Cyprus PIO: News Update in English, 96-12-10

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From: The Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office Server at <http://www.pio.gov.cy/>

News Update

10/12/96

CONTENTS

• [01] President of Cyprus to attend special meeting during EU Summit
• [02] Finance Minister meets IMF officials
• [03] New South Wales Parliament adopts motion on Cyprus
• [04] Regional Meeting on Fish Stock Assessment in the Mediterranean
• [05] Venezuela's' Parliament calls for withdrawal of Turkish occupation forces from Cyprus

[01] President of Cyprus to attend special meeting during EU Summit

The invitation from the Irish EU Presidency also includes a working lunch on Saturday, 14th December offered by the President of EU Council, Irish Prime Minister John Bruton, on the sidelines of the EU Summit on 13-14 December.

[02] Finance Minister meets IMF officials

"The IMF now considers that Cyprus has reached the point where it does not need the help and guidance to the extent other countries need it, like Central and Eastern European countries", Christodoulou said.

The minister was speaking after meeting with IMF officials who are on a fact-finding mission to Cyprus.

He said the officials were briefed on the performance of the economy in 1996, and the outlook for 1997.

"They wanted to be briefed on the intentions of the government concerning the deregulation of the monetary system and raised issues relating to the modernisation of semi-governmental organizations", Christodoulou added.

He was referring to the deregulation of services, such as telecommunications, where semi-governmental organizations currently hold a monopoly.

The government is committed to deregulating its monetary system, still under tight legislative control, by the end of 1997 or the beginning of 1998.

[03] New South Wales Parliament adopts motion on Cyprus

The motion also supports UN Security Council Resolutions, in particular, resolution 939 of 1994, which calls for a solution to be based upon a sovereign, independent and unified Cyprus.

It "urges the Turkish Government to respect basic human rights and principles, including freedom of movement, which are being violated since 1974."

It also "calls on the Turkish Government to co-operate with the UN Committee of Missing Persons its efforts to trace the fate 1619 Greek Cypriots missing since the 1974 Turkish invasion of Cyprus."

The motion was tabled by Shadow Minister for Ethnic Affairs James Samios and received bipartisan support.

[04] Regional Meeting on Fish Stock Assessment in the Mediterranean

In his opening address Cyprus Minister of Agriculture, Natural Resources and the Environment Costas Petrides emphasized the importance of consultation in the sustainable utilization of marine resources and noted the leading role that FAO and the GFCM have to play in co-ordinating the development of fisheries in the Mediterranean.

The Minister also explained Cyprus policy on the rational fisheries development and management since independence in 1960 and the damage suffered by the fisheries sector after the 1974 Turkish invasion and occupation, the result of which was losing control of 50% of fishing grounds. Petrides pointed out that "through a series of measures and an overall fisheries management policy in the last 20 years, Cyprus was among the first countries in the Mediterranean, if not the first, to completely control the trawlers fishing fleet and its fishing effort. The number of boats, horsepower, fishing season and fishing depth are now under control. The inshore and swordfish fisheries have also been brought under control through limitations to the number of fishing licences. The sport fishery was also brought under some control with limitations to the quantity of gear that can be used and the time spent on fishing. We are carefully following the condition of the stocks and we are ready to further introduce the necessary practical measures to conserve and rationally manage our fish stocks for the benefit of our resources and the fishermen."

[05] Venezuela's Parliament calls for withdrawal of Turkish occupation forces from Cyprus

The withdrawal of the Turkish occupation army from Cyprus would be a positive factor for peace, the resolution said.

From the Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office (PIO) Server at http://www.pio.gov.cy/

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