Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 02-05-14

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

CONTENTS

[01] UN Secretary General pays a working visit to Cyprus

[02] Spanish EU presidency congratulates Cyprus on peace effort

[03] Special thanks to Cyprus from Israel

[04] Restoration work on collapsed Nicosia walls started

[05] Peace talks meeting ends

[06] Jack Straw welcomes Annan's visit to Cyprus

[07] Cyprus Stock Exchange

[08] Weather and Temperatures for Cyprus

[09] UN Secretary General arrives in Cyprus

[10] Annan concerned with slow progress of Cyprus talks

[11] Annan says June target for Cyprus agreement appropriate

[12] Hasikos seeks to promote Cyprus' inclusion in PFP

[13] Tight security for Annan's visit

[14] Papadopoulos concerned about EU decision on Palestinians

[15] Cyprus condemns Dagestan carnage

[01] UN Secretary General pays a working visit to Cyprus

0900:CYPPRESS:01

UN Secretary General pays "working visit" to Cyprus

Nicosia, May 14 (CNA) -- UN Secretary General Kofi Annan arrives here early afternoon for a "working visit" in the framework of the good offices mission entrusted to him by the Security Council, the UN has has announced.

The Secretary General will meet "HE Mr Glafcos Clerides and HE Mr Rauf Denktash in their capacities as Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot leaders, respectively," a UN press release said.

Annan will make a brief statement on arrival at Larnaca airport (between 1500-1600 local time (1200-1300 GMT) and prior to departure on Thursday, early afternoon (1330-1500).

The Secretary General will be calling on Clerides on Wednesday morning after 1000 and in mid afternoon the same day he will see Denktash. His special adviser on Cyprus, Alvaro de Soto, who has been conducting direct talks with the two leaders since mid January this year, is expected to accompany him.

Later on the same day, he will have a joint meeting with the two leaders at around seven o'clock, at the residence of the UNFICYP Chief of Mission and Acting Special Representative of the Secretary General Zbigniew Wlosowicz, in the UN-controlled buffer zone, in the Nicosia airport area.

[02] Spanish EU presidency congratulates Cyprus on peace effort

1000:CYPPRESS:02

Spanish EU presidency congratulates Cyprus on peace effort

Nicosia, May 14 (CNA) -- The European Union's six monthly rotating presidency, Spain, has extended warm thanks to Cyprus and in particular to President Glafcos Clerides for his "huge effort" so far to bring the UN-led peace talks to a successful conclusion.

Thanking Clerides, Ramon de Miguel, Spain's deputy minister responsible for European Affairs, expressed hope that by October substantive progress towards a settlement is achieved to see a reunited Cyprus join the EU.

[03] Special thanks to Cyprus from Israel

1035:CYPPRESS:03

Special thanks to Cyprus from Israel

Nicosia, May 14 (CNA) -- Israeli Defence Minister Binyamin Ben-Elizer has extended special thanks to Cyprus, and others, for their effort to help resolve the standoff at the Church of Nativity, in Bethlehem.

[04] Restoration work on collapsed Nicosia walls started

1140:CYPPRESS:04

Restoration work on collapsed Nicosia walls started

Nicosia, May 14 (CNA) -- A nine-member team of Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot experts and labourers has started work on the restoration of a collapsed part of the 16th century Venetian Walls, that surround Nicosia.

[05] Peace talks meeting ends

1145:CYPPRESS:05

Peace talks meeting ends

Nicosia, May 14 (CNA) -- President Glafcos Clerides and Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash met here today for one hour and forty minutes, in the context of the ongoing UN-led direct talks.

[06] Jack Straw welcomes Annan's visit to Cyprus

1350:CYPPRESS:06

Jack Straw welcomes Annan's visit to Cyprus

Nicosia, May 14 (CNA) -- British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw has warmly welcomed UN Secretary General Kofi Annan's visit to Cyprus.

Straw said Annan's visit, starting today, "is a timely contribution to the process launched by the two leaders in Cyprus", and reiterated Britain's support to the UN-led peace talks process, which started in mid-January 2002.

[07] Cyprus Stock Exchange

1400:CYPPRESS:07

Cyprus Stock Exchange

Nicosia, May 14 (CNA) - The Cyprus Stock Exchange (CSE) All hare
Index closed at today's stock exchange meeting as follows:

CSE General Index                               99,44 (-0,05)

Traded Value                  CYP    726.380

FTSE/CYSE 20                  CYP    355.553   419,98  ( 0,21)

Sectoral Indices

Banks                         CYP    195.783   116,46  (-0,05)
Approved Investment
Companies                 CYP     48.143    88,00  ( 0,22)
Insurance Companies           CYP      5.826    32,13  (-4,52)
Manufacturing Companies       CYP     55.414    55,02  (-0,70)
Tourism Companies             CYP     36.753    75,72  ( 1,76)
Trading Companies             CYP     39.490    22,58  (-1,18)
Building and Cement Companies CYP      2.213    52,89  ( 1,34)
Énformation Technology
Companies                 CYP     10.831     4,65  (-0,43)
Financial Services Companies  CYP    109.753    17,74  (-1,11)
Fish Culture Companies        CYP         31    17,86  ( 5,56)
Hotels                        CYP     56.724    58,34  (-0,27)
Other Companies               CYP     72.506   101,50  ( 0,93)

* The third column presents the percentage variation of

[08] Weather and Temperatures for Cyprus

1530:CYPPRESS:08

Weather and Temperatures for Cyprus

Nicosia, May 14 (CNA) - Today's weather and temperatures for Cyprus, according to the Meteorological Service at Larnaca International Airport are:

Temperatures (degrees Celcius)

Station Maximum Minimum Weather (At 1200 UTC)

Nicosia 25 17 THUNDERSTORM Larnaca 25 18 THUNDERSTORM Limassol 25 17 FINE Paphos 23 15 FAIR

[09] UN Secretary General arrives in Cyprus

1540:CYPPRESS:09

UN Secretary General arrives in Cyprus

Nicosia, May 14 (CNA) -- UN Secretary General Kofi Annan arrived here this afternoon for a "working visit" in the framework of the good offices mission entrusted to him by the Security Council.

The Secretary General will meet with President Glafcos Clerides and Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash in their capacities as Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot leaders, respectively.

Annan will be calling on Clerides on Wednesday morning after 1000 and in mid-afternoon the same day he will see Denktash. His Special Adviser on Cyprus, Alvaro de Soto, who has been conducting direct talks with the two leaders since mid-January this year, is expected to accompany him.

Later on the same day, he will have a joint meeting with the two leaders at around seven o'clock, at the residence of the UNFICYP Chief of Mission and Acting Special Representative of the Secretary General Zbigniew Wlosowicz, in the UN-controlled buffer zone, in the Nicosia airport area.

Annan will then host a dinner for the two leaders at Wlosowicz's residence.

[10] Annan concerned with slow progress of Cyprus talks

1605:CYPPRESS:10

Annan concerned with slow progress of Cyprus talks

Larnaca, May 14 (CNA) - UN Secretary General Kofi Annan arrived in Cyprus today, saying that he was concerned with the slow progress of the talks between the leaders of the two communities on the island, aiming to solve the Cyprus problem.

[11] Annan says June target for Cyprus agreement appropriate

1630:CYPPRESS:11

Annan says June target for Cyprus agreement appropriate

Larnaca, May 14 (CNA) - UN Secretary General Kofi Annan said today that the target date of June for an agreement on the main issues of the Cyprus problem is wholly appropriate and noted that he was concerned at the slow progress so far in direct talks between the leaders of the two communities on the island.

Speaking on his arrival at Larnaca Airport, Annan said decisive progress is needed in the coming period and pointed out that he came to the island to highlight the great responsibility the two leaders have undertaken, to urge them to forge ahead with a shared sense of urgency and a willingness to compromise in earnest.

The Secretary General noted that "this is an historic opportunity, and I am convinced that these two particular leaders, uniquely steeped in the history of the island, can rise to the occasion".

Annan said he was "happy to set foot on Cyprus" and conveyed his "best wishes to all Cypriots".

He added "the direct talks between HE Mr. Glafcos Clerides, the Greek Cypriot leader, and HE Mr. Rauf Denktash, the Turkish Cypriot leader, have been going on for almost four months, at my invitation", adding that his Special Adviser on Cyprus Alvaro de Soto "is there to assist them, in the exercise of my mission of good offices".

"The start of these talks raised hopes greatly, not only in Cyprus, but in the region and beyond", he said, adding that "the two leaders, without any prompting from outside, set their sights on June to achieve their goal".

Annan said "this target date, endorsed by the Security Council, is wholly appropriate if the chance which is now open is to be seized".

The Secretary General noted that he follows the process "closely" and said "the Security Council, despite its large agenda, has turned its attention to Cyprus every month since February".

"I am concerned at the slow progress, as are the members of the Security Council", he said, adding that "decisive progress is needed in the coming period".

"I want also to discuss with them how they can move forward more effectively so as to resolve the main issues by the end of June", he added.

The Secretary General noted that "this is an historic opportunity, and I am convinced that these two particular leaders, uniquely steeped in the history of the island, can rise to the occasion".

[12] Hasikos seeks to promote Cyprus' inclusion in PFP

1815:CYPPRESS:12

Hasikos seeks to promote Cyprus' inclusion in PFP

by Nicos Bellos

Brussels, May 14 (CNA) - Cypriot Defence Minister Socratis Hasikos has noted the necessity of accelerating the process of Cyprus' application for inclusion in the Partners for Peace (PFP) programme for cooperation with NATO.

Hasikos, who participated here today in the meeting of Defence Ministers of the EU member states and candidate for accession countries, the main issue of which was developments regarding the process of implementing decisions for the creation of the European rapid reaction force, made special reference to the issue of the non participation of Cyprus and Malta in the deliberation process regarding military issues related to EU-NATO cooperation.

"What must be pursued is to overcome any legal difficulties and make Cyprus' participation in this process possible", he told the press.

The Cypriot Defence Minister stressed the need to accelerate Cyprus' application for participation in the Partners for Peace, an issue that emerged with Great Britain's report to the EU Council of Ministers, regarding the forming of a standing committee to study the EU military needs.

The Committee, in cooperation with NATO, will investigate the needs in infrastructure equipment, with the communication of confidential military information of the Alliance.

The problem with Cyprus and Malta is that they cannot participate in any NATO mechanism and can thus not have access to military information coming from the Alliance.

[13] Tight security for Annan's visit

1925:CYPPRESS:13

Tight security for Annan's visit

Larnaca, May 14 (CNA) - UN Secretary General Kofi Annan arrived in Cyprus this afternoon aboard a British Airways plane, under tight security. Police officers had been guarding the VIP lounge of Larnaca Airport since noon and a special forces unit was patrolling the airport and the area around it.

[14] Papadopoulos concerned about EU decision on Palestinians

1930:CYPPRESS:14

Papadopoulos concerned about EU decision on Palestinians

Nicosia, May 14 (CNA) - Chairman of the Cypriot House of Representatives European Affairs Committee, Tassos Papadopoulos, has expressed concern over the delay in reaching a decision on which countries would take in the 13 Palestinians brought to Cyprus after being released from Bethlehem's Nativity Church.

Addressing the 26th Conference of the European Affairs committees of EU member state parliaments (COSAC), which ended today in Madrid,

[15] Cyprus condemns Dagestan carnage

1945:CYPPRESS:15

Cyprus condemns Dagestan carnage

Nicosia, May 14 (CNA) - Cyprus' Foreign Ministry has expressed "abhorrence regarding the tragic events of May 9 in Dagestan, in which dozens of people lost their lives and many more were injured".

"Cyprus unreservedly deplores every terrorist or other action that aims at removing life, as well as any form of violence, especially that used as a means to promote political demands", the Foreign Ministry adds.

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