Cyprus News Agency: News in English (PM), 97-12-15

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

CONTENTS

[01] Turk jailed for espionage

[02] FM on Turkey's reaction to EU decision

[03] Albright to stop over in Cyprus

[04] Cyprus Stock Exchange

[05] UK urges Turkey to rethink on Europe

[06] Presidential couple entertains children of enclaved

[07] Chernomyrdin to raise Cyprus problem in Ankara

[08] Albright departs for Brussels

[09] Annan calls for "new approaches" in Cyprus

1540:CYPPRESS:01

[01] Turk jailed for espionage

Nedjip Sarichichekli, 45, a Turk married to a Turkish Cypriot and living in the government-controlled areas, also pleaded guilty to video- taping restricted National Guard military areas.

After pleading guilty to all four charges he was facing, the Court sentenced Sarichichekli to 6,5 years' imprisonment.

He was arrested on March 8 with Mustafa Omer Konor, 37, another Turk married to a Greek Cypriot, and Djian Nejip, 37, a Turkish Cypriot living with a Greek Cypriot. Konor and Nejip were later released.

The Attorney-General's office had dropped another charge against the convicted Turk.

Sarichichekli had been also accused of an attempt to destroy with explosives the Kurdish cultural centre in Limassol last year.

Upon arrest, Police found in their possession military documents, maps of National Guard camps, video tapes containing military information and newspaper clippings on National Guard's armament programmes.

They all live in the southwestern coastal town of Limassol after having "fled" the northern areas occupied by Turkey since the 1974 invasion of Cyprus.

CNA CS/AP/GP/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1600:CYPPRESS:02

[02] FM on Turkey's reaction to EU decision

The European Union (EU) summit decided on Saturday to open membership talks with Cyprus but failed to invite Turkey as a prospective candidate for accession to a European Conference of all candidate countries.

The Minister said if Turkey accepts the European principles, then this would provide the framework for a Cyprus solution and good neighbourly relations.

"A positive response on the part of Turkey would contribute towards conditions of security and stability in the region," Kasoulides added.

The EU invited Turkey to the European Conference provided it conforms to certain criteria, but the invitation was rejected. Turkey threatened to cut off its political dialogue with Europe and integrate the part of Cyprus it occupies.

Kasoulides said Turkey's reaction "is not wise."

"The EU decision is historic, for Europe as well as Cyprus. We are fully satisfied because the decision officially reaffirms the EU commitment of March 1995 to begin accession talks six months after the end of the Intergovernmental Conference," Kasoulides said.

The Minister said Saturday's decision "incorporates important positive elements for Cyprus" but also pointed out that "though we can be optimistic, the road to full accession will be a continuous struggle."

Referring to the French position during deliberations on enlargement, backed by Portugal and the Netherlands, Kasoulides said "this gives us a taste of what is to come."

All three countries argued there must be a solution to the political problem in Cyprus and secure Turkish Cypriot participation in membership talks before accession negotiations with Cyprus could start.

Kasoulides dismissed Turkey's threats to integrate the part of Cyprus it occupied since its troops invaded the island in 1974, and said "Cyprus and Greece will deal with any Turkish reaction within international law and order."

"We are dedicated to the start of accession talks, and we believe and expect these will begin as decided," Kasoulides said.

CNA RG/MM/AP/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1620:CYPPRESS:03

[03] Albright to stop over in Cyprus

Reliable sources told CNA that Albright will arrive at 6.20 p.m. from Nigeria, at the end of an African tour, for refueling.

Her aircraft will remain at the airport for more than an hour but she is not expected to leave the plane. The press corps, accompanying Albright, will spend some time at the airport.

A US embassy press release said Albright will have no meetings during "this very brief stop, which is only for servicing the aircraft".

This is Albright's third visit to the island in the past two years.

CNA EC/MM/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1530:CYPPRESS:04

[04] Cyprus Stock Exchange

CSE All Share Index                    76.71 (-0.01)

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

Sectural Indices

Banks                                  87.43 (-0.06)
Approved Investment Companies          59.25 (-0.30)
Insurance Companies                    58.54 (-0.03)
Industrial Companies                   74.98 (+0.37)
Tourist Industries                     62.03 (-0.77)
Commercial Companies                   41.98 (-0.43)
Other Companies                        64.00 (+0.93)

Trading Volume                         CYP 805228.416

CNA MM/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1940:CYPPRESS:05

[05] UK urges Turkey to rethink on Europe

A Foreign Office official spokesman said here Monday, "we are looking very carefully at what the Turkish government are saying."

"The European Union (EU) put forward a substantial package and we hope that the Turkish government will reflect on it," the spokesman added.

Furthermore, the spokesman said the "UK believes that Turkey's future lies with the EU".

The EU summit decided on Saturday to open membership talks with Cyprus but failed to invite Turkey as a prospective candidate for accession to the European Conference for all candidate countries.

It said the invitation depends on Turkey conforming to certain criteria. However, the invitation was rejected by Turkey, which also threatened to cut off its political ties with the EU and integrate the northern part of Cyprus it occupies since 1974.

CNA KT/EC/MM/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1950:CYPPRESS:06

[06] Presidential couple entertains children of enclaved

In a cheerful spirit 53 children, who live away from their families and attend schools in the government-controlled areas, met the President and the First Lady who gave them Christmas presents and a tour of their official residence.

The children of enclaved Greek Cypriots are forced to stay in the free areas of the Republic for their secondary education, since no gymnasiums operate in the occupied part of the island.

Moreover, the illegal Turkish Cypriot regime does not allow girls over 18 and boys over 16 to visit their parents.

The Presidential couple guided the children around the palace. Some of them even had the chance to "try out" the Presidential chair and held an impromptu "cabinet" meeting.

Christina Christodoulou thanked the first couple for their help and moral support to the enclaved and their children.

"With perseverance and faith in God, the enclaved are looking forward to the day their relatives, friends and neighbours will return for good to their ancestral land, not as tourists in their own homes but permanently," she said.

President Clerides said everyone wants to see a just solution to the protracted Cyprus.

"A solution which would reunite our divided island, and allow all those who were forced to flee their homes, because of the Turkish invasion, to return," he said.

Around 500 enclaved Greek Cypriots and Maronites, mostly elderly, have remained in the occupied areas, out of some 20,000 who used to live there after the 1974 invasion and occupation of the island's northern third.

There are only three teachers in the Turkish-occupied areas to provide for elementary education of 34 Greek Cypriot and Maronite children.

This, despite special provisions in the Third Vienna Agreement, concluded between the Greek and Turkish Cypriot sides in 1975 stipulating that "facilities for education" should be provided.

CNA AP/MM/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

2045:CYPPRESS:07

[07] Chernomyrdin to raise Cyprus problem in Ankara

According to the Russian news agency "Novosti", the Russian Premier was to convey to the Turkish government Moscow's firm position that a Cyprus solution should be within the UN framework in accordance to relevant Security Council resolutions.

Chernomyrdin would also request Ankara to take the political decision and accept a mutually agreed Cyprus settlement, Novosti added.

In statements prior to his departure for Ankara, the Russian Premier had made it evident he would not allow Turkey reiterate its threats on the purchase by the Cyprus government of the S-300s Russian-made anti-aircraft missiles, the agency said.

According to Novosti's sources, close to the Russian Premier, Chernomyrdin intended to express to Turkish officials Moscow's dissatisfaction with their continuing fuss on the missiles' purchase and their deployment in Cyprus in mid-1998.

The Russian government has repeatedly protested Turkish authorities policy to search merchant ships crossing the Straits, it suspected of carrying missile components to Cyprus, in violation of the 1936 Montreux Convention providing for free navigation through the Straits.

Early this year the Cyprus government signed a contract with Russian manufacturers for the purchase of these surface-to-air missiles, to bolster its defences against the Turkish army that invaded and occupied the island's northern third since 1974.

Turkey has threatened to sink vessels carrying missiles components, causing Russian officials to respond by saying that such an incident would be considered a "casus belli" (cause of war).

CNA AP/MM/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

2055:CYPPRESS:08

[08] Albright departs for Brussels

Albright's aircraft, en route from Nigeria, landed here around 1900 hours, local time (1700 GMT), and took off for Brussels, to attend a NATO Council meeting, just after 2000 hours.

During her brief stop here for aircraft refueling and servicing, the US Secretary of State had no meetings.

This is Albright's third visit to the island in the past two years.

CNA AP/MM/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

2110:CYPPRESS:09

[09] Annan calls for "new approaches" in Cyprus

He also calls on the leaders of the Greek and Turkish Cypriot communities to enter "a continuing and sustained process of negotiations" to help bring about a solution.

In his report to the UN Security Council on his mission of good offices, Annan said he is convinced that "it is essential to adopt new approaches and to ensure that the two community leaders will enter upon, as soon as possible, a continuing and sustained process of negotiations that will focus on the preparation of the actual legal instruments that will constitute the settlement."

The UN chief outlines developments in the past few months, including the two rounds of UN-sponsored direct talks between the two sides, which he says ended "inconclusively."

Annan stresses that he remains "committed to continue my good offices mission at the earliest appropriate time, bearing in mind that the electoral process is now quite naturally engaging the priority attention of the Greek Cypriot leader and his community."

Presidential elections are scheduled for February 1998 and President Glafcos Clerides said he would seek re-election.

Annan's report notes that "to allow the present status quo, which is precarious, to continue, would entail serious danger."

His report says the two communities enter into talks "on an equal footing" and that the political equality of the two communities and their leaders is "scrupulously observed."

CNA MM/AP/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

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