Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 02-09-05

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

CONTENTS

[01] UN Chief’s spokesman announces Paris meeting

[02] Commerce Minister says Cyprus working on visas for Russian tourists

[03] Commission assures Cyprus report will be positive

[04] Washington sends messages to Ankara over Cyprus

[05] UN chief prepares ground for tomorrow's Cyprus meetings

[06] UN chief prepares ground for tomorrow's Cyprus meetings (R)

[07] Turkish elections affects Cyprus efforts

[08] Russian diplomats call for continuation of UN-led direct talks

[09] Cyprus becomes member of ICC Bureau

[10] Weather forecast for Cyprus

[11] Cyprus Stock Exchange

[12] Cyprus Church appeals to UN over stolen icons

[13] Weather and Temperatures for Cyprus

[14] Finance Minister presents Cyprus Pre-Accession Economic Programme

[15] Verheugen: Cyprus problem can be solved prior to December EU Summit

[16] Clerides' aides leave for Paris

[01] UN Chief’s spokesman announces Paris meeting

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UN Chiefs spokesman announces Paris meeting

by Apostolis Zoumbaniotis

United Nations, Sep 5 (CNA) -- Fred Eckhard, Spokesman for the UN Secretary-General, announced Wednesday Kofi Annan will meet with the leaders of the two communities in Cyprus tomorrow in Paris.

In his daily briefing, Eckhard said "the Secretary-General is scheduled to meet with the Cypriot leaders this Friday in Paris, along with his Special Adviser, Alvaro de Soto."

[02] Commerce Minister says Cyprus working on visas for Russian tourists

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Commerce Minister says Cyprus working on visas for Russian tourists

Nicosia, 5 Sep (CNA) -- Cyprus Commerce, Industry and Tourism Minister Nicos Rolandis has said the issue of mandatory visas for Russians was raised during the Moscow Tourism Expo and that the ministry is working on the issue.

Rolandis made the remark following statements yesterday by Director of the International Relations Department of the Moscow Government, Georgi Muradov, who had served as Russian Ambassador to Cyprus.

[03] Commission assures Cyprus report will be positive

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Commission assures Cyprus report will be positive

by Nicos Bellos

Brussels, Sep 5 (CNA) -- The last progress report on Cyprus' accession to the European Union, to be submitted by the European Commission in October, is expected to be positive.

The message was conveyed yesterday to Cyprus' EU Chief Negotiator, George Vassiliou, after meetings he had in Brussels with German Enlargement Commissioner, Gunter Verheugen, and Director General of the Enlargement Directorate, Eneko Landaburu.

[04] Washington sends messages to Ankara over Cyprus

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Washington sends messages to Ankara over Cyprus

by Maria Myles

Paris, Sep 5 (CNA) -- The US has communicated to Turkey crystal clear messages with regard to Cyprus as to what Ankara needs to do and stressed that the problem of this divided island has to be settled.

According to reliable sources, US diplomats dealing with the Cyprus question have expressed concern to their interlocutors about the situation in Turkey, saying they consider the timing of this latest crisis that has hit the country "problematic", bearing in mind that the timeframe the European Union has set out with regard to enlargement affects both Cyprus and Turkey.

During his recent visit to Ankara, US Under-secretary of State for political affairs Mark Grossman told the Turkish establishment "all the right things" with regard to Cyprus, the same sources told CNA.

Grossman made it clear to his interlocutors, including Turkeys Foreign Minister Sukru Sina Gurel, that there is now a unique window of opportunity which should be seized in order to solve the question of Cyprus, they added.

[05] UN chief prepares ground for tomorrow's Cyprus meetings

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UN chief prepares ground for tomorrow's Cyprus meetings

by Maria Myles

Paris, Sep 5 (CNA) -- As President Glafcos Clerides and Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash are putting the final touches on what they have to say at tomorrow's meeting here with UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, the UN chief too is putting together his own thoughts about what to tell the two leaders with one objective in mind to find ways to make headway in this stalled peace process.

According to diplomatic sources, the Secretary General is expected to give the two leaders "specific but different" messages to emphasise that they "have to engage in some serious negotiations and get down to real business" at the negotiating table in the weeks ahead.

Annan is expected to stress the imperative need to reach a settlement at this juncture when a real window of opportunity exists and is set to underscore the negative repercussions that failure to do so would entail.

He will also reiterate to Clerides and Denktash that they should at least crack the four main issues under discussion (governance, security, territory and property), bearing always in mind the timeframe of Cyprus' accession course and the December EU decision on enlargement, which, barring a miracle, will include Cyprus too.

[06] UN chief prepares ground for tomorrow's Cyprus meetings (R)

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UN chief prepares ground for tomorrow's Cyprus meetings

by Maria Myles

Paris, Sep 5 (CNA) -- As President Glafcos Clerides and Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash are putting the final touches on what they have to say at tomorrow's meeting here with UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, the UN chief too is putting together his own thoughts about what to tell the two leaders with one objective in mind to find ways to make headway in this stalled peace process.

According to diplomatic sources, the Secretary General is expected to give the two leaders "specific but different" messages to emphasise that they "have to engage in some serious negotiations and get down to real business" at the negotiating table in the weeks ahead.

Annan is expected to stress the imperative need to reach a settlement at this juncture when a real window of opportunity exists and is set to underscore the negative repercussions that failure to do so would entail.

He will also reiterate to Clerides and Denktash that they should at least crack the four main issues under discussion (governance, security, territory and property), bearing always in mind the timeframe of Cyprus' accession course and the December EU decision on enlargement, which, barring a miracle, will include Cyprus too.

[07] Turkish elections affects Cyprus efforts

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Turkish elections affects Cyprus efforts

by Maria Myles

Paris, Sep 5 (CNA) -- All parties involved in the Cyprus peace effort, with the UN in the lead, believe that developments depend largely on what happens in Turkey in the weeks ahead and in particular on the kind of administration that would be formed after November's elections.

[08] Russian diplomats call for continuation of UN-led direct talks

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Russian diplomats call for continuation of UN-led direct talks

by Gregoris Savva and Costas Stavrinos

Moscow, Sep 5 (CNÁ) -- Russia has stressed that it is "absolutely crucial" to maintain UN-led direct talks between Cyprus President Glafcos Clerides and Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash on the basic path, that is the UN Security Council resolutions on Cyprus.

The position was outlined to CNA by Director of the 3rd European Department of the Russian Foreign Ministry Alexander Alekseyev while Russian Federation special envoy on Cyprus, Vladimir Prygin, emphasised his country supports a solution to the Cyprus problem on the basis of a bizonal, bicommunal federation.

Prygin said he would be visiting Cyprus between October and December because "this period would be the most crucial on Cyprus".

[09] Cyprus becomes member of ICC Bureau

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Cyprus becomes member of ICC Bureau

by Apostolis Zoupaniotis

New York, Sep 5 (CNA) -- Cyprus has been elected member of the Bureau of the first session of the assembly of states parties to the International Criminal Court (ICC), taking place at the UN headquarters.

[10] Weather forecast for Cyprus

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Weather forecast for Cyprus

Nicosia, Sep 5 (CNA) -- The Meteorological Office at Larnaca International Airport has issued the following weather forecast for Cyprus:

Friday and Saturday: 6/09/2002 to 07/09/2002

Locally partly cloudy with probability of local showers or isolated thunderstorms, mainly over mountains and inland, in the afternoon. Winds will be moderate sea breezes and the state of sea slight to moderate.

Maximum temperature: 32C inland and around 30C over coastal areas. Minimum temperature: 19C inland and around 21C over coastal areas.

Outlook for Thursday and Friday: 08/09/2002 to 10/09/2002

No change is expected.

[11] Cyprus Stock Exchange

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Cyprus Stock Exchange

Nicosia, Sep 5 (CNA) - The Cyprus Stock Exchange (CSE) All Share
Index closed at today's stock exchange meeting as follows:

CSE General Index                               87,15   ( 0,16)

Traded Value                  CYP    809.434

FTSE/CYSE 20                  CYP    424.740   351,61   ( 0,55)

Sectoral Indices

Banks                         CYP     71.094    97,50   ( 0,29)
Approved Investment
Companies                 CYP     72.960    82,19   ( 0,74)
Insurance Companies           CYP    137.117    21,04   (-0,94)
Manufacturing Companies       CYP    130.396    61,73   ( 0,57)
Tourism Companies             CYP     14.892   107,21   (-1,86)
Trading Companies             CYP      9.999    18,89   ( 0,64)
Building and Cement Companies CYP     10.430    59,96   ( 0,35)
Énformation Technology
Companies                 CYP     19.054     3,70   (-1,33)
Financial Services Companies  CYP    167.120    13,49   (-0,37)
Fish Culture Companies        CYP        325    15,92   (-5,35)
Hotels                        CYP     36.080    48,29   (-0,08)
Other Companies               CYP    132.771    82,86   ( 0,17)

* The third column presents the percentage variation of

[12] Cyprus Church appeals to UN over stolen icons

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Cyprus Church appeals to UN over stolen icons

Nicosia, Sep 5 (CNA) -- The Cyprus Church has called on UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan to "use his influence and take all necessary action" in finding five icons stolen recently from the Church of St. John in the Turkish-occupied town of Famagusta, on the island's eastern coast.

[13] Weather and Temperatures for Cyprus

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Weather and Temperatures for Cyprus

Nicosia, Sep 5 (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                  33          19          FAIR
Larnaca                  31          21          FINE
Limassol                 30          21          FINE
Paphos                   28          21          FINE

[14] Finance Minister presents Cyprus Pre-Accession Economic Programme

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Finance Minister presents Cyprus Pre-Accession Economic Programme

Nicosia, Sep 5 (CNA)-- Finance Minister, Takis Klerides said here today that the Cyprus economy has been cautioned about the free competition which it will face within the European Union (EU), noting that the impression that once the island enters the EU large conglomerates will take over the local industry and economy "is completely wrong".

Presenting the 2001-2005 Pre-Accession Economic Programme of the Republic of Cyprus (PEP), the minister added that "as the accession course is reaching the end, it is critical that Cyprus is ready in all aspects for complete accession".

He said the 2001-2005 Pre-Accession Economic Programme of the Republic of Cyprus (PEP) is of crucial significance in view of the final evaluation of the level of preparation of the candidate states in the EU.

The Ministry of Finance, the Planning Bureau and the Central Bank jointly prepared the programme. It includes a detailed analysis of the Cyprus economy and a review of economic developments during the period 1997-2001, Klerides said, adding that it is set "within a medium-term macroeconomic policy framework, with emphasis continuing to be placed on the achievement of public finance and structural reform objectives".

"The specific policy measures, aimed at attaining these goals, are designed to contribute to the further real and nominal convergence of Cyprus with the EU", the minister said.

Furthermore, he added, "the macroeconomic framework of the PEP encompasses the Governments main medium-term economic policy priorities and objectives, with a view to enhancing the economys flexibility and adaptability, in line with the Copenhagen criteria".

These include the achievement of a satisfactory rate of economic growth, under conditions of internal and external macroeconomic stability, full employment and social cohesion, as well as the liberalisation of the economy and its further diversification in line with the comparative advantages of the island, the promotion of structural reforms, the fostering of the knowledge-based economy and the promotion of balanced regional development", the programme says.

Within this framework, a macroeconomic scenario extending until 2005 has been formulated, which takes into consideration the above-mentioned medium-term economic policy priorities and objectives.

The minister predicted that according to the programmes findings, the mean economic growth rate for the period of 2002-2005 is expected to reach 4,2%, which is in line with the period 1997-2001.

[15] Verheugen: Cyprus problem can be solved prior to December EU Summit

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by Nicos Bellos

Verheugen: Cyprus problem can be solved prior to December EU Summit

Brussels, Sep 5 (CNA) - EU Enlargement Commissioner Gunter Verheugen appeared today optimistic that a solution to the Cyprus question could be reached prior to the EU Copenhagen Summit, in December, that will decide about EU candidate countries accession to the EU.

[16] Clerides' aides leave for Paris

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Clerides' aides leave for Paris

Larnaca, Sep 5 (CNA) - Attorney General Alecos Markides said here today he did not expect the UN Secretary General Kofi Annan to submit any documents for the settlement of the Cyprus issue, during tomorrow's meeting in Paris.

Markides and Government Spokesman Michalis Papapetrou, both aides of Cyprus President Glafcos Clerides in the UN-led talks, aiming to solve the Cyprus problem, left today for Paris, where Clerides will meet tomorrow with Annan and the Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash.

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