Cyprus PIO: News Update in English, 97-02-21

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

News Update

Friday, 21/02/97

CONTENTS

• [01] Join our team, Clerides tells Turkish Cypriots.
• [02] WHO Director impressed by visit to Cyprus.
• [03] Finance Minister's press conference on the health of the economy

[01] Join our team, Clerides tells Turkish Cypriots

"We have said right from the start that we have no objections to Turkish Cypriots joining in our negotiating team", Clerides said on Thursday, (20.2.97), at Larnaca Airport before departing for Athens to address a "1997 - A Year for Cyprus" gathering.

"We are ready to include Turkish-Cypriots in our team", he said, but insisted that "The Republic of Cyprus" and not any "legally invalid" entity, which is not recognised internationally would speak for Cyprus in EU talks.

"We have made our position on the matter very clear", he said. "We believe the Republic of Cyprus is the EU's interlocutor and should conduct negotiations" for EU accession.

The EU itself said in a resolution on a structured dialogue with Cyprus, in June 1995, that the government of Cyprus "will remain the EU's sole interlocutor in the conduct of the structured dialogue".

The 1993 Commission avis (opinion) on the Republic's application for accession said "the EU Council invited the Commission to open substantive discussions forthwith with the Government of Cyprus".

Turkey has threatened to annex the north of Cyprus occupied by its troops since they invaded the island in 1974, if the Republic is admitted to the EU before the Cyprus problem is settled, and if Turkey is not admitted to the EU.

[02] WHO Director impressed by visit to Cyprus

On Wednesday (19.2.97) he was received by President Glafcos Clerides and said after the meeting: "Cyprus has made great progress in health care".

The WHO Director-General expressed his concern about the quality and standards of health care in the Turkish-occupied part of the island, stressing that the provision of health care to all Cypriot citizens should not be hindered. Referring to the difficulties faced by the Greek and Maronite enclaved people, in securing medical care, Dr Nakajima said:

"We are working together with the UN High Commission for Refugees to try to secure this".

Health Minister Manolis Christofides agreed with Dr Nakajima and stressed that the Turkish Cypriots also have the right to health care locally or abroad if it is considered necessary.

The Minister explained that Turkish Cypriot patients are sent abroad for treatment at the government's expense and noted that the issue of the enclaved and the Maronites in the Turkish occupied areas will be discussed with the WHO.

The Director of WHO said that he had been impressed by the high quality of medical and scientific research on the island following his visit to the Cyprus Institute of Neurology and Genetics, but he pointed out that more equipment is required. Dr Nakajima described the construction of a new Nicosia General Hospital in Athalassa and the fact no children have been born with thalassaemia in the last few years as "progress" in the island's health standards.

[03] Finance Minister's press conference on the health of the economy

At the same time, he stressed, it was streamlining and modernising the economy to prepare for the challenges of European Union membership.

To demonstrate the healthy state of the island's economy, the Minister also mentioned the fact that Cyprus was given as A plus 1 rating by organisations such as Standards and Poors and Moodys, and that the recent IMF mission to the island had praised the Cyprus government for its management of the economy, while recommending some structural reforms.

EU officials also held the view that Cyprus macro-economic indicators were better than most EU member states. Christodoulou said his own estimate was that the Cyprus economy grew by around 2,5% last year, while some spoke of only a 2% growth rate.

The 1997 estimate for economic growth is at 3,5%, he said.

He also cited the low rate of unemployment at 3% and that of inflation, also at 3%. The Finance Minister referred to the support measures taken by government to help agriculture, tourism, industry, sports, education and culture, and said the Clerides administration had done much better than the previous government.

He specifically said: "The Vassiliou government had given CP5m as subsidy to industry, our government has given CP26m. They claim this government has abandoned tourism, but figures give a different story. Expenditure on tourism by the previous government reached CP28m. This government has given out CP65m in aid of tourism. Similarly, he added, the previous government issued special subsidies to agriculture amounting to CP1m. Our subsidies amount to CP29m".

He also recalled that last year the government announced a package of tax relief measures amounting to more than CP45m, while it had carried out its promise to write off pre-war debts.

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

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