Cyprus News Agency: News in English (PM), 98-01-02

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

CONTENTS

[01] Cyprus Stock Exchange

[02] Cyprus working for a peaceful settlement

[03] Israeli assurances to Cyprus

[04] Turkish Cypriot party leaders criticise regime

1530:CYPPRESS:01

[01] Cyprus Stock Exchange

CSE All Share Index                    76.63 (-0.89)

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

Sectural Indices

Banks                                  87.42 (-0.73)
Approved Investment Companies          58.65 (-2.66)
Insurance Companies                    57.58 (-1.67)
Industrial Companies                   75.64 (+0.11)
Tourist Industries                     61.10 (-2.47)
Commercial Companies                   40.50 (-3.78)
Other Companies                        66.22 (+0.82)

Trading Volume                         CYP 200562.870

CNA MCH/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1610:CYPPRESS:02

[02] Cyprus working for a peaceful settlement

This was stated here today by Government Spokesman, Manolis Christofides, when asked to comment on the possibility of a heated incident in the area.

"Our long-standing policy is that the Cyprus problem should be resolved peacefully", he said, pointing out that in the framework of a defence pact, agreed with Greece, Cyprus is ready to confront Turkish aggression.

"Each country has its own defence authorities who say they are ready to face any possibility if another country, in our case Turkey, opts for an unacceptable offensive policy," Christofides said.

"It is therefore not an issue that depends on us but on Turkey, if it choses to follow an aggressive policy", he stressed.

"It is up to Turkey to take note of international reaction and chose a policy that would secure its European course", he concluded.

CNA RG/MCH/MM/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1730:CYPPRESS:03

[03] Israeli assurances to Cyprus

Assurances to this effect were given to M. Paltzur, president of the Israel-Cyprus friendship association during meetings he has had with Israeli Foreign Ministry officials.

Addressing the group's annual general meeting (AGM) Paltzur said officials assured him that Israel's enhanced relations with Turkey or any other country are not going to affect good ties with Cyprus in any adverse manner.

The main speaker at the AGM was Cyprus' Ambassador in Tel Aviv Evripides Evriviades, who referred to the close friendly relations with Israel and praised the work of the Association.

The Ambassador called on everyone present to intensify their efforts to promote more effectively the Cyprus question.

The AGM was also addressed by the Cypriot president of the Association Prodromos Papavassiliou who said the people of Cyprus are very friendly disposed towards the people of Israel.

Archaeologist Avner Raba addressed the meeting on "Cyprus -Israel: sea routes during ancient times 7000 - 2000 BC."

CNA MM/MCH/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1930:CYPPRESS:04

[04] Turkish Cypriot party leaders criticise regime

Mehmet Ali Talat, leader of the Republican Turkish party, and Alpay Durduran, of the New Cyprus party, aired their views on developments in Cyprus in an interview with the London Greek Radio (LGR).

Talat said Turkish Cypriot participation in EU membership talks "should reflect the political equality" of the island's two communities and called on their leadership to try and find a formula for this participation.

He said the Turkish Cypriot side does not accept participation in accession talks with the status of observer, but stressed that "one of the reasons for this difficulty is the reluctance of the Turkish side to participate."

Commenting on a proposal by the Cyprus government for the Turkish Cypriots to join the Cyprus delegation to negotiate with the EU, Talat described any move to start accession talks with the internationally recognised government of Cyprus as an "unfair approach because it does not represent the Turkish Cypriot community."

Talat said it would be "very difficult to find a way for Turkish Cypriot participation" in accession talks unless progress towards a settlement is achieved.

"If we try to achieve our goals by using the EU accession process, I think we will not be able to achieve anything and in the end both communities will be harmed," Talat told LGR.

He was very critical of Turkey's attempts to integrate Cyprus' occupied areas and described it as unacceptable.

"We are against integration with Turkey and Turkey knows that. Integration is taking place every day without our consent, we do not like it," Talat stressed, and advocated "self-government" for the Turkish Cypriot side.

"We believe this will not help reconciliation between the two sides, and we try to protect the interests of our community. We are struggling for reconciliation and the reunification of our island under a federation and equal rights of our communities," he added.

Referring to the suspension of bicommunal contact, Talat said such moves do not help and added "we criticised this approach and will try to do our best for bicommunal activities because we believe they help a lot towards reconcilitation and lasting peace in Cyprus."

On efforts to solve the question of persons missing in Cyprus, Talat said "we will try to convince our leadership to proceed on this because it is a very important, very emotional, and very sensitive issue."

On his part, Durduran said the problem with Turkish Cypriot participation lies with the inability of the Turkish Cypriot side to "accept Cyprus' accession to the EU."

"The problem is not finding a formula for participation but the decision to participate," he underlined, noting that if it is decided to accept the EU, then a formula can be found.

Durduran said integration with Turkey "is impossible under the present circumstances, because the world will not allow it and because it is not beneficial to the island and the Turkish Cypriot community."

He also argued against "very close contact with the Turkish economy" and described it as a "bad thing".

The leader of New Cyprus party said bicommunal contact is "very useful" and described the suspension of bicommunal activity as "a violation of the rights of the Turkish Cypriots."

CNA MM/MCH/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

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