Cyprus News Agency: News in English (PM), 99-07-09

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

CONTENTS

[01] German deputies - Press Conference

[02] Cyprus Stock Exchange

[03] Kyrenia - Metropolitan Pavlos - UN Security Council

[04] Clerides - Military exercise

1510:CYPPRESS:01

[01] German deputies - Press Conference

Speaking at a press conference, after the conclusion of his meetings on both sides of the divide on the island, Pflueger said that connecting Cyprus' EU accession with the solution of the political problem would mean giving Turkey veto power.

Pflueger said that the delegation of the Committee visited the Green Line in Nicosia, "which reminds us very much of the situation when Germany was divided", adding that "old sentiments were woken up".

He said that they met with Turkish Cypriot leader, Rauf Denktash, to discuss various issues.

Referring to Cyprus' European Union accession course, Pflueger said that everybody "is very happy with Cyprus' performance".

"We hope and we believe that this process of constructive negotiation will continue and we look forward to Cyprus becoming a member of the European Union", he said.

He also said that "we do not buy certain arguments that are floating around in the EU that there should be a solution of the Cyprus problem as a precondition for entrance into the EU".

Pflueger said that "this strict connection would mean to give Ankara a veto power and that cannot and will not be accepted".

He said that it is wrong to believe that Cyprus' accession would mean importing a new problem into the EU, adding that "the Kosovo conflict has taught us very clearly that whether a country is a member of the EU or not, at the moment there is a conflict, it is a conflict in Europe that noone can escape".

Pflueger said that it would be "helpful" to have a solution before accession, but stressed that this was not a precondition.

He also pointed out that "if you look objectively at the present situation, you do not see much movement and it is not yet clear where and how a solution can come about".

"That is why we put high emphasis on the G8 summit in Cologne in June this year and the appeal of the G8 to both parties to meet in the Fall of this year in New York, under the auspices of the UN Secretary-General, and discuss without preconditions the future of Cyprus", he said.

He added that this did not mean starting "from scratch", but that it has to "take into full consideration the UN resolutions and international law".

Pflueger expressed hope that European Union accession negotiations would "serve as a leverage" for talks to solve the Cyprus problem, and that "at the end we could meet both aims".

However, he said that "compromise means that both sides have to pay a certain price".

He added that "we cannot punish Cyprus for the Turkish invasion". Responding to questions, Pflueger said that the Cyprus problem cannot be compared to Germany's situation before reunification, because there are some differences, i.e. Germans speak the same language, have the same culture and religion, and are one ethnic community, whilst this is not the case in Cyprus.

He said that for this reason the Cyprus problem is more complicated than that of Germany before reunification.

Pflueger pointed out that Greece and the Greek Cypriot community "really try everything to get a solution", adding that this must be demonstrated to Europe and the rest of the world.

Responding to other questions, Pflueger said that democratic forces in Turkey must be strengthened and "we should try our utmost to develop our contacts to Turkey".

"We hope that the tension between Turkey and the European Union will decrease and minimise", he said, adding that "it will be the German government that will take an initiative at the next summit that Turkey really becomes a candidate" for EU accession.

Asked if he has detected a willingness on both sides to find a solution, Pflueger said that "this feeling is stronger developed here, among the government of the Republic of Cyprus".

CNA RG/MM/1999

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1540:CYPPRESS:02

[02] Cyprus Stock Exchange

      CSE General Index                         168.67 ( 0.23)

      Traded Value            CYP  11,838,892

      Sectural Indices

      Banks                   CYP 3,133,097     220.24 (-0.51)
      Approved Investment
      Companies               CYP   158,194      83.63 (-2.24)
      Insurance Companies     CYP   299,498      84.62 ( 1.51)
      Manufacturing Companies CYP 1,099,409      95.16 ( 3.85)
      Tourism Companies       CYP 1,014,574     138.99 (-0.13)
      Trading Companies       CYP   840,210      88.52 ( 2.09)
      Other Companies         CYP 2,067,932     129.13 ( 4.20)

CNA MM/1999

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

2000:CYPPRESS:03

[03] Kyrenia - Metropolitan Pavlos - UN Security Council

According to Thursday's edition of the Turkish Cypriot newspaper "Yeni Duzen", the church of Saint Epiktetos has been converted into a mosque and its tower and belfry were removed silently by the so called "authorities" of the illegal regime.

Noting that it is with "grave concern" that he has learned the disturbing news about the "new outrageous act of the Turkish occupation forces", Metropolitan Pavlos points out that this "destruction of a religious and cultural heritage constitutes a further violation of our human rights."

He says the continuation of such provocative actions raises once again the matter of the occupation of part of Cyprus by the Turkish military forces.

Metropolitan Pavlos calls on the five to exercise their influence "to bring about an end to these outrageous acts and to take all possible measures" to prevent a repetition of such actions.

Furthermore, the religious leader of Kyrenia urges the permanent members of the Security Council to join efforts to "raise a voice of protest against the prolonged violation of human rights in Cyprus by Turkey."

"I trust that...this will influence you to respond like you had recently done in Kosovo", Metropolitan Pavlos adds.

Cyprus has been divided since 1974 when Turkish troops invaded and occupied 37 per cent of the island's territory.

CNA EC/MM/1999

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

2120:CYPPRESS:04

[04] Clerides - Military exercise

Speaking after the exercise at Kalo Horio Firing Range, in Larnaca district, Clerides said he was impressed by the "readiness of the T80 tanks."

A total of 41 tanks using live ammunition participated in the exercise which the President had ordered only 48 hours ago.

The Commander of the National Guard, Lieutenant-General Demetrios Demou said the Republic's armed forces are going ahead to create a flexible, well disciplined and trained army to safeguard the territorial integrity of the country.

CNA MAN/EC/MM/1999

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

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