Cyprus News Agency: News in English (AM), 98-05-09

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

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

CONTENTS

[01] The US only recognises President Clerides' government

[02] Seminar on investment opportunities in Cyprus held in Canada

[03] Argentine Ambassador calls for improved economic relations

9500:CYPPRESS:01

[01] The US only recognises President Clerides' government

Asked by CNA to clarify US position vis a vis the political situation in Cyprus as well as his own statement last Wednesday of "two peoples" on the island, Foley replied, "there are two communities in Cyprus".

Pointing out that there has been speculation in Cyprus that recent remarks made by US Presidential Emissary, Richard Holbrooke, "represent a change in US policy", Foley stressed that no such change has occurred.

During a press conference marking the conclusion of his contacts here with the two sides in Cyprus, earlier this month, Holbrooke had said that President Clerides "does not represent or have control over the people of northern Cyprus".

"There certainly has been no change in US policy, I can assure you of that", Foley stressed, noting that "Holbrooke was describing the de facto situation which has existed in Cyprus for a long time".

"Ambassador Holbrooke was not in any way signaling a policy change with regard to our excellent relationship with the Republic of Cyprus which, indeed, is the only government that we recognise on the island. Nor was he according any official status to the Turkish Cypriot entity in the north", he stressed.

Foley explained that "Ambassador Holbrooke and Special Cyprus State Department Coordinator, Thomas Miller, have said repeatedly and publicly that the US does not recognise the so-called Turkish Cypriot republic of northern Cyprus".

He pointed out that Holbrooke was responding to a question he was asked concerning the situation on the ground and intending to advance US efforts for a Cyprus settlement.

"There is really nothing new here at all", he concluded.

CNA DA/MCH/RG/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1000:CYPPRESS:02

[02] Seminar on investment opportunities in Cyprus held in Canada

The seminar entitled, "Canada-Cyprus: Bridging the Global Trade Village", was presented by the Consulate General of the Republic of Cyprus in Toronto in conjunction with the Cyprus-Canada Chamber of Commerce and featured quest speakers from the Cyprus Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI).

"Our presence here is aimed at strengthening trade relations between Canada and Cyprus and to attract investors not only to Cyprus, but also to the region through a highly competitive offshore service sector operating from the island", CCCI President Vasilis Rologis told CNA.

Rologis explained to an attentive audience that investment opportunities abound in Cyprus in industry, real estate and the tourism sector, but underscored Cyprus as a hub for offshore business to the Russian Republics, and Balkans, the Middle East and the Gulf.

CCCI Secretary Panayiotis Loizides stressed that Cyprus "has the proper infrastructure and all the necessary incentives to attract investors and business people to do business in and through Cyprus through a vibrant offshore sector".

Rologis added that Cyprus not only meets all Maastricht Treaty criteria, but that prestigious credit rating agencies Standard and Poor and Moody's place Cyprus "at the highest level of credit worthiness and political stability".

Rologis added that Cyprus not only meets all Maastricht Treaty criteria, but that prestigious credit rating agencies Standard and Poor and Moody's place Cyprus "at the highest level of credit worthiness and political stability".

Also addressing the audience was Central Bank of Cyprus Senior Officer, Sofoclis Michaelides, who noted that the Cyprus' banking system is both successful and enjoys a rock-solid reputation internationally.

The guest speakers were in Toronto to officially inaugurate the establishment of the Cyprus-Canada Chamber of Commerce, the brainchild of Consul-General Achilleas Antoniades.

Rologis pointed out that the newly established organisation will aid in promoting Cyprus exports to Canada.

Loizides on his part, noted the onus of the organisation should be to attract not only Cypriot and Greek business people to Cyprus, but Canadians as well, given the fact that numerous Canadian offshore companies are presently operating from Cyprus.

In his opening remarks, Cyprus-Canada Chamber of Commerce President John Zambakkides said the purpose of the organisation is to harness the talents of its members by bringing together all business people and professionals who are interested in exploring ideas and trade opportunities in Canada and Cyprus.

"The organisation will act as a business, trade and commerce lighting rod for all business professionals and as a trade and commerce bridge between Canada and Cyprus", Zambakkides said.

Antoniades noted the Cyprus-Canada Chamber of Commerce has a great opportunity to realise its potential and will be fully supported by the Consulate-General.

"We remain committed to support all efforts to build bridges, not only within the Cypriot business community in Canada, but also between Canada and Cyprus", he said.

The guest speakers had a chance earlier in the day to brief the Greek- Canadian community media on business opportunities in Cyprus at a press conference organised by the Cyprus Press and Information Office in Toronto.

CNA MH/MCH/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1215:CYPPRESS:03

[03] Argentine Ambassador calls for improved economic relations

Nicosia, May 9 (CNA) -- Political relations between Cyprus and Argentina are developing splendidly, Argentine Ambassador to Cyprus, Vicente Espeche Gil, has pointed out, adding that Cyprus could benefit from an improvement of commercial links between the two countries.

In an interview with CNA, Ambassador Gil referred to the visit of Cyprus Foreign Minister, Ioannis Kasoulides, to Argentina, on May 13, and said President Glafcos Clerides was also invited to Argentina by President Carlos Saul Menem.

"The presence of President Clerides in Argentina would be cause of immense joy to our people and our government", he said, adding that "any moment would be good for him (Clerides) to come, but of course, it will have to be fixed according to the very busy schedule of both Heads of State".

Referring to the two countries' relations, Gil stressed that "relations are developing splendidly at the political level", pointing out that Cyprus and Argentina "share principles, goals and interests relating to peace and security in international relations".

The Argentine Ambassador added, however, that "in the economic sphere we still have many things to do and many areas to explore".

"I trust that the well renowned virtues of Cypriots as excellent traders, will soon find the way to do business in Argentina", the diplomat added.

Asked how Argentina may benefit from the economic miracle Cyprus has performed since the 1974 Turkish invasion and occupation of the island's northern third, Gil replied, "all countries would indeed benefit from every step forward in the well being and progress of Cyprus".

He pointed out that similarly "Cyprus can benefit from the improvement of its commercial links with Argentina" noting that the two countries' participation in each other's global trade is "negligible".

"We export around 1,6 million US dollars of goods to Cyprus and import from you around a third of that amount", he said, adding that tourism in both directions should also be added to the exchange as a whole".

The Tel Aviv-based Argentine diplomat pointed out that "Cyprus' consumers, including tourists, could savour the best meat, making use of the agreements signed between both our technical veterinary organisations".

He stressed that "in all, we do not yet profit from the existing possibilities".

Asked for how long Argentina is prepared to contribute to the UN Peacekeeping force on the island (UNFICYP), Ambassador Gil expressed the wish for "an agreement under the auspices of the UN" that would make the work of peacekeeping unnecessary.

He pointed out, however, that "as far as these conditions are not given, we are proud to be of some help to the international community in general, and the people of Cyprus in particular".

Argentina is a troop-contributing country to UNFICYP with a contingent of about 390 men, patrolling the western part of the 180-kilometre buffer zone across this east Mediterranean island.

The Ambassador Gil also noted the good representation of many Latin American countries in Cyprus through their embassies, and said they all "follow closely the Cyprus question in the UN".

He expressed the view that "a permanent Cypriot presence in Buenos Aires through a diplomatic representation would be a major contribution to the further improvement of our political and economic relations, as well as an excellent means of making Cyprus better known and admired in our region".

CNA MM/MCH/GP/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

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