Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 03-02-24

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

CONTENTS

[01] (Ê) Papadopoulos holds discussions in Athens on UN proposals

[02] Annan: defining moment for Cyprus

[03] US envoy meets Turkish officials

[04] Cyprus Stock Exchange

[05] Britain proposes Bases area for Cyprus settlement (1)

[06] Weather forecast for Cyprus

[07] FCO says British offer does not affect sovereignty of SBAs

[08] Simitis: almost non-existent prospects for Cyprus solution

[09] Kaklamanis assures of Greek Parliament’s support

[10] Weather and Temperatures for Cyprus

[11] Papadopoulos says UN memorandum can be negotiated

[12] Lord Hannay sees momentous week ahead for Cyprus

[13] Kasoulides says Britain may give up part of Bases

[14] UN memorandum ''preamble'' of new revised plan

[15] National Council to convene on Wednesday, says Spokesman

[16] Turkish Cypriots rally for peace

[17] Britain's offer on Bases indicates seriousness about solution

[18] Papadopoulos says settlement impossible by Friday

[19] Cox urges sides to give-and-take on Annan plan

[20] Annan believes solution possible if sides willing

[01] (Ê) Papadopoulos holds discussions in Athens on UN proposals

0845:CYPPRESS:01

Papadopoulos holds discussions in Athens on UN proposals

by Maria Myles

Athens, Feb 24 (CNA) -- Cyprus President-elect Tassos Papadopoulos has said that a memorandum which the UN have communicated to him has nothing to do with a revised UN proposal for a comprehensive solution to the protracted Cyprus problem.

Speaking at Athens Plaza hotel, where he arrived last night at the start of a three-day working visit, Papadopoulos indicated he was not aware of any improved proposals, adding that he will see proposals when they are submitted, if they are submitted.

[02] Annan: defining moment for Cyprus

0855:CYPPRESS:02

Annan: defining moment for Cyprus

Ankara, Feb 24 (CNA) -- UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan said on Sunday that Cyprus was the question uppermost in his mind, stressing that the efforts to solve the Cyprus problem had reached a high point, and that this was the defining moment for the island.

[03] US envoy meets Turkish officials

1055:CYPPRESS:03

US envoy meets Turkish officials

Ankara, Feb 24 (CNA) -- US State Department Coordinator for Cyprus Thomas Weston arrived in Ankara, as diplomatic activity continues intensely due to UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan's visit to the region, in a bid to make headway towards a negotiated settlement and possibly meet the deadline of 28 February for a solution.

[04] Cyprus Stock Exchange

1340:CYPPRESS:04

Cyprus Stock Exchange

Nicosia, Feb 24 (CNA) - The Cyprus Stock Exchange (CSE) All Share
Index closed at today's stock exchange meeting as follows:

CSE General Index                               89,11   (-0,99)

Traded Value                  CYP    577.941

FTSE/CYSE 20                  CYP    234.100   348,33   (-1,60)

Sectoral Indices

Banks                         CYP    194.081   100,84   (-1,62)
Approved Investment
Companies                 CYP     13.860    76,24   (-1,09)
Insurance Companies           CYP        403    18,53   (-1,85)
Manufacturing Companies       CYP      9.067    61,39   (-0,41)
Tourism Companies             CYP      6.107    92,98   (-0,95)
Trading Companies             CYP     10.397    18,43   (-1,02)
Building and Cement Companies CYP     20.188    73,10   ( 1,30)
Énformation Technology
Companies                 CYP      5.176     3,12   (-1,27)
Financial Services Companies  CYP     14.766    17,01   (-0,82)
Fish Culture Companies        CYP        158    12,84   ( 2,64)
Hotels                        CYP      5.997    45,22   ( 0,22)
Other Companies               CYP     61.615    80,82   (-1,29)

* The third column presents the percentage variation of

[05] Britain proposes Bases area for Cyprus settlement (1)

1350:CYPPRESS:05

Britain proposes Bases area for Cyprus settlement

London, Feb 24 (CNA) -- The Foreign and Commonwealth Office and British envoy for Cyprus, Lord David Hannay, confirmed today reports that Britain is ready to grant an area of 45 square miles regarding its two sovereign bases on the island, as a contribution towards a solution to the Cyprus problem.

A Foreign Office Spokesman told CNA that the proposal is included in a revised plan the UN Secretary-General is expected to table for a compehensive Cyprus settlement.

According to the Spokesman, the British proposal will be valid only if both sides agree to the Annan proposals as a whole.

[06] Weather forecast for Cyprus

1405:CYPPRESS:06

Weather forecast for Cyprus

Nicosia, Feb 24 (CNA) - The Meteorological Office at Larnaca International Airport has issued the following weather forecast for Cyprus:

Cloudy skies are expected on Tuesday (February 25) and Wednesday (February 26), with snow over the mountains and sleet towards the planes. Weather conditions are expected to begin improving on Wednesday. Winds will be westerly to northeasterly, 3 to 4 beaufort. Temperatures will range from 4 to 9 degrees Celsius inland, 7 to 11 degrees along the coast and minus 4 to zero degrees over the mountains.

[07] FCO says British offer does not affect sovereignty of SBAs

1420:CYPPRESS:07

FCO says British offer does not affect sovereignty of SBAs

By Kyriacos Tsioupras

London, Feb 24 (CNA) -- The UK has agreed to cede part of the Sovereign Base Areas consisting of 45 square miles, equal to just under half of the total of the SBA, a Foreign Office and Commonwealth (FCO) Spokesman said here Monday.

Asked by CNA, the spokesman replied that the offer is included in the third part of the revised Annan plan and will be valid only if both sides (Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot) agree to the UN proposals.

[08] Simitis: almost non-existent prospects for Cyprus solution

1430:CYPPRESS:08

Simitis: almost non-existent prospects for Cyprus solution

By Maria Myles

Athens, Feb 24 (CNA) -- Greek Prime Minister, Costas Simitis, said prospects for a Cyprus settlement within the timeframe set by the UN Secretary-General are limited, almost non-existent.

Speaking at a joint press conference here Monday with newly-elected Cyprus President, Tassos Papadopoulos, Simitis said the initiative on all issues remains with the Greek Cypriot side and it leads developments, with Greece standing by.

On his part, Papadopoulos described their meeting as very substantial and useful, and referred to common ideas and planning.

He said, we must make use of the opportunity for a settlement, noting the memorandum submitted by the UN would be further examined and negotiated.

Simitis said the main purpose of the Athens meeting was the coordination of movements and pursuing the common goals which the two countries have set.

[09] Kaklamanis assures of Greek Parliament’s support

1450:CYPPRESS:09

Kaklamanis assures of Greek Parliaments support

By Maria Myles

Athens, Feb 24 (CNA) -- Speaker of the Greek Parliament, Apostolos Kaklamanis, assured newly-elected Cyprus President, Tassos Papadopoulos, here Monday that the Greek Parliament will stand by the new leadership of the Cyprus Republic.

[10] Weather and Temperatures for Cyprus

1515:CYPPRESS:10

Weather and Temperatures for Cyprus

Nicosia, Feb 24 (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                 5             4         RAIN
Larnaca                 9             6         CLOUDY
Limassol                9             6         RAIN
Paphos                  9             5         RAIN

[11] Papadopoulos says UN memorandum can be negotiated

1630:CYPPRESS:11

Papadopoulos says UN memorandum can be negotiated

by Maria Myles

Athens, Feb 24 (CNA) -- President-elect of Cyprus Tassos Papadopoulos believes that a UN memorandum, on points made during his recent discussions in the context of the UN-led peace talks, can be negotiated further and said that he has had a ''very substantive and very useful'' meeting here in Athens with Greek Prime Minister Costas Simitis with whom he discussed the memorandum.

Simitis expressed the view that there is very little, if any, room to achieve a negotiated settlement in Cyprus within the time framework as this has been defined, which calls for an agreement by the end of February, a referendum on the agreement by the end of March and the signing by a united Cyprus of the country's accession treaty in April.

The Greek Prime Minister assured that there are no problems with regard to Cyprus' accession course for full EU membership and said he would ask UN Secretary General Kofi Annan to secure the cooperation of Turkey and the Turkish Cypriot side in reaching the solution that is being sought.

[12] Lord Hannay sees momentous week ahead for Cyprus

1640:CYPPRESS:12

Lord Hannay sees momentous week ahead for Cyprus

Nicosia, Feb 24 (CNA) - Britain's Special Representative for Cyprus, Lord David Hannay, said the offer made by his country regarding the British Bases on the island has the full support of the British government but did not wish to go into details.

He added that this was a ''very momentous week for Cyprus'', during which important decisions would be taken, either positively or negatively or by default.

Speaking after meeting the British envoy, House of Representatives President Demetris Christofias said a solution should be acceptable by all so that the end result would be placed before the people in a referendum, which will be positive for the Greek Cypriot side.

[13] Kasoulides says Britain may give up part of Bases

1715:CYPPRESS:13

Kasoulides says Britain may give up part of Bases

Nicosia, Feb 24 (CNA) - Cypriot Minister of Foreign Affairs Ioannis Kasoulides said it appears that Britain may be willing to give up part of its British Bases on the island to facilitate efforts for a Cyprus settlement.

Britain has retained two military bases (Dhekelia and Akrotiri) in Cyprus since 1960 when the island obtained its independence from British colonial rule.

[14] UN memorandum ''preamble'' of new revised plan

1725:CYPPRESS:14

UN memorandum ''preamble'' of new revised plan

by Maria Myles

Athens, Feb 24 (CNA) - A UN memorandum, handed to Cyprus' President elect Tassos Papadopoulos on Sunday in connection with the current peace talks, should be seen as a ''preamble'' to the presentation to the Greek Cypriot and the Turkish Cypriot sides of a new revised UN proposal, according to diplomatic sources.

They told CNA that the Turkish Cypriot side has also been given a similar document by the UN, which outlines its own positions as these were formulated in the past ten days or so during discussions the Turkish Cypriot side has had with the UN Secretary General's Special Adviser on Cyprus Alvaro de Soto.

The documents communicated to the two sides on Sunday were described by UN sources as ''compatible'' and of much the same length, over a couple of pages.

[15] National Council to convene on Wednesday, says Spokesman

1745:CYPPRESS:15

National Council to convene on Wednesday, says Spokesman

Nicosia, Feb 24 (CNA) - The National Council will convene on Wednesday because of developments on the Cyprus problem, Government Spokesman Michalis Papapetrou said here today.

Commenting on the optimism expressed in Ankara by UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan that the Cyprus problem can be solved by the end of the month, Papapetrou said he did not doubt ''the international community is hoping for a change in the Turkish stance at the last moment''.

He said outgoing President Glafcos Clerides ''is present at developments on Cyprus'', without clarifying whether Clerides will attend the meeting between UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan and newly-elected President Tassos Papadopoulos later this week.

[16] Turkish Cypriots rally for peace

1840:CYPPRESS:16

Turkish Cypriots rally for peace

Nicosia, Feb 24 (CNA) - Turkish Cypriots will stage a rally on Thursday in the Turkish occupied areas of the Republic for a solution to the Cyprus problem, based on the UN Secretary-General's plan for a comprehensive settlement.

According to Turkish Cypriot press reports, the rally, which coincides with the UN chief's visit to the island, will be held in the occupied part of Nicosia at 1100 local time (0900 GMT) and all shops and businesses will be closed.

Meanwhile, peace lovers continue to light symbolic ''Fires of peace'' in various villages in the Turkish occupied areas, calling for the island's reunification and accession to the European Union.

[17] Britain's offer on Bases indicates seriousness about solution

1935:CYPPRESS:17

Britain's offer on Bases indicates seriousness about solution

by Maria Myles

Athens, Feb 24 (CNA) - Britain's offer to hand over 46 per cent of the total territory of its military Bases in Cyprus to the two communities on the island shows the seriousness with which London regards a political settlement in Cyprus within the timetable set out by the UN, a British diplomat has said.

[18] Papadopoulos says settlement impossible by Friday

2005:CYPPRESS:18

Papadopoulos says settlement impossible by Friday

by Costas Iordanides

Athens, Feb 24 (CNA) - Newly elected President of the Republic Tassos Papadopoulos said there is convergence of views with Greek Prime Minister Costas Simitis that the timeframe for a Cyprus solution by February 28 cannot be met.

''I share the Prime Minister's view, judging from Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash's stance so far'', that a solution cannot be found by the end of the month, a target date set by UN chief Kofi Annan, Papadopoulos said in a press conference for the foreign press in Athens.

[19] Cox urges sides to give-and-take on Annan plan

2010:CYPPRESS:19

Cox urges sides to give-and-take on Annan plan

Nicosia, Feb 24 (CNA) - President of the European Parliament Pat Cox has urged the two sides in Cyprus, in a spirit of give-and-take within the parameters of the Annan plan, to seize the opportunity for reconciliation and lasting peace.

''On the eve of the visit of the Secretary-General of the UN, Mr. Kofi Annan, to Cyprus, and in the context of the convincing electoral victory of President-elect Tassos Papadopoulos, whom I warmly congratulated on election-night, I would urge all the authorities on the island of Cyprus, in a spirit of give-and-take within the parameters of the Annan Plan, to seize this opportunity for reconciliation and lasting peace'', Cox says in a statement.

[20] Annan believes solution possible if sides willing

2035:CYPPRESS:20

Annan believes solution possible if sides willing

by Apostolis Zoupaniotis

United Nations, Feb 24 (CNA) -- UN Secretary General Kofi Annan believes a solution to the Cyprus problem could be reached by the end of the month, ''if the will is there'', and will be giving the interested parties a fresh document in the next day or so, his Spokesman Fred Eckhard said today.

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