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

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

CONTENTS

[01] The US believes UN’s revised version should lead to rapid agreement on Cyprus

[02] Clerides: Accession and solution are two different issues

[03] UN envoy flies to Copenhagen

[04] Cyprus signs agreement to participate in EPF

[05] Clerides arrives in Copenhagen

[06] Weather and Temperatures for Cyprus

[07] Rolandis to pay official visit to Algeria

[08] Cyprus Stock Exchange

[09] Frattini assures of Italy’s support to Cyprus

[10] 'Critical time for Cyprus', party leaders say, NEO & Environmentalists stay home

[11] FCO describes ''rubbish'' reports that Cyprus will accede the EU in April

[12] Cyprus government condemns violence in Middle East

[01] The US believes UN’s revised version should lead to rapid agreement on Cyprus

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The US believes UNs revised version should lead to rapid agreement on Cyprus

by Demetris Apokis

Washington, Dec 11 (CNA) The US believes the UN Secretary Generals revised proposal on Cyprus should lead to a rapid agreement on Cyprus and that this proposal protects the legitimate interests of both Turkish Cypriots and Greek Cypriots as well as those of Greece and Turkey.

In a statement, US Deputy State Department Spokesman, Philip T. Reeker said we welcome the decision today by UN Secretary General Kofi Annan to submit a revised version of his November 11 comprehensive settlement proposal to the two sides on Cyprus.

[02] Clerides: Accession and solution are two different issues

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Clerides: Accession and solution are two different issues

Larnaca, Dec 11 (CNA) -- Cyprus' accession to the EU and the solution to the Cyprus problem are two different issues, Cyprus President Glafcos Clerides stated here today, on his departure for Copenhagen, where the EU leaders will take final decisions on the Union's enlargament, which includes Cyprus.

Invited to say whether under today's circumstances he will sign an agreement for a Cyprus settlement, President Clerides said that ''under today's circumstances if I listen to some fools then I shouldn't sign for a settlement. If I listen to others who think rationally I must think about it seriously.''

Asked if there will be a signing of UN Secretary General's revised blueprint for a Cyprus settlement by Saturday, Clerides said ''people are concerned with this question and I am concerned to''.

He replied negatively to a question whether he had taken a decision on this matter.

Answering another question Clerides expressed the belief that there is little room for amendments in the UN revised plan submitted to both sides yesterday, noting that this was an issue discussed during yesterday's meeting of the National Council (top advisory body to the President on the handling of the Cyprus issue).

Invited to say whether he could negotiate with a representative of the ailing Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash or he wanted to negotiate directly with Denktash, Clerides recalled that in the past he had voiced his opposition to negotiations with someone else apart from Denktash.

''I don't know if Denktash will designate a representative. And I don't know whether if he does I will designate a representative too,'' President Clerides said. He also noted that this was an issue also discussed by the National Council but refrained to elaborate.

Asked whether a solution to the Cyprus problem is linked with Cyprus' accession to the EU, President Clerides stressed that ''our position is that accession is a different issue and the settlement is a different issue.''

Invited to say if he will sign the UN plan if Cyprus' biggest party, the leftwing AKEL is against that, Clerides said he will take into consideration the opinions of all parties represented in the National Council and he will decide what will happen in the light of developments.

Clerides announced that he would meet tonight in Copenhagen with Greek Premier Costas Simitis.

The Cypriot President is flying to Copenhagen on a special Cyprus Airways flight. He is accompanied by Attorney General Alecos Markides, Government Spokesman Michalis Papapetrou, Undersecretary to the President Pantelis Kouros, AKEL's Secretary General Demetris Christofias, Democratic Rally President Nicos Anastasiades, Democratic Party President Tassos Papadopoulos, Socialdemocrats Movement President Yiannakis Omirou, Struggling Democratic Movement President Dinos Michaelides and Foreign Ministry officials.

The United Democrats President George Vassiliou was to fly today to Copenhagen from Brussels.

Two small parties, the New Horizons and the Ecologists-Environmentalists, with one seat in the 56-member House of Represntatives, have decided not to accompany President Clerides to Copenhagen.

[03] UN envoy flies to Copenhagen

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UN envoy flies to Copenhagen

Larnaca, Dec 11 (CNA) -- UN Secretary General's Special Adviser for Cyprus Alvaro De Soto left this morning for Copenhagen via Amsterdam.

Answering press questions at Larnaca Airport, De Soto did not rule out the possibility an agreement for a Cyprus settlement to be signed on the sidelines of the EU Copenhagen Summit to take place at the Danish capital December 12-13.

Invited to say whether the UN revised plan for a Cyprus settlement submitted yesterday to the Cyprus parties will be signed in Copenhagen, De Soto said: ''Well... Why not?''

Asked whether Kofi Annan will be in Copenhagen during the EU Summit, the UN envoy said ''there is no plan for the Secretary General to go to Copenhagen.''

Invited to say whether Annan will fly to Copenhagen later on, De Soto said: ''Well, at another moment if you ask me the same question you may get the same answer you may get another answer.''

[04] Cyprus signs agreement to participate in EPF

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Cyprus signs agreement to participate in EPF

Nicosia, Dec 11 (CNA) -- Four Cypriot policemen will be part of the European Police Force (EPF) in Bosnia Herzegovina.

[05] Clerides arrives in Copenhagen

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Clerides arrives in Copenhagen

by Maria Myles

Copenhagen, Dec 11 (CNA) -- Cyprus President Glafcos Clerides arrived today in Copenhagen, where the European Union leaders will meet to take final decisions on EU enlargement.

[06] Weather and Temperatures for Cyprus

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Weather and Temperatures for Cyprus

Nicosia, Dec 11 (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                  14           8          FAIR
Larnaca                  17          10          FAIR
Limassol                 18          11          FINE
Paphos                   17          12          FAIR

[07] Rolandis to pay official visit to Algeria

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Rolandis to pay official visit to Algeria

Nicosia, Dec 11 (CNA) -- Cyprus Commerce, Industry and Tourism Minister, Nicos Rolandis, leaves Thursday for Algeria for an official visit at the invitation of the countrys Minister of Energy Chakib Khelil.

[08] Cyprus Stock Exchange

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Cyprus Stock Exchange

Nicosia, Dec 11 (CNA) - The Cyprus Stock Exchange (CSE) All Share
Index closed at today's stock exchange meeting as follows:

CSE General Index                              113,92   ( 2,96)

Traded Value                  CYP  3.167.285

FTSE/CYSE 20                  CYP  1.712.569   457,80   ( 2,89)

Sectoral Indices

Banks                         CYP  1.085.579   131,56   ( 2,64)
Approved Investment
Companies                 CYP    253.726    96,01   ( 2,35)
Insurance Companies           CYP     17.837    25,49   ( 2,95)
Manufacturing Companies       CYP    144.317    70,12   ( 1,76)
Tourism Companies             CYP     25.061   121,24   (-0,02)
Trading Companies             CYP     59.031    22,17   ( 1,70)
Building and Cement Companies CYP     31.934    87,96   ( 7,33)
Énformation Technology
Companies                 CYP     42.453     4,33   ( 2,36)
Financial Services Companies  CYP    302.074    25,72   ( 5,84)
Fish Culture Companies        CYP      1.182    15,27   ( 4,45)
Hotels                        CYP    109.715    56,09   ( 2,92)
Other Companies               CYP    557.581   103,35   ( 2,39)

* The third column presents the percentage variation of

[09] Frattini assures of Italy’s support to Cyprus

Speaking after meeting Cyprus Foreign Minister Ioannis Kasoulides in Rome Wednesday, Frattini expressed satisfaction over the positive outcome of the negotiations between Cyprus and the European Union (EU). He also wished the Cyprus problem would be solved soon.

[10] 'Critical time for Cyprus', party leaders say, NEO & Environmentalists stay home

They acknowledge that the Turkish side has not changed its positions and it will be hard to secure a solution by Saturday, as the UN Secretary-Generals aim is, and stress that whatever happens, the island will proceed towards accession to the European Union.

At the same time the New Horizons and the Ecologists Environmentalists Movement which decided not to travel to Copenhagen, argue the Greek Cypriot side is ready to sign the Annan plan, which they oppose and criticized the National Council for not examining different scenarios.

Government Spokesman Michalis Papapetrou described as a critical point in the history of Cyprus the Copenhagen European Council, stressing however that pressure is being exerted on both sides for a Cyprus settlement and that the Greek Cypriot political party leaders should have the courage to take difficult decisions, if necessary.

Replying to questions before the Cypriot entourages departure to Copenhagen, Papapetrou said the decisions that will be taken there will be a milestone which will seal our big effort for accession to the EU and will bring the efforts for a solution to the Cyprus problem to a critical course.

Asked about the possibility that Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash will not be the representative of the Turkish Cypriot side, Papapetrou said, this is a theoretical matter. If we do anything, the spokesman said, we will do it with a representative of the Turkish Cypriots.

Attorney-General Alecos Markides said it is still uncertain which is the position of the Turkish side on the Annan plan and how it will develop during the Copenhagen summit.

Asked if he believes the Turkish side will comply with the Annan plan in the end, knowing the negative stance of Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash, Markides said, if Turkeys position changes towards a solution, then there will be developments. If not, he added, we are heading for accession as we are.

Leftwing AKEL General Secretary Demetris Christofias said we do not consider that we are obliged just because some people want here and now a solution to be signed, to say yes, we will sign a solution.

Invited to say whether AKEL has a position on the revised text of the UN Secretary-General, Christofias said the partys Central Committee and the Pancyprian Assembly would decide the position.

Right-wing Democratic Rally (DISY) leader, Nicos Anastasiades, said there are points which require negotiation and improvement and if something like this happens, he would not hesitate to suggest to President Clerides to sign it.

The partys political bureau will convene to examine the revised plan, Anastasiades said, adding that he will have the chance to meet Greek New Democracy leader, Costas Karamanlis during the European Popular Party meeting which will take place on the sidelines of the Copenhagen European Council.

Democratic Party (DIKO) chairman and presidential candidate, Tassos Papadopoulos, believes that neither the philosophy, nor the fundamental provisions of the revised Annan plan have changed, adding that the plan, as it has been altered by Annan, cannot be signed by Saturday.

President Clerides will assess all factors and will take the decisions during the hour of crisis, he added.

Social Democrats Movement (KISOS) leader and presidential candidate, Yiannakis Omirou said his movements position, that the Annan plan requires re-negotiation, remains unaltered and cannot be signed by the Greek Cypriot side as it is.

Omirou said there was no time for negotiation, because of the delaying tactics which the Turkish side followed continuously wasting time.

Fighting Democratic Movement (ADIK) leader, Dinos Michaelides said the reason his movement is accompanying Clerides to Copenhagen is to advise the President of the Republic, if the need arises, to accept or reject the UN Secretary-Generals revised plan for a Cyprus settlement.

Michaelides said the points in the Annan plan, which have been, revised are not the significant ones, the ones which we pursued.

He said the position, which the Greek Cypriot side supports, is for other amendments and more time for negotiation.

Meanwhile, the two parties that take part in the National Council and opted not to travel to Copenhagen maintained that the Greek Cypriot side is ready to sign the Annan plan and they do not want to become accomplices to the extinction of the Republic of Cyprus.

In a statement, New Horizons (NEO) said they disagreed from the start and continue to oppose the contents of the solution proposed by the Secretary-General, as well as the coercive procedure placed before us.

Therefore, the New Horizons presence in Copenhagen would serve no purpose and party members do not wish to become accomplices in the extinction of the Republic of Cyprus and the burying of the expectations of the Cypriot Hellenism.

The General Secretary of the Ecologists-Environmentalists Movement, George Perdikis maintained the Greek Cypriot side went to Copenhagen to sign the Annan plan and that President of the Republic Glafcos Clerides is traveling with his signature on paper.

[11] FCO describes ''rubbish'' reports that Cyprus will accede the EU in April

[12] Cyprus government condemns violence in Middle East

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