Cyprus News Agency: News in English (PM), 98-02-10

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

CONTENTS

[01] Cyprus Stock Exchange

[02] DIKO ready to merge with EDEK to form social-democratic party

[03] Election front-runners agree with EDEK proposals

1530:CYPPRESS:01

[01] Cyprus Stock Exchange

CSE All Share Index                    80.78 (-0.69)

Highest: 82.46 (2/1/97)
Lowest : 73.90 (30/1/97)

Sectural Indices

Banks                                  94.14 (-0.71)
Approved Investment Companies          62.44 (-1.31)
Insurance Companies                    57.16 (-0.47)
Industrial Companies                   75.53 (-0.15)
Tourist Industries                     68.10 (-2.52)
Commercial Companies                   38.70 (-0.54)
Other Companies                        67.34 (+0.15)

Trading Volume                         CYP 733561.810

CNA MCH/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

2040:CYPPRESS:02

[02] DIKO ready to merge with EDEK to form social-democratic party

DIKO leader, Spyros Kyprianou, also suggests in a letter to EDEK leader, Vassos Lyssarides, that the latter becomes President of this new party, so that he is given a better chance to enhance the good relations he has with the respective European movement.

EDEK's proposal was surfaced following last Sunday's presidential elections on the island.

Lyssarides, who polled 10.59 per cent of the vote, is well-placed to play the kingmaker in the election runoff next Sunday.

Former Foreign Minister George Iacovou backed by the leftwing AKEL party and DIKO clinched 40.6 per cent of the vote while incumbent President Glafcos Clerides received 40.1 per cent of the vote.

Meanwhile, United Democrats leader, George Vassiliou, said that he personally agrees "one hundred percent" with this proposal.

He added this would "contribute towards the development of the political life in Cyprus and will simultaneously bring Cyprus closer to Europe, which is everyone's aim".

Vassiliou, former Cyprus President, received only 3 per cent of the votes last Sunday.

Another candidate, MP Alexis Galanos, who had disagreed with his party's choice, also spoke positively of such a move.

Galanos managed to poll 4.04 per cent of the vote. He said he would support Clerides in the second round.

CNA RG/GP/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

2200:CYPPRESS:03

[03] Election front-runners agree with EDEK proposals

EDEK President Vassos Lyssarides met tonight with both candidates and received positive responses to the document he submitted to them last night, containing proposals for the formation of an "ecumenical government" (with the participation of all political parties).

President Clerides, backed by the rightwing Democratic Rally, the island's largest party, has secured in the past two days the support of the New Horizons party, whose leader Nikos Koutsou received 0.91 per cent of the vote in the first round last Sunday, and the support of Democratic Party MP Alexis Galanos, who disagreed with his party's choice, who polled 4.04 per cent of the vote.

Lyssarides told the press after a meeting with Clerides, that the incumbent President accepts EDEK's proposals. Clerides will convey his reply in writing tomorrow.

Lyssarides said if his proposals were accepted, then they could provide the basis for the formation of an "ecumenical government".

After Clerides, Lyssarides had a meeting with Iacovou, who is backed by the leftwing AKEL party and the Democratic Party, the second and third largest parties.

Iacovou told the press that he accepts EDEK's proposals as a whole, but noted that he could not envisage an "ecumenical government" with the participation of people that took part in the 1974 coup that overthrew the government of Archbishop Makarios.

Although Lyssarides agreed with Iacovou on the exclusion of people who participated in the military coup, he said, however, that one could not exclude a large part of the population from an "ecumenical government", because it does not agree with the other.

EDEK's Central Committee will meet tomorrow afternoon to study the reaction of the two front-runners and take final decisions on the party's stand in the presidential election runoff next Sunday.

In the first round last Sunday, Iacovou polled 40.6 per cent of the vote while Clerides received 40.1 per cent.

Lyssarides, who got 10.59 per cent of the vote, will actually determine the next President of the Republic of Cyprus for a five-year term.

CNA RG/GP/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

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