Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 02-07-10

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

CONTENTS

[01] National Guard Commander killed

[02] Clerides briefed on National Guard fatal accident

[03] Clerides flies to accident spot

[04] Hasikos: We pay the cost of our struggle for freedom

[05] Experts to come from Greece to investigate tragic accident

[06] House President expresses grief and sorrow for accident

[07] Cyprus government declares three days of mourning

[08] Cypriot parties discuss Security Council statement on Cyprus

[09] Lieutenant General Florakis - Curriculum Vitae

[10] Condolences sent to the government

[11] Weather and Temperatures for Cyprus

[12] Cyprus Stock Exchange

[13] Cypriot artists exhibit works for peaceful coexistence

[14] US Embassy saddened to learn of tragic accident

[01] National Guard Commander killed

0800:CYPPRESS:01

National Guard Commander killed

[02] Clerides briefed on National Guard fatal accident

0850:CYPPRESS:02

Clerides briefed on National Guard fatal accident

Nicosia, Jul 10 (CNA) -- Cyprus Defence Minister Sokratis Hasikos announced here this morning that the Commander of Cyprus' National Guard (army), Lieutenant General Evangelos Florakis, and four other army officers were killed at 0420 local time today (0120 GMT) when their helicopter crashed near the southwestern town of Paphos.

The other four army officers are Air Force Commander, Brigadier Stelios Demenegas, Lieutenant Nikos Georgiou and the two helicopter pilots, Flight Lieutenant Paris Athanasiades and Flank Officer Michalis Shiakallis.

In a written statement Hasikos said Cyprus President Glafcos Clerides was briefed about the accident at the National Guards headquarters in Nicosia and expressed his deep sorrow and grief for the tragic accident and his condolences to their relatives of the deceased.

The Minister said that Florakis and the other four army officers were aboard a helicopter which crashed near the village of Kouklia, Paphos.

[03] Clerides flies to accident spot

1100:CYPPRESS:03

Clerides flies to accident spot

Nicosia, Jul 10 (CNA) -- Cyprus President Glafcos Clerides flew this morning aboard a helicopter to the area where a National Guard helicopter crashed early this morning near the southwestern town of Paphos. Five army officers were killed. Among them was National Guard Commander, Lieutenant General Evangelos Florakis.

[04] Hasikos: We pay the cost of our struggle for freedom

1120:CYPPRESS:04

Hasikos: We pay the cost of our struggle for freedom

Nicosia, Jul 10 (CNA) -- The fatal helicopter accident, which had as a result the death of five army officers, among whom National Guard Commander (army), Lieutenant General Evangelos Florakis, is the first that occurs since the Cyprus army set up its own helicopter squadron, in 1984, Cyprus Defence Minister Socrates Hasikos has said.

[05] Experts to come from Greece to investigate tragic accident

1210:CYPPRESS:05

Experts to come from Greece to investigate tragic accident

Nicosia, Jul 10 (CNA) -- Cyprus President Glafcos Clerides said the Cyprus government had requested Greece to send experts to help investigations for the circumstances under which a National Guard helicopter crashed early this morning near Paphos. Five army officers on board, among whom National Guard Commander, Lieutenant General Evangelos Florakis, were killed.

President Clerides, who earlier today visited the area of the accident, said Florakis' death was "a great loss both for the National Guard and Cyprus, especially at this period of time."

[06] House President expresses grief and sorrow for accident

1225:CYPPRESS:06

House President expresses grief and sorrow for tragic accident

Nicosia, Jul 10 (CNA) -- Cyprus House President Demetris Christofias has expressed the deep sorrow and grief of the island's 56-seat Parliament for the death of National Guard Commander, Lieutenant General Evangelos Florakis, and four other army officers in a helicopter crash this morning.

[07] Cyprus government declares three days of mourning

1300:CYPPRESS:07

Cyprus government declares three days of mourning

Nicosia, Jul 10 (CNA) -- Ôhe Cyprus government today declared three days of mourning for the death of National Guard Commander, Lieutenant General Evangelos Florakis, and four other army officers killed early this morning when their helicopter crashed near Paphos. Flags will fly at half-mast at all public buildings and National Guard camps.

Government Spokesman Michalis Papapetrou said after a meeting at the Presidential Palace, presided over by President Glafcos Clerides, that procedures to name a new National Guard chief were under way.

He said Cypriot experts have already begun investigating the circumstances under which the accident occurred. Greek experts will join their Cypriot colleagues in the investigations.

Invited to say whether the possibility of a sabotage has been ruled out, the Spokesman said "since an investigation is being conducted we have to look into all possibilities."

He added, however, that all evidence indicate that it was an accident.

Cyprus has been divided since 1974 when Turkish troops invaded and occupied 37 per cent of its territory.

Papapetrou said the Cyprus government was in constant touch with the Greek authorities since the very first moment of the helicopter crash.

The National Guard Chief and Cyprus Air Force Commander, Brigadier Stelios Demenagas, were of Greek origin.

[08] Cypriot parties discuss Security Council statement on Cyprus

1435:CYPPRESS:08

Cypriot parties discuss Security Council statement on Cyprus

Nicosia, Jul 10 (CNA) -- Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot parties met here today and discussed, among other matters, yesterday's UN Security Council statement on the situation in Cyprus.

The Security Council's statement said that the Turkish Cypriot side has been "less constructive" than the Greek Cypriot side in efforts to solve the Cyprus problem.

[09] Lieutenant General Florakis - Curriculum Vitae

1440:CYPPRESS:09

Lieutenant General Florakis - Curriculum Vitae

Nicosia, Jul 10 (CNA) -- National Guard Chief Lieutenant General Evangelos Florakis was born in 1943 in Arta.

He entered the Military Cadet Academy (Evelpidon) in 1962, he graduated in 1966 and was commissioned second Lieutenant in the Infantry.

He attended Infantry School, the Unit Commander's School, the Parachutists School, the Physical Training School, the Armed Forces Special Weapons School, the Unconventional Warfare School, the Hellenic Army War College and the Hellenic National Defence College.

He served in various national units and in Cyprus, he commanded sub-units and units of his branch for a long period and was also staff officer at formation level. He also commanded an Infantry Battalion and an Infantry Contingent.

In 1994 he was promoted to Brigadier General and served as Deputy Commander in the XV Infantry Division and in the 50 Infantry Brigade as Commander.

After being promoted to Major General in 1996, he was appointed Commander in the XVI Mechanized Infantry Division and then in the Hellenic Army War College.

In 1999 he assumed the command of B Army Corps.

Lt. General Florakis has been decorated with all the military distinctions as appropriate.

[10] Condolences sent to the government

1500:CYPPRESS:10

Condolences sent to the government

Nicosia, Jul 10 (CNA) -- As Cyprus is trying to come to terms with the tragic loss of the National Guard Commander and four other officers, tributes and condolences continue to pour in.

[11] Weather and Temperatures for Cyprus

1515:CYPPRESS:11

Weather and Temperatures for Cyprus

Nicosia, Jul 10 (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                  34          21          FAIR
Larnaca                  30          21          FINE
Limassol                 30          23          FINE
Paphos                   29          21          FINE

[12] Cyprus Stock Exchange

1550:CYPPRESS:12

Cyprus Stock Exchange

Nicosia, Jul 10 (CNA) - The Cyprus Stock Exchange (CSE) All Share
Index closed at today's stock exchange meeting as follows:

CSE General Index                               91,67  (-1,41)

Traded Value                  CYP    588.173

FTSE/CYSE 20                  CYP    177.866   389,85  (-1,72)

Sectoral Indices

Banks                         CYP    103.249   110,46  (-1,66)
Approved Investment
Companies                 CYP     10.978    82,61  (-0,99)
Insurance Companies           CYP      3.318    26,13  (-3,26)
Manufacturing Companies       CYP     18.085    59,95  (-1,15)
Tourism Companies             CYP      3.792    80,91  (-2,22)
Trading Companies             CYP     14.973    19,48  (-2,45)
Building and Cement Companies CYP      3.291    53,25  (-0,78)
Énformation Technology
Companies                 CYP      6.983     3,11  (-0,64)
Financial Services Companies  CYP     40.317    13,77  (-0,65)
Fish Culture Companies        CYP        135    15,00  (-4,64)
Hotels                        CYP     34.779    50,39  (-0,75)
Other Companies               CYP    317.578    85,36  (-1,26)

* The third column presents the percentage variation of

[13] Cypriot artists exhibit works for peaceful coexistence

1650:CYPPRESS:13

Cypriot artists exhibit works for peaceful coexistence

by Nicos Bellos Brussels, Jul 10 (CNA) -- An exhibition of paintings by two Cypriot painters, a Greek Cypriot and a Turkish Cypriot, opened here Tuesday to send a message of friendship and mutual respect.

[14] US Embassy saddened to learn of tragic accident

1730:CYPPRESS:14

US Embassy saddened to learn of tragic accident

Nicosia, Jul 10 (CNA) - The Embassy of the United States in Cyprus has expressed sadness over the loss of the National Guard Commander and four other officers, killed when their helicopter crashed in a ravine early this morning.

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