Cyprus News Agency: News in English (AM), 98-11-30

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

CONTENTS

[01] Pilgrims - Occupied monastery

[02] Human Rights Committee - Campaign

[03] Cyprus - Solidarity with Palestinian people

[04] Cyprus Stock Exchange

0850:CYPPRESS:01

[01] Pilgrims - Occupied monastery

Pilgrims, who gathered early this morning at the UN-controlled Ledra Palace hotel, in the buffer zone, dividing the country, boarded some 35 buses for the long trip to the monastery, each bus accompanied by a Turkish Cypriot escort.

"We will pray for love to prevail among people and as Christians will shall display the love our souls contain for our compatriots the Turkish Cypriots, who are also suffering," Father Spyridon Demosthenis said.

He will lead the faithful to prayer at around mid-day when they arrive at the monastery.

Many people carry candles for the church service. The occupation regime has imposed its own rules on the pilgrims, who were told they cannot take photographs during the trip but only at the monastery.

President of PAK (Pancyprian Anti-Occupation Movement) Aris Hadjipanayiotou has duly informed the UN about his plan to send a team of architects, engineers and builders to the Monastery to carry out repairs this morning.

In a letter to the top UN envoy in Cyprus, he points out that 25 years of Turkish occupation resulted in "almost complete destruction" of the monastery and requests UN permission to "facilitate our secure arrival at the monastery" to carry out the repairs.

PAK's decision to go is carried out with the blessing of the primate of the church of Cyprus, Archbishop Chrysostomos, the letter said.

Turkish troops have been occupying 37 per cent of Cyprus territory since 1974, in violation of repeated UN resolutions calling for their withdrawal.

CNA EC/AA/MM/GP/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1330:CYPPRESS:02

[02] Human Rights Committee - Campaign

The Committee has published in Greek the booklet issued by the UN entitled "Human Rights - Questions and Answers", which it will hand out at schools.

At the same time, it has printed a poster with the Ecumenical Declaration of Human Rights, which will also be distributed to schools and anybody else interested.

It has also published a book to be given to young Cypriots serving in the army as well as hand-outs with pictures on human rights issues for children.

Committee President George Christofides told a press conference today that through education it is trying to "make people understand what we mean by human rights and what their rights and obligations are".

He added that the Committee believes human rights should be taught in schools, if this is possible.

Christofides said that by promoting human rights one could also promote a fair and just settlement to the Cyprus problem.

The Committee President described human rights as "a weapon through which we can promote the injustice done against Cyprus because of the 1974 Turkish invasion and continuing occupation of 37 per cent of its territory, which constitutes a flagrant violation of the human rights of Cypriots."

He said the Committee has decided to give emphasis on various human rights issues and not only those pertaining to the Cyprus problem, as it has until today.

"We now have more contacts with similar bodies abroad," Christofides said, explaining that through these contacts they share experiences and the know-how something that will help them make the people here more sensitive to human rights issues.

At the same time, he said, we can convey our concerns about Turkey's violation of human rights in Cyprus.

CNA MK/MA/GP/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1400:CYPPRESS:03

[03] Cyprus - Solidarity with Palestinian people

In a message on the occasion of the international day of solidarity with the Palestinian people, President Glafcos Clerides, reaffirms Cyprus' "support got the efforts to establish peace, security and stability throughout the entire region of the Middle East".

Pointing out Cyprus' active engagement in the multilateral track of the peace process, Clerides said "the implementation by Cyprus of a Programme of Economic Assistance to the Palestinians is an irrefutable proof of our commitment to the process and the ultimate prevalence of peace, security and justice in the Middle East".

Concluding, President Clerides stressed "the peace process cannot and must not fail" and welcomed all initiatives actively promoting peace, "particularly the agreement signed last month in Washington".

CNA MCH/GP/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1530:CYPPRESS:04

[04] Cyprus Stock Exchange

      CSE General Index                          90.06 (-0.37)

      Traded Value            CYP 1,370,582

      Sectural Indices

      Banks                   CYP   425,294     103.78 (-0.13)
      Approved Investment
      Companies               CYP    89,209      60.32 ( 1.02)
      Insurance Companies     CYP   220,221      65.42 (-0.62)
      Manufacturing Companies CYP   130,624      90.83 (-1.01)
      Tourism Companies       CYP   122,103      68.51 (-0.84)
      Trading Companies       CYP    17,093      42.38 (-1.37)
      Other Companies         CYP   215.768      84.83 (-0.81)

CNA MCH/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

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