Cyprus News Agency: News in English (PM), 97-01-28

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From: The Cyprus News Agency at <http://www.cyna.org.cy>

CONTENTS

[01] Spokesman: Clerides never accepted rotating presidency

[02] House President meets US Ambassador

[03] British compensate Cyprus for environmental damage

[04] Cyprus Stock Exchange

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[01] Spokesman: Clerides never accepted rotating presidency

The spokesman said President Clerides never accepted the idea of a rotating presidency and noted that his replies are always based on the 1989 unanimous decisions of the National Council.

In his press conference, last Friday, at the end of a three-day visit to the island, the British Labour MP outlined a number of points on which, as he said, the international community should base a Cyprus settlement.

He explained that the two principles of equality and democracy will be brought together by rotating presidency which, he added, ''could be achieved by the communities taking it in turns to nominate candidates.''

Cassoulides said such suggestions were never raised during Cook's meeting with President Clerides.

However, the spokesman noted that like British Foreign Secretary Malcolm Rifkind, who proposed a ten-point plan for a Cyprus settlement at the end of his December visit to the island, Cook made similar statements at his press conference last week.

''These (the proposals) are his positions and suggestions'', Cassoulides clarified, noting they have never been submitted to the government.

''The President never accepted the proposal for a rotating presidency and such proposal was not submitted by Cook to the President,'' Cassoulides concluded.

Cyprus has been divided since 1974 when Turkish troops invaded and occupied 37 per cent of the island's territory.

CNA EC/AP/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

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[02] House President meets US Ambassador

Speaking after the meeting Brill said he tries to keep in touch with all political leaders on the island and this was the nature of his meeting with Kyprianou as well.

''The purpose of the visit was to discuss recent developments and compare notes with him as to where he sees things going, where we see things going and where we hope to see things going'', the US Ambassador said.

Asked to comment on the forthcoming visit of high ranking Russian officials to Cyprus, Brill referred reporters to the Russian Embassy, but noted that coordination of countries involved in efforts towards a Cyprus settlement has been ''very good'' and added, ''we expect that kind of co- ordination to continue.''

The House President said Brill had expressed concern that no steps had been taken to defuse the recent crisis and that the US diplomat reaffirmed the intention of new US Secretary of State, Madeleine Albright to set Cyprus as one of her priorities.

Kyprianou replied that ''matters concerning the tension created by Turkey had been exhausted'' and asked for US guarantees of Cyprus' security and the withdrawal of the Turkish troops from the island.

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/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

Nicosia, Jan 28 (CNA) -- Britain is monetarily compensating the Cyprus government for environmental damage caused to the Akamas region by British military exercises there.

This was said here today by Government Spokesman, Yiannakis Cassoulides who pointed out that ''the Cyprus government recognizes that environmental problems are created in the Akamas region, an area which is sensitive relative to the protection of the environment.''

The Spokesman said in light of this problem, the Cyprus government entered into negotiations with the British to end military exercises in Akamas.

''The British government has agreed to end the exercises there once a new area has been designated,'' he added.

Cassoulides said when damage is done to the Akamas, Cyprus Agriculture Ministry officials record the damage and the British government compensates in kind.

However, he stated as fact that the environment is not restored by monetary compensation and added that efforts for finding new areas will intensify.

The Spokesman noted that in the negotiations with the British government, the possibility the British forces use areas within the SBA's is also being examined, as well as firing ranges used by the island's National Guard.

Cassoulides clarified however, the National Guard areas will not be conceded entirely to the British, but will rather be given during certain times when the National Guard does not need them.

He pointed out that the whole matter was raised as a result of international conventions for the protection of the environment rather than political reasons.

The Cypriot official mentioned that the British have conducted exercises in Akamas for the past 37 years, according to the 1960 Treaty of Establishment of the Cyprus Republic.

He added last year only 30 hours out of the allowable 70 hours of military training were used by the British forces.

Cassoulides stressed the government dispatched police to Akamas ''not to protect the British, but rather our own civilians.''

Environmentalists descended on the Akamas area last Sunday to protest the British exercises they consider destructive to the ecology.

An undetermined number of protestors have been hiding in the firing range since yesterday, but Cypriot police have as yet been unable to find and remove them.

Among the protestors hiding there is Democratic Party MP, Marios Matsakis.

CNA MA/MH/GP/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1920:CYPPRESS:04

[03] Cyprus Stock Exchange

CSE All Share Index                    75.99 (-0.87)

Sectural Indices

Banks                                  86.12 (-0.27)
Approved Investment Companies          67.63 (-0.06)
Insurance Companies                    54.90 (-1.63)
Industrial Companies                   73.53 (-2.34)
Tourist Industries                     65.74 (-2.07)
Commercial Companies                   52.24 (-2.06)
Other Companies                        58.94 (-1.68)

Trading Volume                         CYP 664634.847

CNA MM/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

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