer ties between Poland and Turkey within the Alliance on an equal footing could benefit their relations with third countries, including Greece and Cyprus.

The Athens-based Polish ambassador, who presented yesterday his credentials to President Glafcos Clerides, said his proposal to set up a mechanism for regular meetings between Cypriot and Polish officials was met with "very positive reaction."

"This would involve government officials to start with and then parliamentarians and others as well, such as businesspeople," the Polish diplomat said.

Meetings could take place twice or three times a year and work towards this goal could be done after February's presidential election in Cyprus.

Lamentowicz said the Polish people "know what it means to fight for independence and the unification of one's country as Poland has been in the past partitioned, just as Cyprus is at present."

He said he conveyed a letter of thanks from the Polish Prime Minister to President Clerides for the aid Cyprus sent to Poland following the devastating floods earlier this year.

CNA MM/GP/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1240:CYPPRESS:04

[04] Archbishop makes plea for reconciliation

Speaking at a press conference at UN Headquarters in New York, the Primate of the Cyprus Church added that both sides on the island, realise that today "they must embrace each other".

Archbishop Chrysostomos drew from personal recollections to recount that in his father's house there were many Turkish Cypriot guests, and noted that "there was no enmity between Greek and Turkish Cypriots".

At the same time, the Archbishop made clear his doubts whether a bizonal, bicommunal federation would be able to provide a viable basis for a solution in Cyprus.

He maintained that restoration of human rights entails the return of refugees to their homes and that this definitely includes Turkish Cypriots as well.

Turkish troops invaded and occupied 37 per cent of Cyprus territory in 1974, forcibly uprooting some 200.000 Greek Cypriots (one third of the island's population) from their homes.

Asked to comment on Ankara's threat to take measures against the deployment of Russian S-300 surface-to-air missiles in Cyprus, the Archbishop said Cyprus would have preferred not to buy them, but given the Turkish occupation they are needed for "self-defense".

"If you can guarantee our freedom and security we would not need to buy them", he pointed out.

In the course of his remarks Chrysostomos also touched on such issues as the Turkish settlers from Anatolia and their disruptive effect on native Turkish Cypriots as well as the intent to alter the demographic character of the island.

The Archbishop wounded up a three-week tour to the US where he conducted a service on the occasion of the inauguration of the Greek Orthodox church of Ayios Themonianos in Houston, Texas, where visitors can see Byzantine frescoes smuggled abroad from a church in the Turkish- occupied village of Lysi.

While in the US, Archbishop Chrysostomos had meetings with the Primate of the Greek Orthodox Church of America, Archbishop Spyridon, US officials and Greek Cypriot and Greek community leaders.

CNA JD/KN/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1540:CYPPRESS:05

[05] Cyprus Stock Exchange

CSE All Share Index                    77.05 (-0.22)

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

Sectural Indices

Banks                                  87.44 (-0.27)
Approved Investment Companies          64.22 (+0.88)
Insurance Companies                    57.07 (+0.14)
Industrial Companies                   75.58 (-0.63)
Tourist Industries                     65.82 (+0.50)
Commercial Companies                   45.70 (-0.35)
Other Companies                        60.39 (-0.53)

Trading Volume                         CYP 834319.296

CNA MCH/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

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