Cyprus News Agency: News in English (AM), 97-10-29

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

CONTENTS

[01] No concessions over human rights

[02] Thousands want to visit occupied monastery

[03] No impact on Cyprus Stock Exchange

[04] UN chief to report on military dialogue

[05] UN ready to help rapprochement

[06] Business mission to Hungary and Czech Republic

[07] Cyprus Stock Exchange

1210:CYPPRESS:01

[01] No concessions over human rights

He was speaking at a gathering last night in London to celebrate the "Okhi (No) Day" (October 28, 1940), when Greece refused to surrender to an unconditional ultimatum by the Axis forces.

The Minister stressed the Greek Cypriot side rejects "any recipes to compromise what is irreconcilable and to negotiate what is non-negotiable".

"We will never make any concessions which will undermine the security and future of the people and the island", he said.

Meanwhile, in statements to London Greek Radio (LGR), Kasoulides expressed satisfaction with the results of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting held in Edinburgh as well as the British positions on Cyprus.

The Cypriot Minister said he had witnessed an improvement of the British positions, especially regarding the island's European Union accession course.

In a statement to CNA, British Prime Minister, Tony Blair, had said how important is a Cyprus settlement in relation to Cyprus' EU accession course.

He pledged Britain would intensify its efforts for a Cyprus settlement.

Cyprus has been divided since 1974 when Turkish troops invaded and occupied 37 per cent of the island's territory.

CNA KT/EC/GP/1997

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[02] Thousands want to visit occupied monastery

Humanitarian Affairs Commissioner, Takis Christopoulos described the number as "unprecedented". The deadline for applications ends tomorrow.

He told CNA that his department will start the difficult task of sorting out the applications, based on the criteria which have been set. Only 600 pilgrims will be allowed to cross.

Christopoulos described the work which awaits his department as "giant task", noting he is bewildered by the number of applications.

Priority will be given to the elderly, sick people, children with incurable diseases, and their parents, as well as people from the Karpass peninsula.

Around six Greek Cypriots living in Britain, Zimbabwe and Australia and three priests will also attend.

Christopoulos said the final list will be ready a few days before November 30, Apostolos Andreas' feast day.

The Commissioner said he would not accept censorship of the list from the Turkish Cypriot side.

Invited to comment on the big number of applicants, UN Spokesman in Nicosia, Waldemar Rokozweski, told CNA that during the first pilgrimage, the original number was exceeded. "I think this will be the case this time as well", he said.

Noting that "we are not talking thousands, I would not necessary adhere to the figure".

He stressed that the final number will very much depend on the cooperation of the Turkish Cypriot side and the people.

It is the second time since 1974, when Cyprus was divided following the Turkish invasion, that Greek Cypriot pilgrims will visit the monastery, symbol of the Orthodox Christianity in Cyprus.

The first visit took place on August 15, day of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary. A total of 619 Greek Cypriots and 47 Greek Cypriot UN employees made the 150-kilometre, three hour-trek on approximately 14 buses provided by the occupation regime.

Some 400 Turkish Cypriots were allowed to visit the enclave of Kokkina in the north-eastern part of the island earlier in August.

CNA MK/EC/GP/1997

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[03] No impact on Cyprus Stock Exchange

This is the view of the CSE Chairman, Dinos Papadopoulos, in statements to CNA today.

Papadopoulos said there are three factors which secure the level of CSE's prices.

Firstly Cyprus is not an open market regarding the capital movement, and secondly the CSE's stocks are not overpriced, which was the case in a number of countries involved in the crisis, he said.

The third factor is that the problem in south-east Asia was that a large amount of capital had been transferred from the countries of the region by foreign investors, he added.

"This is not possible in Cyprus, as the CSE does not have a significant number of foreign investors", Papadopoulos pointed out.

The island's economy will be affected only if the US dollar or the British pound are affected, he added.

CNA GG/GP/1997

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1410:CYPPRESS:04

[04] UN chief to report on military dialogue

United Nations Peacekeeping Forces Spokesman, Waldemar Rokoszewski told CNA here Wednesday that the UN "are still meeting with both sides".

Refraining from commenting on the progress, the Spokesman said "we will elaborate extensively the positions of both sides in the forthcoming UN Secretary-General's report to the Security Council, in the beginning of December".

He said he could "not elaborate at this stage, because we are working on the provision of secrecy".

Noting that regretfully, the meetings are not taking place regularly, Rokoszewski said "we are still trying to give both sides a chance to appear more positive in the Secretary-General's report."

He warned that "time is running fast" because the UN are at the stage of finalising this draft report for New York.

Asked whether the military dialogue is heading towards a failure or is making progress, Rokoszewski said he could not elaborate.

The military dialogue was proposed two years ago by Madeleine Albright, then US Permanent Representative to the UN, during a visit to the island.

The military dialogue is centred around three proposals put forward last year regarding the code of conduct, extension of the unmanning agreement and the use of unloaded weapons along the demarcation line dividing the island since the 1974 Turkish invasion and occupation of the island's northern third.

Regarding the dialogue on security issues, which was again announced in September by Albright, in her capacity as US Secretary of State, Rokoszewski said UN Resident Representative Gustave Feissel would meet both leaders as soon as they were available to proceed with these issues.

"He will try to push things forward", the Spokesman added.

Feissel's meetings with President Glafcos Clerides and Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash will also provide the opportunity to talk about the visit of UN Secretary -General's Special Advisor on the Cyprus problem, Diego Cordovez, to the island.

Cordovez is expected to visit Cyprus around mid November.

CNA EC/GP/1997

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1430:CYPPRESS:05

[05] UN ready to help rapprochement

Nicosia-based UN Spokesman, Waldemar Rokoszewski, told CNA that "the UN will make every effort to help materialise the plan or elements of the plan" drafted by former Greek Cypriot MP Dinos Lordos.

He stressed, however, that this would happen provided the two sides would agree.

The plan was put forward during a recent meeting of Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot businessmen in Athens.

Regarding an agreement to promote the exchange of information between the Greek and Turkish Cypriot sides on the missing persons, Rokoszewski said the Greek Cypriot side had expressed its readiness. "The Turkish Cypriot is not yet ready", he added.

However, Rokoszewski cited Humanitarian Affairs Commissioner, Takis Christopoulos' statement that "these are difficult issues and patience is needed".

"I believe something will come up pretty soon", Rokoszewski added.

A total of 1.619 Greek Cypriots and Greeks were listed as missing persons soon after the 1974 Turkish invasion and occupation of Cyprus' northern third.

CNA EC/GP/1997

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1430:CYPPRESS:06

[06] Business mission to Hungary and Czech Republic

The aim of the delegation will be to inform businesspeople in the two countries of the high level of services in Cyprus, in order to secure new customers for that industrial sector.

The business mission is co-organised by the Federation of Employers and Industrialists (OEB) and the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Tourism, an OEB statement says.

According to OEB, the delegation will try to promote mainly the non- traditional services, such as management and information-technology consulting services, colour separation services, law services etc.

CNA GG/GP/1997

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1530:CYPPRESS:07

[07] Cyprus Stock Exchange

CSE All Share Index                   76.49 (-0.10)

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

Sectural Indices

Banks                                  87.27 (-0.16)
Approved Investment Companies          61.69 (-1.45)
Insurance Companies                    56.36 (-0.34)
Industrial Companies                   74.80 (+0.09)
Tourist Industries                     64.96 (+0.92)
Commercial Companies                   44.18 (+0.34)
Other Companies                        59.33 (-0.15)

Trading Volume                         CYP 352476.170

CNA MM/1997

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