Cyprus News Agency: News in English (PM), 98-04-24

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

CONTENTS

[01] Cyprus Stock Exchange

[02] Holbrooke's visit important for resumption of talks

[03] JPC concludes meeting

[04] Great concern over proposed Turkish nuclear power plant

[05] Israel seeks enhanced ties with Cyprus

1625:CYPPRESS:01

[01] Cyprus Stock Exchange

CSE All Share Index                    94,11 (-0,12)

Sectural Indices

Banks                                 107,44 ( 0,15)
Approved Investment Companies          68,15 (-1,42)
Insurance Companies                    70,84 ( 0,38)
Industrial Companies                   85,69 (-1,43)
Tourist Industries                     77,80 ( 0,17)
Commercial Companies                   60,94 (-1,10)
Other Companies                        81,03 (-0.30)

Trading Volume                         CYP 2.485.521

CNA MCH/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1640:CYPPRESS:02

[02] Holbrooke's visit important for resumption of talks

Speaking at his daily press briefing, Government Spokesman Christos Stylianides said the government "is pleased that there is such an initiative by the international community and the US, which can exert some influence on the Turkish side."

Asked if efforts to resume talks are in the UN framework, the spokesman said "we anticipate formal proposals to clarify fully the basis on which the talks will take place."

"We expect that the visit by US Presidential Emissary Richard Holbrooke will be significant with regard to the resumption of the talks for a solution of the Cyprus question," he said.

Commenting on contacts by Holbrooke's aide in Nicosia, Athens and Ankara, Stylianides said American officials are sounding out all sides on various issues but they point out that the process for an overall settlement in Cyprus will be in the UN framework under the aegis of the UN Secretary General.

Replying to questions, the spokesman said yesterday's declaration by Turkey and the Turkish Cypriot leader was tantamount to "a torpedo in current efforts" and noted their position is indeed negative and causes concern.

Turkish president Suleyman Demirel and Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash charged yesterday in a declaration in Ankara that the European Union and Greece are to blame for the continuing deadlock in efforts to solve the Cyprus problem.

They also reiterated their demand for international recognition of the self-styled Turkish Cypriot regime in Turkish occupied Cyprus, recognised only by Turkey.

The spokesman expressed the hope that the declaration does not reflect Turkey's strategic position but expresses political expediencies.

He also noted the declaration goes beyond the letter and the spirit of UN resolutions about Cyprus and added the government considers that the Turkish side would bear the responsibility for the absence of movement towards a settlement if it persists on these positions.

CNA KN/MM/MCH/1998

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1810:CYPPRESS:03

[03] JPC concludes meeting

The 13th meeting of the EU-Cyprus Joint Parliamentary Committee that concluded here today, stresses in a press release its "support for a smooth accession of Cyprus to the EU".

The JPC welcomes President Glafcos Clerides' proposal for the Turkish Cypriot participation in the Republic's negotiating team and regrets "the negative position of the Turkish side".

Turkish Cypriot leader, Rauf Denktash, is criticised of following policies "creating additional obstacles to intercommunal contacts".

Concern is also expressed "about the construction of the nuclear plan in Mersin, Turkey, located in a seismic area lacking safeguard measures for final storage of waste and without guarantees for non military use".

The meeting also discussed British military exercises in the environmentally fragile Akamas peninsula, in western Cyprus, and welcomes British High Commissioner, David Madden's, commitment that his government "together with the Cypriot Government were actively seeking an alternative site within a year".

Replying to question, during a press conference at the end of the two- day meeting, JPC Co-chairman, Philippe Monfils stressed that "the effort Cyprus has to make in order to harmonise with Europe is immensely smaller to that eastern European countries have to make".

He said he was "very pleased with the amount and quality of work done" during the two-day meeting and pointed out that the work of the Parliamentary Committee will change its ways, operating on a lower profile.

On his part Co-Chairman, Cypriot MP Tassos Papadopoulos, said the meeting was interesting and productive, pointing out however, that a lot of work still need to be done especially concerning the harmonisation of the Cyprus legislation with that of the EU.

CNA MCH/GP/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1900:CYPPRESS:04

[04] Great concern over proposed Turkish nuclear power plant

Addressing today in Strasbourg the second part of the 1998 Session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, MP Stathis Kittis said Turkey planned to construct a nuclear power plant in Akkuyu, which is an area of high seismic risk.

Speaking on the subject "Radioactive Waste Management", the Cypriot MP said the fact that Akkuyu is situated at the south western part of Turkey, close to the southern edge of the east anatolian fault "is making the location of the proposed plant a highly risky and extremely dangerous proposition for the entire region, in the case of an accident."

He said "another worrying fact from the information we have is that the same kind of nuclear reactors that shall be installed in this plant which are of Canadian origin, have been withdrawn from the Canadian market due to various yet unknown reasons."

Kittis said "if one adds to the above another frightening perspective, which was published in the Turkish press, that the Turkish professors Kilic and Kadiroglu share the view that this nuclear plant shall have the potential at a certain stage of producing nuclear weapons."

The Cypriot MP told participants in the Starsbourg session that "it is my belief that we all bear a huge responsibility to future generations in order to deliver to them a safe place to live."

He urged them to act effectively in order to eliminate the dangers that are imminent by nuclear plants, such as in the case of the proposed plant in Akkuyu. CNA/GP/1998

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2050:CYPPRESS:05

[05] Israel seeks enhanced ties with Cyprus

He also said Israel would like to enhance ties with Cyprus in all respects and wants Cyprus to continue playing the role it has assumed in terms of facilitating the Middle East peace process.

Bentsur reiterated that his country's agreement with Turkey is in no way affecting Cyprus but aims at enhancing relations with Turkey.

Speaking at a press conference here today, at the close of his talks with Cyprus government, Bentsur said he discussed a large variety of bilateral issues and noted the wide spectrum of cooperation in all walks of life between Cyprus and Israel.

Asked is there was any possibility of having a defence or military agreement with Cyprus similar to the one Israel has with Turkey, Bentsur replied "we did not discuss such an idea, but I do not rule out anything."

"If somebody proposes it, it will surely be explored and looked into, but I think it had not been raised by our hosts and probably they have a reason why they did not raise it," he remarked.

On his talks at the Foreign Ministry, he said "we discussed other issues, the Middle East peace process, the Security Council resolution 425 with respect to Lebanon, the upcoming Palermo meeting of Foreign Ministers in the context of the Barcelona process and other issues as well."

Asked if he discussed the Israel - Turkey defence agreement with the Cypriot government, Bentsur said it was understood that the agreement with Turkey "has no bearing on Cyprus whatsoever as far as Israel is concerned."

"It is designed and designated only to enhance relations with Turkey and it absolutely has no intention to affect in any ways or means our relations with Cyprus, which are very close and friendly and warm," he added.

Replying to questions, the Israeli diplomat said he briefed Foreign Minister Ioannis Kasoulides on the current situation in the Middle East peace process, expressing hope that an agreement may be clinched on the current stage of negotiations with the Palestinians after the London meeting between the two sides.

He said that during today's talks he did not "engage in any comparative talk as to how one process can affect the other", noting there are "tremendous obstacles to tackle and overcome."

Commenting on unauthorised flights in FIR Nicosia, Bentsur said "there is a general understanding between Cyprus and Israel on the flights of Israeli aircraft."

"I assure you there is no intention whatsoever to violate the air space of Cyprus, we would like to impose very strict measures in this respect," he added.

He said Israel would continue "to work out and enhance meticulous mechanisms between our two governments in order to avoid any such occurrences in the future."

He emphasised in the strongest possible terms that "none of those flights in any way intended to affect the security of Cyprus and they should never be considered as such."

Invited to outline the role Cyprus could play in the Middle East process, he said "we would like to see Cyprus continue play the role it is playing already, to encourage regional cooperation, meetings of people and encourage multilateral working groups."

He pointed out that Cyprus is a bridge between Israel and the region in many respects and expressed the hope that it will continue to do that in future as well.

On bilateral relations, Bentsur said there is room for improvement in that Israel would like to see its relations extended on virtually all areas.

He said Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu suggested to President Glafcos Clerides in a recent meeting "to engage in talks on high-tech" and expressed his government's readiness to make its know-how available to Cyprus.

"We are in the process of getting businessmen interested in this and promote it," he said.

Bentsur leaves Cyprus on Saturday.

CNA MM/MCH/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

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