Cyprus News Agency: News in English (PM), 97-03-24

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

CONTENTS

[01] Cypriot women in UNESCO meeting

[02] Turk charged with bomb attack and spying

[03] Spokesman on proximity talks

[04] Economy shows encouraging signs

[05] Cyprus Stock Exchange

[06] Euro MP urges Turkey to assist Cyprus settlement

1540:CYPPRESS:01

[01] Cypriot women in UNESCO meeting

The purpose of the meeting, the first of its kind, is to study the position of women in their countries and see if their society is reflected or has affected their writing.

Tel Aviv mayor, Ronni Milo, will open the conference tomorrow, and Israeli MP Shuolamit Aloni will address thirty women participants from various countries including Italy, Greece, France, Spain, Turkey, the Palestinian Authority, Cyprus, Morocco and Egypt.

Cyprus will be represented by two women writers, Maria Avramidou and Erina Ioannidou Adamidou.

During the meeting, women will have time to present extracts from their work or talk about their writing and their country. They will also attend lectures and workshops to discuss different topics of interest to women writers.

At the end of the conference, an International Mediterranean Women's Committee will be elected in order to continue the dialogue for peace and understanding between women writers.

CNA MM/MA/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1640:CYPPRESS:02

[02] Turk charged with bomb attack and spying

The Limassol District Court ordered Nedjip Srichichekli, 45, arrested March 8, to remain in police custody until March 31, when he will appear before the Court for a preliminary hearing.

The defendant was refused bail by the Court for fear that he might escape to the northern Turkish occupied part of the island.

Srichichekli was charged with placing explosives in the Kurdish Association's premises, in the southern town of Limassol, and with possession of explosives, a time bomb, plastic explosives and a detonator on February 10, 1996.

He is also facing charges of passing on information concerning National Guard camps, two ports and the airport in the western coastal town of Paphos, to two Turkish Cypriots and a Turk, between August 1994 and February 1997.

Srichichekli is accused of gathering and handing over information on National Guard arms acquisition programme and the the Republic's armed forces.

The Court charged him with photographing restricted areas and National Guard camps, without permission, between February 15, 1995 and February 15, 1997 and between February 15 and March 8, 1997.

Turkish Cypriot lawyer, Sefika Durduran, was present at the Court proceedings, on behalf of Srichichekli's lawyer, Ali Dana, but she could not speak before the Court as she is not registered with the Cyprus Bar.

CNA MA/MM/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1913:CYPPRESS:03

[03] Spokesman on proximity talks

Government Spokesman, Yiannakis Cassoulides, told his daily briefing today the National Council, the top advisory body to the President on the Cyprus issue, will evaluate the results of these talks and decide accordingly.

"We shall assess the outcome of the proximity talks and decide if there is sufficient ground to begin face-to-face talks that would be successful," Cassoulides.

The prevailing position at present seems to suggest that the Cyprus government has modified slightly its previous view on the definition of common ground between the positions of the Greek and Turkish Cypriot sides.

The shift appears to have been the result of a meeting in Athens, earlier this year, between the Greek and the Cyprus governments.

"The National Council will decide if the necessary common ground has been reached so that we can take part in direct negotiations," Cassoulides told the press.

However, he underlined that today the government is focusing its attention on the proximity talks, which, he said, it has entered with political will and good-will.

Even though he expressed certainty that face-to-face talks will take place "sooner or later", Cassoulides pointed out "it is too premature to express an opinion on the proximity talks."

Replying to questions, the Spokesman said the UN Secretary-General's resident representative, Gustave Feissel, conveys the views of both sides during the proximity talks.

He reiterated that if there is political will, a solution to the protracted Cyprus issue can be reached very soon.

CNA KN/MA/MM/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1940:CYPPRESS:04

[04] Economy shows encouraging signs

Speaking at a press conference, Christodoulou said the 1997 rate of growth is expected to range between 3 and 3.5 per cent of the Gross Domestic Product, higher than that of the European Union, expected to be about 2.5 and 3 per cent.

Christodoulou said the GDP estimates for 1996 is 2.5 per cent.

The Finance Minister based his optimism on government measures aimed at improving the island's economy and on an increasing trend of the general economic indicators.

Christodoulou said "prospects for the services sector are much better, while tourist bookings for this year are expected to be at 1996 levels with a view for improvement."

About two million tourists visit the island every year, and the tourism sector represents some 21 per cent of the gross national product.

Referring to the manufacturing sector, the Minister said there have been encouraging signs since the incentives and the financing of export projects started being implemented.

However, he noted the agricultural sector has been affected by bad weather conditions, which led to millions of Cyprus pounds worth of losses.

CNA EC/MA/MM/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

2012:CYPPRESS:05

[05] Cyprus Stock Exchange

CSE All Share Index                    78.80 (+0.19)

Highest: 82.46 (21/1/97)
Lowest : 73.90 (30/1/97)

Sectural Indices

Banks                                  88.97 (+0.27)
Approved Investment Companies          68.27 (+1.77)
Insurance Companies                    59.63 (-0.13)
Industrial Companies                   82.46 (-0.07)
Tourist Industries                     61.52 (0)
Commercial Companies                   52.99 (+0.63)
Other Companies                        55.03 (-0.56)

Trading Volume                         CYP 1174979.103

CNA MA/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

2030:CYPPRESS:06

[06] Euro MP urges Turkey to assist Cyprus settlement

In a statement today to London Greek Radio, after a three-day visit to Turkey last week, Green said she raised "the issue of Cyprus at every opportunity with everybody."

"What I found there was the sort of statements which is a bit more encouraging in that, for the first time, I did not get any of the more chauvinist statements that I had in the past, about Cyprus being a military fortress for Greece," she said.

The Labour Euro MP said she was "getting the view from them (the Turks) that it is time for a solution" and she was "a little encouraged". She noted however that "those are only words" and "as ever, we wait and see".

Green said she encouraged Turkish officials "to take a proactive stance, not just a passive approach but an active approach to making something happen towards a solution for Cyprus."

Referring to her recent visit to Cyprus, for the European Union (EU) - Cyprus Joint Parliamentary Committee meeting, she said the Euro MPs "were very pleased with the state of readiness in Cyprus, to join the EU."

Green added that "the Cyprus government has done a huge amount to get Cyprus ready, and that is very encouraging".

Asked to comment on efforts by some EU countries to involve Turkish Cypriots in Cyprus' EU accession talks, Green said "we would all like to see T/C taking part in the negotiations, that is why we want a solution (to the Cyprus problem)."

She noted that "if there is a solution, Turkish Cypriots can take their place with Greek Cypriots in government and negotiate together for Cyprus' entry."

"That would be the best option for everybody," she said, underlining the need to find a solution through current efforts.

However, she made it clear that "there is only one party that can negotiate for Cyprus to join the EU, and that is the government of Cyprus."

Green visited Ankara with a European Parliament delegation monitoring the human rights situation in Turkey.

CNA EC/MA/MM/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

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