Cyprus News Agency: News in English (AM), 98-09-17

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

CONTENTS

[01] President Clerides - British diplomat

[02] President Clerides - UN representative

[03] Cyprus Stock Exchange

1200:CYPPRESS:01

[01] President Clerides - British diplomat

"What we're doing is working up the practical arrangements that would make a moratorium possible. That's the focus of our efforts at the moment," Peter Rickets, senior official at the Foreign Office dealing with the Cyprus problem, told reporters after a meeting today with President Glafcos Clerides.

Rickets, accompanied by High Commissioner David Madden, also met Foreign Minister Ioannis Kasoulides and was scheduled to meet later today with Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash.

He said that "at the moment we are working particularly with the American government and in Cyprus, Athens and Ankara to reach an agreement on the practical content of an overflight moratorium, that's where Britain can play a particular part. Other issues will be discussed later."

Rickets confirmed British Defence Secretary, George Robertson had discussed this issue with his Greek and Turkish counterparts during his visit to Athens and Ankara this week and said his country "will continue to press for the moratorium."

However, he refrained from replying to a question if the moratorium would be guaranteed, which is the position of the Cyprus government.

Asked if Britain would be prepared to guarantee a moratorium, he said "there are certainly ways in which Britain can help make an overflight moratorium practically possible."

The British diplomat confirmed his country "remains very active in the search for a peaceful settlement in Cyprus under the UN process".

"My visit here is part of that continuing effort," he said, adding that he had a detailed discussion with the President "about ways with which we can push forward the UN process in Cyprus and Britain will continue to work actively to that end."

Replying to a question Rickets said the moratorium was discussed with President Clerides "among a range of other ways in which we can continue the process underway through the UN".

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

Britain has retained two sovereign military bases on the island under the 1960 treaty of Establishment of the Republic of Cyprus.

Britain, Greece and Turkey were the guarantors of Cyprus' independence.

CNA MA/GP/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1220:CYPPRESS:02

[02] President Clerides - UN representative

Next week the Cypriot President will address the UN General Assembly and will also meet UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan as well as other foreign envoys involved in efforts to settle the Cyprus problem.

Hercus announced that the UN chief had asked her to be present at his meeting with the Cyprus President.

"I look forward to participating in those important discussions," she said.

Meanwhile, Russian ambassador to Cyprus Georgi Mouradov was also at the Presidential Palace today to discuss the possibility of a meeting between President Clerides and new Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov, in New York.

CNA MA/GP/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1500:CYPPRESS:03

[03] Cyprus Stock Exchange

   CSE General Index                          87.64 (-0.09)

   Traded Value            CYP  815,596

   Sectural Indices

   Banks                   CYP   395,631     102.89 (-0.16)
   Approved Investment
   Companies               CYP   152,124      59.49 ( 1.71)
   Insurance Companies     CYP    14,556      59.00 (-0.94)
   Manufacturing Companies CYP    38,416      83.39 ( 0.32)
   Tourism Companies       CYP    74,748      71.12 (-0.80)
   Trading Companies       CYP    12,525      41.02 (-0.02)
   Other Companies         CYP    35,650      77.44 ( 0.78)

CNA EC/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

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