Cyprus News Agency: News in English (PM), 97-11-19

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

CONTENTS

[01] Cyprus Stock Exchange

[02] Top UN envoy expresses commitment to talks

[03] Cyprus backs peaceful resolution of Iraq crisis

[04] Turkish settlers must return, says government

[05] US Senator wants Cyprus to be "source of peace"

1600:CYPPRESS:01

[01] Cyprus Stock Exchange

CSE All Share Index                    75.46 (-0.19)

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

Sectural Indices

Banks                                  87.10 (-0.27)
Approved Investment Companies          58.97 (-0.67)
Insurance Companies                    55.27 (+0.04)
Industrial Companies                   72.76 (+0.06)
Tourist Industries                     62.46 (-0.22)
Commercial Companies                   39.47 (-0.25)
Other Companies                        58.87 (+0.58)

Trading Volume                         CYP 282582.875

CNA MM/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1730:CYPPRESS:02

[02] Top UN envoy expresses commitment to talks

Cordovez, who arrived on the island last night, was received by the President earlier today and later on attended a working lunch at the presidential palace.

The UN official was accompanied by UN resident representative, Gustave Feissel, and the UN peace-keeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP) senior advisor, Peter Schmitz.

After the meeting, Cordovez was scheduled to cross to the Turkish occupied areas for a meeting with Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash.

He will attend a working dinner hosted by Denktash.

Government Spokesman Manolis Christofides said a new meeting between Clerides and Cordovez is scheduled for tomorrow afternoon.

Cordovez's meeting has been described both by the UN and the Cyprus government as "investigative".

Foreign Minister, Ioannis Kasoulides, described today's meeting as "cordial", noting that Cordovez' visit to the island was announced in the summer, to give the opportunity to the UN official become acquainted with the Cyprus problem.

His objective, according to Kasoulides, is "to talk about the UN intention to resume negotiations right after February's presidential elections."

"Kofi Annan's message refers to the Secretary-General's intention to continue his mission of good offices, with the continuation of the present process, which began at Troutbeck, has not been interrupted and continues after the elections," Kasoulides said.

Two rounds of UN sponsored direct talks (in Troutbeck, New York and Glion, Switzerland) between the Greek and Turkish Cypriot sides took place this summer but failed to produce any results.

Cordovez avoided replying to repeated questions, referring journalists to a bicommunal press conference he will give at the Ledra Palace checkpoint on Friday.

Referring to his meeting with Clerides, Cordovez said he talked "about all kinds of things".

The UN diplomat leaves Cyprus on Friday for talks in Athens. On Monday he will be in Ankara and the following day he is due to see with European Union Commissioner for External Relations, Hans Van den Broek.

On November 27 Cordovez will have a meeting in Paris with EU presidency envoy for Cyprus Kester Heaslip.

CNA MA/EC/MM/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1730:CYPPRESS:03

[03] Cyprus backs peaceful resolution of Iraq crisis

"Cyprus believes all diplomatic means for a peaceful settlement to the problem should be exhausted," Government Spokesman Manolis Christofides said today.

"At the same time Iraq should comply with UN Security Council decisions, " he added.

Christofides said the government's longstanding position "was and remains that all UN member states should conform with and implement Security Council resolutions."

He pointed out that member states must abide by their obligations as outlined in the UN Charter and international law.

CNA MA/MM/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1750:CYPPRESS:04

[04] Turkish settlers must return, says government

"Our position is that the settlers must return to Turkey once a solution is reached, apart from some humanitarian cases," Foreign Minister Ioannis Kasoulides said.

It is estimated that over 80 thousand mainland Turks have been brought to the areas of Cyprus occupied by Turkey since it invaded the island in 1974.

Kasoulides was responding to statements made by Britain's envoy for Cyprus, Sir David Hannay, that the Turkish settlers have been living in the occupied areas for many years and do not differ a great deal from the Turkish Cypriots.

In a recent interview with a Greek Cypriot daily, Hannay said the Turkish settlers are actually Cypriots and have acquired the so-called Turkish Cypriot "citizenship".

Government Spokesman Manolis Christofides has also dismissed Hannay's statements, pointing out that there is no Turkish Cypriot "citizenship" but only one citizenship in Cyprus.

In a Council of Europe report prepared in 1992 by Alfons Cuco on "The Demographic Structure of the Cypriot Communities", he notes that Turkish nationals arrived in the occupied areas from 1975 onwards "where they settled on a long-term basis."

He adds the Turkish Cypriot aim is to "encourage their permanent settlement on the island" and says the number of settlers must be over 40 thousand.

CNA MA/MM/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1950:CYPPRESS:05

[05] US Senator wants Cyprus to be "source of peace"

He was speaking after a meeting with the President of the House of Representatives, Spyros Kyprianou.

Describing the meeting "delightful", Smith said he learned much from Kyprianou and other leaders in Cyprus, their "different perspectives and their sincere hope that as members of the US Senate...we can help facilitate the peace process and the reunification of this important country, Cyprus".

Asked by CNA what he could do in practical terms, Smith referred to the appointment of Richard Holbrooke as US Presidential Emissary to "make this (Cyprus) a priority".

"We have a good ambassador, we have lots of ideas on the table. We are trying to nudge both sides, our friends in Ankara and in Athens, to make sure that Cyprus does not become the source of greater conflict, and ultimately the source of peace", he added.

On his part, Kyprianou said he had the opportunity to present an overall picture of the Cyprus problem.

"We confined the discussion on what must be done to secure the freedom, human rights and peace in the region", Kyprianou said.

CNA EC/MM/1996

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

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