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Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 96-12-20Cyprus News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Cyprus News Agency at <http://www.cyna.org,cy>CONTENTS
1000:CYPPRESS:01[01] Washington to discuss Cyprus with TurkeyWashington, Dec 20 (CNA) -- U.S. Secretary of State Warren Christopher has said one of the matters that the U.S. has to work with Turkey next year is an effort to resolve the Cyprus problem.The reference to Cyprus follows a recent statement on Cyprus by U.S. President Bill Clinton, reiterating Washington's interest in a solution to the Cyprus problem in 1977. Asked by a Turkish journalist if Turkey is still a front line state for the U.S. interests, Christopher told his annual review press conference that ''Turkey remains a country of great importance to the United States. It's a member of NATO and it sits at a very strategic place in the world.'' He said the United States' friendship for Turkey is ''a very deep one and we've worked together on a number of matters recently. They've been assisted the United States in the evacuation of a number of Americans and others from Northern Iraq.'' The U.S. Secretary of State said ''we continue to have an important dialogue with them on many, many subjects. And we have many matters to work on in the course of the next year. I mean, including an effort to resolve the problems in Cyprus.'' Turkish troops have been occupying 37 per cent of Cyprus territory since 1974, in violation of repeated UN resolutions calling for their withdrawal. CNA DA/GP/1996ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY1340:CYPPRESS:02[02] US favours cuts in military spendingNicosia, Dec 20 (CNA) -- The US has indicated its support for a halt in the military hardware in Cyprus to enable a political settlement to be reached, a position outlined earlier this week by Britain.Asked if the US has attempted to cancel the sale of Russian anti- aircraft missile system S300 to Cyprus, American ambassador in Nicosia, Kenneth Brill, replied ''we believe that adding military weapons in Cyprus or other places is not conducive to moving forward politically.'' This position was also expressed on Monday by British Foreign Secretary Malcolm Rifkind at a press conference here during his brief visit to the island. Speaking after a meeting with President Glafcos Clerides to review the year's work, Brill said he had a ''good discussion'' but did not talk about the ideas Rifkind put forward to both sides, in the course of a press conference, which covered the main aspects of the Cyprus question and have been described as Britain's views on Cyprus. Replying to questions, Brill reiterated American interest in seeing a solution in Cyprus and added ''The US determination to work on Cyprus was articulated as recently as Monday by the US President when he said he anticipated on working hard on Cyprus and Greco-Turkish relations.'' ''The documents put out publically in Washington (after the President's meeting with European Union Commission President Jacques Santer) specifically mentioned as a goal for the first six months of 1997 promoting direct negotiations,'' he added. Cyprus has been divided since 1974 when Turkish troops invaded and occupied 37 per cent of its territory. CNA MA/MM/GP/1996ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY1400:CYPPRESS:03[03] Cyprus: a dormant volcano, says CleridesNicosia, Dec 20 (CNA) -- President Glafcos Clerides considers that foreign circles see the situation in Cyprus as ''a dormant volcano'' which could erupt at any time, with far-reaching repercussions.The President's comments came after calls from various quarters, including Britain and the US, for a halt to the military build-up on the island, including the Republic's plans to purchase the Russian anti- aircraft missile system S300. ''It is clear that, for the first time, everybody is concerned because, so far they believed Cyprus to be a dormant volcano, whereas now they see it can erupt, destabilise the Balkan region and Europe,'' the President told the press after meeting US ambassador to Cyprus Kenneth Brill. Asked if Greek Cypriots can stop worrying about their security now, the President said ''the more armed we are, they less we should worry.'' Commenting on the UN Secretary-General's view that common ground might be found during peace talks, Clerides reiterated the need to find common ground between the positions of the Greek and Turkish Cypriot sides on the main aspects of the Cyprus question before negotiations begin. ''I believe the position that preparation is necessary to be correct. Sitting around the negotiating table without reaching common ground would mean that we will reiterate our positions and be led to a new deadlock,'' the President explained. Turkish troops have been occupying 37 per cent of Cyprus territory since 1974, in violation of repeated UN resolutions calling for their withdrawal. CNA MA/MM/GP/1996ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY1420:CYPPRESS:04[04] Cyprus House President congratulates new UN ChiefNicosia, Dec 20 (CNA) -- Cyprus House of Representatives President Spyros Kyprianou has congratulated newly-elected UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, wishing him every success in his work.Kyprianou notes in his congratulatory message that the nations of the world invest their hopes for a peaceful and more prosperous future. He points out that the Republic of Cyprus has always been a steadfast supporter of the efforts to achieve the prevalence of the UN Charter principles and the respect of its resolutions. ''In this connection I should like to emphasise the paramount importance which the people of Cyprus attach to the implementation of the pertinent UN resolutions on Cyprus, as well as the full commitment of their political leadership to a settlement based on these resolutions and the full respect of human rights and fundamental freedoms,'' Kyprianou added. The House President expresses the belief that the new UN Secretary- General shares this commitment. This, he concluded, ''will underlie the efforts you will undertake in the context of your good offices mission on Cyprus.'' CNA AP/GP/1996ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY1420:CYPPRESS:05[05] CoE's Committee adopts draft resolution on CyprusNicosia, Dec 20 (CNA) -- A draft resolution on the situation in Cyprus was adopted by the Political Affairs Committee of the Council of Europe's (CoE) Parliamentary Assembly, at a London meeting earlier this week.The report and resolution was presented Wednesday by the Assembly's vice president and chairman of the Political Affairs Committee Andras Barsony, a socialist MP from Hungary, who was recently appointed as a COE rapporteur on the situation in Cyprus. Cypriot MP Doros Christodoulides had proposed a number of amendments aimed to improve certain provisions of the draft resolutions. A House official press release issued here said a lot of these amendments were adopted by the Committee. The Committee decided to present the amended draft resolution for debate and adoption at the next plenary session of the CoE Parliamentary Assembly, which will take place in Strasbourg between January 27-31, 1997. Christodoulides was accompanied to London by Yiannakis Georgiades, Head of the House of Representatives International Relations Office. CNA AP/GP/1996ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY1600 :CYPPRESS:06[06] Ruling party leader returns after heart operationNicosia, Dec 20 (CNA) -- Yiannakis Matsis, leader of the ruling Democratic Rally (DISY) party, returns home Saturday after heart surgery in London.Matsis, who suffered a hear attack at the end of November, flew to London where he underwent a quadruple by-pass graft and was soon able to start breathing by himself. A DISY press release, issued here today, said Matsis is not likely to resume his duties until after a certain period of time elapses, following his operation. He will probably return to public life after January, the press release added. Matsis, it said, chose to return home before Christmas to spend the festive season with his family. CNA MM/EC/1996ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY1620 :CYPPRESS:07[07] Annual export awards givenNicosia, Dec 20 (CNA) -- President Glafcos Clerides has called on local businessmen to invest and improve their methods and produce in order to meet the challenges ahead.Speaking at the annual exports award ceremony, the President noted the recent economic achievements which helped Cyprus meet the Maastricht criteria, unlike most of the European Union (EU) member-states. ''We shall not deviate from our course towards a united Europe. Our efforts to harmonise our institutions and legislation with the acquis communautaire will intensify so that our objectives are achieved by the time we begin accession negotiations (with the EU),'' the President said. He noted that the introduction of a common foreign tax system and GATT (General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade), will liberalise Cyprus' external trade. ''What we need is to draft out a strategy which would give the private sector the leading role,'' he said and urged businessmen to invest in equipment, upgrade production units, produce new products and offer improved services. He stressed the importance of the human factor and improved management methods. The government, he assured the business world, will offer support to local companies to the extent circumstances allow it to do so. Commerce, Industry and Tourism Minister Kyriakos Christofi said exports helped ''the country's economic development in that they contribute to improved production.'' ''One of our primary goals must be the continuous development of our exports in goods and services,'' he added. Cyprus must, not only offer goods and services at competitive prices, but also provide the goods at the right time and in the right manner to attract buyers, the Minister stressed. The world market, which is becoming smaller by the day because of rapid development in communications, creates a ''new reality which affects the production and marketing policies.'' Christofi called on the Cypriot businessmen to undertake initiatives for the appropriate investment and updating of their businesses, and not to rely exclusively on measures adopted by the government. The awards included prizes for industrial products, European Union award, special prize, agricultural produce award, and services award. CNA MM/EC/1996ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY1820:CYPPRESS:08[08] Cyprus Stock ExchangeNicosia, Dec 20 (CNA) -- The Cyprus Stock Exchange (CSE) All Share Index closed at today's stock exchange meeting as follows:CSE All Share Index 81.59 (-0.04) Sectural Indices Banks 90.88 (-0.22) Approved Investment Companies 74.29 (+1.18) Insurance Companies 56.30 (+1.06) Industrial Companies 83.54 (-0.36) Tourist Industries 71.48 (+0.59) Commercial Companies 60.98 (+1.58) Other Companies 66.43 (-1.64) Trading Volume CYP 498690.980* The difference in brackets represents the percentage increase (+) or decrease (-) of the index from the previous stock exchange meeting. CNA MM/1996ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY1825 :CYPPRESS:09[09] Russian assurances to Cyprus on arms salesNicosia, Dec 20 (CNA) -- Russia does not intend to stop selling arms to Cyprus, reliable sources have told CNA.This message was communicated to the Republic's embassy in Moscow by officials of the Russian Foreign Ministry at a briefing today, following representations to Moscow by Turkey's Foreign Minister Tansu Ciller about the proposed sale of S300 anti-aircraft missiles. Ciller was in Moscow earlier this week and is reported to have claimed obtaining assurances from Russia that it would not go ahead with the sale. According to reliable sources, close to the Russian News Agency NOVOSTI, the Russian officials reiterated this position in no uncertain terms. The officials, the same sources say, had informed Turkey two weeks ago, through diplomatic channels, about their government's views on the matter and noted that Russia had no intention of bringing up the issue during Ciller's visit to Moscow. Today's briefing paves the way for the purchase of the much publicised S300 surface-to-air missiles. CNA CG/MM/EC/1996ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCYCyprus News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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