Cyprus News Agency: News in English (PM), 97-11-03

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

CONTENTS

[01] Cyprus Stock Exchange

[02] No exchange of fire, says Turkish Cypriot side

[03] Army exercises obstruct peace effort

[04] Government denounces Turkish provocations

[05] Government expects T/C response to agreement on missing

[06] Cyprus awaits Greco-Turkish summit result

[07] Britain hopes for reduction of Greco-Turkish tension

1400:CYPPRESS:01

[01] Cyprus Stock Exchange

CSE All Share Index                   75.51 (-0.17)

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

Sectural Indices

Banks                                  86.31 (-0.29)
Approved Investment Companies          60.92 (+0.96)
Insurance Companies                    55.49 (-0.50)
Industrial Companies                   73.40 (+0.12)
Tourist Industries                     64.32 (+0.52)
Commercial Companies                   42.37 (-1.44)
Other Companies                        59.25 (+0.58)

Trading Volume                         CYP 311054.899

CNA MM/1997

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1550:CYPPRESS:02

[02] No exchange of fire, says Turkish Cypriot side

The Turkish denial comes hours after a similar denial by the Cyprus government.

According to the French News Agency and the Turkish Cypriot daily "Kibris", a Turkish military official was quoted as saying there was an exchange of fire between Greek and Turkish Cypriot forces in Agios Kassianos area, on the eastern part of the capital.

"There was no exchange of fire...there were only a few warning shots fired by Turkish soldiers," "Bayrak" said.

The radio station said the soldiers fired the warning shots after spotting a shadow, which "could have been that of an animal".

Government Spokesman, Manolis Christofides, said National Guard soldiers heard shots coming from the Turkish occupied areas of the Republic in the Nicosia area, but "these had nothing to do with the National Guard".

Earlier today a Defence Ministry spokesman said there was no exchange of gunfire, but shots were heard about 500 metres within the Turkish occupied areas.

UN Peace-Keeping Forces Spokesman, Waldemar Rokoszewski, told CNA that a number of shots were heard around 20.00 GMT last night in the area of Agios kassianos, but that UNFICYP was in touch with the military and police authorities on both sides in order to find out what really happened.

Cyprus has been divided since 1974 when Turkish troops invaded and occupied 37 per cent of the island's territory. UNFICYP patrols the 180 kilometre long buffer zone which divides the island.

CNA EC/MM/1997

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1645:CYPPRESS:03

[03] Army exercises obstruct peace effort

Asked to comment on the ongoing Turkish military exercises "Taurus" and "Determination '97", he said "any exercise activity is to some extent a distraction from ways in which the political discussion (for a Cyprus settlement) would be taken forward."

Madden was speaking after an hour-long meeting with President Glafcos Clerides to discuss recent developments in Cyprus, and the President's recent trip to Edinburgh where he attended the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting.

Noting that "unfortunately not much progress can be made (in the Cyprus problem) before the Luxembourg European Council and before (February's presidential) elections", he said the international community believes a lot of work needs to be done, after this period.

Asked whether Turkey has the political will for a resolution, Madden replied "Yes, I do, because I think it would be very much to the interest of Turkey to have a resolution of the long-running Cyprus problem."

He refrained, however, from commenting on how Turkey displays its political will for a solution in Cyprus.

"It is in the interest of many countries, including Britain that there should be a settlement of the problem here. This is a widely shared view of the international community", he stressed.

Asked if Britain has any suggestions on Turkish Cypriot participation in Cyprus-European Union accession negotiations, Madden said "there are no specifically British ideas, obviously beside of what is on the table and has been discussed on a number of occasions".

"A number of countries agree it would be a good idea to include the Turkish Cypriots in the accession process but so far no specific ideas have been particularly proposed or agreed on exactly how that would happen," he added.

The British government, he said, considers Turkish Cypriot participation "a desirable outcome."

Asked whether he discussed the issue with President Clerides he answered negatively, but pointed out, "that does not mean it is not on the agenda in the near future".

President Clerides invited Turkish Cypriots to join the Cyprus delegation which will negotiate with the EU but the proposal was turned down.

CNA MCH/MM/1997

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1735:CYPPRESS:04

[04] Government denounces Turkish provocations

The Turkish military is taking part in exercises "Taurus" in Turkish occupied Cyprus and "Determination" in the Aegean.

"We condemn these exercises and we consider them a show of strength as well as a display of unwillingness to respect international law and order," Government Spokesman, Manolis Christofides said here today.

The use of F-16 fighters in mock air-raids in the Republic's air-space proves that the government's decision to buy anti aircraft missiles was right, Christofides said.

Asked whether closer military co-operation between Turkey and Israel could affect Cyprus-Israeli relations, Christofides said relations between the two countries are friendly and continue to develop.

CNA KN/MCH/MM/1997

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1755:CYPPRESS:05

[05] Government expects T/C response to agreement on missing

Manolis Christofides said he hoped it was "a matter of time and not a matter of refusal" to hand in the information as agreed, noting that the Greek Cypriot side "has already informed the UN that we are ready to hand in the information we have".

President Glafcos Clerides and Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash agreed on July 31 to exchange information on missing persons in a bid to help the resolution of this humanitarian issue.

Referring to today's meeting between President Glafcos Clerides and UN Resident Representative, Gustave Feissel, the Spokesman said they discussed UN Secretary-General's letter to Clerides, the issue of missing persons and possible dates for future talks.

He said President Clerides has made it clear that he is "ready and willing" to enter negotiations either on security issues or on the issue of missing persons.

CNA KN/MCH/MM/1997

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1835:CYPPRESS:06

[06] Cyprus awaits Greco-Turkish summit result

The Minister also reiterated his government's resolve to deploy the anti-aircraft missile system it bought from Russia in spite of Ankara's threats, unless progress towards a settlement is achieved.

"Whatever the result of the Simitis-Yilmaz meeting in Crete, it will surely affect the Cyprus problem," Kasoulides said.

He said if the atmosphere of the Crete meeting is similar to that of the Madrid encounter in July, (on the sidelines of a NATO summit) "then the consequences on the Cyprus problem will be positive".

"If talks fail, then tension will be greater and there will be repercussions on the Cyprus problem," he added.

Kasoulides said the government is monitoring closely violations of Cyprus' airspace and territorial waters by the Turkish military during annual exercises, currently underway in Turkish occupied Cyprus and the Aegean.

Speaking to reporters after presenting his Ministry's budget before the House Finance Committee, Kasoulides repeated that if there is no progress in efforts towards a Cyprus settlement and no agreement on a gradual demilitarisation, then the missiles will be deployed.

He said attempts are being made to make the government feel guilty for opting "not to remain a hostage to the Turkish airforce" by choosing a purely defensive weapon.

"Only someone stupid would assume that we will use the missiles under any circumstance, other than to defend ourselves from a hostile air offensive," he stressed.

Kassoulides repeated that Turkey is "making a fool of itself" by claiming that its population of 65 million is threatened by Cyprus, with a population of less than one million.

Referring to the island's accession to the European Union, the Minister stressed the government's priority is to find a "just and viable solution to its political problem".

The accession course can substantially help efforts for a Cyprus settlement, he added.

CNA EC/MM/1997

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2020:CYPPRESS:07

[07] Britain hopes for reduction of Greco-Turkish tension

"We are encouraged by the fact that such a meeting is taking place. We look to both sides to make the most out of this opportunity, to find ways of reducing tension in the Aegean," a Foreign Office spokesman said today.

The spokesman made the statement in response to a CNA request to comment on tonight's meeting between the Prime Ministers of Greece and Turkey, Costas Simitis and Mesut Yilmaz respectively in Crete.

CNA KT/EC/MM/1997

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