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Cyprus News Agency: News in English (PM), 98-02-16Cyprus News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Cyprus News Agency at <http://www.cyna.org.cy>CONTENTS
1420:CYPPRESS:01[01] Clerides to visit AthensNicosia, Feb 16 (CNA) -- President Glafcos Clerides will visit Athens after he officially takes over his duties for a second five-year term later this month.Greece's ambassador to Cyprus, Kyriakos Rodousakis, called on President Clerides today to congratulate him on his re-election, on behalf of the Greek President, the Premier and the Foreign Minister. "Once again I assured President Clerides of Greece's support and solidarity with all challenges, initiatives and decisions that lie ahead," he said. Clerides won Sunday's presidential election runoff, receiving 50.82 per cent of the vote as against 49.18 per cent polled by former Foreign Minister George Iacovou. On February 28 he will give the prescribed affirmation for a second five-year term during a ceremonial session of the 56-seat House of Representatives. "President Clerides plans to visit Athens after he takes over his duties" for the next five years, Rodousakis told the press. He announced that Greek Foreign Under-Secretary, Yiannos Kranidiotis, will be visiting Cyprus next week. Replying to questions, Rodousakis said Kranidiotis will hold discussions on President Clerides' visit to Athens as well as the Cyprus problem and Cyprus' bid to become a full member of the European Union. The EU will open accession talks with the Cyprus Republic on March 31, 1998. CNA KN/MA/GP/1998ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY1440:CYPPRESS:02[02] Russia reaffirms S-300 delivery as agreedNicosia, Feb 16 (CNA) -- Russia has reaffirmed its position regarding the delivery later this year of S-300 surface-to-air missiles purchased by the Cyprus government.At the same time, Moscow fully backed President Glafcos Clerides' proposal for the complete demilitarisation of the island. Russian Foreign Minister, Yevgeni Primakov, currently visiting Greece, told the Athens News Agency "the demilitarisation of Cyprus would eliminate the need for any kind of armaments". However, he reaffirmed his country's pledge that the S-300's would be delivered as agreed in the contract signed with the Cyprus government, noting that "this position is well known to Ankara as well". Primakov expressed satisfaction with the position of certain representatives within the Turkish leadership, as he said, who object to Turkish threats to take military action against the deployment of the S-300 missiles in Cyprus. The Russian Foreign Minister is visiting Athens at the invitation of his Greek counterpart, Theodoros Pangalos. Turkish troops have been occupying 37 per cent of Cyprus territory in violation of repeated UN resolutions calling for their withdrawal. CNA MCH/GP/1998ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY1500:CYPPRESS:03[03] Archbishop congratulates CleridesNicosia, Feb 16 (CNA) -- The Primate of the Greek Orthodox Church of Cyprus, Archbishop Chrysostomos, visited President Glafcos Clerides, today, to congratulate him on his re-election to the presidency.Speaking after the meeting the Archbishop gave his backing to the idea of a national unity government, pointing out that such a move would avert divisions. "If we have a government of national unity, there will be no divisions and we shall be able to make long-term plans," the Archbishop said. Asked to comment on a US initiative expected to be launched on the Cyprus problem, Chrysostomos said he did not know how this would develop. He stressed however the need to the Turkish occupied part of Cyprus and restore human rights. CNA KN/MCH/MM/1998ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY1530:CYPPRESS:04[04] Deliberations for new government start tomorrowNicosia, Feb 16 (CNA) -- President-elect Glafcos Clerides will start consultations tomorrow with all political parties to form a new government, Government Spokesman Manolis Christofides announced today.He said invitations are expected to be sent to left-wing AKEL, socialist EDEK, United Democrats, New Horizons, the Liberals and Alexis Galanos, who had broken ranks with centre-right party DIKO. The Spokesman congratulated Clerides' opponent in yesterday's presidential election, George Iacovou, for the dignified way he accepted the result. He also expressed satisfaction with a statement by AKEL Secretary General, Demetris Christofias, pledging his party will work for greater unity on the Cyprus problem in the National Council, the top advisory body to the President on the Cyprus question. The new President of will give the prescribed affirmation on Saturday morning, February 28, before the House of Representatives. The new cabinet will give its affirmation to the President of the Republic in the afternoon of the same day. CNA MM/MCH/MA/1998ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY1600:CYPPRESS:05[05] Cyprus Stock ExchangeNicosia, Feb 16 (CNA) -- The Cyprus Stock Exchange (CSE) All Share Index closed at today's stock exchange meeting as follows:CSE All Share Index 81.62 (-0.15) Highest: 81.74 (2/1/97) Lowest : 76.20 (30/1/97) Sectural Indices Banks 94.43 (-0.20) Approved Investment Companies 61.91 (-1.99) Insurance Companies 60.80 (-0.11) Industrial Companies 76.20 (+0.70) Tourist Industries 68.12 (-0.93) Commercial Companies 41.25 (+0.49) Other Companies 67.41 (-0.03) Trading Volume CYP 958337.799* The difference in brackets represents the percentage increase (+) or decrease (-) of the index from the previous stock exchange meeting. CNA MA/1998ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY1645:CYPPRESS:06[06] US administration congratulates CleridesWashington, Feb 15 (CNA) -- The US administration congratulated President Clerides on his re-election and expressed its will to cooperate closely with him for a settlement of the Cyprus question.Describing relations with President Clerides as excellent, the Clinton administration expressed the wish that this close relation will continue during Clerides' second term in office. "We congratulate President Clerides on his victory and welcome the opportunity to continue working with him on further strengthening our bilateral relationship", the State Department statement says. "We also plan to work closely with him in bringing about a lasting and viable settlement", it adds. The US is expected to be involved in new UN-led efforts to reach a settlement in Cyprus, divided since Turkish troops invaded and occupied 37 per cent of the island's territory in 1974. CNA DA/MCH/MA/1998ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY1840:CYPPRESS:07[07] Former US senators support imminent US initiativeWashington, Feb 16 (CNA) -- Two former chairmen of the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee released today a statement expressing support to an imminent US initiative aiming at finding a solution to the protracted Cyprus problem.Republican Charles Percy and Democrat Claiborne Bell, commend US State Department's "recent more evenhanded policy toward Turkey, Greece and Cyprus". They point to the recent State Department's position regarding overflights of Turkish fighters violating Greek and Cypriot sovereign territory and airspace. "If Greece or Cyprus were to carry out similar activities against Turkey, our State Department should be equally critical," they add. Percy and Bell also commend the criteria set by the European Union in order for Turkey to proceed with its European course, which include respect for human rights and support of UN negotiations for a Cyprus settlement. "It is in the best interest of the people of Turkey, Greece and Cyprus for their governments to act in accordance with these principles of civilisation cited by the EU," the point out. They also express the belief that "many people in Turkey want their government to follow these principles so that they and their country may be better able to be secure and to prosper in the modern world". Percy and Bell conclude commending "those in the US and the EU who have moved in that direction the efforts to deal with this dangerous situation in the Eastern Mediterranean". CNA DA/MCH/MA/1998ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCYCyprus News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |