Cyprus News Agency: News in English (PM), 98-02-11

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

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

CONTENTS

[01] Cyprus Stock Exchange

[02] EDEK in marathon session ahead of elections

[03] More stolen icons from occupied Cyprus discovered

[04] Liberals decide in favour of Clerides' candidature

1600:CYPPRESS:01

[01] Cyprus Stock Exchange

CSE All Share Index                    81.00 (+0.27)

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

Sectural Indices

Banks                                  94.29 (+0.16)
Approved Investment Companies          63.25 (+1.30)
Insurance Companies                    58.22 (+1.85)
Industrial Companies                   75.24 (-0.38)
Tourist Industries                     67.90 (-0.29)
Commercial Companies                   39.01 (+0.80)
Other Companies                        67.43 (+0.13)

Trading Volume                         CYP 884542.284

CNA MM/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1715:CYPPRESS:02

[02] EDEK in marathon session ahead of elections

Both front-runners, incumbent President Glafcos Clerides and independent candidate George Iacovou, have responded positively to a set of proposals put forward by EDEK for a government of national unity and a National Policy Council.

Clerides handed his reply in writing to EDEK leader, Vassos Lyssarides, today, while Iacovou communicated his response last night.

There are three options before EDEK's Central Committee, to back Clerides, support Iacovou or invite its supporters to vote according to their conscience.

EDEK's decision is considered crucial in Sunday's race for the presidency, as the two main rivals are running neck and neck with only half a percentage point between them.

Lyssarides said committee members will have the chance to freely express their opinion and added he will hear people out and then speak his own mind.

Meanwhile, left-wing AKEL, party which together with centre right Democratic Party (DIKO) supports Iacovou's candidacy, has sent a letter to Lyssarides offering him the Foreign Ministry portfolio, and a second ministerial post to EDEK.

The letter also stresses that Clerides' government should be removed from power and expresses support for a government which would enjoy the widest possible acceptance.

Other party leaders, who contested last Sunday's first round of elections, have had new meetings today with the two front-runners before they decide what to do in Sunday's runoff.

New Horizons party, whose leader was one of the seven contenders of the presidency last Sunday, decided last night to back Clerides in his bid for re-election.

CNA MCH/MM/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1735:CYPPRESS:03

[03] More stolen icons from occupied Cyprus discovered

Aydin Dikmen, 60, a Turkish national living in Germany, was arrested last October, after Munich Police tracked down in his apartment 14 cases and packages containing works of art pillaged from the island's northern part, under Turkish occupation since 1974.

The nine icons were recently located in the possession of Greek art- dealer Seraphim Dritsoulas, after police searched his house and gallery in Munich.

Dristoulas' premises on the Greek island of Skiathos were also searched by the Greek Police but nothing was found there.

Former Cyprus Museum Director, Thanasis Papageorgiou, a specialist in Byzantine art, identified the nine icons as belonging to churches in occupied Cyprus.

Both the Church and the government of Cyprus have repeatedly protested to the UN, UNESCO, the World Council of Churches and other international organisations about the looting and destruction of the island's 9.000-year- old cultural heritage in the Turkish-occupied areas.

CNA MCH/MM/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1945:CYPPRESS:04

[04] Liberals decide in favour of Clerides' candidature

This was announced here today by Liberal leader, Nicos Rolandis, who conveyed his party's decision to Clerides over the phone.

Rolandis said the decision was reached with an overwhelming majority at a meeting of the central committee, with 50 votes in favour, one abstention and three committee members favoured a vote by choice.

The Central Committee is made up of 54 members.

Today's decision comes only a day after two other presidential hopefuls, knocked out of the race after last Sunday's first round of elections, announced they would back Clerides.

Rolandis, who was one of the seven candidates on Sunday, got 3.104 votes, accounting for 0.78 per cent of the vote.

His support, however, for Clerides could prove crucial for Clerides as the difference between the two main rivals, Clerides and former Foreign Minister George Iacovou, is only half a percentage unit.

Rolandis stressed the need for national unity but warned against the risks, if an ecumenical government is formed.

"An ecumenical government would mean that any political opposition will no longer exist, since everybody will participate in the government", he said, pointing out that "democracy dictates there must be opposition".

CNA MCH/MM/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

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