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Cyprus News Agency: News in English (PM), 99-02-11Cyprus News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Cyprus News Agency at <http://www.cyna.org.cy>CONTENTS
1530:CYPPRESS:01[01] Cyprus - TradeNicosia, Feb 11 (CNA) -- Cyprus' trade deficit increased in the first eleven months of 1998 by 6,5 per cent mainly as a result of a fall in exports.In the same period the European Union (EU) saw its position as Cyprus' main trade partner getting stronger. According to a report by the official Department of Statistics and Research, total exports in the first eleven months of last year decreased by 13,3 per cent to 514,2 million Cyprus pounds from 593,2 million in the same period in 1997 (one Cyprus pound is trading at 2,0 US dollars). In the same period of 1998, total imports (including imports for home consumption and imports placed into bonded warehouses) decreased by 0,3 per cent to 1.738,4 million pounds from 1.743,5 million pounds the previous year. As a result, trade deficit in the January-November 1998 reached 1.224, 1 million pounds, compared to 1.149,5 million in the same period in 1997, which represents an increase of 6,5 per cent. The EU countries absorbed 52,9 per cent of Cyprus' domestic exports (excluding shipstores) while the share of the Arab countries was 26,6 per cent. The corresponding percentages in the first eleven months of 1997 were 49,5 and 28,5 per cent, respectively. As for the island's imports, the EU share was 54,6 per cent, compared to 47,3 per cent in 1997. Cyprus, along with Slovenia, Hungary, Poland, Estonia and the Czech Republic started substantive accession negotiations with the EU in November last year. CNA GG/GP/1999ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY1700:CYPPRESS:02[02] Strikes - Port - Hotels - TransportNicosia, Feb 11 (CNA) -- Efforts continue today to iron out differences between trade unions and employers locked in days-long disputes in two hotels in Larnaca and the town's port.Minister of Labour and Social Insurance, Andreas Moushoutas, said following today's cabinet decision, he would try to see representatives of protesting port employees to discuss the issue at hand. He pointed out that there is no labour dispute as such but differences resulting from lower income for port workers and porters, due to a drop in the work carried out by Larnaca port. In a different dispute, employers at two Larnaca hotels are on strike in support of the reinstatement of some of their colleagues, laid off when some hotel services were privatised. The owner of the Lordos Beach hotel and Golden Bay hotel has secured a court injunction allowing him to prosecute those protesters who block entry into the hotels. Trade unionists have described the court decision as unprecedented in labour disputes history. Moushoutas said his objective on this score is to get the two sides back to the negotiating table. The Cyprus Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Employers and Industrialists Federation have criticised the way protesters at the two Larnaca hotels are staging their strike. While acknowledging the right to strike, they point out that protesters must not block entry to other workers. Government Spokesman, Christos Stylianides, has said labour disputes can be solved through dialogue and pointed out that the legal right to strike must be safeguarded. Yesterday, truckers drove their lorries outside the Presidential Palace to protest against a government decision to change the road licence and allow truckers to work in various districts instead of restricted areas defined by legislation. Drivers maintain the new regulations would increase competition and create gaps in the services in rural areas. In a different protest, residents of the southern coastal town of Larnaca met to reiterate their opposition to government plans to build a mobile desalination plant near the salt lakes area in a bid to ease the water problem Cyprus is regularly facing. The government has stressed its resolve to solve the water shortage problem and said it would examine alternative suggestions before the final location for the plant is made. CNA MM/RG/1999ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY1835:CYPPRESS:03[03] Cyprus Stock ExchangeNicosia, Feb 11 (CNA) -- The Cyprus Stock Exchange (CSE) All Share Index closed at today's stock exchange meeting as follows:CSE General Index 124.03 ( 5.20) Traded Value CYP 16,858,318 Sectural Indices Banks CYP 8,072,330 157.24 ( 7.98) Approved Investment Companies CYP 987,686 83.03 ( 6.15) Insurance Companies CYP 2,394,002 78.72 (-1.11) Manufacturing Companies CYP 244,901 97.46 (-0.49) Tourism Companies CYP 204,968 80.90 (-1.77) Trading Companies CYP 693,280 54.53 ( 2.44) Other Companies CYP 106,645 89.76 ( 0.25)The third column presents the percentage variation of the indices as compared to the last meeting. CNA RG/1999ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY2020:CYPPRESS:04[04] Athanasios - New Limassol BishopNicosia, Feb 11 (CNA) -- Abbot Athanasios, of Machera Monastery, was elected new Bishop of Limassol today.Voting were 50 general representatives and 20 clergymen. The new Bishop secured all the representatives' votes and 14 of the clergymen's. Asked what his priorities would be as Bishop, Athanasios said: "The salvation of the faithful". The post became vacant after Metropolitan Chrysanthos was relieved of his duties, following allegations about his involvement in corruption and fraud of millions of pounds. CNA DG/RG/1999ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY2045:CYPPRESS:05[05] Clerides - Cyprus - Security CouncilNicosia, Feb 11 (CNA) -- President Glafcos Clerides said today that all members of the Security Council, especially those that can exert pressure on the Turkish Government, should make a move towards Turkey.The President was asked to clarify whether he agreed with the position that only a substantive move from US President Bill Clinton and British Premier Tony Blair could help solve the Cyprus problem, as was done in the Middle East and Irish conflicts. He said that UN Security Council members should make that move "as a whole, but mainly those members which possess levers of pressure towards Turkey". President Clerides was speaking after a luncheon he hosted in honour of two EDEK Socialist Party Ministers which departed from the cabinet, after their party withdrew its cooperation with the Government, due to the decision not to deploy the Russian S-300 anti-aircraft missiles on the island. Asked if Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ioannis Kasoulides, would request a Security Council move towards Turkey during his forthcoming meeting with US Secretary of State, Madeleine Albright, President Clerides refused to elaborate. He said that he could not reveal what Kasoulides would request, which would result in Albright finding out about the content of their talks from the media. Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkey invaded and occupied 37 per cent of the island. A solution to the protracted problem has not yet been possible, despite international efforts towards that direction. CNA RG/AA/1999ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCYCNA ENDSCyprus News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |