Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 96-09-23

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From: "HR-Net News Distribution Manager" <[email protected]>

CONTENTS

[01] Clerides flies to New York

[02] British MPs to work with US for Cyprus

[03] Clerides congratulates Simitis

[04] Party leaders welcome Greek election result

[05] Cyprus Stock Exchange

[06] Russian Minister holds talks in Cyprus

[07] Bank's alliance to benefit local investors

1120:CYPPRESS:01

[01] Clerides flies to New York

President Clerides told the press yesterday evening at Larnaca airport that common ground should be found on the key aspects of the Cyprus problem to allow a constructive dialogue for the solution of the protracted problem.

He said all those who area interested in backing efforts for a Cyprus settlement should direct their efforts to Turkey.

President Clerides stressed any negotiations were doomed to failure if Ankara did not change its attitude.

Turkish troops have been occupying 37 per cent of Cyprus territory since 1974, in violation of repeated UN resolutions calling for their withdrawal.

Replying to questions, President Clerides noted that he had no indication that the initiatives launched by foreign powers would succeed.

Referring specifically to the US initiative, President Clerides said the Americans should try to secure a just and viable solution to the Cyprus problem, which would not contradict international law and UN resolutions.

President Clerides is accompanied to his US trip by Foreign Minister Alecos Michaelides and Government Spokesman Yiannakis Cassoulides.

On Tuesday, President Clerides will sign the ''Test Ban Treaty'' and give a lecture at the Carnegie Council.

On Wednesday, he will have meetings with Poland's President Aleksander Kwasniewski, Latvia's Premier Andris Skele, Ireland's Foreign Minister Dick Spring and European Union External Affairs Commissioner Hans Van den Broek.

On Thursday, he will have meetings with UN Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali, and General Assembly President, Malaysian Ambassador Ismail Razali, and address the General Assembly.

On Friday, President Clerides will have meetings with US Permanent Representative to the UN Madeleine Albright and Britain's Foreign Secretary Malcomn Rifkind.

During his stay in New York, the Cypriot President will give interviews with leading American publications and have meetings with representatives of the Cypriot community in New York.

He returns to Cyprus on Monday, September 30.

Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Alecos Michaelides will have a series of meetings with counterparts from Australia, Spain, Slovenia, Moldova, Iran, Singapore, Malta, Norway, Cuba, Romania, Kenya, Croatia and Greece.

CNA GP/1996

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1220:CYPPRESS:02

[02] British MPs to work with US for Cyprus

Conservative MP Ian Twinn, said Turkey has enjoyed ''continuous American support because of its regional position during the cold war'' but, he pointed out, ''the situation has changed a lot and it is our responsibility as politicians in Europe to get that message across to American politicians and when we meet, we try and explain to them what the real situation is.''

''There are many entrenched views in the US which place Turkey's strategic position much more importantly on their agenda than they ought to be doing,'' Twinn said and noted that Britain, because of its good relations with the US, can talk to the Administration ''frankly.''

''I would not belittle American efforts. The US is serious about democracy but that has to be applied across the whole world, and that is the message we want to get across to them, they cannot be selective about it,'' Twinn told the press after a meeting here with House of Representatives President Spyros Kyprianou.

He said the US attitude to Turkey was part of discussions he and another three British deputies had with Kyprianou in the light of American ''strong encouragement'' to the European Union to ''have positive relations with Turkey and to make them stable'' following last week's resolution by the European Parliament calling for a cut in EU funds to Turkey because of the continuing violation of human rights in the country and the lack of democratisation.

''There really needs to be continuous pressure on American politicians for them to understand quite what their relationship with Turkey is doing to us in Europe,'' Twinn said.

Europe's ties with Turkey must be based on ''mutual trust'', Twinn added, which at the moment is non-existent.

''I do not think the Americans are helping us as Europeans live comfortably within our own region. I think the Americans need to understand that,'' he concluded.

The four-member British delegation will meet political party leaders to be briefed about the latest developments in Cyprus and express wholehearted support for a ''just and lasting'' solution to the Cyprus question.

''We will do everything we can as British parliamentarians to help your leaders to do that,'' Twinn, heading the delegation told the press.

He expressed ''great concern'' about the tension that has prevailed on the island following the brutal murders of two Greek Cypriot demonstrators by Turkish extremists and wondered what the next Turkish move would be.

House President Kyprianou described the meeting as ''very useful and productive'' and said there was disappointment not only in Cyprus but also among its friends abroad with the US attitude, after the European Parliament resolution.

''Europe has decided to exert some kind of pressure on Turkey, the US step in and basically encourage Turkey not to take the resolution seriously,'' Kyprianou said.

He said both Britain and Europe have an important role to play in the search for a Cyprus solution and called on the British MPs to continue working for a just and lasting settlement.

''I cannot imagine that Turkey will continue to impose its own terms on everybody for ever. This must be dealt with,'' Kyprianou said.

On the Cyprus issue, the House President called on the US to outline the content of its proposed initiative on Cyprus and stressed that there can be no settlement unless Turkey changes its tune.

''If mediators on Cyprus expect us to make more concessions to bridge the gap between our positions and those of the Turkish side, then we shall be faced with a terrible development but we are all determined to tackle such an eventuality,'' Kyprianou.

Cyprus has been divided since 1974 when Turkish troops invaded and occupied 37 per cent of its territory.

CNA MM/GP/1996

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1230:CYPPRESS:03

[03] Clerides congratulates Simitis.

President Clerides sent a congratulatory message to Simitis from London, where he stopped over on his way from Cyprus to New York, where he will address Thursday the UN General Assembly.

The Cypriot President wished Simitis every success, adding that he was looking forward to continue their close cooperation in all fields.

The Greek Premier had pledged that he would visit Cyprus soon after his re-election.

He is expected to attend the military parade of October 1st, marking Cyprus' Independence from Britain.

CNA KT/GP/1996

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1310:CYPPRESS:04

[04] Party leaders welcome Greek election result

Yiannakis Matsis, leader of the ruling rightwing Democratic Rally (DISY) party, said the people of Cyprus expect Greece to ''undertake the burden of its responsibilities in the Balkans and the wider European region as Greece edges nearer the 21st century.''

He said Cyprus expects Simitis to keep his promise and visit the island in early October to exchange views with the government and the local political leadership on how to promote a Cyprus settlement.

Greece and Cyprus must coordinate their efforts to facilitate Cyprus' accession to the European Union and help reach a solution of the protracted Cyprus question.

The General Secretary of the main opposition party, leftwing AKEL, Demetris Christofias said he was pleased with the election result and said people in Greece ''want deeds not words.''

''The Greek government should stand by Cyprus and claim to the extent that is possible our rights within the UN and other organisations it belongs to, including NATO,'' he said.

Spyros Kyprianou, leader of the centreright Democratic Party (DIKO) and President of the House of Representatives, said there will be ''stability in Greece following Simitis' victory.''

''We see that Greece has an important role to play in our membership negotiations with the EU and I am sure Simitis is aware of this reality,'' he said.

On a joint defence pact between Cyprus and Greece, agreed upon between President Glafcos Clerides and the late Greek PM Andreas Papandreou, Kyprianou said ''I hope this will continue to be implemented as planned until all its terms are met.''

He also said Simitis is expected to be in Cyprus early next week, as already arranged, to attend a meeting of the National Council, the top advisory body to President Clerides on the handling of the Cyprus problem.

Socialist EDEK party leader Vasos Lyssarides stressed the need to have a ''common policy among Cypriot parties and between Cyprus and Greece. The election results are a victory for the people of Cyprus as well because PASOK policy is an essential ingredient in pushing for a settlement in Cyprus,'' he said.

Replying to questions, Lyssarides said as far as Cyprus is concerned, PASOK's victory ''is a plus for us. We feel safer with a Socialist government in Greece rather than any other government,'' he said.

George Vassiliou, leader of the Free Democrats Movement, called on Simitis to show ''a serious and responsible outlook on national issues. I believe Simitis will tackle Turkish provocation in a decisive manner and I am confident he will aim to start some kind of a dialogue with Turkey and help Greece play a leading role in the Balkans,'' he said.

CNA MM/GP/1996

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1630:CYPPRESS:05

[05] Cyprus Stock Exchange

CSE All Share Index                    83.49 (+0.32)
Sectural Indices
Banks                                  90.46 (+0.68)
Approved Investment Companies          76.02 (+0.03)
Insurance Companies                    61.74 (-0.23)
Industrial Companies                   83.46 (+0.38)
Tourist Industries                     75.20 (-0.91)
Commercial Companies                   67.52 (+0.85)
Other Companies                        80.91 (-1.84)
Trading Volume                         CYP 482389.986

CNA AP/1996

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1810:CYPPRESS:06

[06] Russian Minister holds talks in Cyprus

Kyprianou briefed the Russian Minister on the latest developments in the Cyprus problem.

Sidorov is currently on the island to attend various cultural events of ''Ta Kypria '96'' festival. Among the foreign groups participating in the festival is a Kremlin ballet.

After Kyprianou, Sidorov had a meeting with Cyprus Education and Culture Minister Claire Angelidou.

The two Ministers discussed matters of bilateral cooperation in the field of culture and reviewed progress of a cooperation memorandum signed last year in Moscow.

The Russian Minister told the press that he discussed with Angelidou certain ways of cooperation in the fields of painting, music, dance and exchange of cultural delegations.

The Cypriot Minister expressed the hope that a Byzantine icons exhibition from Russia would take part in ''Ta Kypria '97'' festival.

CNA GP/1996

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1825:CYPPRESS:07

[07] Bank's alliance to benefit local investors

Popular Bank Group Chairman Kikis Lazarides told a press conference that under the agreement his group ''becomes the only institution in Cyprus which has the right to market Fidelity funds locally.''

He added the Popular Bank will also be able to distribute Fidelity's products and sell funds in Greece and the United Kingdom, whereas its Australia, South Africa and Canada branches could refer business through these branch networks.

Lazarides said the alliance will provide the customer base of the Popular Bank Group with access to investment opportunities in the world's capital and money markets.

At the same time, he noted, ''the Popular Bank will benefit from the vast experience and knowledge of Fidelity of the world markets, enrich our product portfolio, utilise more efficiently our foreign currency deposit base and take advantage of Fidelity's expertise in the areas of marketing, training and technology.''

The Popular Bank Chairman explained that his group will actively promote, in the initial stages, 31 out of 335 Fidelity different funds.

Five different strategies have been designed to accommodate for the different customer profiles and portfolios, Lazarides said.

These comprise the Current Income Strategy, the Capital Preservation, the Moderate Growth, the Wealth Building and the Aggressive Appreciation Strategy.

In view of the forthcoming liberalisation of exchange controls by the Central Bank of Cyprus, the Cypriot banker said ''there will be increased opportunities for Cypriot investors as well as an increased flexibility for offering new products/services.''

He pointed out that Fidelity Investments, founded in 1946 in Boston, has ''a first class reputation and is the world's largest independent fund management organisation, managing at present in excess of 470 billion US dollars worth of assets for individuals, corporations, governmental and non-profit organisations''.

CNA AP/GP/1996

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

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