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Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 96-11-11Cyprus News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Cyprus News Agency at <http://www.cyna.org,cy>CONTENTS
0940:CYPPRESS:01[01] Soccer: Cyprus beats Israel 2-0Nicosia, Nov 11 (CNA) -- Cypriot soccer fans were ecstatic yesterday after the national soccer team beat the Israeli team 2-0 in the preliminary round of the World Cup.The big news made it to the front pages of today's local papers under headline banners ''Glorious victory'', ''Who's next?'' and ''A proud triumph'' and coloured photographs of triumphant scenes from the game. Both goals for the Cypriot team, which played in front of a cheering crowd of 15.000 in the southern coastal town of Limassol, were scored by Sinisa Gogic, a Serbian who became Cypriot, in the 8th minute and with a penalty kick in the 14th minute. ''I have always had faith in our boys and I was proven right. Everybody gave his best for this match and I believe we have potential,'' Cyprus team coach Andreas Michaelides said after Sunday's game. ''Cyprus is a force to be reckoned with and should remain so,'' he added. Commending his star scorer, Gogic, Michaelides was full of praise ''on Sunday we saw the real Gogic, long may it last. He has offered our national team a whole new dimension.'' The Israeli team coach Slovo Serf said after the match that his team made some mistakes and paid for them. ''The game did not get off to a flying start for us. I must confess we were taken aback by the two goals at the beginning of the match,'' he said. This was the first home match for Cyprus. In the first away match against Russia, Cyprus was defeated 4-0. Cyprus was drawn in group 5 with Russia, Israel, Bulgaria and Luxembourg. Russia has seven points, Israel has four points, Cyprus and Bulgaria have three points and Luxembourg none. Meanwhile, The Under 21 teams of the two countries drew 1-1 on Sunday following an exciting game. Cyprus opened the score 20 minutes before the end of the second half. Israel fired back shortly afterwards. CNA MM/GP/1996ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY1310:CYPPRESS:02[02] US team to arrive in Cyprus for talksNicosia, Nov 11 (CNA) -- A team of US high-ranking officials is expected later this week in Cyprus for talks on the protracted Cyprus problem, US Ambassador to Cyprus Kenneth Brill said here Monday.Brill was speaking to the press after a meeting with Cyprus President Glafcos Clerides. The US Ambassador said ''a team from the US State Department, the National Security Council and the Defence Department is coming here later this week,'' noting that the team will be in Athens and in Cyprus for talks. Asked if he has formulated a specific idea of how the US is likely to push the Cyprus peace process forward, Brill said ''we are thinking and formulating all the time.'' However, he noted ''we would like to save those kind of discussions with the politicians.'' The US Ambassador shared the view expressed that 1997 will be a year of serious mobility towards a Cyprus solution and said ''I think there will be a lot of very serious work done in 1997.'' ''I am always ready personally and the US government is always ready institutionally to be very much involved in that,'' he added. Asked to comment if the US is willing to punish Turkey because of human rights violations, Brill noted ''we have a long-standing dialogue with Turkey on human rights and I think we are going to continue doing that. This is an issue on our agenda,'' he added. A US delegation headed by Director of the State Department Office of Southern European Affairs, Carey Cavanaugh, currently in Athens for talks, is due in Cyprus on Wednesday. Turkish troops have been occupying 37 per cent of Cyprus territory since 1974, in violation of repeated UN resolutions calling for their withdrawal. CNA MM/AP/GP/1996ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY1410:CYPPRESS:03[03] Cyprus Stock ExchangeNicosia, Nov 11 (CNA) -- The Cyprus Stock Exchange (CSE) All Share Index closed at today's stock exchange meeting as follows:CSE All Share Index 83.40 (-0.64) Sectural Indices Banks 92.22 (-0.76) Approved Investment Companies 76.04 (-0.72) Insurance Companies 60.41 (-0.28) Industrial Companies 81.89 (-1.19) Tourist Industries 73.27 (+1.05) Commercial Companies 64.29 (-0.33) Other Companies 74.55 (-0.49) Trading Volume CYP 554890.423* The difference in brackets represents the percentage increase (+) or decrease (-) of the index from the previous stock exchange meeting. CNA/GP/1996 ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY1420:CYPPRESS:04[04] Rifkind's visit very important, says British diplomatNicosia, Nov 11 (CNA) -- The forthcoming visit to Cyprus by British Foreign Secretary Malcolm Rifkind is ''a very important part'' of a continuing process to help make headway towards a Cyprus solution, Britain's High Commissioner to Cyprus David Madden has said.''The visit, which comes at a significant time, will play a very important part as a component part in the building process for real progress,'' Madden told the press after meeting President Glafcos Clerides here today. Rifkind is expected to be on the island in early December (no firm date set yet) with Britain's special envoy for Cyprus Sir David Hannay, who concluded a week-long visit here in mid-October. Replying to questions, Madden said there is coordination between Britain and other major players from the international community, who are interested in the Cyprus question. ''The international effort to push the Cyprus peace process forward is affronted by the UN Secretary-General and his special representative,'' he added. The assessment that there is scope for real progress in the first half of next year, the High Commissioner noted, is shared by everyone involved in the international side of the process. Commenting on Britain's position on the possibility of a permanent European Union Cyprus representative, Madden expressed the view that an EU presidency envoy for Cyprus ''is an effective way of dealing with the matter.'' Asked if Britain would object to any amendment in the Treaty of Guarantee (which defines Britain, Greece and Turkey as the three guarantor powers of the Republic of Cyprus), he replied '' it is quite clear from our contacts with the Turkish side that they continue to attach great importance to the continued existence of the Treaty of Guarantee.'' This position, he explained, should be taken into account by anyone looking or helping to look for a solution of the Cyprus problem. Madden said it was important to look for a system of security and guarantees which reflect ''the very real security concerns and needs of both communities.'' The Greek and Turkish Cypriot sides are at loggerheads over the issue of security and guarantees as the former wishes to see international guarantees while the latter is adamant to maintain the existing guarantees. Asked if Britain believes that there can be a Cyprus settlement based on confederation, Madden noted that it was agreed by both sides on the island to set up a federal state. ''All subsequent UN resolutions have always referred to a federal solution and that is the one we are working for,'' he added. On the prospect of running parallel accession negotiations and peace talks, Madden said Britain is very much committed to making real progress in the course of next year, which would help membership talks. Turkish troops have been occupying 37 per cent of Cyprus territory since 1974, in violation of repeated UN resolutions calling for their withdrawal. CNA MM/GP/1996ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY1500:CYPPRESS:05[05] New Electricity Authority Board takes overNicosia, Nov 11 (CNA) -- The new Board of Directors of the Electricity Authority of Cyprus (EAC) met for the first time today since its appointment last week, following the sacking of the previous board by the government, pending investigations into alleged tender irregularities.The new Board pledged that the EAC programmes would go ahead as scheduled. In the presence of Commerce, Industry and Tourism Minister, Kyriakos Christofi, who paid a courtesy visit, the nine-member Board of the semi-government organisation met under its new Chairman, businessman Costas Constantinides. He promised that the new Board would give all it can to complete the work which has been assigned to it. He avoided commenting on the issue of tender irregularities, noting it was not an issue which concerned the new Board. The Council of Ministers on Friday sacked six Board members and accepted the resignations of the chairman and two others. At the same time, it ordered an investigation into how a contract to supply boilers and turbines for the new Vassiliko power station was awarded to the higher of two short-listed bids. Constantinides said the new Board's priority is the operation of the new power plant in 1999, ''otherwise the whole of Cyprus, industry and commerce and even houses will have a power supply problem''. On his part, Christofi said developments in the EAC should not hinder the action plan of the Authority. Christofi acknowledged that he had sent a letter to the former EAC Board, in an effort to ''advise and suggest them to re-examine the issue of tenders'' because of the great price difference between them. The Minister, however, said he did not believe this constituted ''interference'' from the part of the government. CNA EC/GP/1996ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY1650:CYPPRESS:06[06] Bill on fraud and tenders in the offingNicosia, Nov 11 (CNA) -- The government is pushing for legislation to curb fraud and regulate the procedure for tenders, Finance Minister Christodoulos Christodoulou said today before the House Finance committee.The Minister's disclosure comes days after the Cabinet sacked the Board of Directors of the semi-government Electricity Authority for following improper procedures in a multi-million dollar bid. Presenting his Ministry's 1997 budget, Christodoulou said the Ministry intends to set up a special department, made up of technocrats and others, to examine claims relating to squandering of public money. ''Such a department will fall within the exclusive competency of the Finance Ministry and will be responsible for the management of public funds,'' he explained. Referring to bidding procedures, Christodoulou said that before the end of the year, the government will table draft legislation, in accordance with European Union directives, to regulate tenders. ''The bill has already been scrutinised by the Attorney General's office and will go before the Cabinet soon for consideration,'' Christodoulou added. In his remarks to the House committee, Christodoulou said Cypriots ''live beyond their means'' and pointed out that public debt must be reduced. ''There are two ways this can be achieved: either we raise taxes or we minimise expenditure,'' he explained. He said it was very important for the state to collect taxes ''effectively and on time'' to allow social and development projects to go ahead. CNA SD/MM/GP/1996ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY1700:CYPPRESS:07[07] Polish official to discuss legal matters in CyprusNicosia, Nov 11 (CNA) -- An agreement on legal cooperation in civil and criminal matters between Cyprus and Poland will be signed this week during a visit of a Polish official in Cyprus.The Secretary of State of the Ministry of Justice of Poland Grzegorz Ciecierski arrives Tuesday for a three-day official visit, at the invitation of Justice and Public Order Minister Alecos Evangelou. Ciecierski will be accompanied by the Justice Minister's office Director Telesfor Nowak and Director of the Department of International Cooperation and European Law Jan Ciszewski. The Polish delegation will have talks with the Minister of Justice and Public Order, Attorney General Alecos Markides and Chairman of the Legal Committee of the House of Representatives Panayiotis Demetriou. Ciecierski and Justice Minister will sign Thursday an agreement on legal cooperation in civil and criminal matters between the two countries. The Polish delegation will tour the capital, Nicosia, and visit the demarcation line dividing Nicosia into two. CNA AP/GP/1996ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY1715:CYPPRESS:08[08] EU can contribute to Cyprus settlementLarnaca, Nov 11 (CNA) -- The European Union (EU) will substantially assist the process towards a solution of the Cyprus problem once the peace process enters its final stages, Foreign Minister Alecos Michaelides told the press here today.Speaking at Larnaca airport, shortly before his departure for Cairo, where he will attend the Middle East and North Africa Economic Summit, Michaelides said the constitutional aspects of any settlement reached on Cyprus should be in accordance with the EU acquis communautaire. He noted that Irish EU presidency representative for Cyprus Kester Heaslip has already submitted a report in the framework of his mandate and is now preparing a second report to be submitted to the EU Council of Ministers. ''The government welcomes the fact that EU presidencies actively participate in efforts for a solution to the Cyprus problem'', Michaelides, said. He noted, however, that the government wishes that this representation has a continuity and political support from the whole Council. Tomorrow, the Cypriot Minister will address the Middle East/North Africa Economic Summit on ''Peace and Economic development''. Commenting on the Cairo Summit, he referred to Cyprus' firm support to all efforts for peace in the Middle East and its desire to participate in efforts for economic development in the region. On Wednesday, November 13, Michaelides will fly on to Athens for meetings with heads of Greek and Cyprus Press Offices in embassies around the world, to exchange views on how mass media can contribute to the promotion of national issues. The Minister will speak on the Cyprus problem. During his stay in Athens, Michaelides will have meetings with his Greek counterpart Theodoros Pangalos and Deputy Foreign Minister Christos Rozakis. CNA TA/MCH/GP/1996ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY1745:CYPPRESS:09[09] Clerides: Escalation of tension due to Turkish over-reactionNicosia, Nov 11 (CNA) -- The escalation of tension, experienced in recent months in Cyprus, is the outcome of actions followed by the Turkish occupation regime in the northern part of the island, in an attempt to promote the idea that Greek and Turkish Cypriots cannot live together.This was stated by President Glafcos Clerides in an interview to Turkish Cypriot newspaper ''Yeni Duzen''. He said escalation of tension was caused by the over-reaction of the Turkish occupation regime and the extremists, members of the ultra Islamic ''Grey Wolves'' group, to a peaceful demonstration organised by the Cyprus Motorcyclists Federation. With the participation of European bikers, the ride set off from Berlin on August 2, 1996, and aimed to finish in the Turkish-occupied northern town of Kyrenia. The ride was organised in protest against the 22-year-old Turkish occupation of 37 per cent of the island's territory and against the violation of the basic human rights and freedom of movement of the Cyprus people. During the demonstration, despite warnings from the Cyprus government, a number of demonstrators crossed into the UN-controlled buffer zone. One of them was savagely beaten to death while dozens of others were injured, by members of the ''Grey Wolves'' and so-called officials of the occupation regime. In his interview, President Clerides denounced the cold-blooded murders of four Greek Cypriots, a young national guardsman and three civilians, all unarmed, in the past four months, by the Turkish troops and extremists. President Clerides said the perpetrators should appear before a court for trial. He also denounced the murder of a Turkish soldier of Kurdish origin. In the interview, President Clerides dismissed Turkish claims that he had rejected the Confidence Building Measures and the Set of Ideas proposed by UN Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali, noting that he accepted the UN documents of March 9 and 21, 1995 but refused to accept what was discussed in Vienna in the absence of the Greek Cypriot side. Referring to the issue of security, President Clerides said the security system provided for by the UN cannot satisfy him and recalled the inability of the UN peacekeeping force (UNFICYP) to provide protection to Greek Cypriots during the 1974 Turkish invasion of the island. ''We propose the establishment of an international force to which both Greece and Turkey will participate'', he said, noting that it did not matter whether this was a NATO or an EU force. President Clerides repeated his proposal for the island's complete demilitarisation. CNA MCH/GP/1996ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY1910:CYPPRESS:10[10] Cyprus and India sign cooperation protocolNicosia, Nov 11 (CNA) -- Cyprus and India have signed a protocol for the promotion of cooperation in various fields, including trade, industry, agriculture, tourism, transport and technology.The protocol was signed by Permanent Secretary of Cyprus' Planning Bureau, Symeon Matsis, and Permanent Secretary of the Indian Ministry of Commerce, Mr. Pradhan. The New Delhi talks took place within the framework of the Cyprus-India Joint Intergovernmental Committee. During the visit Matsis also signed, under the authorisation of the Council of Ministers, an agreement for cooperation in the field of tourism. India has expressed special interest in Cyprus as a geographical bridge for the promotion of Indian goods to the Middle East, Europe and the Balkans. A delegation of the Cyprus Chamber of Commerce and Industry is expected to visit India next year, in an effort to promote further bilateral trade and economic relations. CNA MCH/GP/1996ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCYCyprus News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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