Cyprus PIO: News Update in English, 97-12-12

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From: The Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office Server at <http://www.pio.gov.cy/>

News Update

Friday, 12/12/97

CONTENTS

• [01] President Clerides in Luxembourg for EU Summit
• [02] Economic prospects for 1998 encouraging, says Finance Minister
• [03] European Ministerial Conference on Mass Media Policy
• [04] Government Spokesman stresses importance of demilitarisation proposal
• [05] Excavations at Medieval Sugar Mills
• [06] Construction and Housing Statistics

[01] President Clerides in Luxembourg for EU Summit

President Clerides told reporters at Larnaca airport before his departure that he expected the EU Luxembourg summit to confirm the planned opening of accession talks with Cyprus for 7 April 1998.

President Clerides also said that in the special session on Saturday he expected that the heads of associated EU-states will be informed on the decisions of the 15 EU heads of state at the end of their summit (12-13 December). "Normally we are also given the opportunity to express our own views on the decisions taken", the President added.

Moreover, when asked to give his assessment on Cyprus, Greek Prime Minister Costas Simitis said in Luxembourg yesterday that "everything will go very well for Cyprus's accession".

[02] Economic prospects for 1998 encouraging, says Finance Minister

Presenting the 1998 state budgets at the plenary session of the House of Representatives, Mr Christodoulou stressed that the island's harmonisation process with the European Union, the restructuring of its economy, the fairer distribution of wealth and the economic recovery are the main priorities of these budgets.

The three budgets provide for 1,63 billion Cyprus pounds expenditure and 1, 08 billion pounds revenues (one Cyprus pound in equal to 1,9 US dollars).

The Ordinary Budget envisages 1,28 b. pounds expenditure and 1,07 b. pounds revenues.

The Development Budget provides for 261 million pounds expenditure, 12,5 per cent higher than that of the previous year, which reflects the government's determination to "upgrade the economic and social infrastructure of the economy", the Minister noted.

The expenditure of the Relief Fund for Displaced and Afflicted Persons is 91 million pounds, with its revenues reaching 7 million pounds.

Mr Christodoulou said that international economic developments which affect Cyprus' economy are favourable and he referred to the high economic growth rate of the EU member-states and the East European states.

The Minister also pointed out that inflation in 1997 will reach 2,5 per cent, which fulfils the respective Maastricht criterion.

Referring to the 1997 fiscal deficit, Christodoulou said it will be around 4,0 per cent of GDP, while the public debt in the same year will reach 55,6 per cent of GDP.

Cyprus fulfils four of the five Maastricht convergence criteria, which puts the island in a better position compared with a number of EU member-states, the Minister pointed out.

[03] European Ministerial Conference on Mass Media Policy

Thanking the Greek Government for organising this conference, Minister Stavrinakis said that this meeting "will prove to be a landmark in formulating a pan-European framework and plan of action concerning the challenges posed by the Information Society".

The Cypriot Minister stressed in his intervention to the Conference that "there is no doubt that democracy functions beffer if citizens are well informed and actively participating in the process of decision-making.

True democracy is informed democracy", he said, adding that "one of the greatest opportunities the new technologies offer is that they can provide instant information to citizens, enabling them to make known their views on various subjects to those in positions of power... By providing information and facilitating responses by the citizen, new technologies can be used to foster 'electronic democracy'."

Minister Stavrinakis said that one of the first priorities we could set "is to link schools and public libraries with the Internet so that students and citizens in general can find out easily and at minimal cost about decisions, regulations and information that affect their lives" .

Moreover, he added that the new communication and information technologies must be used to promote freedom and human rights, stimulate employment, particularly for the disabled and elderly, and facilitate social and cultural progress.

Mr Stavrinakis also pointed out that the new technologies might entail the risks of manipulating of consciences, social discrimination and the spread of ideologies and activities which are contrary to human rights and democratic values. "Government are duty bound to ensure that the new technologies are not used at the expense of human rights and the protection of minors", he said.

[04] Government Spokesman stresses importance of demilitarisation proposal

The Spokesman was responding to the UN Secretary General's report on the UN Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP) and said that the Greek Cypriot side was positive on many aspects concerning the military dialogue, but negative to those that could pose a threat to the life of citizens. We support the dialogue as a means of finding solutions to security issues, he added.

Mr Christofides stressed, however, that the military dialogue "is not the major security issue" and referred to President Glafcos Clerides' proposal for the island's complete demilitarisation and the agreement between Clerides and Turkish Cypriot leader, Rauf Denktash, for a dialogue on security.

"A great deal can be achieved, if Turkey and Denktash show good-will and co- operate", Christofides said.

He added that the military dialogue has not reached a final deadlock and that there are margins for further exchanges of opinion on the issue in oprder to reach an agreement.

[05] Excavations at Medieval Sugar Mills

The excavations were under the direction of Archaeologist Marina Solomidou- Ieronymidou of the Department of Antiquities.

The excavation at the Medieval Sugar mill of Episkopi "Serayia", which belonged to the well known Venetian family of Cornaro, brought to light a few architectural remains.

At Kolossi Sugar mill which belonged to the Medieval religious military Order of St. John of Jerusalem or otherwise known at the Order of the Hospitallers, just as the Castle at Kolossi, which is situated to the west of the mill, the excavation continued of both the interior and the exterior of the Refinery, that is the large vaulted building situated to the south of the mill.

This year's excavation brought to light the ruins of three new furnaces so increasing their number to five. It is estimated that the total number of the furnaces is six.

The movable finds from the furnaces were mainly fragments of the characteristic plain vessels used during the refining, a large number of baked tiles from the destroyed parts of the furnaces and also very large stones used as fill for the furnaces.

The excavation of both these important Medieval Sugar mills of Episkopi "Serayia" and Kolossi will continue next year.

[06] Construction and Housing Statistics

The Report is available from the Government Printing Office in Nicosia.

From the Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office (PIO) Server at http://www.pio.gov.cy/

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