Cyprus News Agency: News in English (AM), 97-10-27

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

CONTENTS

[01] Turks bring more arms in occupied Cyprus

[02] IAEA regional workshop opens

[03] Cyprus participates in women's meeting in Turkey

[04] Cyprus Stock Exchange

[05] Commonwealth concerned about Turkey's threats

1015:CYPPRESS:01

[01] Turks bring more arms in occupied Cyprus

Foreign Minister Ioannis Kasoulides told CyBC from Edinburgh the government has no information about the arrival in the Turkish-occupied port of Famagusta of scores of special units, tanks and other weapons.

"We knew there was a chance Turkey would boost its military presence on the pretext of next week's manoeuvres. We are therefore watching the situation very carefully to see whether the new weaponry will be sent back after the manoeuvres and act accordingly," Kasoulides said.

Asked if the transfer of arms creates tension in Cyprus, the Minister replied "anything that increases unnecessarily Turkey's military presence in occupied Cyprus, already very strong, creates tension because it raises many questions."

"We shall monitor the situation cooly and act accordingly," Kasoulides said.

The Cyprus radio said infantry and artillery divisions have been boosted and new army units have arrived on the island.

CyBC reported that a Turkish navy ship unloaded 80 tanks and 30 personnel carriers.

Turkey maintains a 35.000-strong force in the northern part of the island since it invaded Cyprus 1974.

The UN has said Cyprus is one of the most militarised areas in the world and numerous UN resolutions call for the withdrawal of foreign troops.

President Glafcos Clerides has proposed the island's complete demilitarisation.

CNA MM/GP/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1245:CYPPRESS:02

[02] IAEA regional workshop opens

Among the countries participating in the workshop ending October 31, are Armenia, Latvia, Estonia, Bosnia Herzegovina, Lithuania, Georgia and Cyprus.

Participants will discuss radiation safety principles and basic standards, the framework for national radiation safety infrastructure and control.

Alejandro Victor Bilbao, regional Field manager of the IAEA, told CNA that the model project "Upgrading Radiation and Waste Safety Infrastructure" is one of the biggest projects of the agency.

He said this project was established for the whole world, with the participation of more than 50 countries.

In Europe, only 11 countries are taking part, the ones which are taking part in the workshop, he said.

"This event is very important for us, because starting from it we will do modifications and additional action for the model project in the next years," he said.

Opening the workshop, Nicos Symeonides, Permanent Secretary of the Labour and Social Insurance Ministry, said "radiation and nuclear techniques entail increased risks, if not used safely and in a sustainable manner".

At the national level, he said, "comprehensive legislation has to be introduced and an effective implementation system has to be established in order to ensure that radiation is used safely and for peaceful purposes."

He said the government of Cyprus, recognising this need, decided to join the IAEA.

Although Cyprus does not have nuclear plants, it benefits from many peaceful uses of radiation and efforts are made to "establish an effective radiation protection system in Cyprus and to improve the technical capability of the country".

Symeonides said the "government of Cyprus is strongly committed to the introduction of a National Policy for Radiation protection".

This commitment is reflected in the government's decision to participate in the November 1996 IAEA Model Project, which entails the establishment of a Modern System of Radiation Protection.

The target is that by the year 2000, legislation will be in place, in line with the IAEA's Basic Safety Standards and an effective system for radiation protection will be in operation.

In a speech read at the opening ceremony, Minister of Health, Christos Solomis said in 1969, the ministry, realising the dangers from ionizing radiation on the health of the population, began the formulation of the necessary legislation for its protection.

CNA EC/GP/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1320:CYPPRESS:03

[03] Cyprus participates in women's meeting in Turkey

The Cypriot Minister of the Interior Dinos Michaelides will also attend the conference.

The main theme of the conference "Democracy and equality between women and men" will be divided into two sub-themes on "Equality between women and men as a fundamental criterion of democracy" and "Promoting equality in a democratic society: the role of men."

The Turkish and Swedish delegations will present a report, and the Romanian and Slovenian delegations will present a co-report.

Two ministerial panels, chosen prior to the conference, will present their contributions. The Cypriot Minister is expected to be one of them.

The Council's Secretary General Daniel Tarchys will open the meeting, which will conclude with the adoption of a declaration and a resolution.

CNA MM/GP/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1435:CYPPRESS:04

[04] Cyprus Stock Exchange

CSE All Share Index                   76.57 (+0.13)

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

Sectural Indices

Banks                                  87.41 (+0.23)
Approved Investment Companies          62.60 (-0.70)
Insurance Companies                    56.55 (+0.43)
Industrial Companies                   74.73 (+0.32)
Tourist Industries                     64.37 (-0.16)
Commercial Companies                   44.03 (-0.83)
Other Companies                        59.42 (-0.49)

Trading Volume                         CYP 303746.732

CNA AP/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1500:CYPPRESS:05

[05] Commonwealth concerned about Turkey's threats

Edinburgh Oct 27 (CNA) -- Commonwealth leaders expressed concern about Turkey's threats to use force against Cyprus and reiterated their support for the demilitarisation of the island.

They were also disappointed with the attitude of the Turkish Cypriot side at this summer's UN sponsored direct talks and welcomed the appointment of a Commonwealth observer for Cyprus.

In their five-page final communique, adopted here at the close of the four-day summit, heads of government "reaffirmed their support for the sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity, and unity of the Republic of Cyprus."

Regretting that negotiations for a solution have been at an impasse for too long, they "strongly supported the process of direct intercommunal talks under the UN Secretary-General mission of good offices" and recognised Britain's "special role" as a UN Security Council member and a guarantor power.

Heads of government "expressed concern about recent threats of use of force and integration of the occupied territory by Turkey and reiterated support for (Cyprus) President Clerides' demilitarisation proposal."

The 1993 proposal calls for the disband of the National Guard and the delivery of its weapons to UN custody in parallel with the disband of the Turkish Cypriot armed forces and the withdrawal of Turkish troops that invaded Cyprus in 1974.

Commonwealth leaders expressed "concern and disappointment that progress has been impeded by the efforts of the Turkish Cypriot side to introduce preconditions to the talks."

They "called for a cooperative attitude from all sides for the achievement of a comprehensive, just and workable settlement on the basis of a bicommunal, bizonal federation."

Reiterating previous communiques, the heads of government called for the withdrawal of all Turkish forces and settlers, the return of the refugees to their homes, the restoration of and respect of human rights of all Cypriots and the accounting of all missing persons.

They welcomed the "initiative of the Commonwealth Secretary-General to nominate an observer at the UN sponsored negotiations."

Krishnan Srinivasan, Deputy Commonwealth Secretary-General for political affairs and former Indian Foreign Minister has been appointed Commonwealth envoy for Cyprus.

Commonwealth leaders expressed concern about Nigeria's failure to observe fundamental human right and decided the country "should remain suspended from the Commonwealth."

They welcomed Fidji's return to the 54-nation group and expressed concern about special problems of least developed countries.

They also welcomed the completion of the electoral phase of the transition to civil democratic and constitutional rule in the Gambia.

CNA MCH/MM/MA/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

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