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Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 96-10-10Cyprus News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: "HR-Net News Distribution Manager" <[email protected]>CONTENTS
1000:CYPPRESS:01[01] Back to normal after tremor hits CyprusNicosia, Oct 10 (CNA) -- One major aftershock, and hundreds of minor tremors, were felt in the past fifteen hours, following yesterday's earthquake, which rocked this Eastern Mediterranean island, measuring 6,1 on the Richter scale.Mathiatis Seismological Centre sees this development in a positive light in that the quake is being defused gradually and therefore the risk of a second major tremor is all the more distant. Life is back to normal after a night of uncertainty, telecommunications have been restored and teams of experts have started inspecting buildings to ascertain the damage caused. About ten people are still in hospital for treatment of minor injuries they sustained in their attempt to abandon buildings they were in at the time of Wednesday's earthquake, which happened at 16:11 local time (13:11 GMT). Police have been patrolling the streets throughout the night offering help to people and set up a special ''help line'' for people to ring from all towns. Schools are running as normal, and teachers have been given instructions to tell children what to do in case of powerful aftershocks, Education and Culture Minister Claire Angelidou said this morning. ''All lessons will take place in classrooms on the ground floor of school buildings. I believe children will be better off at school than in flats on their own at home, if parents are at work,'' she told Cyprus radio. Local authorities, in cooperation with government officers, started to record the damage, most of which is in the southern coastal town of Limassol. Some old houses in Paphos district, on the west of the island, have collapsed and one block of flats in Paphos town has been evacuated because of serious damage. CNA MM/GP/1996ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY1010:CYPPRESS:02[02] US Special Cyprus coordinator leaves postWashington, Oct 10 (CNA) -- US State Department Special Coordinator for Cyprus, Ambassador James Williams, leaves the office to take up other duties at the State Department.The Department's Spokesman Nicholas Burns told CNA that Williams' departure does not imply any lessening in the efforts by the US government towards a Cyprus solution. ''I can tell you that Ambassador Jim Williams is going to move onto other duties in the State Department after what we all believe is very distinguished service as Special Cyprus Coordinator'', the Spokesman said. Burns explained that this does not have any effect in the US policy on Cyprus. ''This change in no way signifies any lessening of the Administration's resolve to be helpful to the parties on Cyprus, to Greece and Turkey and the Cypriot government itself. It is simply a change in normal rotation in Ambassador William's duties'', he said. The Spokesman was not in a position to name Williams' successor. ''I'm not aware, at this point, of who may succeed him'', he said. In the interim, he explained, ''we have Ambassador (Richard) Beattie, (Presidential emissary on Cyprus), who works for the Secretary of State as well as the President. We have the three Ambassadors, particularly Ambassador (to Cyprus Kenneth) Brill. The Secretary has absolute confidence in Ambassador Brill as well as Mr. Beattie''. Burns repeated that Williams' replacement does not mean change in the US policy about Cyprus. ''The only other point I'm trying to make is that I don't want anyone to think that because Ambassador Williams is now following a normal rotation to another job in the Department, this somehow sends a political signal of diminished interest.'' CNA DA/GP/1996ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY1120:CYPPRESS:03[03] Dole expresses concern over Cyprus situationWashington, Oct 10 (CNA) -- The Dole-Kemp campaign in its message to the Greek-American Community expressed its concern about the future stability and security of Greece and Cyprus.The Republican Presidential candidate in a message to the Greek-Americans, says: ''I am very concerned about the future stability and security of Greece and Cyprus, given the growing tensions in the Aegean and the failure to achieve a just and lasting settlement in Cyprus.'' Dole says ''a Dole administration will actively engage the governments of Cyprus, Turkey and Greece to achieve a just and viable settlement of the Cyprus problem, at the earliest possible time.'' He expresses his strong support to President Glafcos Clerides' proposal for the demilitarisation of Cyprus. ''Since the late 1970's, I have supported the demilitarisation of Cyprus, and continue to do so. An environment of trust and goodwill is essential to bring the parties together and achieve the long-overdue solution to the Cyprus problem,'' he adds. Dole stresses his commitment to strengthening the bonds of the United States with Cyprus and Greece. ''My commitment to strengthening the bonds which join the United States, Greece and Cyprus will be firm and resolute,'' he concludes. CNA DA/GP/1996ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY1210 :CYPPRESS:04[04] British envoy to hold extensive talksNicosia, Oct 10 (CNA) -- Britain's envoy for Cyprus, Sir David Hannay, will hold ''extensive talks on the main aspects of the Cyprus problem'' in aid of UN efforts to reach a comprehensive settlement in Cyprus, British High Commissioner David Madden has said.Speaking after a 30-minute meeting here today with President Glafcos Clerides, he said he discussed arrangements of next week's visit by Sir David who will ''hold extensive discussions, many meetings and a lot of hard thinking.'' Asked if Hannay's talks aim at preparing something concrete, Madden said this is not part of the envoy's task. ''He is not going to be preparing anything concrete, that does not fall to us, but he will want a very full discussion on the various aspects, and he would want to see how these fit together as part of a continuing process,'' he told the press. He said the purpose of Hannay's visit here, the third since his appointment in April, is to hold further discussions ''in support of the UN Secretary-General's good offices mission for Cyprus.'' Replying to questions, Madden said Britain does not single out any one issue as being the ''key issue'' and pointed out that it would be wrong to suggest, as press reports have, that Sir David would focus on the issue of security, which the Greek and Turkish Cypriot communities see from different angles. ''Obviously the important thing is to get to a comprehensive settlement covering all the aspects and that is very much our approach,'' the High Commissioner added. In trying to produce that, he noted, ''different aspects need to be discussed at different times with different people.'' Asked to say if there was any connection between Hannay's moves and German and French interest in Cyprus, Madden said ''there is a European Union aspect of the Cyprus problem, given the wish of the Republic to join the EU, so obviously we hold discussions with our partners, and France and Germany are major partners.'' However, he stressed that Hannay ''is the British government's representative for Cyprus and acts for the UK.'' Madden described reports that British Foreign Secretary Malcolm Rifkind will visit Cyprus in November as ''speculation at this stage'' but added that Rifkind ''is personally very committed, very interested, determined to help the process but any talk about a visit by him to Cyprus is speculation at this stage.'' CNA MM/AP/1996ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY1400:CYPPRESS:05[05] Turkish threats will not stop defence boostNicosia, Oct 10 (CNA) -- Turkey's threats will not deter the government of Cyprus from upgrading its defences, with Greece's help, as long as Turkish troops continue to occupy the Republic's northern part, Government Spokesman Yiannakis Cassoulides has said.He has also pointed out that Turkey is the country which disregards international law and continues to occupy illegally part of the Republic's territory in violation of UN resolutions. Cassoulides' comments came in reply to yesterday's statement by Turkey's Foreign Ministry spokesman Sermet Atacanli that ''certain measures of retaliation can be envisaged'' if joint military manoeuvres between Cyprus and Greece do not stop. Atacanli described this week's annual exercises, which ended yesterday, as ''serious provocations'' which contained ''elements of assault.'' ''As long as Turkish occupation troops remain in Cyprus, our defences will continue to be bolstered, in cooperation with Greece, irrespective of Turkish threats,'' Cassoulides said in a written statement today. He said the Turkish side has ''repeatedly rejected President Glafcos Clerides' proposal for the complete demilitarisation of Cyprus and has refused to discuss this issue.'' ''Consequently, the Republic of Cyprus will continue to strengthen its defences solely to deter any possible attempt by the Turkish occupation troops to advance against the government-controlled areas of the island,'' Cassoulides said. Cyprus, he added, will continue its ''close cooperation with Greece in defence matters, since Greece has guaranteed the territorial integrity and independence of Cyprus.'' Greece, Turkey and Britain were the three guarantor powers of the Republic of Cyprus according to the terms of the 1960 Treaty of Guarantee, signed when Britain granted Cyprus its independence. ''The government and all parliamentary parties aim at a peaceful resolution of the Cyprus question, which would be greatly assisted if the Turkish side accepts the proposal for the demilitarisation,'' Cassoulides said. The Spokesman said ''the Turkish side, unashamedly, is threatening the Republic of Cyprus and Greece when Turkey itself, in defiance of international law, has committed a crime by invading and continuing to occupy part of the Republic's territory.'' The Spokesman recalled that Turkey maintains 35,000 troops, 400 tanks, warships in occupied ports and Turkish aircraft repeatedly violate Cyprus' air space. Under the cover of these troops, Cassoulides said, ''a self-styled Turkish Cypriot independent state was declared, a move contrary to the Treaty of Guarantee which Turkey itself has signed.'' The puppet regime in occupied Cyprus is recognised only by Turkey. CNA MM/GP/1996ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY1410:CYPPRESS:06[06] US Cyprus coordinator leaves post - no replacement namedNicosia, Oct 10 (CNA) -- Carey Cavanaugh, Director of the Office of Southern European Affairs at the US State Department, will deal with the Cyprus problem after the Department's Special Coordinator for Cyprus James Williams has moved to take up another post, Government Spokesman Yiannakis Cassoulides has said.''This temporary arrangement has been made after James Williams, until now the Department's Special Coordinator, was transferred to another post within the Department,'' Cassoulides said here today. Cassoulides said he did not know who will replace Williams. On Wednesday, US State Department spokesman Nicholas Burns stressed that the move does not signify any ''lessening of the Administration's resolve to be helpful to the parties on Cyprus.'' He said ''I do not want anyone to think that this somehow sends a political signal of diminished interest,'' Burns added. CNA MM/GP/1996ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY1415:CYPPRESS:07[07] No need for panic over rumors for new earthquakeNicosia, Oct 10 (CNA) -- Government Spokesman Yiannakis Cassoulides called on the public to remain calm and not to listen to rumours about a new earthquake.The public should follow the instructions of the competent state authorities, Cassoulides advised, adding that arrangements have been made concerning the accommodation of Limassol and Paphos residents whose houses have been affected by the earthquake. Speaking to the press today, Cassoulides said the competent authorities have started recording the damage caused by the earthquake and once it is evaluated the necessary measures will be taken. Meanwhile, the Geological Department has announced that around 150 aftershocks measuring 3,0 to 5,6 on the Richter scale have occurred during the night and until 1100 local time (0800 GMT) today. ''The big number of aftershocks assists to defuse the energy that has been accumulated in the earthquake region and greatly reduces the possibility of a new strong earthquake'', the announcement says. It notes that the aftershocks are getting weaker and that there is no reason for panic. CNA MCH/GP/1996ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY1430:CYPPRESS:08[08] Private visit to Germany by T/Cypriot leaderNicosia, Oct 10 (CNA) -- A visit to Germany by Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash ''is purely a private affair'', Government Spokesman Yiannakis Cassoulides said here today.''The German Foreign Ministry has made it clear to our embassy in Bonn that Denktash's visit to the country is a private one,'' Cassoulides told the press. A meeting Denktash has had with a Ministry official, he said, took place outside the Ministry's premises and Denktash was received as the leader of the Turkish Cypriot community and not the self-styled president of an illegal regime in the Turkish-occupied northern part of Cyprus. Cassoulides said no German government officials attended a reception Turkey's embassy in Bonn hosted for Denktash and a German Ministry statement said Deputy Foreign Minister had lunched with Denktash in his capacity as ''leader of the Turkish Cypriot community.'' CNA MM/GP/1996ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY1700:CYPPRESS:09[09] Cyprus Stock ExchangeNicosia, Oct 10 (CNA) -- The Cyprus Stock Exchange (CSE) All Share Index closed at today's stock exchange meeting as follows:CSE All Share Index 83.94 (+0.07) Sectural Indices Banks 91.31 (-0.11) Approved Investment Companies 75.39 (+0.04) Insurance Companies 62.69 (-0.08) Industrial Companies 82.47 (+0.88) Tourist Industries 75.49 (-0.44) Commercial Companies 68.54 (+0.82) Other Companies 80.10 (-0.10) Trading Volume CYP 595123.000* The difference in brackets represents the percentage increase (+) or decrease (-) of the index from the previous stock exchange meeting. CNA GP/1996ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY1710:CYPPRESS:10[10] British MPs in Morphou peace-marchNicosia, Oct 10 (CNA) -- A delegation of British MPs and representatives of the Municipality of Barnet, will take part in a peace-march on Sunday, October 13, organised by the refugees from the Turkish-occupied town of Morphou to demonstrate their right for return to their homes.With their participation in the peace-march, the British MPs wish to express their support to the struggle of all refugees to return to their homes, MP Alan Meale has said. The British representation consists of MPs Alan Meale, Ian Twinn, Don Dixon, Eric Clerke, Barbara Roche, William Etherington and Irene Adams as well as representatives of Barnet Municipality Council Alan Williams, John Ryan and Max Caller, Barnet has been twinned with Morphou municipality. President Glafcos Clerides will receive the British MPs tomorrow. The town of Morphou, in the northwestern part of Cyprus, has been occupied by Turkish troops since 1974. The Turkish forces occupy 37 per cent of the island's territory, in violation of repeated UN resolutions calling for their withdrawal. Meanwhile, a group of refugees from the area of the Turkish-occupied village of Kythrea announced today that they will organise a protest march on Saturday, October 12, on the road leading to their village, in the eastern part of Nicosia, the world's last divided capital. CNA MCH/GP/1996ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY1730:CYPPRESS:11[11] Milosevic to visit to CyprusNicosia, Oct 10 (CNA) -- Serbian President Slobodan Milosevic has accepted an invitation from Cyprus President Glafcos Clerides to pay an official visit to Cyprus.The date of the visit will be fixed through diplomatic channels. The invitation was conveyed to Milosevic by Cyprus Foreign Minister Alecos Michaelides, during a long meeting in Belgrade. The two men discussed the Cyprus problem, the situation in the Balkans, other international issues and bilateral matters. Milosevic expressed full appreciation for the support of the Cypriot people to the Serbian people during the war. During his stay in Belgrade, Michaelides and his counterpart Milan Milutinovic signed two agreements for bilateral cooperation in the political, educational and cultural fields. The Cypriot Minister told the press this afternoon, on his return from Belgrade, that cooperation between Cyprus and the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia is important both in political and economic terms. ''There is willingness and possibilities for cooperation'', Michaelides said, noting Yugoslavia's key geographical position in Europe. CNA MCH/GP/1996ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY1800:CYPPRESS:12[12] Hannay's visit to Ankara useful, says MichaelidesLarnaca Oct 10 (CNA) -- Foreign Minister Alecos Michaelides described today as ''useful'' the fact that Britain's representative for Cyprus, Sir David Hannay, visited Ankara prior to his visit to Nicosia.Speaking at Larnaca airport, on his return this afternoon from Belgrade, Michaelides said by visiting Ankara, Sir David Hannay has a knowledge of Turkey's intentions, when he comes to the island for a meeting with President Glafcos Clerides and government officials. Noting British interest in the Cyprus problem, Michaelides said Britain wishes to assist efforts for reaching common ground between the two sides on the island, which would allow for direct talks for a settlement of the Cyprus question. Meanwhile, speaking to the press earlier today British High Commissioner to Cyprus David Madden said Sir David will hold discussions ''in support of the UN Secretary-General's good offices mission for Cyprus.'' Sir David Hannay, who also visited Greece, is due in Cyprus on Sunday night. Turkish troops have been occupying 37 per cent of Cyprus territory since 1974, in violation of repeated UN resolutions calling for their withdrawal. CNA MCH/GP/1996ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY1840:CYPPRESS:13[13] Seminar on Cyprus' harmonisation with acquis communautaireNicosia, Oct 10 (CNA) -- A two-day seminar on Cyprus' harmonisation with the acquis communautaire - economic and social policies starts at a sea-side hotel in Larnaca tomorrow.The seminar is jointly organised by the Friedrich-Ebert Institution of Germany (FES) and the Cyprus Foundation of Sociopolitical Studies (IKMEK), within the framework of the ''Eurocollege''. Among participants will be the President of the Socialist Group in the European Parliament, British Euro-MP Pauline Green, and Euro-MP Mechtild Rhothe, as well as an official of the French Foreign Ministry. Cyprus political parties, trade unions, as well as representatives of the University of Cyprus and of different commercial banks have also been invited to attend. The seminar will be opened tomorrow by Socialist EDEK party President Vassos Lyssarides, while Foreign Minister Alecos Michaelides will present the government's policy on the harmonisation process. Speaking to CNA, IKMEK President Renos Prentzas expressed the conviction that the seminar will have a positive effect on Cyprus' process of accession to the European Union. A similar seminar took place in Cyprus in 1994. Cyprus applied for full EU membership in 1990. It signed an association agreement with the European Community in 1972 and a customs union agreement in 1987. CNA MCH/GP/1996ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY2000:CYPPRESS:14[14] Finland appoints special envoy for CyprusNicosia, Oct 10 (CNA) -- Finland has appointed a special envoy for the Cyprus problem.He is Taisto Kalevi Sorsa, who has served as Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Finland. Cyprus Foreign Minister Alecos Michaelides welcomed the appointment, saying it indicates Finland's interest in the Cyprus problem, especially in view of the island's accession process to the European Union. He also noted Finland's participation in the UN Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP). ''We welcome Finland's interest as well as any initiative for the promotion of a just and viable solution of the Cyprus problem'', Michaelides said. Kalevi Sorsa is not the only one special envoy on Cyprus appointed by a foreign government. Britain has its own special representative on the Cyprus problem. He is Sir David Hannay, the former permanent representative of Britain to the UN. He comes to Cyprus on Sunday night. US President Bill Clinton has appointed ambassador Richard Beattie as his emissary on Cyprus. There is also a Special Coordinator on Cyprus at the US State Department. The European Union is represented through the rotating presidency, which appoints its own representative on Cyprus. Currently is Irish Ambassador Kester Heaslip. The UN Secretary-General appointed earlier this year Han Sung-Joo, former South Korean Foreign Minister, as his special envoy on the Cyprus problem. Gustave Feissel is the Secretary-General's Resident Representative. CNA MCH/GP/1996ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCYCyprus News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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