Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 03-03-09

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

CONTENTS

[01] President leaves for The Hague to meet UN chief

[02] Weather and Temperatures for Cyprus

[03] National Council convenes tonight in The Hague

[01] President leaves for The Hague to meet UN chief

1015:CYPPRESS:01

President leaves for The Hague to meet UN chief

Larnaca, Mar 9 (CNA) - President of the Republic Tassos Papadopoulos departed for the Hague today for a meeting tomorrow morning with UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, who has invited the two sides in Cyprus to tell him whether or not they would sign a commitment to put to the people of the island his plan for a comprehensive settlement at separate simultaneous referenda on March 30.

Speaking on departure from Larnaca Airport, the President said the reply to the UN chief would depend on the positions of the two sides, as they will be presented in The Hague.

He added that the National Council has convened twice to discuss the matter and that he has asked the political parties comprising the Council, top advisory body to the President on the Cyprus problem, not to express their views publicly until just before tomorrow's meeting. Papadopoulos added that his own decision would depend to a great extent on the views and decisions of the National Council members.

Papadopoulos said ''times are extremely serious and we will examine everything placed before us'' with the sole criterion being ''that which serves the long-term interests of Cyprus and its people''.

The people, he said, ''should not worry, because the National Council and I will look at the issues with all the seriousness and attention demanded by the circumstances''.

Replying to questions, Papadopoulos said only one meeting has been scheduled for tomorrow, which however may continue in the afternoon.

Commenting on a statement by the UN chief's Special Adviser on Cyprus Alvaro de Soto, that Kofi Annan asked a simple question that requires a simple answer, the President said ''the Secretary General has not concealed that this is his intention''.

''However, whether or not it a question that can be answered in one word, with a yes or no, will depend on the positions of the two sides, as they will be presented in The Hague'', he added.

Replying to questions, Papadopoulos said ''my decision to a great extent will be based on the views and decisions of the members of the National Council''.

He also said that negotiations on the Annan plan are ongoing and noted that ''whether or not these negotiations will lead to amendments or not we will find out in The Hague''.

Papadopoulos pointed out that Annan considers his peace plan to be balanced and thus any changes ''in favour of one side will have to be followed by something respective for the other side''.

[02] Weather and Temperatures for Cyprus

1915:CYPPRESS:02

Weather and Temperatures for Cyprus

Nicosia, Mar 9 (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                17             6         FINE
Larnaca                19             7         SHOWERS
Limassol               17             9         FINE
Paphos                 18             9         FAIR

[03] National Council convenes tonight in The Hague

2020:CYPPRESS:03

National Council convenes tonight in The Hague

by Maria Myles

The Hague, Mar 9 (CNA) - The National Council will convene tonight in The Hague, under President of the Republic Tassos Papadopoulos, in view of tomorrow's meeting with UN Secretary General Kofi Annan.

President Papadopoulos arrived in The Hague this afternoon and held a series of meetings with foreign envoys and Greek Minister of Foreign Affairs George Papandreou.

Annan has invited the two sides in Cyprus to The Hague to tell him whether or not they would sign a commitment to put to the people of the island his plan for a comprehensive settlement at separate simultaneous referenda on March 30.

The President met this afternoon with Papandreou, who is set to meet the UN chief tonight before departing from The Hague.

President Papadopoulos then met with Britain's Special Representative for Cyprus Lord David Hannay, who described the meeting as ''very good''. It went ''extremely well'', he said.

Before the meeting, Lord Hannay said his scheduled meeting with Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash had been canceled, because the latter was feeling under the weather.

Sources said Denktash had also canceled a meeting with the US State Department's Special Coordinator for Cyprus, Thomas Weston. However, Weston said he would be meeting Denktash at some stage.

President Papadopoulos met with Weston tonight, shortly before the National Council convened. The National Council is the top advisory body to the President on the Cyprus problem.

Meanwhile, Papandreou met with his Dutch counterpart Jaap de Hoop Schesser, who told CNA after the meeting that they talked about the situation in Iraq and the Cyprus problem. ''We sincerely hope that something will be achieved but that is up to the parties'', he said.

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