Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 02-12-04

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

CONTENTS

[01] Grossman arrives in Cyprus

[02] Eckhard: Hard work will follow both sides' responses

[03] Cyprus concludes accession negotiations

[04] US: There is ''historic opportunity'' for Cyprus settlement

[05] Grossman: First commit to Annan's vision and then negotiate

[06] UN hope for replies by tomorrow on changes to solution plan

[07] Cyprus calls for maximum restraint in Middle East

[08] Weather and Temperatures for Cyprus

[09] Yiannitsis: solution can be achieved in Cyprus if there is political will

[10] Cyprus and Slovenia sign agreement on drug trafficking, crime, terrorism

[11] Cyprus Stock Exchange

[12] Denktash back in hospital

[13] Cyprus and Slovenia sign agreement on drug trafficking, crime, terrorism

[14] Yiannitsis: solution can be achieved in Cyprus if there is political will

[15] Sound & Vision 2002 Exhibition opens

[01] Grossman arrives in Cyprus

0910:CYPPRESS:01

Grossman arrives in Cyprus

Nicosia, Dec 4 (CNA) -- US Undersecretary of State for Political Affairs Marc Grossman arrived in Cyprus this morning. He is scheduled to meet later this morning Cyprus President Glafcos Clerides.

Grossman, accompanied by other State Department officials, flew from Ankara to Cyprus. A US embassy spokesman declined to reveal the airport the plane carrying the US official landed.

[02] Eckhard: Hard work will follow both sides' responses

0915:CYPPRESS:02

Eckhard: Hard work will follow both sides' responses

By Apostolis Zoupaniotis

United Nations, Dec 4 (CNA) -- Once both sides in Cyprus hand over to the UN their comments on the points of the UN Secretary General's solution blueprint they would like to see changed, the UN will analyse the changes they would like to make and most likely then communicate with the two sides sequentially, back and forth, with a view to reduce the differences and get agreement on a single text, Kofi Annan's spokesman Fred Eckhard said here yesterday.

[03] Cyprus concludes accession negotiations

1025:CYPPRESS:03

Cyprus concludes accession negotiations

by Nicos Bellos

Brussels, Dec 4 (CNA) -- Cyprus is the first of the EU candidate countries to have concluded accession negotiations, after an agreement reached regarding the chapter Budgetary and other Financial Provisions.

Cyprus Chief Negotiator with the EU George Vassiliou had yesterday all day discussions with the EU Danish Presidency and the European Commission that wrapped up when they reached an overall agreement.

[04] US: There is ''historic opportunity'' for Cyprus settlement

1030:CYPPRESS:04

US: There is ''historic opportunity'' for Cyprus settlement

by Demetris Apokis

Washington, Dec 4 (CNA) --The US believes there is ''an important, historic opportunity'' for a settlement of the long-standing Cyprus problem, US State Department Deputy Spokesman Philip Reeker said here yesterday.

[05] Grossman: First commit to Annan's vision and then negotiate

1300:CYPPRESS:05

Grossman: First commit to Annan's vision and then negotiate

Nicosia, Dec 4 (CNA) -- US Undersecretary of State for Political Affairs Marc Grossman expressed here today the belief that there is a ''historical opportunity'' for a Cyprus settlement and called on both sides on the island, as well as on the governments of Turkey and Greece, to ''seize it.''

Grossman, who was received this morning by Cyprus President Glafcos Clerides, said afterwards that he did not think ''anyone believes that the sun will come up'' on the 13th of December, when the EU summit in Copenhagen ends.

''What we are trying to say is there is a possibility to get going here and make rapid progress,'' he said.

[06] UN hope for replies by tomorrow on changes to solution plan

1415:CYPPRESS:06

UN hope for replies by tomorrow on changes to solution plan

Nicosia, Dec 4 (CNA) -- The UN hope that they will receive replies by tomorrow at the latest from the Greek Cypriot and the Turkish Cypriot sides, to a letter sent by UN Secretary General Kofi Annan last week requesting the points they wished changed in a Cyprus solution plan submitted by the UN chief on November 11.

Speaking after a meeting with Cyprus President Glafcos Clerides, the UN Secretary General's Special Adviser on Cyprus Alvaro de Soto said his course of action thereafter would depend on the content of the replies.

The Peruvian diplomat said that although he was ''tired'', he still had ''the necessary energy to do what I can to help the two sides to come to terms as soon as possible''.

He expressed hope he would soon have the replies of the two sides and, asked to define ''soon'', de Soto said ''I would say today or tomorrow at the latest''.

[07] Cyprus calls for maximum restraint in Middle East

1415:CYPPRESS:07

Cyprus calls for maximum restraint in Middle East

By Apostolis Zoupaniotis

United Nations, Dec 4 (CNA) -- Cyprus Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Sotos Zackheos, has urged for maximum restraint in the Middle East, stressing that the forces of moderation should be strengthened and the extremists from all sides be isolated.

[08] Weather and Temperatures for Cyprus

1445:CYPPRESS:08

Weather and Temperatures for Cyprus

Nicosia, Dec 4 (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                  21          10          FAIR
Larnaca                  22          13          FINE
Limassol                 24          17          FAIR
Paphos                   22          14          FAIR

[09] Yiannitsis: solution can be achieved in Cyprus if there is political will

He was speaking in London during a press conference after he and Greek National Finance Minister, Nicos Christodoulakis addressed a seminar organised by the British-American Chamber of Commerce and Industry on Greece Centre in south-eastern Europe.

[10] Cyprus and Slovenia sign agreement on drug trafficking, crime, terrorism

The agreement was signed between Justice and Public Order Minister, Alecos Shambos and Slovenian Interior Minister, Rado Bohic.

In statements, Shambos described the agreement as very important noting it strengthens our bilateral cooperation especially during this period when Cyprus and Slovenia are at the end of our long march, which leads to Brussels.

Shambos said drug trafficking, terrorism and crime are issues which concern not only the two countries but also the international community which has established a very effective system based on a network of agreements in this respect.

We have international and European obligations, he said, adding that Cyprus and Slovenia now have specific bilateral obligations.

On his part, Bohic said the agreement obliges both sides to cooperate in combating crime, terrorism and narcotics.

[11] Cyprus Stock Exchange

1820:CYPPRESS:11

Cyprus Stock Exchange

Nicosia, Dec 4(CNA) - The Cyprus Stock Exchange (CSE) All Share
Index closed at today's stock exchange meeting as follows:

CSE General Index                              109,57   (2,86)

Traded Value                  CYP  2.265.054

FTSE/CYSE 20                  CYP  1.249.512   440,82   ( 2,80)

Sectoral Indices

Banks                         CYP    949.616   127,25   ( 3,42)
Approved Investment
Companies                 CYP    122.254    92,07   ( 1,47)
Insurance Companies           CYP     15.830    24,40   ( 3,13)
Manufacturing Companies       CYP     36.633    68,17   ( 1,23)
Tourism Companies             CYP      4.886   120,71   ( 0,48)
Trading Companies             CYP     34.652    21,82   ( 1,25)
Building and Cement Companies CYP     23.199    77,95   ( 3,81)
Énformation Technology
Companies                 CYP     28.042     4,15   ( 3,49)
Financial Services Companies  CYP    186.285    25,09   ( 5,78)
Fish Culture Companies        CYP        207    14,54   (-0,95)
Hotels                        CYP     61.084    53,62   ( 2,15)
Other Companies               CYP    345.115    99,71   ( 2,09)

* The third column presents the percentage variation of

[12] Denktash back in hospital

Denktash, who was released on November 28 after a 12-day stay following high fever, was expected to deliver his reply to UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan over his request last week for both sides to submit the points they wished changed in a Cyprus solution plan submitted by the UN chief on November 11.

In statements to Turkish reporters, Denktash said his admission to hospital is related to further tests for the fluid that keeps accumulating in his lungs. He said he was not sure how serious the problem is.

Asked when he will return to Cyprus, Denktash said he originally intended to return on Friday but he is not sure now, noting this will depend on his doctors.

To a question whether he will give his reply to Kofi Annans second letter of November 25, Denktash said he was not sure when he would do that.

[13] Cyprus and Slovenia sign agreement on drug trafficking, crime, terrorism

The agreement was signed between Justice and Public Order Minister, Alecos Shambos and Slovenian Interior Minister, Rado Bohic.

In statements, Shambos described the agreement as very important noting it strengthens our bilateral cooperation especially during this period when Cyprus and Slovenia are at the end of our long march, which leads to Brussels.

Shambos said drug trafficking, terrorism and crime are issues which concern not only the two countries but also the international community which has established a very effective system based on a network of agreements in this respect.

We have international and European obligations, he said, adding that Cyprus and Slovenia now have specific bilateral obligations.

On his part, Bohic said the agreement obliges both sides to cooperate in combating crime, terrorism and narcotics.

[14] Yiannitsis: solution can be achieved in Cyprus if there is political will

He was speaking in London during a press conference after he and Greek Finance Minister, Nicos Christodoulakis addressed a seminar organised by the British-American Chamber of Commerce and Industry on Greece Centre in south-eastern Europe.

[15] Sound & Vision 2002 Exhibition opens

The minister made the statement during the opening of the five-day exhibition on Sound and Vision in Nicosia on the latest developments in the technology and design of optico-acoustic products.

He also said the biennial exhibition covers a variety of products from the international industry of optico-acoustic products.

Chairman of the Cyprus Fairs Authority Iacovos Demetriou said the exhibition is targeted to satisfy professional visitors, music lovers and friends of home cinema and digital technology.

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