Cyprus News Agency: News in English (PM), 98-02-18

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

CONTENTS

[01] 1998: Important year for Cyprus, says US ambassador

[02] President invites parties to new government

[03] Cyprus Stock Exchange

[04] Hannay, Van den Broek to visit Cyprus

[05] †eads of state congratulate Clerides

[06] Kranidiotis to visit Nicosia, Clerides goes to Athens

[07] Cyprus issue discussed in Brussels meeting

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[01] 1998: Important year for Cyprus, says US ambassador

Speaking after a meeting with President Glafcos Clerides, during which he conveyed President Bill Clinton's warm congratulations on his re- election, Kenneth Brill said:

"The US is very serious about trying to take advantage of the opportunities that 1998 provides" in efforts for a solution to the Cyprus problem and described 1998 as "an important year for Cyprus".

Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkish troops invaded and occupied 37 per cent of its territory.

Asked to comment on the issue of Turkish Cypriot participation in accession negotiations between Cyprus and the European Union, Brill said it is an issue that concerns the EU.

At the same time, he said "it is obviously better for that accession process to start with a unified island rather than otherwise".

Brill said efforts to resume bicommunal activities and contacts, suspended by the occupation regime, continue.

The Denktash regime has taken a series of measures, following a decision by the European Council, last December, in Luxembourg, reaffirming EU's decision to start membership talks with Cyprus by the end of March.

CNA MCH/GP/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

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[02] President invites parties to new government

He said the President is also inviting rebel Democratic Party deputy, Alexis Galanos, to participate. Galanos had backed Clerides' bid for re- election.

Clerides, re-elected on Sunday for a second five-year old term in office, had pledged to form a government of national unity.

"The letter notes that in view of his (the President's) public position to form a government of national unity, he considers it his duty to address the parties in writing and invite them to participate," the Spokesman said.

President Clerides has asked the parties to reply in writing this week.

The Spokesman said that if there is no response from all parties, the President will go ahead and form a cabinet which will be widely accepted.

CNA RG/MA/MM/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1600:CYPPRESS:03

[03] Cyprus Stock Exchange

CSE All Share Index                    81.94 (+0.21)

Highest: 81.94 (18/2/98)
Lowest : 76.20 (8/1/98)

Sectural Indices

Banks                                  94.87 (-0.03)
Approved Investment Companies          62.95 (+1.88)
Insurance Companies                    61.03 (+1.18)
Industrial Companies                   76.86 (+0.62)
Tourist Industries                     67.30 (-0.80)
Commercial Companies                   41.04 (+1.43)
Other Companies                        67.28 (-0.16)

Trading Volume                         CYP 1243583.921

CNA MM/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1630:CYPPRESS:04

[04] Hannay, Van den Broek to visit Cyprus

He said a visit by European Union (EU) External Affairs Commissioner Hans Van den Broek will follow.

The Commissioner is expected to be in Cyprus March 5 and 6, according to the local daily "Fileleftheros."

Hannay, whose country holds the six-month EU rotating presidency, will be on the island in his dual capacity as Britain's and the EU presidency's representative for Cyprus.

He is expected to meet with re-elected President of the Republic, Glafcos Clerides, in view of the Cyprus - EU accession talks, scheduled to open March 31.

CNA RG/MA/MM/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

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[05] †eads of state congratulate Clerides

In his message, German Chancellor Helmut Kohl points out that Clerides' re-election "coincides with a crucial phase in the process of building our common European house."

"The European Council's historic decision in Luxembourg last December paved the way for Europe to grow together as a peaceful, free and secure continent," he says.

Kohl was referring to the EU decision to open accession talks with five Eastern European countries and Cyprus, in late March.

"In this connection all parties involved must redouble their efforts to bring about a peaceful and just resolution to the Cyprus conflict," he adds, expressing certainty that Clerides will continue to put all his energy into pursuing this goal.

Renewed efforts to reunite Cyprus, divided since Turkish troops invaded and occupied 37 percent of the island's territory, are expected to begin next month.

In his congratulatory message to Clerides, French President Jacques Chirac expresses his satisfaction "that I will continue with you an already fruitful dialogue."

Chirac also underlines the value he attaches to relations between the two countries.

Egyptian President, Hosni Mubarak, Emir of Quatar, Hamad Bin Khalifa Al- Thani and President of the Malvides, Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, have also congratulated President Clerides on his re-election.

CNA MA/MM/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

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[06] Kranidiotis to visit Nicosia, Clerides goes to Athens

Athens, Feb 18 (CNA) -- Greece's Foreign Under-Secretary, Yiannos Kranidiotis, is scheduled to visit Cyprus next week ahead of a visit to Athens by President Glafcos Clerides on March 10, according to CNA sources in the Greek capital.

Kranidiotis will be in Cyprus February 24 - 27, for coordination between Nicosia and Athens on issues relating to the European Conference and the accession talks Cyprus is scheduled to start with the European Union at the end of March.

The re-elected Cyprus President will visit Athens on March 10, the same sources said.

They added that the Cyprus question and the Republic's EU accession course were discussed today at a meeting of Foreign Ministry officials, chaired by Greek Premier Costas Simitis.

The sources said the Greek government is determined to exclude any possibility of obstructing Cyprus' EU accession course either by the Turkish occupation regime or certain EU member-states.

Eleven countries that have applied for EU membership, as well as Turkey, have been invited to participate in the European Conference to take place in London on March 12.

The illegal Turkish Cypriot regime unilaterally declared in the areas of the Republic occupied by Turkish troops since they invaded Cyprus in 1974 has threatened to stay away from the Cyprus peace talks, if the EU opens negotiations with the Republic.

CNA KI/MA/MM/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

2100:CYPPRESS:07

[07] Cyprus issue discussed in Brussels meeting

Brussels, Feb 18 (CNA) -- Belgian Premier, Jean-Luc Dehaene, and leader of Greece's New Democracy Party, Costas Karamanlis, today expressed their satisfaction with a European Union decision to open accession talks with Cyprus.

Karamanlis is in Belgium for meetings with EU officials as well as NATO and Western European Alliance representatives.

During the meeting, Dehaene and Karamanlis expressed the hope that the EU decision will pave the way for a settlement to the Cyprus problem.

The Belgian Premier welcomed the fact that Cyprus President Glafcos Clerides has asked the Turkish Cypriots to participate in the EU accession talks, describing this move as "positive".

President Clerides has said the Turkish Cypriots could participate in the official delegation which will negotiate with the EU, provided they support the Republic's European course.

He has also said there must be no recognition of the illegal Turkish Cypriot regime unilaterally established in the areas of Cyprus occupied by Turkish troops since they invaded the island in 1974.

Karamanlis and Dehaene also discussed Turkey's participation in the European Conference, to be held in London on March 12.

The ten eastern and central European countries and Cyprus, that have applied for EU membership, as well as Turkey, have been invited to attend the conference.

Cyprus is among the first group of applicant countries to begin accession talks on March 31.

The Belgian Premier expressed the hope that Turkey will accept the terms set out by December's EU summit in Luxembourg in order to participate in the Conference.

The EU has asked Turkey to improve its human rights record, contribute to efforts to reach a settlement of the Cyprus problem and sort out its differences with Greece.

CNA NM/MA/MM/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

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