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

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

CONTENTS

[01] Weather forecast for Cyprus

[02] Cyprus Stock Exchange

[03] CSE Chairman announces resignation

[04] Weather and Temperatures for Cyprus

[05] Spokesman says Turkey presenting conflicting policy

[06] Turkish Cypriots to intensify mobilisations

[07] Rothe hopes united Cyprus will join EU

[08] New Ministers take over portfolios

[01] Weather forecast for Cyprus

1415:CYPPRESS:01

Weather forecast for Cyprus

Nicosia, Mar 3 (CNA) - The Meteorological Office at Larnaca International Airport has issued the following weather forecast for Cyprus:

On Tuesday (March 4) and Wednesday (March 5), the weather will be unsettled with rain and thunderstorms. Winds will be mostly southeasterly fresh over moderate seas. Temperatures will range from 5 degrees Celsius to 14 degrees inland and from 7 to 17 degrees along the coast.

On Thursday (March 6), the weather will continue to be unsettled but on Friday (March 7) it will be mostly fine.

[02] Cyprus Stock Exchange

1420:CYPPRESS:02

Cyprus Stock Exchange

Nicosia, Mar 3 (CNA) - The Cyprus Stock Exchange (CSE) All Share
Index closed at today's stock exchange meeting as follows:

CSE General Index                               87,65   ( 0,44)

Traded Value                  CYP    356.039

FTSE/CYSE 20                  CYP    201.732   337,03   ( 0,99)

Sectoral Indices

Banks                         CYP    133.134    97,68   ( 1,70)
Approved Investment
Companies                 CYP      5.296    76,04   (-0,37)
Insurance Companies           CYP     41.082    18,33   (-0,33)
Manufacturing Companies       CYP      4.471    60,24   (-0,74)
Tourism Companies             CYP        918    94,36   (-1,03)
Trading Companies             CYP      9.907    18,84   ( 1,07)
Building and Cement Companies CYP      9.371    72,75   (-1,18)
Énformation Technology
Companies                 CYP      2.710     3,10   ( 0,98)
Financial Services Companies  CYP     58.331    16,58   (-3,60)
Fish Culture Companies        CYP         25    11,99   ( 1,01)
Hotels                        CYP     10.432    44,54   (-0,69)
Other Companies               CYP     29.878    81,69   (-0,07)

* The third column presents the percentage variation of

[03] CSE Chairman announces resignation

1425:CYPPRESS:01

CSE Chairman announces resignation

Nicosia, Mar 3 (CNA) -- Chairman of the Cyprus Stock Exchange, Pavlos Savvides, sent a letter of resignation today to new Minister of Finance, Markos Kyprianou.

[04] Weather and Temperatures for Cyprus

1530:CYPPRESS:04

Weather and Temperatures for Cyprus

Nicosia, Mar 3 (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                12             9         RAIN
Larnaca                15            12         CLOUDY
Limassol               15            11         SHOWER
Paphos                 18            12         CLOUDY

[05] Spokesman says Turkey presenting conflicting policy

1740:CYPPRESS:05

Spokesman says Turkey presenting conflicting policy

Nicosia, Mar 3 (CNA) - Government Spokesman Kypros Chrysostomides announced here today that the National Council, the top advisory body to the President on the handling of the Cyprus question, will meet Wednesday morning to assess the situation and discuss a UN request to hold a referendum on a peace plan for a comprehensive settlement, proposed by the UN Secretary General Kofi Annan.

The Spokesman said that President Tassos Papadopoulos would be leaving for Athens Wednesday evening for consultations with Greek Prime Minister Costas Simitis, and would return home on Thursday.

Chrysostomides said that Turkey is sending conflicting messages about its policy on Cyprus, with some expressing the desire for a political settlement and others backing the intransigent positions of Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash.

[06] Turkish Cypriots to intensify mobilisations

1800:CYPPRESS:06

Turkish Cypriots to intensify mobilisations

Nicosia, Mar 3 (CNA) - Leaders and representatives of Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot political parties appreciated here Monday the importance of the recent visit of UN Secretary General Kofi Anan and its role in promoting a solution to the Cyprus problem.

Their position is outlined in a statement read out by Slovak Ambassador to Cyprus Jan Varso, after a regular meeting of the leaders from both sides at the Ledra Palace in the UN-controlled buffer zone in Nicosia.

[07] Rothe hopes united Cyprus will join EU

1810:CYPPRESS:07

Rothe hopes united Cyprus will join EU

Nicosia, Mar 3 (CNA) - Co-President of the EU-Cyprus Joint Parliamentary Committee Mechtild Rothe said she believes a united Cyprus can join the EU and that this would be in favour of Cypriots.

Speaking after being received by President Tassos Papadopoulos, Rothe said she has worked together with the President in the Joint Parliamentary Committee.

[08] New Ministers take over portfolios

1925:CYPPRESS:08

New Ministers take over portfolios

Nicosia, Mar 3 (CNA) - The new Ministers of the Tassos Papadopoulos government officially assumed their responsibilities here today, taking over their respective offices from the outgoing Ministers of the Glafcos Clerides administration and pledging to carry through Papadopoulos' pre-election programme.

Minister of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environment Efthymios Efthymiou said the sole judge of the Minister's work was the people of Cyprus. ''Now that we are entering the EU, we have a bigger responsibility because our work will be expanded to EU countries'', he said.

Outgoing Minister Costas Themistocleous expressed the conviction that the new Minister, with his political experience in the field of local administration, would be able to respond to his duties.

Minister of Commerce, Industry and Tourism Yiorgos Lillikas said success was a collective issue and called on the staff to work with him to implement the new President's programme. He said he would always be open for suggestions and dialogue but that he would also be demanding in order to satisfy the citizens. Turning to his predecessor, Nicos Rolandis, Lillikas said he was succeeding him with anxiety because the outgoing Minister has a long history in the public scene.

Rolandis said the new Minister was taking over at a difficult time because of the possibility of a war in Iraq. He also said that in the past five years, the Ministry has exhibited a remarkable performance by an average of 4.6%, compared to that in Europe, which is 2.6%

Minister of Communications and Works Kyriacos Kazamias said he would have to re-examine the issues which have been pending for many years at the Ministry. He further said that a priority of his was to promote the new President's programme.

Outgoing Minister Averof Neofytou said ''we support the work of the new Minister'' and noted that criticism would be made where necessary.

Minister of Defence Kyriakos Mavronicolas assured the political reinforcement of the National Guard would have ''a continuation and depth''. He said ''developments are rapid regarding the national issue and it is logical that defence will continue and be upgraded until a solution to the Cyprus problem is found''. Mavronicolas pledged to continue upgrading relations with Greece.

Outgoing Minister Socrates Hasikos said he was leaving his post, content that he had carried out his duties, noting however ''there is much more to be done''.

Minister of Education and Culture Pefkios Georgiades assured he would implement the soonest President Papadopoulos' pre-election commitment in the field of culture and education. Receiving the Ministry from Ouranios Ioannides, Georgiades expressed deep appreciation for the outgoing Minister and praised the work he carried out.

Ioannides wished the new Minister every success in his work, adding he was sure Georgiades would fulfill the work he is undertaking.

New Minister of Finance Markos Kyprianou said the economic consequences that might arise during a war in Iraq was one of his ''immediate priorities''. Undertaking the Ministry from Takis Klerides, Kyprianou said the contract of the new government with the people of Cyprus is President Papadopoulos' programme, which aims at ''serving the citizen, welfare of the people, meritocracy and parity''. Kyprianou referred to the need to harmonise and implement the laws with the acquis communautaire and preparing Cyprus for accession to the Financial and Monetary Fund.

Outgoing Minister Klerides described the Finance Ministry as the most significant. He also referred to the ''very good condition and prospects of the Cyprus economy''.

Minister of Foreign Affairs George Iacovou assured he would be worthy of the trust of new President Papadopoulos and provide the vision and leadership required by the Ministry to complete its purpose. Iacovou said he was deeply moved to return to the familiar surroundings of foreign policy and its people, having served as Foreign Minister in past governments for ten years. He thanked outgoing Minister Ioannis Kasoulides for the work he has carried out, adding that ''you are giving me a strong Ministry''.

Kasoulides said that during his term in office he took care in maintaining the good relations of the friends of Cyprus, noting that Cyprus has moved forward in the field of foreign policy. He expressed his readiness to give Iacovou all the support and help he wanted.

Minister of Health Costandia Akkelidou said she was committed to work as hard as possible and cooperate with all to improve the health sector to the highest degree possible. She said she has served at various departments of the Ministry, the latest being director of the Laboratory Department. ''I have visions regarding the public health sector, a very difficult sector, which means so much not only for the welfare of the people but for the generations to come'', she added.

Outgoing Minister Frixos Savvides said he was glad that a person who has worked with him in the past is succeeding him. He praised the new Minister's personality and called on the staff to help and support Akkelidou to improve the work of the Ministry.

New Minister of the Interior Andreas Christou conveyed a message of ''equality before the law and equal treatment of the people's demands''. He said he was fully aware of the ''very influential role of the Interior Ministry in activities which cover the whole spectrum of the civil service and citizens' public life''. Christou said he would try to simplify some procedures and modernise some structures because the road to the EU requires a new approach.

Outgoing Minister Andreas Panagiotou said Christou undertakes a difficult, varied Ministry but also a ''fine Ministry because it deals with people''.

Minister of Justice and Public Order Doros Theodorou said he was committed to carrying out the ''vision of President of the Republic Tassos Papadopoulos''. He pledged to remain dedicated to working with ''integrity, honour and with meritocracy''. Theodorou named public safety and order the ''number one issue required in today's society''.

Outgoing Minister Alecos Shambos said there were serious issues directly related to the Justice Ministry, such as drug trafficking, international terrorism and new forms of crime. He welcomed Theodorou, noting the new Minister possesses the guarantee of success, which is ''sound judgment and hard work''.

New Minister of Labour and Social Insurance Iacovos Keravnos assured he would do everything possible to respond to the duties, which President Papadopoulos has entrusted him with. Keravnos said, ''I strongly feel the burden of responsibility which this Ministry carries and which bears the mark of current President Papadopoulos, who in his capacity as Labour and Social Insurance Minister, set up institutions which were tested over the time and responded to the needs of the society''. He also said the Labour Ministry bears the mark of outgoing Minister Andreas Moushouttas who has a longstanding and very important contribution in the field, totaling 13 years.

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