Cyprus News Agency: News in English (AM), 98-04-08

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

CONTENTS

[01] Britain wishes entry of united Cyprus into EU

[02] Italy to help Cyprus' entry into EU

[03] Britain: Cyprus government negotiates EU accession

[04] Cyprus signs Archaeological Heritage Convention

[05] Italy, Cyprus agree EU talks should continue

[06] Cyprus Stock Exchange

1100:CYPPRESS:01

[01] Britain wishes entry of united Cyprus into EU

At the same time he expressed regret for the Turkish Cypriot side's refusal to be involved in the process.

The British official was speaking Tuesday at the opening of Cyprus Popular Bank Administrative Centre in Finchley, North London.

"The objective we all share is to see the benefits of EU membership available to all Cypriots," Prescott said.

"Our objective is to see the accession of a united island, putting an end to the many years of division which have scarred the island and its people."

Prescott noted that accession of a divided island into the EU will be politically and technically more difficult, but he was adamant that a settlement to the long-standing Cyprus problem is not a precondition for entry.

He said it is "regrettable" that Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash has rejected President Glafcos Clerides' "serious offer for joint participation in the EU accession process."

"The offer remains on the table and we will continue our efforts to bring about Turkish Cypriot involvement in this crucial process," he said.

Noting that everyone has to work to reduce tension in Cyprus and the region, Prescott said the British government wants to see a rapid resumption of the UN process in parallel with EU accession negotiations.

"We hope the latter will reinforce progress towards settlement of the disputes which have divided the island of Cyprus for so long," he said.

Referring to the Cypriot economy, the British Deputy Premier said it "fits easily into the definitions which the EU requires of members", pointing out that EU membership will strengthen the island's prosperity and growth.

Prescott, who is also Secretary of State for Transport and an ex- seafarer, praised Cyprus' role in shipping, having managed to become the fifth largest fleet in the world.

"Cyprus entry to the EU will tilt the world shipping balance in favour of the Union. Upon Cyprus entry, the EU's share of the top 20 shipping nations tonnage would rise to 17.9 percent up to current 11.6 percent," he noted.

Speaking at the inauguration ceremony, Cyprus Finance Minister, Christodoulos Christodoulou, underlined the dynamism of the Popular Bank Group and the Cypriot economy in general.

He said the Bank's expansion in the UK contributes in promoting Cyprus as a competitive monetary centre.

The Minister said Cyprus-EU accession talks open new prospectives for Cyprus, offering a challenge in modernising and restructuring its economy.

On his part, Chairman of the Cyprus Popular Bank Group, Kikis Lazarides, said Cyprus has no other alternative but its full EU membership.

Lazarides underlined the excellent relations between Cyprus and the UK and expressed hope that current British EU presidency would dynamically contribute to the positive outcome of Cyprus-EU accession talks.

CNA KT/AP/GP/1998

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1110:CYPPRESS:02

[02] Italy to help Cyprus' entry into EU

Speaking after a meeting with President Glafcos Clerides, Fassino said Italy "wants accession negotiations to proceed speedily and is ready to support any actions that could help to the solution of the problems of Cyprus".

He pointed out that "there should not be a difference in how we approach the negotiations with Cyprus and with the other countries."

The Italian official added "as the schedule of these negotiations develops efforts should be made to solve the problem of Turkish Cypriot participation in these negotiations."

Asked whether Turkish Cypriot participation would be a precondition for the conclusion of accession negotiations, Fassino answered negatively.

"This is not a legal problem, it is a political one", he said, adding that "the EU will conclude the negotiations with Cyprus as it began".

He stressed, however, that "it is politically desirable that negotiations be conducted with the delegation representative of the whole of the island".

Expressing Italy's active support "to talks under the aegis of the UN" for a solution to the Cyprus problem as well as to an initiative by US Presidential Emissary, Richard Holbrooke, Fassino stressed "we think that all efforts must be made to promote this initiative towards a solution of the Cyprus problem."

He referred to the talks he had yesterday in Athens, noting that in the next few days he plans to go to Ankara.

"The effort that Italy is trying to make is to continue this movement towards a solution of the Cyprus problem", Fassino added.

Asked about the sale by Italy of military material to Cyprus, Fassino said this issue "should not be dramatised" and expressed the hope it would be solved to the mutual satisfaction of the two countries.

Fassino, who leaves this evening, had talks yesterday with Foreign Minister Ioannis Kasoulides.

CNA MCH/GP/1998

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1400:CYPPRESS:03

[03] Britain: Cyprus government negotiates EU accession

Invited to comment on statements made here, earlier, by US Presidential Emissary, Richard Holbrooke, differentiating between Cyprus and the Republic of Cyprus concerning accession to the EU, Madden said "the entire process is taking place between the EU, on the one side, and the government, on the other".

Speaking after a meeting with President Glafcos Clerides, during which he was briefed on recent developments in the Cyprus problem, Madden repeated the wish for a settlement of the Cyprus problem before the island's entry into the EU.

He pointed out, however, that "if things do not turn out in that way then as you have frequently heard the British ministers we do not regard a settlement as a precondition".

Commenting on the question of Turkish Cypriot participation in the Cyprus negotiating team at EU membership talks Madden said "it is clear that the offer of President Clerides remains on the table. So we do not regard the position we are in now as necessarily being the end of the story".

He expressed the hope "it will be possible in the future for the Turkish Cypriots to play their proper role in a joint Cyprus negotiating team".

Madden pointed out that "a great international effort has been devoted to Cyprus over the last few months," adding that "the international community really wants to see progress on the Cyprus issue".

He said the British EU presidency sees as "a very important part of our task to help rebuild the relationship between the EU and Turkey".

CNA MCH/GP/1998

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1430:CYPPRESS:04

[04] Cyprus signs Archaeological Heritage Convention

The Convention was signed by Cyprus' Permanent Representative to the CoE, Ambassador Thalia Petrides, in the presence of Daniel Tarschys, CoE Secretary General.

The Convention, which updates that of 1969, takes account of considerable changes affecting archaeological heritage with the development of major urban planning and large-scale engineering projects in Europe.

It renders archaeological conservation a key goal of urban and regional planning policies while promoting cooperation between archaeologists and town and regional planners.

It also sets guidelines for funding excavations, research and public access to archaeological sites.

The new Convention is in force or has been signed by 30 European countries.

CNA GG/GP/1998

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1440:CYPPRESS:05

[05] Italy, Cyprus agree EU talks should continue

This was stated here today by Vassiliou after a meeting with the Italian official, who arrived in Cyprus yesterday for a two-day visit. The meeting focused on how developments in Cyprus are related with the start of Cyprus-EU talks, on March 31.

Vassiliou said he had told Fassino that pressure should be exerted on Turkey by various countries to contribute to the solution of the protracted Cyprus problem.

The chief negotiator stressed that Europe should be decisive and firm in its relations with Turkey.

"Once the impression is given that Europe can change its stance, it's natural for Turkey to keep waiting and act with more intransigence, hoping it can achieve something, in this way," he said.

"Provided it (Turkey) finds itself opposite to a clear and firm stance, it will only then decide what it really wants and I see no other alternative than its European choice," he added.

Vassiliou said he had stressed to the Italian official the door would remain open for Turkish Cypriot participation in the Republic's team negotiating EU accession.

Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash has turned down a proposal by President Glafcos Clerides for Turkish Cypriot participation in Cyprus' talks with the EU, while British EU presidency described the proposal as "courageous and fair".

Cyprus, along with Poland, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Slovenia and Estonia began accession negotiations with the EU on March 31.

CNA AA/AP/GP/1998

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1500:CYPPRESS:06

[06] Cyprus Stock Exchange

CSE All Share Index                    91,08 ( 0,42)

Sectural Indices

Banks                                 104,79 ( 0,34)
Approved Investment Companies          67,66 ( 1,59)
Insurance Companies                    66,41 ( 1,48)
Industrial Companies                   82,64 ( 0,33)
Tourist Industries                     77,04 ( 1,50)
Commercial Companies                   53,20 ( 0,47)
Other Companies                        79,53 (-2,02)

Trading Volume                       2.487.164

CNA MM/1998

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