Cyprus PIO: News Update in English, 98-11-25

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

Wednesday, 25 November 1998

CONTENTS

• [01] Hannay supports period of "quiet diplomacy"
• [02] Ancient Cypriots may have been involved in wool production

[01] Hannay supports period of "quiet diplomacy"

Speaking after an hour-long meeting with President Clerides in London, British and EU special envoy for Cyprus, Sir David Hannay said yesterday that "it is a procedure to which we give our full support,"

He said one of the best ways that Britain and the EU could help the effort, being led on the island by UN Special Representative Dame Ann Hercus, is "not to interfere too much".

"I think at the moment it's a period of quiet diplomacy. I hope our talks will contribute to that", he said.

"She has got to conduct her conversations with discretion and I hope she will come forward gradually with some ways of making progress in reducing tensions and in laying the foundations for a lasting and just settlement in Cyprus," Sir David said.

"I do not think we should do anything that cuts across her efforts, and we will not", he added.

Sir David said that during the meeting with President Clerides they had covered a very wide range of issues, but did not elaborate.

Asked to comment on his recent visit to Turkey, Sir David said he did no wish to draw any conclusions from the visit. "It is a very rapidly moving situation in Ankara with the prospect of elections in April," he said.

[02] Ancient Cypriots may have been involved in wool production

This season's excavations at St. George's hill in Nicosia, the site of the old civil servants' building, being carried out by the Department of Antiquities, brought to light loomweights, tools, ochre, ashes, snails and other materials dating to the Cypro-Archaic period.

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

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