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Cyprus News Agency: News in English (AM), 97-10-16Cyprus News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Cyprus News Agency at <http://www.cyna.org.cy>CONTENTS
1145:CYPPRESS:01[01] Greek Defence Minister leavesLarnaca, Oct 16 (CNA) -- Greece's National Defence Minister Akis Tsohatzopoulos left Cyprus today after a three-day visit during which he held talks with Cypriot leaders.His visit to the island coincided with the National Guard annual military exercise code-named "Nikiforos '97", which ended yesterday with a parade in Larnaca. The Greek Minister told a press conference yesterday that Greece and Cyprus wanted peace and stability in the region. He confirmed that the cooperation between the two countries would continue "against any external threat". Tsohantzopoulos said if the United States or any other country was interested in reducing tension, "then they must turn to the sole source of that tension, which is none other than Turkey" and persuade this country "to stop being a destabilising factor in the region and terminate its occupation of Cyprus". Turkish troops have been occupying 37 per cent of Cyprus territory since 1974, in violation of repeated United Nations calling for their withdrawal. During his stay on this East Mediterranean island, the Greek Minister watched the last phase of the National Guard manoeuvres, in which live ammunition were used, with the participation of the Greek air force and navy. During the five-day exercise scores of Turkish fighters attempted to prevent Greek fighters from taking part in the National Guard manoeuvres, including the buzzing of Tsohatzopoulos' C-130 military transport plane carrying him to Cyprus on Monday. CNA/GP/1997 ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY1245:CYPPRESS:02[02] Britain favours resumption of talksNicosia, Oct 16 (CNA) -- Britain wishes to see talks between the Greek and Turkish Cypriot sides continue with a view to making progress on the substantive issues relating to the Cyprus question, the country's High Commissioner David Madden said here today.He said he expects next month's European Union Council summit in Luxembourg to give some guidelines about Turkish Cypriot participation in accession talks Cyprus is due to begin in spring next year, under British EU presidency. Speaking after a meeting with President Glafcos Clerides, Madden said "we favour meetings not just for the sake of people meeting people, but to discuss real issues and make progress on the real issues." He noted that no meetings are likely to take place in the immediate future as the Cypriot President leaves next week to attend the Commonwealth Summit in Edinburgh and UN top envoy in Cyprus Gustave Feissel is not on the island. "I hope at the right point further meetings will be possible to make progress on important issues," he said. He said the preparation of legal texts on the important aspects of the Cyprus problem by the Greek and Turkish Cypriot sides would facilitate progress towards a negotiated settlement by "concentrating not so much on the general principles but also on their application." Asked how Turkish Cypriot participation in accession negotiations can be secured, Madden said more discussion on this matter would be needed to outline the way forward. "We expect the Luxembourg EU Council to give some indication of its views on the matter, after that the UK will have the presidency and we will be in an important position and place when further discussions take place and hope answers to some of these questions can be found," he explained. Replying to questions, Madden said Britain's envoy for Cyprus Sir David Hannay would visit the island "when he can play a useful and productive role." CNA MM/GP/1997ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY1430:CYPPRESS:03[03] Turkish planes buzzes Greek Minister's aircraftNicosia, Oct 16 (CNA) -- Greece's National Defence Minister Akis Tsohatzopoulos described Turkey as "an international troublemaker", following today's buzzing of the plane that took him back to Greece from Cyprus.According to a report by Athens News Agency (ANA), Tsohatzopoulos said on arrival in Crete, Turkey adopts "cold-war tactics" and called on the Turkish government to understand that such type of behaviour is contrary to its European aspirations. Four Turkish F-16 fighters buzzed this morning the minister's C-130 Hercules military transport plane, carrying him and his entourage back to Greece after a four-day visit to Cyprus to watch the annual joint military manoeuvres. Greek fighters intercepted the Turkish war planes, which came very close to the Hercules, according to ANA. On Monday, Turkish planes buzzed Tsohatsopoulos' plane on his way to Cyprus. Over the past few days Cyprus' and Greece's air space and Nicosia and Athens Flight Information Regions (FIR) were repeatedly violated by scores of Turkish military aircraft. Tsohatzopoulos said statements by the Turkish chief of staff, General Ismail Hakki Karadayi, that Turkey's military might is vastly superior to that of Greece "confirm that there is no threat against Turkey on the part of either Greece or Cyprus." Turkey maintains that the deployment of Russian surface-to-air missiles in Cyprus, expected in summer 1998, poses a serious threat to Turkey's security and said it would take appropriate measures against this development. Turkish troops have been occupying 37 per cent of Cyprus territory since 1974. CNA MM/GP/1997ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY1505:CYPPRESS:04[04] Cyprus Stock ExchangeNicosia, Oct 16 (CNA) -- The Cyprus Stock Exchange (CSE) All Share Index closed at today's stock exchange meeting as follows:CSE All Share Index 76.94 (+0.08) Highest: 82.46 (2/1/97) Lowest : 73.90 (30/1/97) Sectural Indices Banks 88.03 (+0.18) Approved Investment Companies 63.05 (-0.72) Insurance Companies 58.33 (+0.34) Industrial Companies 73.09 (+0.03) Tourist Industries 64.66 (-0.37) Commercial Companies 45.20 (-0.48) Other Companies 58.24 (-0.26) Trading Volume CYP 391579.032* The difference in brackets represents the percentage increase (+) or decrease (-) of the index from the previous stock exchange meeting. CNA MCH/1997ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCYCNA ENDCyprus News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |