Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 03-01-23

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

CONTENTS

[01] Cyprus Stock Exchange

[02] Two sides agree on flag and anthem competition

[03] Weather forecast for Cyprus

[04] Weather and Temperatures for Cyprus

[05] Clerides clears mist over interview with Turkish daily

[06] Kasoulides sees differences between Turkey and Denktash

[07] US does not interfere in Cyprus' domestic affairs

[08] Verheugen proposes donors' conference to support settlement

[09] Lord Hannay to pay three-day visit to Cyprus

[10] Verheugen says Cyprus full EU member next year

[11] Maurer says Cyprus top performer among candidates

[01] Cyprus Stock Exchange

1350:CYPPRESS:01

Cyprus Stock Exchange

Nicosia, Jan 23 (CNA) - The Cyprus Stock Exchange (CSE) All Share
Index closed at today's stock exchange meeting as follows:

CSE General Index                               93,61   (-0,71)

Traded Value                  CYP    266.468

FTSE/CYSE 20                  CYP    111.119   367,44   (-1,08)

Sectoral Indices

Banks                         CYP     90.843   106,07   (-1,18)
Approved Investment
Companies                 CYP      4.208    81,63   ( 0,63)
Insurance Companies           CYP      3.900    20,30   ( 1,96)
Manufacturing Companies       CYP     17.771    63,68   ( 0,47)
Tourism Companies             CYP      4.157   103,95   ( 1,53)
Trading Companies             CYP      2.357    19,33   ( 0,21)
Building and Cement Companies CYP     25.494    72,64   (-2,06)
Énformation Technology
Companies                 CYP      4.770     3,23   (-0,31)
Financial Services Companies  CYP     12.284    18,78   (-0,95)
Fish Culture Companies        CYP          0    14,59   ( 0,41)
Hotels                        CYP      4.449    46,67   (-0,30)
Other Companies               CYP     39.377    85,52   (-0,62)

* The third column presents the percentage variation of

[02] Two sides agree on flag and anthem competition

1405:CYPPRESS:02

Two sides agree on flag and anthem competition

Nicosia, Jan 23 (CNA) - The two sides in Cyprus have agreed to authorise the United Nations to seek submissions on a flag and anthem for Cyprus competition, the details of which will soon be announced.

A statement by the UN Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP) says the UN were authorised by the leaders of the two communities, Glafcos Clerides and Rauf Denktash, during their meeting yesterday in the context of UN-led talks to solve the Cyprus problem.

[03] Weather forecast for Cyprus

1410:CYPPRESS:03

Weather forecast for Cyprus

Nicosia, Jan 23 (CNA) - The Meteorological Office at Larnaca International Airport has issued the following weather forecast for Cyprus:

Friday and Saturday: 24/01/2003 to 25/01/2003 -------------------- The weather will be generally mainly cloudy, with local showers, and mist patches during night time. The wind will prevail southeast to southwest moderate 3 locally 4 bf during day time and mainly northerly 2 to 3 bf during night time. The state of sea will be slight to moderate.

The minimum temperature will range from 2 degrees over the mountains to 7 degrees inland and to 10 over the coastal areas. The maximum temperature will range from 7 degrees over the mountains to 15 inland and to 17 over the coastal areas.

Outlook for Sunday and Monday: 26/01/2003 to 27/01/2003

The weather will be unstable with thundery showers and the temperature is expected to note a small rise.

[04] Weather and Temperatures for Cyprus

1445:CYPPRESS:04

Weather and Temperatures for Cyprus

Nicosia, Jan 23 (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                 16           9          CLOUDY
Larnaca                 18          11          CLOUDY
Limassol                20          10          CLOUDY
Paphos                  19          10          CLOUDY

[05] Clerides clears mist over interview with Turkish daily

1545:CYPPRESS:05

Clerides clears mist over interview with Turkish daily

Nicosia, Jan 23 (CNA) - President of the Republic Glafcos Clerides today clarified all speculations around his interview with Turkish daily ''Hurriyet'', saying what he told the newspaper was that ''it is not proper in the middle of a negotiation to change the team of negotiators''.

''Hurriyet'' had reported that President Clerides said he preferred Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash to remain the negotiator of the Turkish Cypriot side in UN-led talks underway to solve the Cyprus problem.

President Clerides said today that if the negotiating team changed, then ''instead of moving forward to solve the Cyprus problem, will be going backwards'', because the new negotiator may have different views and ''we will start all over again''.

''As Denktash remains the negotiator, I have no right to say that he has to leave'', the President said, adding that ''you cannot sit and negotiate with a person and tell him that you do not want him, this is common sense''.

He added that if the Turkish side decided to change its negotiator, then ''we will accept this''.

[06] Kasoulides sees differences between Turkey and Denktash

1650:CYPPRESS:06

Kasoulides sees differences between Turkey and Denktash

Nicosia, Jan 23 (CNA) - Minister of Foreign Affairs Ioannis Kasoulides said today that the new Turkish government still has differences with Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash, who it believes is not irreplaceable.

Commenting on a recent statement by his Turkish counterpart Yassar Yakis to ''Turkish Daily News'', Kasoulides said it was ''crystal clear regarding the fact that if Denktash is not prepared to sign a Cyprus settlement then he is not irreplaceable and someone else will take over and sign it''.

[07] US does not interfere in Cyprus' domestic affairs

1740:CYPPRESS:07

US does not interfere in Cyprus' domestic affairs

Nicosia, Jan 23 (CNA) - The United States neither interferes in the presidential elections in Cyprus nor advocates one candidate over another, Public Affairs Officer of the US Embassy in Nicosia Craig Kuehl told CNA, adding that the US respects the right of the Cypriot people to choose their President ''without outside interference''.

Invited to comment on an interview Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash gave to Turkish daily ''Hurriyet'', in which he said that the US does not want to see Democratic Party President Tassos Papadopoulos elected President of the Republic, Kuehl said ''we do not comment on or endorse presidential candidates''.

[08] Verheugen proposes donors' conference to support settlement

1820:CYPPRESS:08

Verheugen proposes donors' conference to support settlement

by Nicos Bellos

Brussels, Jan 23 (CNA) - European Commissioner on Enlargement Gunter Verheugen today proposed, with the full backing of Commission President Romano Prodi, a donors' conference to financially support a Cyprus settlement.

Addressing the European Parliament Committee for External Relations, Verheugen expressed the readiness of the European Commission to organise an international donor conference to provide financial support in the context of a comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus question.

Verheugen said that ''in this crucial phase of the UN negotiations aiming to reach a settlement in Cyprus, the international community should express solidarity'', noting that this meant ''it should be ready to support the cost linked to a political solution and the reconciliation of the two communities in Cyprus''.

[09] Lord Hannay to pay three-day visit to Cyprus

1830:CYPPRESS:09

Lord Hannay to pay three-day visit to Cyprus

Nicosia, Jan 23 (CNA) -- Britains representative for Cyprus Lord David Hannay arrives here Saturday for a three-day visit, during which he will have talks with Cyprus President Glafcos Clerides and Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash.

Lord Hannay is scheduled to have a working breakfast with the President on Monday morning, followed by a meeting with Foreign Minister Ioannis Kasoulides.

On Monday morning Hannay will also see House President Demetris Christofias and later on the same day Denktash, in the Turkish occupied part of Nicosia.

The British diplomat will also meet Turkish Cypriot party leaders and Denktashs adviser at the UN peace talks Ergun Olgun.

[10] Verheugen says Cyprus full EU member next year

1840:CYPPRESS:10

Verheugen says Cyprus full EU member next year

by Nicos Bellos

Brussels, Jan 23 (CNA) - European Commissioner on Enlargement Gunter Verheugen reassured today that Cyprus would become a full member of the EU on May 1, 2004, irrespective of whether there was a solution to the Cyprus problem or not.

Addressing the European Parliament Committee for External Relations, Verheugen said the Commission totally agrees with a call from UN Secretary General Kofi Annan to the Turkish Cypriot leader to hear the voice of the people, noting that no one could punish the Turkish Cypriots for the absence of a settlement.

He added that the EU fully supports the UN chief's efforts to reunite the island before the voting of the Accession Treaty by the European Parliament. Verheugen said the UN's February 28 target date for a solution was endorsed in Copenhagen last month, so that a reunited Cyprus could sign the Accession Treaty in Athens on April 16, 2003.

Referring to the Turkish Cypriots, Verheugen said the EU is willing to help them and that a second package is being prepared for the areas of the Republic under Turkish occupation, in order to give that part of the island an economic boost and promote the application of the acquis communautaire.

He added that the recent demonstrations in the Turkish occupied areas of Cyprus indicate that the Turkish Cypriots want to join the EU. Verheugen expressed hope that the Turkish Cypriots would constructively participate in the peace process, so that the Cyprus problem could be solved.

Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third.

CNA/NB/RG/ÌÊ/2003

[11] Maurer says Cyprus top performer among candidates

1955:CYPPRESS:11

Maurer says Cyprus top performer among candidates

Nicosia, Jan 23 (CNA) - EU Chief Negotiator with Cyprus Leopold Maurer said today that Cyprus has ''a very good performance, probably one of the best of all the candidate countries'' regarding harmonisation and applying the acquis communautaire. He noted, however, some delays in the fields of energy, electricity, the free movement of goods, and telecommunications.

Speaking during a joint press conference with Cyprus' Chief Negotiator with the EU George Vassiliou, Maurer said the island's excellent performance had to do with it being ''the richest of the candidate countries'' and having already established democratic principles, transparency which makes it easier to take decisions, and a sound administrative system.

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