Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 02-11-12

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

CONTENTS

[01] Annan says proposal is sound and optimal and requires tough decisions

[02] State Department urges two sides to work urgently with Annan

[03] UN plan aims at signing of agreement in Copenhagen

[04] Vasiliou: UN plan a success not blackmail for Greek side

[05] UN proposal balanced, says EU Commissioner

[06] Verheugen: make use of very limited time left and reach settlement

[07] Cyprus Stock Exchange

[08] Weather and Temperatures for Cyprus

[09] Germany hopes for progress on Cyprus soon

[10] European Commission welcomes UN plan for Cyprus settlement

[11] Small vulture brings the two communities closer

[12] Cox says all stops must be pulled for a settlement before December

[13] US Ambassador urges two sides to seize opportunity for settlement

[01] Annan says proposal is sound and optimal and requires tough decisions

0050:CYPPRESS:01

Annan says proposal is sound and optimal and requires tough decisions

By Apostolis Zoupaniotis

United Nations, Nov 12 (CNA) -- UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan said he has asked the parties involved in the Cyprus problem to study his proposal for a comprehensive Cyprus settlement and give their reactions within a week, adding that during the meeting he had with the Security Council, he received broad support for his initiative.

Let me confirm to you that I have conveyed to the parties a proposal that I believe can form the basis of a comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus problem, said Annan after the unofficial Security Council meeting. I have asked them to study it very carefully and give me their reactions within a week, he said.

The Secretary-General remarked he did share his initiative with the Council and they did give me a broad support for the initiative.

Asked what is the deadline for the parties to respond to his proposal Annan said he advised the parties to come to me within a week. I hope I hear by them on the 18th of November. I asked them to give me their reactions.

To a question what kind of model is suggested in the proposal, Annan avoided giving details, saying, the parties know what I have put before them and are going to study it.

We have to look at many issues and many different possible options and I believe I put before them what I consider a sound and optimal proposal, he said.

I know it is going to be a tough decision for them, is going to require courage, wisdom and vision. And I am confident they are capable of it, Annan added.

To a question what is the timetable to accept it or not, Annan replied that his role after all these years of negotiations is to help the parties come to comprehensive agreement.

My role is that of a helper, expediter, to get there, to accept to come to a comprehensive agreement. And I think they realise that we have a limited opportunity as we move forward. And there is a unique timing in the sense and the possibility of getting a united Cyprus into the European Union. And I hope they will seize the moment, the UN Chief added.

When asked if he wants an answer before the European Union summit on December 12, the Secretary-General replied work it out yourself.

He did not exclude the possibility of meeting again with either leader at sometime and at the most practical location, although he said his Special Advisor, Alvaro de Soto is on the ground with them, giving them explanations.

Asked if one side decides to abandon the proposal, what would happen then, Annan said I think if it is not a take it or leave it proposal, and I don' t have the capacity of imposing it on either party, then we have a problem.

[02] State Department urges two sides to work urgently with Annan

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State Department urges two sides to work urgently with Annan

By Demetris Apokis

Washington, Nov 12 (CNA) -- The United States called on the two sides in Cyprus to seize the historic opportunity that exists before the European Union (EU) decides for enlargement in Copenhagen in December, and work urgently with the UN Secretary-General to achieve a Cyprus settlement.

[03] UN plan aims at signing of agreement in Copenhagen

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UN plan aims at signing of agreement in Copenhagen

by Apostolis Zoupaniotis

United Nations, Nov 12 (CNA) -- President Glafcos Clerides and Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash are set to sign a founding initial agreement in December, if both leaders agree that a UN proposal on a political settlement is a basis for further negotiation.

Clerides and Denktash have until 18 November to give Kofi Annan their assessment of the 137-page document his envoys handed to them on Monday.

Diplomatic sources at the UN seat in New York have told CNA that Annan, the US and Europeans wish to see this agreement signed on 12 December, on the sidelines of the European Union summit in Copenhagen.

The same sources also said that the objective is to get an agreement signed by December 12 on a number of provisions of the UN proposal and leave the remaining points for future negotiation, which should be concluded by the end of February next year.

[04] Vasiliou: UN plan a success not blackmail for Greek side

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Vasiliou: UN plan a success, not blackmail for Greek side

Nicosia, Nov 12 (CNA) -- Cyprus' chief negotiator with the European Union George Vassiliou has described a UN proposal on a political settlement ''a success and not blackmail for the Greek side'', adding that the proposal should be accepted as basis for negotiation.

Vasiliou said the proposal should be made public to avoid misinterpretation and noted that Turkey was forced to give the green light to the UN to put forward a proposal.

[05] UN proposal balanced, says EU Commissioner

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UN proposal ''balanced'', says EU Commissioner

by Nicos Bellos

Brussels, Nov 12 (CNA) -- European Union Commissioner responsible for enlargement Gunter Verheugen described today as ''balanced'' UN proposals for agreement on a comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus problem.

In an initial response to the UN ideas, Verheugen also said the proposals will enable Cyprus to function as a member state of the European Union and acknowledged that some provisions in the UN proposals are not fully compatible with acquis communautaire.

Speaking at the European Policy Centre here, he said the UN proposal is balanced and offers guarantees that none of the two communities will dominate the other.

He said the Commission will take a firm stance on the proposal once the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot sides decide whether they accept the UN document as a basis for negotiation.

[06] Verheugen: make use of very limited time left and reach settlement

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Verheugen: make use of very limited time left and reach settlement

Nicosia, Nov 12 (CNA) -- European Union Enlargement Commissioner, Gunter Verheugen, said all efforts should be undertaken to make use of the very limited time left and to bring the process for a Cyprus settlement to a positive outcome.

In a statement on the UN plan on Cyprus submitted on Monday to Cyprus President Glafcos Clerides and Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash, Verheugen said the Commission welcomes and supports the efforts of the UN Secretary General, noting it considers it courageous and important step to which the EU should lend its full support.

[07] Cyprus Stock Exchange

1415:CYPPRESS:07

Cyprus Stock Exchange

Nicosia, Nov 12 (CNA) - The Cyprus Stock Exchange (CSE) All Share
Index closed at today's stock exchange meeting as follows:

CSE General Index                              105,16   ( 0,17)

Traded Value                  CYP  3.099.761

FTSE/CYSE 20                  CYP  1.332.507   411,08   (-0,20)

Sectoral Indices

Banks                         CYP    945.296   117,76   ( 0,26)
Approved Investment
Companies                 CYP    142.561    91,68   (-1,04)
Insurance Companies           CYP     20.922    23,06   (-2,99)
Manufacturing Companies       CYP     67.991    68,43   ( 0,51)
Tourism Companies             CYP     34.304   121,80   (-1,78)
Trading Companies             CYP     85.688    21,84   ( 0,37)
Building and Cement Companies CYP     22.676    71,49   (-0,36)
Énformation Technology
Companies                 CYP     46.330     3,89   (-2,02)
Financial Services Companies  CYP    171.903    25,92   ( 2,21)
Fish Culture Companies        CYP        944    16,17   (-5,44)
Hotels                        CYP    104.551    51,92   (-0,97)
Other Companies               CYP    582.612    99,41   ( 0,84)

* The third column presents the percentage variation of

[08] Weather and Temperatures for Cyprus

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Weather and Temperatures for Cyprus

Nicosia, Nov 12 (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                  22          12          FAIR
Larnaca                  24          13          CLOUDY
Limassol                 25          14          FINE
Paphos                   23          14          FINE

[09] Germany hopes for progress on Cyprus soon

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Germany hopes for progress on Cyprus soon

Nicosia, Nov 12 (CNA) -- German Ambassador to Cyprus Jochen Trebesch expressed hope that progress towards a comprehensive settlement in Cyprus can be made in the next few days.

[10] European Commission welcomes UN plan for Cyprus settlement

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European Commission welcomes UN plan for Cyprus settlement

By Nicos Bellos

Brussels, Nov 12 (CNA) -- The European Commission and its President Romano Prodi, have welcomed the UN Secretary-Generals blueprint for a Cyprus settlement.

[11] Small vulture brings the two communities closer

1920:CYPPRESS:11

Small vulture brings the two communities closer

Nicosia, Nov 12 (CNA) Rapprochement between the two communities on the island received a new meaning when Turkish Cypriots delivered here Tuesday to Greek Cypriots a small vulture, which escaped the Forestry Department radars and ended up in the Turkish occupied town of Famagusta, east of the island.

The eight-month old bird, which is under the protection of the Forestry Department of the Ministry of Agriculture in the government controlled areas of the Republic, was exhausted after being lost for about a month now.

Its habitat was the cliffs of the Episkopi area in the western coastal town of Limassol. The small radar attached to its leg was lost and the vulture could not be located by Forestry Department radars only to be found by Turkish Cypriot birdwatchers who informed the United Nations in Cyprus.

[12] Cox says all stops must be pulled for a settlement before December

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Cox says all stops must be pulled for a settlement before December

Nicosia, Nov 12 (CNA) -- European Parliament President, Pat Cox, has said the UN plan for a Cyprus settlement is the best chance after decades of deadlock to reunify and enable a united Cyprus enter the European Union (EU), noting, however, that all the stops must be pulled to maximize the chances of a settlement before the Copenhagen European Council, in December.

Reacting to Mondays submission of the UN plan by representatives of the Secretary-General to Cyprus President Glafcos Clerides and Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash, Cox said the Annan peace plan is an historic and ground-breaking initiative and the SG has provided the people of Cyprus with a once-in-a-generation opportunity for a comprehensive settlement.

[13] US Ambassador urges two sides to seize opportunity for settlement

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US Ambassador urges two sides to seize opportunity for settlement

Nicosia, Nov 12 (CNA) US Ambassador in Nicosia, Michael Klosson, urged the two sides in Cyprus to study the UN settlement proposal carefully and to seize the opportunity for a comprehensive settlement.

In a statement on Mondays UN submission of the plan to Cyprus President Glafcos Clerides and Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash, Klosson said that time is short and encouraged the parties to work urgently with the UN Secretary General to achieve a settlement before the European Union makes its decisions on EU enlargement in December.

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