Cyprus News Agency: News in English (PM), 97-11-28

Cyprus News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

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

CONTENTS

[01] Cypriot Greens to enter European Movement

[02] Cyprus', Turkish EU orientation "catalyst" for solution

[03] Cyprus Stock Exchange

[04] Turkish settlers "probably biggest problem"

[05] Turkey must fulfill EU obligations, says Greece

[06] Turkish settlers must leave, says government

1500:CYPPRESS:01

[01] Cypriot Greens to enter European Movement

He told a press conference "the environmentalists movement in Cyprus is very active", and has contributed a lot in promoting environment-related causes.

Cassola said he is visiting Cyprus in order to finalise the EFGP assessment of the EEM application, and to discuss the island's political problem with party leaders from both sides of the divide.

Meetings with party leaders will help the EFGP to form its official stance on the Cyprus problem, he said.

The EFGP representative noted that he has already met Greek Cypriot party leaders and he will meet the leaders of two Turkish Cypriot parties later today.

Alpay Durduran, leader of the Turkish Cypriot "New Cyprus" party, and Mehmet Ali Talat, head of the Republican Turkish Party, will join Cassola and the EEM representatives in the government-controlled areas, the conference heard.

According to Cassola and the EEM representatives, this will be the first time that Turkish Cypriot leaders, meet an EEM delegation.

Asked to comment on Turkey's plans to build a nuclear power plant on the country's southern coast, Cassola said "Greens are against nuclear energy in principle", and they are consequently against a new plant in Turkey.

Cassola, an academic, is a founding member of both the Maltese Green Party, and the EFGP.

CNA GG/GP/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1555:CYPPRESS:02

[02] Cyprus', Turkish EU orientation "catalyst" for solution

He also said Cyprus backs Turkey's European aspirations and reiterated yesterday's comments by the Foreign Minister that Cyprus would be ready to participate in accession talks at the same time as Turkey.

"Cyprus has no objection to sitting at the same table with Turkey, nor do we object to Turkey's prospect for European integration, but our accession course and that of Turkey are matters which concern the Union," Christofides said.

He said it was up to the EU to define the terms and conditions which would enable Turkey to hold membership talks with the Union and added "at present all indications are that it is impossible to do that."

These terms, he noted, relate to improved human rights record, increased effort to settle the Kurdish and Cyprus problems and ironing out differences with Greece.

"We believe that our interests will also be served within a Europe that would embrace hundreds of millions of people and extend its borders to our region," the Spokesman added.

Replying to questions, he said Turkish participation in the European Conference would benefit Cyprus, if the conditions set out by the EU are either met or if there are assurances they will be met.

"At this stage, we are in a fortunate position that the interests of many powerful and big countries coincide with ours," he said.

He said Europe was "wise" in trying to keep Turkey within the European principles and values.

Cyprus is due to begin accession negotiations with another five candidate countries in spring 1998. Turkey, whose application for accession has been virtually frozen, is not included in this list and the country's premier Mesut Yilmaz has tried to rally support from EU member-states for Turkey's participation in the conference.

CNA MM/EC/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1650:CYPPRESS:03

[03] Cyprus Stock Exchange

CSE All Share Index                    76.28 (+0.16)

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

Sectural Indices

Banks                                  88.24 (+0.02)
Approved Investment Companies          59.60 (+0.44)
Insurance Companies                    55.73 (+0.18)
Industrial Companies                   73.09 (+0.87)
Tourist Industries                     62.86 (+0.27)
Commercial Companies                   39.11 (+0.33)
Other Companies                        59.93 (-0.05)

Trading Volume                         CYP 489120.161

CNA MM/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1655:CYPPRESS:04

[04] Turkish settlers "probably biggest problem"

Government Spokesman, Manolis Christofides, said it is obvious that thousands of settlers from Turkey have been intentionally transferred to the island.

"It is an international crime which must be tackled by all of us on a global level," he added.

A census by the so-called Turkish Cypriot "authorities", published yesterday in the Turkish Cypriot press, has revealed that the population there has increased dramatically, despite continuing emigration of Turkish Cypriots.

The December 1996 census reveals that the population in occupied Cyprus has reached 200,587.

Christofides said according to statistics of the Republic of Cyprus Turkish Cypriots in 1974 when Turkish troops invaded and occupied the island's northern areas numbered 120.000, representing 18 per cent of the population.

"The settlers brought into Cyprus from Turkey are at least 100,000 and this perhaps is the biggest danger for Cyprus' present and future," he said.

He said according to available information today there are less than 80, 000 Turkish Cypriots living in the occupied part of Cyprus.

The majority of Turkish Cypriots who emigrate do so to escape from the economic problems they are facing, in the hope of making a better living abroad.

CNA KN/EC/MM/1996

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1955:CYPPRESS:05

[05] Turkey must fulfill EU obligations, says Greece

Speaking at a press conference here today, Simitis said "Greece is prepared to block the participation of Turkey in a European Conference and we are stressing again it is necessary for Turkey to fulfill certain conditions."

"Acceptance of the jurisdiction of the International Court of Justice is one of them and putting an end to threats to Cyprus in connection with accession negotiations with the EU are two of these conditions," he said.

Simitis, in London for talks with his British counterpart Tony Blair, singled out Turkey's threats as a unique example of one country threatening a third over its negotiations with the EU.

"There is not any example of any country threatening a third country in the event of her negotiating with the EU," he told the press.

The Greek premier also told Turkey it should accept UN decisions on Cyprus, just as all 15 member-states do and reminded journalists of Turkey's warning to "incorporate the Turkish occupied part of Cyprus" if the EU begins membership talks with Cyprus.

"Any member of the EU has to accept the decisions of the UN and the UN resolutions are based on certain principles, one of them is that partition is not acceptable," Simitis said.

Cyprus was partitioned when Turkish troops invaded and occupied its northern part in 1974.

Referring to Britain' stand vis a vis Cyprus, Simitis said "on the whole it is a positive one and it is a happy event that Britain will be taking the presidency of the EU at this time (as of January 1998)."

Simitis also held a meeting with the leader of the Conservative party, William Hague.

In statements after the meeting, Simitis and Hague said the two sides agreed that Cyprus can join the EU before a Cyprus settlement.

CNA KT/MM/EC/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

2110:CYPPRESS:06

[06] Turkish settlers must leave, says government

Speaking on his return from London, where he met Britain's envoy for Cyprus Sir David Hannay, Kasoulides said he pointed out to him that the principle of having illegal Turkish settlers returned to Turkey must be part and parcel of a solution.

The British diplomat told a Cypriot daily that settlers in the occupied part of Cyprus married to Turkish Cypriots had acquired so called "Turkish Cypriot citizenship" and therefore had the right to remain on the island after a Cyprus settlement.

"The solution of the Cyprus problem is not feasible without the return of the settlers", he said, and added "once this principle is accepted, only then shall we be ready to discuss humanitarian cases related to settlers."

Kasoulides said Sir David explained to him that he neither intended to speak in favour of colonisation, nor to accept it in principle.

However, the Foreign Minister stuck to his earlier statements that Sir David's objectivity and usefulness as a mediator had been tarnished by his remarks on the settlers.

The Foreign Minister also referred to Turkish Cypriot participation in the accession negotiations Cyprus is scheduled to start in 1998 with the European Union (EU).

Noting that the Greek Cypriot side welcomes their participation in the EU - Cyprus negotiating team, Kasoulides stressed they must first accept that the negotiations will be held with the internationally recognised government of the Republic of Cyprus.

"They must also accept that everyone will work for Cyprus' accession to the EU", he added.

CNA MAN/EC/MM/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

Cyprus News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article