Cyprus News Agency: News in English (PM), 98-03-10

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

CONTENTS

[01] Cyprus Stock Exchange

[02] Deep gap between Cypriot sides, says US envoy

[03] Foot bone fragments confirm death of missing American

[04] Cyprus, Greece agree on common moves

[05] Clerides - Miller meet in Athens

1600:CYPPRESS:01

[01] Cyprus Stock Exchange

CSE All Share Index                    84,63 (-0,82)

Sectural Indices

Banks                                  97,07 (-0,54)
Approved Investment Companies          64,68 (-2,80)
Insurance Companies                    61,88 (-1,90)
Industrial Companies                   79,83 (-0,65)
Tourist Industries                     73,60 (-0,19)
Commercial Companies                   45,74 (-2,74)
Other Companies                        71,66 (-0.75)

Trading Voulume                        1,586,429

CNA MCH/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1640:CYPPRESS:02

[02] Deep gap between Cypriot sides, says US envoy

Thomas Miller, US State Department Cyprus Coordinator, also urged the Turkish Cypriot leader, Rauf Denktash, to ease the restrictions he imposed on bicommunal contacts but got no assurances that he would.

Miller thinks a federal solution is "feasible but very difficult" and pointed out that the gap between the two sides is "deep."

The US official ruled out the possibility of going to the Security Council under Chapter 7 or 6 to request action on Turkey for the continuing flouting of UN resolutions on Cyprus.

Speaking at a press conference after two days of talks on both sides of the divide, Miller said he had "very fruitful meetings" with President Glafcos Clerides and Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash.

"I think I leave with a better appreciation of where the two sides are on the Cyprus problem," he said and expressed hope that bicommunal contacts, suspended by Denktash last year, will resume.

"Our task is now more difficult than it was a couple of months ago, no question about this, as a result of events in the past couple of months," Miller said, replying to questions and appealed to both sides to show "creativity and flexibility."

Replying to questions, he said the US will not be deterred by a so- called resolution of the Turkish Cypriot regime not to participate in European Union accession talks and not to attend peace negotiations unless it gains international recognition.

Asked if the US is prepared to go to the Security Council under chapter 7 or 6 to move things forward, Miller simply said "no."

He refrained from characterising the positions of any of his interlocutors on either side of the divide but stressed that "the goal of a bizonal, bicommunal federal solution is feasible but very difficult."

Miller said Greece and Turkey have a "significant role to play" in the Cyprus question and described them as "key players."

He stressed that in his dealings with Greece and Turkey he does not demand anything but tries to point to the "underlying interests" of each party and persuade them that it is in their interests to adopt positions that reflect those interests in a bid to move in "a certain direction, hopefully the same direction."

"That is how we are going to resolve this thing, not through demands, or pressure," he said.

Referring to security matters, Miller acknowledged that this is one of the "core aspects" of the Cyprus question and reiterated his government's views on the proposed deployment on the island of Russian anti-aircraft missiles.

"We do not think taking the missiles is a good idea in terms of helping us do our job as negotiators. This is not to say that the Republic of Cyprus does not have the right to make decisions about its defence needs, this complicates our effort to serve the role we are trying to serve," he added.

He said he did not secure what he called a satisfactory answer about the missiles, that is he did not secure the cancellation of the missiles deal.

On the issue of five American citizens, missing in Cyprus since the 1974 Turkish invasion, he said President Bill Clinton's report on the issue will be made public once the fresh evidence about one of the missing, now confirmed dead, is added to the report.

Giving some details about the findings of a US team working on the American missing, he said the only remains found and identified so far are those belonging to Andreas Kasapis, killed at the age of 16 during the Turkish invasion.

He said more tests are being carried out on other bones retrieved but noted the vast difficulties in extracting DNA from them for identification purposes.

CNA MM/MCH/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1935:CYPPRESS:03

[03] Foot bone fragments confirm death of missing American

Nicosia, Mar 10 (CNA) -- The identity of an American, missing in Cyprus since the 1974 Turkish invasion of Cyprus, was established from fragments of a foot bone, reliable sources have told CNA.

The family of Andreas Kasapis was informed last Thursday that their son, who was 17 in 1974, was confirmed dead after DNA found in fragments of bones matched that of his family.

"The bone fragments were found a couple of months ago," the same sources said, noting that medical tests on foot bone fragments established the identity of the dead man.

They also suggested that the bones, were probably dug up by a farmer in the area "somewhere north of the village of Ashia", on the east of the island, who presumably did not initially understand what he had stumbled on.

Once a US investigative team went to the area to work, it unearthed about 28 small bone fragments, in addition to other bones, they added.

Replying to questions, they did not rule out the possibility of finding that some of these bones belong to a second American citizen, also missing since 1974.

Kyriakos Leontiou is believed to have been killed with Kasapis by the Turkish troops in the summer of 1974.

"The discovery was made on the basis of a report, commissioned by the US President," they explained.

The report, expected to be revised and released as a public document, said "the US government concluded that the five American citizens did not survive the events in Cyprus in the summer of 1974."

It also notes that it is unlikely that there are any prisoners held in Turkey, saying that nobody has found any evidence to suggest that and such allegations are in all likelihood are false. CNA MM/MCH 1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1940:CYPPRESS:04

[04] Cyprus, Greece agree on common moves

Athens, Mar 10 (CNA) -- The governments of Cyprus and Greece agreed here today on unanimous conclusions about the current situation in the Cyprus question and the handling of Cyprus' accession course.

"The decisions taken will be to the benefit of the Cypriot people and stability and peace in the Eastern Mediterranean," Greek Premier Costas Simitis said after a meeting with President Glafcos Clerides.

The President said Cyprus will make a "generous proposal on Turkish Cypriot participation in the accession negotiations" but refrained from saying when the Cypriot invitation will be conveyed.

The President pointed out that the main preoccupation is to ensure that the international recognition of the Republic of Cyprus is not in any way undermined and that there is no recognition of the self-styled Turkish Cypriot regime in Turkish occupied area.

"The government of Cyprus will draw the attention of the united Europe and the UN Security Council to the negative stance the Turkish side has adopted," Clerides said after his talks in Athens.

Simitis said the "form and method of Turkish Cypriot participation in accession talks must not mortgage in any way Cyprus' future in Europe and must not undermine the international identity of the Republic of Cyprus and the government of Cyprus."

Reliable sources suggested that the Cypriot proposal will be "warm and sincere" but general in content, without specifics or details.

The same sources said the rotating EU British presidency has already drafted a proposal providing for a unified negotiating team of Greek and Turkish Cypriots which will take decisions jointly.

In case of disagreement, the view of the leadership of the negotiating team will prevail.

According to the same sources, Greece considers that the stipulation that the two parties will decide jointly may run into danger and would rather have the sentence rephrased to "the two parties will co-assess sincerely."

Greek Premier Simitis said the government of Cyprus should be allowed to handle the matter and its negotiating ability should not be restricted by attempts to clarify the fine details.

Simitis indicated that Greece will use all available means if political obstacles are raised for the start of accession negotiations with Cyprus, scheduled for 31 March.

"We shall handle all the means we have at our disposal with the best possible manner to promote accession negotiations," he said, without being specific whether Greece will use its veto power on the accession process of the other five candidate states for EU entry.

"Cyprus' EU membership, like that of other candidate countries, will be judged on the basis of its achievements and the degree of harmonisation it will have," the premier added.

He also said Greece is not prepared to lift its veto on EU funding for Turkey because "this is linked to certain Turkish moves and we are expecting such a move."

"The Greek and Cypriot governments are ready to offer every assistance to the UN Secretary-General's special envoy for Cyprus for speedy resumption of the intercommunal talks," he said.

He expressed the hope that the Turkish leadership will take the historic decision needed to consolidate a climate of trust, cooperation, peace and stability in the region.

"A solution of the Cyprus question will bring Europe and Turkey closer together and will surely bring new horizons in Greco-Turkish relations," he added.

The Athens talks were attended by the Foreign Ministers of the two countries and others.

Earlier today, President Clerides met with Greek President Costis Stephanopoulos.

CNA CI/MM/MCH/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

2100:CYPPRESS:05

[05] Clerides - Miller meet in Athens

Athens, Mar 10 (CNA) -- US Special Co-ordinator for Cyprus, Thomas Miller had a second meeting today with President Glafcos Clerides, in Athens, to review his visit to Nicosia.

Speaking after the meeting, Miller stressed that the Cyprus problem "will not be easy to solve" and pointed out that "there are large differences between the two sides".

He said, however, that the US "will do what they can to help bridge those differences. We will give it our best shot", he added.

"Our goal is to work with the four parties, the Greek Cypriots, the Turkish Cypriots and the governments of Greece and Turkey to try and bring about a bizonal, bi-communal federal settlement. That is what we are working for", Miller said.

He also repeated, that he did not promise success, but "an honest, full American effort", warning at the same time that "the process is going to be slow".

Miller also said he did not believe in the use of pressure in order to achieve results, noting that "it is not a term that exists in (his) world of diplomacy".

"My job is to try to convince the parties that it is in their interest" to reach an agreement, he added.

Miller will tomorrow go to Ankara and will return to Athens later in the week for further meetings.

Next week he will meet with US Presidential Emissary for Cyprus, Richard Holbrooke to brief him on his visits to Nicosia, Athens and Ankara.

CNA CJ/MCH/KN/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

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