Cyprus PIO: News Update in English, 98-08-13

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

News Update

Thursday, 13/08/98

CONTENTS

• [01] Cyprus-USA to sign legal cooperation agreement
• [02] Kinkel: The key to a solution of the Cyprus problem lies in the improvement of Greco-Turkish relations
• [03] Foreign Trade Statistics for January-May 1998
• [04] Departures and arrivals raise in June

[01] Cyprus-USA to sign legal cooperation agreement

The contents of the agreement, which will be signed in the near future, were finalised yesterday at the Ministry of Justice and Public Order in Nicosia.

The agreement will regulate cooperation between the judicial authorities and the Attorney General's Office of the two countries in preventing and investigating crimes and in prosecuting offenders.

It also includes provisions on giving evidence, testimonies, exchanging documents and on identifying individuals or objects.

The new agreement will complement an existing agreement between the two countries on the extradition of fugitives.

[02] Kinkel: The key to a solution of the Cyprus problem lies in the improvement of Greco-Turkish relations

The easing of tension between the two countries, continued Mr Kinkel, is the key both to a favourable end of Cyprus' accession negotiations and to a solution to the Cyprus problem.

Referring to Turkey, Mr Kinkel pointed out that accession negotiations can not start for the time being,adding that a German position other than the one defined in Luxemburg would be unthought of.

[03] Foreign Trade Statistics for January-May 1998

According to a report prepared by the Department of Statistics and Research the total imports reached L783,2mn as compared with L765,7mn in 1997.

The total exports attained L270,1mn in relation to L256,1mn in January-May 1997.

The slight increase in the total of imports and exports accounts for an increase in the trade deficit which totalled L513,1mn in comparison with L509,6mn of the previous year.

Goods imported from EU countries were valued at L409,1mn or 52,2 per cent of the total imports.

Last year's statistics indicated that the EU imports corresponded to a 48,1 per cent of the total of imports. The EU countries absorbed 59,3 per cent of Cyprus domestic exports, followed by the Arab countries with a share of 22,5 per cent. The corresponding shares for the EU and the Arab countries for January-May 1997 were 53,0 per cent and 25,4 per cent respectively.

[04] Departures and arrivals raise in June

According to the Department of Statistics and Research, Departures reached 297.354 marking an increase of 16,1 per cent compared to June 1997. The arrival of tourists reached 248.426 in June 1998. The average age of tourists was 37,6 years and 73,7 per cent of them came from the EU countries.

The main countries of residence of the tourists in order of importance are the United Kingdom accounting for 45,7 per cent of tourists arrivals, Russia with 10,8 per cent, Sweden with 7 per cent and Germany with 6,8 per cent.

The number of excursionists reached 8.853 in June 1998 compared to 8.352 in June 1997.

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

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