Cyprus News Agency: News in English (PM), 98-04-15

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

CONTENTS

[01] Cyprus Stock Exchange

[02] New Cyprus Ambassador to Greece

[03] Moves on Cyprus must be in UN framework

[04] US continues efforts to resume Cyprus peace talks

[05] Proposal for new body put on hold

[06] Austrian FM arrives for talks

1500:CYPPRESS:01

[01] Cyprus Stock Exchange

CSE All Share Index                    93,34 ( 0,60)

Sectural Indices

Banks                                 107,68 ( 0,70)
Approved Investment Companies          68,29 ( 1,62)
Insurance Companies                    68,30 ( 1,79)
Industrial Companies                   84,35 (-0,32)
Tourist Industries                     76,19 (-0,48)
Commercial Companies                   57,44 ( 3,31)
Other Companies                        79,03 (-2,38)

Trading Volume                      2.739.123

CNA MM/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1755:CYPPRESS:02

[02] New Cyprus Ambassador to Greece

Greek Foreign Under-Secretary, Yiannos Kranidiotis, was among officials present at the ceremony.

Pashiardis also had a meeting with Stephanopoulos, during which they discussed the latest developments in the Cyprus problem and the Republic's European Union course.

CNA GG/MA/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1830:CYPPRESS:03

[03] Moves on Cyprus must be in UN framework

The Council, a consultative body to President Glafcos Clerides, met today for nearly five hours and dealt with recent developments in Cyprus in the light of stepped up intransigence on the part of the Turkish side and fresh demands for a change of the basis of the negotiations.

Political party leaders, who make up the Council, also believe in more active engagement of the Security Council, including Russian and European Union involvement.

Government Spokesman Christos Stylianides said President Clerides and Foreign Minister Ioannis Kasoulides briefed the Council about "current developments and a recent visit to Athens and talks there between Greek and Cypriot government officials."

"Party leaders expressed their views on developments and the Council will meet again at the beginning of May to discuss matters of strategy," he added.

Ruling Democratic Rally (DISY) party leader Nicos Anastasiades stressed that "in spite of different assessment, everybody believes that there should be no concessions on fundamental principles at any dialogue that may take place."

Main opposition leader, General Secretary of the left-wing AKEL, Demetris Christofias, called for more Russian and European involvement in efforts for a Cyprus settlement and stressed that any such efforts must be strictly within the UN framework.

"Dialogue should continue to be between the two communities, and we should work more to achieve more active involvement of the UN Security Council," he said.

Turkish Cypriot intransigence must be overcome and there must be no attempt to upgrade the status of the leader of the Turkish Cypriot community or any form of recognition of his self-styled regime, Christofias underlined.

Spyros Kyprianou, leader of the Democratic Party (DIKO), said there is certain concern about developments in the Cyprus question and added that there is "understanding and consensus" among Council members that the US initiative must be within the UN framework.

"This does not mean the US is prevented from engaging in any activity as long as this is in consultation with the UN Secretary-General," Kyprianou pointed out.

He also called for a "more serious and more substantive involvement of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council."

The DIKO leader reiterated his view that any formula modifying the status of the Turkish Cypriot leader cannot be accepted, as this would signal more pressure and more concessions.

Socialist EDEK leader, Vasos Lyssarides, called for increased intervention from the Greek Cypriot side in anticipation of US and other initiatives to push for a settlement in Cyprus.

"The US will surely intervene and if there is no involvement on our part, then any proposals put in front of us will not satisfy even our minimum requirements and demands," Lyssarides said.

He also argued for engagement in the Security Council, through Russia, to ensure that it will taken into account the prerequisites of the Greek Cypriot side.

"Russian interests coincide with ours and we have to intervene towards Russia to have somebody in the UN Council to support our positions," he pointed out.

Vice President of the United Democrats, Michalis Papapetrou, said the National Council reiterated its view that the Cyprus question should be resolved by peaceful means, through dialogue, which must not in any direct or indirect way recognise the self-proclaimed Turkish Cypriot regime in the Turkish occupied part of Cyprus.

New Horizons leader, Nicos Koutsou said future strategy must aim to safeguard the Republic of Cyprus under any circumstances and warned that participation in new international or private meetings would offer the opportunity to push for closer links between Turkey and Europe.

He said the primary consideration of the US is to promote Turkey's links with Europe, render inactive the joint Greco-Cypriot defence pact and push for a confederation in Cyprus.

Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash has said he will not participate in peace negotiations unless his illegal regime unilaterally declared in 1983 is recognised. The regime is recognised only by Turkey.

The US and other governments have stepped up their efforts to break the deadlock in the Cyprus peace process and bring Denktash back to the negotiating table.

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

CNA MM/MA/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1245:CYPPRESS:04

[04] US continues efforts to resume Cyprus peace talks

Speaking after a 30-minute meeting with President Glafcos Clerides, Brill reiterated that the US does not recognise the illegal regime in the Turkish-occupied areas of Cyprus.

"It's rather clear that we are working hard to move the Cyprus issue back to a direct negotiation," the American ambassador said.

He pointed out that US State Department Special Cyprus Coordinator Tom Miller will be back in Cyprus later this month and Presidential Emissary, Richard Holbrooke, will return in May.

Both men were here beginning of April for contacts with the leaders of the Greek and Turkish Cypriot communities, in a bid to get peace talks going.

"Meanwhile we're having a variety of other contacts to keep the process that ambassador Holbrooke is engaged in moving forward," Brill said, but refrained from revealing his contacts.

He added that "there are a lot of things going on that are being done to follow up on some of his talks here. We're trying to create a process or a way of moving back to negotiations."

After December's European Union reconfirmation that accession talks with Cyprus would open this March, Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash announced he will not participate in negotiations unless his illegal regime is recognised.

So far talks between the two sides have been carried out by the leaders of the two communities. Denktash now wants to participate as leader of his illegal entity, unilaterally declared in the Turkish-occupied areas in 1983.

Asked about the basis of the talks, the US ambassador said "we have made it very clear that we don't recognise the so-called state."

The regime in the areas of Cyprus occupied by Turkey since it invaded the island in 1974 is recognised only by Ankara. UN resolutions call on all states not to recognise or facilitate it.

"We're working towards the goal of a bicommunal, bizonal federation and the direct talks that are necessary to let that happen," Brill said.

The US ambassador stressed the importance of getting the two leaders together into a negotiating process "that will work and produce a result", adding "that is in everybody's interest".

Asked if a Dayton type process, that helped solve the Bosnian crisis, could be used in Cyprus, Brill replied that "Dayton was direct talks."

"What we are talking about here is direct talks and actually that is not inconsistent with what was happening in the past," he added.

However, he pointed out that Dayton "has come to mean a lot of things to a lot of different people, so it's hard to say what Dayton is. We're not saying Dayton type talks, we're saying direct talks between the parties," Brill added.

CNA MA/GP/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

2015:CYPPRESS:05

[05] Proposal for new body put on hold

The proposal, put forward before February's second round of presidential elections, says decisions will be binding on the President of the Republic and in case of disagreement, he should hold a referendum. It also stipulates that decisions will be taken by reinforced majority.

Differences of opinion emerged at a meeting of the National Council, comprising party leaders, which discussed a ruling by the Attorney General, Alecos Markides, on the proposed CNP.

Government Spokesman Christos Stylianides said "party leaders expressed different views and there were disagreements on certain issues." He added "the issue will be considered further and a new discussion will take place at the next meeting of the National Council."

The Attorney General has said the CNP cannot issue legally binding decisions on how to handle the Cyprus problem and pointed out that all parties agreed with his ruling.

He told Cyprus TV an effort will be made to redraft the proposal and then see if there is consensus to set up the CNP.

The existing National Council, Markides explained, calls for a referendum in cases when the President disagrees with a unanimous decision by the Council.

The proposal for the CNP stipulates that a referendum will be held if the President disagrees with the reinforced majority.

Socialist leader Vasos Lyssarides, Markides added, clarified today that his intention was not to set up a new body which can issue legally binding decisions.

Democratic Rally leader Nicos Anastasiades backed the proposal but argued for a change in the percentage of majority vote. "Nobody has questioned the validity of the ruling by the Attorney General," he said, noting that an agreement could be reached on the political level.

Demetris Christofias, General Secretary of AKEL party, said certain provisions in the proposal are contrary to the constitution, such as the having a CNP vice-president.

Democratic Party leader, Spyros Kyprianou, said "there were different views on certain important issues, so we decided to continue our discussion at the next Council meeting."

Lyssarides argued strongly in favour of his proposal and said he was pleased that President Clerides remains committed to his pre-election pledge to set up the CNP, provided this is agreed upon.

Vice President of the United Democrats Michalis Papapetrou said "EDEK's proposals could form the basis for reshaping the National Council."

Nicos Koutsou, leader of the New Horizon party, said he favoured the establishment of a CNP as a body with the possibility to take decisions and produce results.

CNA MM/MA/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

2055:CYPPRESS:06

[06] Austrian FM arrives for talks

The two-day visit, at the invitation of the Cypriot Foreign Minister Ioannis Kasoulides, comes only three months before Austria takes over the rotating presidency of the European Union, currently held by Britain.

Speaking on arrival, Schussel said his talks will deal with "the issues, the problems, the possibilities and the perspectives" regarding the EU and Cyprus' accession.

"At the moment it is too early to predict anything. I cannot talk about Cyprus but I think it is a good time to visit Cyprus to prepare ourselves to meet the relevant personalities and have full access to relevant information and to the people in Cyprus," the Austrian Vice Chancellor said.

He said his country was "looking forward to taking the EU presidency", which he described as a "big challenge."

Schussel said he had often had "very intensive and fruitful debates" with Kasoulides and expressed pleasure for being on the island, where he will also meet with the Austrian contingent serving with the UN peace- keeping force.

"I am looking forward to talking tomorrow with all the important politicians and personalities of Cyprus about the relevant issues," he added.

Welcoming his guest, Kasoulides said the visit demonstrated Austria's "great interest" in Cyprus and added "this visit is particularly important since Austria will be assuming the presidency of the EU for the second part of 1998."

"I am sure that we are going to have very productive and useful talks tomorrow," Kasoulides said.

After his arrival, Schussel was scheduled to visit members of the Austrian contingent in the eastern part of the island.

The Austrian FM will be received tomorrow by President Glafcos Clerides, call on House President Spyros Kyprianou and meet Finance Minister Christodoulos Christodoulou.

Later on he will see Kasoulides and hold official talks at the Foreign Minister.

Schussel will tour the cease-fire line and have meetings with Chief of Mission of the UN operation in Cyprus Gustave Feissel and Major General Evergisto Arturo de Vergara, Force Commander.

He leaves Thursday evening. CNA MAN/RM/MM/MA/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

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