Cyprus News Agency: News in English (PM), 97-12-04

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

CONTENTS

[01] EU and Media seminar begins.

[02] Cyprus Stock Exchange

[03] European Parliament resolution on enlargement

[04] EU accession negotiations for Cyprus to start, says Commissioner

1540:CYPPRESS:01

[01] EU and Media seminar begins.

Addressing the one-day seminar Foreign Minister Ioannis Kasoulides said "we live in an age of revolutions", pointing out that:

"The greatest revolution of our age can be encapsulated in a simple word with infinite implications: Information."

Describing the role of the media as "vital" in European integration, Kasoulides said:

"They help in keeping European citizens informed and interested in what is being done in Brussels and ensure that their concerns are taken into account in designing the various policies for the future".

He added that "the fact that media transcend national borders, facilitates cross-cultural contacts and fruitful cross-fertilisation of views and ideas".

Making special reference to the importance of bi-communal contacts, Kasoulides said they prove that "those who abuse the Media by spreading propaganda to the effect that Turk and Greek cannot live together in Cyprus" are lying.

He stressed that on the contrary "we do at heart share a common vision for peace and unity and for a common future as European citizens in a united Republic of Cyprus that encourages and respects all cultural proclivities and is a full member of the EU".

The Foreign Minister expressed regret over the fact that Turkish Cypriot journalists were not allowed by the illegal Turkish occupation to attend the seminar.

Also addressing the seminar, Ambassador Gilles Anouil, head of delegation of the European Commission, stressed the especially important role of journalists "at this crucial juncture for Cyprus because of its accession to the EU".

"We need your help, analysis, evaluation of what is at stake, what the EU is all about", said Anouil.

The ambassador, who has worked for 15 years as a journalist, also expressed regret that Turkish Cypriot journalists were prevented from attending the seminar as a result of the separatist policy of the Turkish occupation regime.

"This story is not unusual", he pointed out, expressing the hope Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot journalists will have the chance to get together in the future and organise a similar event.

The EU Ambassador also reminded his audience of the special importance EU External Relations Commissioner, Hans Van den Broek, places on bi- communal activities.

President of the AEJ Cyprus Section, Andreas Hadjikyriakos, said the aim of the section is to contribute towards the upgrading of journalism and to provide information on matters concerning the EU.

He stressed the importance of Cyprus' harmonisation with the acquis communautaire, noting that if this is not achieved Cyprus will be lost in the European family.

Hadjikyriakos also said that both the AEJ Cyprus Section and the delegation of the European Commission worked hard for the participation of Turkish Cypriot journalists to the seminar, an effort that failed due to the intransigence of the Turkish occupation regime.

Britain's High Commissioner to Cyprus, David Madden, and the Ambassadors of Greece, Kyriakos Rodousakis and Israel, Shemi Tzur attended the opening ceremony.

The seminar will deal with issues such as "Media Perceptions of the EU", "Democracy in the Media", "Media Networking" and "Media Ethics in the EU Codes of Conduct".

President of the AEJ, Athanasios Papandropoulos, Director of the Med- Media Jemstone Network, Tutor Lomas and Lindsey Armstrong of the Directorate for Communication at the European Commission will speak at the seminar.

Professors of the European Journalism Centre in Maastricht, Angelo Agostini, of Bologna University and Barbara Thomas, of Hamburg University, along with BBC news European affairs specialist, William Horsley, will also address the seminar.

CNA MA/MCH/EC/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1840:CYPPRESS:02

[02] Cyprus Stock Exchange

CSE All Share Index                    76.21 (+0.43)

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

Sectural Indices

Banks                                  87.77 (+0.18)
Approved Investment Companies          59.15 (+0.27)
Insurance Companies                    57.04 (+1.08)
Industrial Companies                   73.45 (+0.30)
Tourist Industries                     62.00 (+0.02)
Commercial Companies                   40.31 (+2.26)
Other Companies                        60.12 (+2.35)

Trading Volume                         CYP 776847.177

CNA MCH/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

2000:CYPPRESS:03

[03] European Parliament resolution on enlargement

The position is included in a resolution, adopted here Thursday by the plenary of the European Parliament.

It will be submitted at the European Council in Luxembourg on December 12-13 for final approval. It was based on a report on enlargement, prepared by Euro MPs, Dutch Christian Democrat, Arie Oostlander, and Spanish Socialist, Enrique Baron Crespo.

According to the resolution, accession negotiations will start for nine applicant countries of Central and Eastern Europe and Cyprus. The 11th country, Slovakia, does not fulfil the Copenhagen political criteria on democratic institutions, according to the resolution.

It proposes the start of intense accession negotiations with the five countries of Central and Eastern Europe, (Estonia, Poland, the Czech Republic, Hungary and Slovenia) and Cyprus, according to the European Commission.

The resolution also suggests the holding of the European Conference, with the participation of all applicant countries including Turkey, but there is no commitment for Turkey's accession.

The European Parliament adopted an amendment, which will be included in the resolution, calling on Ankara to make substantial progress on the Cyprus problem, the Kurdish issue and human rights.

The final decision on the EU enlargement will be taken at the Luxembourg summit.

CNA NB/EC/MCH/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

2020:CYPPRESS:04

[04] EU accession negotiations for Cyprus to start, says Commissioner

Speaking during a meeting here, Thursday, with a group of 16 Greek and Turkish Cypriot members of youth organisations, Van den Broek reassured that the negotiations for Cyprus' accession will definitely start next year.

For this reason, the two communities should start cooperating to prepare accession negotiations, independently of the course of the negotiations to settle the Cyprus problem, the EU Commissioner suggested.

Van den Broek, who paid a two day visit to Cyprus earlier this week, said the start of accession negotiations would facilitate a Cyprus settlement.

The 16 youths were invited to Brussels by Greek New Democracy Euro MP, Costis Hadzidakis, in cooperation with the Cyprus Youth Organisation and the Fulbright Commission.

A gathering at the European Parliament for the 16 youths was addressed by the co-chairman of the EU-Cyprus Joint Parliamentary Committee, Philippe Monfils, the President of the European Peoples' Party, Willy Martens and the President of the European Socialists, Pauline Green.

They all spoke about the significance the EU attaches to a Cyprus settlement and the participation of representatives of the Turkish Cypriot community in negotiations, but only under the auspices of the official government of Cyprus, recognised by the international community.

Martens stressed that negotiations with Cyprus will start in April as scheduled, even if there is no solution to the Cyprus problem.

Monfills condemned Turkish Cypriot leader, Rauf Denktash, for being intransigent, noting that Cyprus should enter the EU and not become Turkey's hostage.

Green said she wished both communities will participate in the accession negotiations.

CNA NB/EC/MCH/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

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