Cyprus News Agency: News in English (PM), 01-09-04

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

CONTENTS

[01] Weather and Temperatures for Cyprus

[02] Christiaan Barnard - Asthma

[03] Verheugen - European Parliament - Enlargement - Cyprus

[04] President Clerides - Alvaro de Soto

[05] Israeli Ambassador - Socialdemocrats leader

[06] US soldiers - Occupied areas - US embassy

[07] Cyprus - Greece - Foreign Ministers

1630:CYPPRESS:01

[01] Weather and Temperatures for Cyprus

Temperatures (degrees Celcius)
---------------------------------------------------------------
Station               Maximum     Minimum       Weather
                                        (At 1200 UTC)
---------------------------------------------------------------
Nicosia                  37         20         FINE
Larnaca                  32         22         FINE
Limassol                 32         23         FINE
Paphos                   32         21         FINE
---------------------------------------------------------------

1820:CYPPRESS:02

[02] Christiaan Barnard - Asthma

Antoniou, who carried out a postmortem examination at Paphos General Hospital, denied press reports that Barnard had died of heart attack. "His heart was in perfect condition", she told the press.

CNA SS/GP/2001

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1910:CYPPRESS:03

[03] Verheugen - European Parliament - Enlargement - Cyprus

In his contribution to this year's major debate in the EP on enlargement of the EU, Verheugen said the Union continues to support "emphatically" the UN Secretary-General's efforts to find a solution to the issue of Cyprus, a front- runner in the enlargement process.

He was "very happy" to report that the EU is cooperating closely with the UN "in an atmosphere of trust" and noted it is not by chance that the Secretary- General's meeting with Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash in Salzburg last Tuesday, aimed at bringing Denktash back to the negotiating table, was preceded by a meeting between the EU commissioner for enlargement and Denktash in Zurich the day before.

He also thanked the Foreign Ministers of Greece, Turkey and Cyprus, as well as the special envoys of the UN, the UK and the US for their close coordination and constructive dialogue.

"I hope discussion of the Cyprus issue will now be kick-started and that talks on substantive issues will begin soon. We must now focus all our efforts on settling the conflict," he said. CNA/TT/2001

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1920:CYPPRESS:04

[04] President Clerides - Alvaro de Soto

After the 50-minute meeting at the Presidential Palace de Soto replying to a journalist's question on whether he is optimistic he said "I don't want to be neither optimistic nor pessimistic" and declined to comment.

Earlier this afternoon, the UN official met Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash, in the Turkish-occupied part of Cyprus.

Tomorrow, de Soto winds up his eight-day visit during which he held separate consultations with President Clerides and Denktash, aiming at the resumption of UN-led talks on the Cyprus question.

Prior to his departure tomorrow afternoon he will give a press conference.

UN-led proximity talks that started in December 1999 were interrupted last year, when Denktash, backed by Ankara, withdrew from them, demanding recognition of his self-styled regime in the areas occupied by Turkish troops since 1974. CNA/RM/GP/2001

2030:CYPPRESS:05

[05] Israeli Ambassador - Socialdemocrats leader

Eligal paid a visit today to the President of the Cyprus Socialdemocrats Movement (KISOS) Yiannakis Omirou, who expressed concern about the Turkish- Israeli military cooperation.

CNA MK/TT/2001

2050:CYPPRESS:06

[06] US soldiers - Occupied areas - US embassy

This was stated by US Embassy Spokesman in Nicosia Walter Douglas, when requested by CNA to comment on a Turkish Cypriot press report that US soldiers serving with the air base at Icirlik, Turkey, together with members of their families were spending their vacations in the areas of Cyprus occupied by Turkish troops since 1974.

CNA GP/2001

2105:CYPPRESS:07

[07] Cyprus - Greece - Foreign Ministers

Papandreou, who is on a two-day visit to Cyprus, also said it was unacceptable that Cyprus remained divided and said the island should be "an independent country, free of military occupation and part of the EU," noting that the Turkish Cypriot community on the island would benefit greatly "if it seizes the opportunity presented by future EU membership for Cyprus."

At a joint press conference with his Cypriot counterpart Ioannis Kasoulides, after talks between delegations of the two Foreign Ministries here today, Papandreou reiterated his country's unequivocal support for a peaceful settlement in the Cyprus problem.

He said the Greek side wanted Turkish Cypriots "to be part" of the EU also and called on them to "have the political decision to get beyond the atmosphere of solving problems through military means and get beyond the idea that part of Cyprus can be under the control of a third country."

The Greek Foreign Minister said that at a time when borders were being dismantled, it was absurd that the division of the island continued. He called on Turkey to choose "whether to enjoy Greece's assistance in its bid to join the EU or to become isolated", by not contributing to efforts for a settlement to the Cyprus problem.

Referring to Cyprus' bid to join the EU, Papandreou said it presented "a great opportunity" not only for the Turkish Cypriots to become part of EU, but also for Turkey, "as the Turkish Cypriots will be inside the EU and enjoy all the protection of the EU."

"The Turkish Cypriots will participate in all EU institutions, they will be parliamentarians, high officials in the Commission, ministers in the Council of Ministers. Therefore, there will be a strong Turkish Cypriot voice within all those institutions, within a unified Cyprus, according to the UN resolutions."

He also pointed out the important financial gains from being part of the EU and the euro zone, as well as that Turkish will be an official EU language. "This will be of great importance to Turkey itself, to its accession to the EU. I can only see benefits," Papandreou added.

Asked about Greece's expectations from Ankara and his own message to Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash, Papandreou said that a great opportunity is being opened up for the whole region.

"For the first time in many years, we have a new possibility that has to do with the EU, our new efforts in trying to work together in different areas for our peoples and countries, it has to do with the fact that Cyprus will be part of the EU and this opens up a great opportunity for the Turkish Cypriots to be part of the larger European family ... I would say don't wait, now is the time," he responded.

On his part, Cyprus Foreign Minister Ioannis Kasoulides reiterated his government's readiness to continue UN-led peace talks from where they were left off last year, when Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash, backed by Ankara, abandoned them demanding recognition of his self-styled regime.

Kasoulides noted the Greek Cypriot side has not withdrawn from this dialogue and that all issues that have discussed are still valid, and not only those preferred by Denktash.

He stressed that if another dialogue, on another basis is suggested, "then we reserve ourserves the right to decide whether we will attend such a dialogue... From what we have been told the dialogue remains the same and is continuing on the same basis."

Kasoulides also expressed his government's support for rapproachement between Greek and Turkish Cypriots, noting that the EU offered the potential for this rapproachement through bicommunal projects.

Asked if consultations with President Clerides and Denktash carried out by the UN Secretary-General's special adviser on Cyprus Alvaro de Soto had set the scene for the resumption of talks, Kasoulides replied they had not and asked for patience till tomorrow, when de Soto will conclude his meetings and announce any results at a news conference. CNA ÁÁR/MK/TT/2001

CNA ENDS

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