Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 03-03-11

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

CONTENTS

[01] US say UN plan on Cyprus fair

[02] Joint meeting in The Hague delayed 13 hours

[03] No result from meeting in The Hague

[04] Papadopoulos expresses sadness and disappointment

[05] Annan: We have reached the end of the road

[06] Greece continues to support every effort for Cyprus settlement

[07] Papadopoulos ready to continue for solution despite today's failure

[08] Press statement by UN Secretary-General on Cyprus (Full text)

[09] Greek official blames Turkish side's stance

[10] Hannay blames T/C leader for Cyprus deadlock

[11] Cyprus Stock Exchange

[12] Weather and Temperatures for Cyprus

[13] Health Minister pledges help to save T/C leukemia girl

[14] Cyprus fleet will develop with EU accession, says Kazamias

[15] EU expresses regret over Cyprus talks, accession to go ahead

[16] Lillikas: No cancellations on behalf of German travel agencies

[01] US say UN plan on Cyprus fair

0325:CYPPRESS:02

US say UN plan on Cyprus fair

by Demetris Apokis

Washington, Mar 11 (CNA) - The United States believe that UN Secretary General Kofi Annan's plan for a Cyprus settlement is fair and needs to be put to referenda on both sides of the island on March 30.

US State Department Spokesman Richard Boucher said ''this is a unique opportunity, which may not come again, not only to end the longstanding division of the island, but also to allow a united Cyprus to sign the EU Treaty of Accession on April 16 so that all Cypriots can become EU members''.

[02] Joint meeting in The Hague delayed 13 hours

0330:CYPPRESS:03

Joint meeting in The Hague delayed 13 hours

by Maria Myles

The Hague, Mar 11 (CNA) - A joint meeting in The Hague between UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, Cypriot President Tassos Papadopoulos and Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash, originally scheduled for early this afternoon, began with a 13-hour delay with no indication on when it would be wrapped up.

After an hour of deliberations, the leaders of the two communities withdrew to their respective delegations, while Annan held separate meetings with the representatives of guarantor powers Britain, Greece and Turkey. The joint meeting resumed shortly afterwards.

[03] No result from meeting in The Hague

0425:CYPPRESS:04

No result from meeting in The Hague

by Maria Myles

The Hague, Mar 11 (CNA) - A joint meeting in The Hague between UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, Cypriot President Tassos Papadopoulos and Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash, ended with no result.

Speaking after the meeting, President Papadopoulos said ''there is no result because Mr. Denktash has rejected the plan the Secretary General has submitted''.

The joint meeting, which was originally scheduled for early Monday afternoon, began with a 13-hour delay.

Halfway through the deliberations, the leaders of the two communities withdrew to their respective delegations, while Annan held separate meetings with the representatives of guarantor powers Britain, Greece and Turkey. The joint meeting resumed shortly afterwards.

[04] Papadopoulos expresses sadness and disappointment

0810:CYPPRESS:05

Papadopoulos expresses sadness and disappointment

by Maria Myles

The Hague, Mar 11 (CNA) -- Cyprus President Tassos Papadopoulos has expressed sadness and disappointment that talks aiming to reach a Cyprus settlement ended ''in failure''.

Speaking to the press at the end of the UN-led deliberations held here, Papadopoulos said that the Greek Cypriot side said at the talks ''yes to a referendum as long as the legislation is ready in time to avoid problems of the functioning of the central government. (Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf) Denktash said he wanted radical changes to the philosophy of the plan'', he added.

Papadopoulos assured that ''we would continue the effort for a solution before and after Cyprus joins the EU''.

Addressing himself to Turkish Cypriots he said ''I hope wiser thoughts prevail so that we can create the conditions to get a solution.''

He thanked the UN for their ''unfailing effort and their patience.''

He said the National Council (top advisory body to the President on the handling of the Cyprus issue), which accompanied him to The Hague, was fully aware of the developments and that the Greek Cypriot side's stance at the talks was decided unanimously.

[05] Annan: We have reached the end of the road

0905:CYPPRESS:06

Annan: We have reached the end of the road

by Maria Myles

The Hague, Mar 11 (CNA) -- UN Secretary General Kofi Annan has expressed sadness for the failure of recent intensive efforts to reach a negotiated settlement in Cyprus, saying that the commitment to proceed to a conclusion of the peace talks to a strict work programme does not exist at present.

In a statement after some 20 hours of meetings, consultations and negotiations with the Greek Cypriot, Turkish Cypriot sides and Greece, Turkey and Britain, Annan said his special adviser Alvaro de Soto would report to the Security Council and de Soto's office on the island would close in the coming weeks.

Annan's statement, read out by de Soto, outlined the positions the two sides adopted during the negotiations here saying that the Greek Cypriot leader Tassos Papadopoulos was prepared to put a UN peace proposal to a referendum and that he was ready not to reopen the plan's substantive provisions if the other side was prepared to do likewise.

The statement also outlined the views of the Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash who said he was not prepared to agree to a referendum on the UN plan and raised fundamental objections to basic points in it.

''We have reached the end of the road. The two leaders have expressed their willingness to continue talks. But without a firm commitment to proceed energetically to a conclusion according to a strict work programme, culminating in separate referenda, it will clearly not be possible to achieve a comprehensive settlement before the accession of Cyprus to the EU on 16 April,'' the statement said.

''The commitment is not in place at this time. I have therefore asked Mr. de Soto to proceed to New York to prepare a detailed report to the Security Council. Mr. de Soto's office in Cyprus will be brought to a close in the coming weeks,'' it added.

Annan said his peace plan remains on the table, ready for the Greek Cypriots and the Turkish Cypriots to ''pick it up and carry it forward to a solution if they summon the will to do so.''

''If I see that there is a clear and realistic prospect of finalising negotiations, with the full backing of the motherlands, I will be ready to assist. Let us hope that that day is much closer than it seems this morning,'' he said.

On Papadopoulos' positions, Annan noted that Papadopoulos had said he was prepared to submit Annan's plan to approval at a referendum on 30 March ''so long as the people knew what they are being asked to vote on.''

''To that end he wished to be sure that the gaps regarding federal legislation as well as constituent state constitutions would be filled,'' Annan said in his statement about Papadopoulos' positions.

Papadopoulos underlined the importance of Greece and Turkey agreeing and committing to the security provisions in the plan and said that considerable more time was needed than was available for a proper public campaign on the referendum to be carried out.

''These conditions need to be fulfilled before a referendum can take place. He said he was prepared not to reopen its (the plan's) substantive provisions if the other side was prepared to do likewise,'' Annan said of Papadopoulos in his statement.

Referring to Denktash's stance, the Secretary General said that the Turkish Cypriot leader said he was not prepared to agree to put the plan to referendum and said he had ''fundamental objections to the plan on basic points.''

''He believed that further negotiations were only likely to be successful if they began from a new starting point and if the parties agreed on basic principles,'' the statement added.

Denktash said that Turkey was not in a position to sign a statement requested of the guarantors because this first required the authorisation of parliament.

Annan said that efforts continued on Monday and during the night to ''salvage the process and keep open the prospect of a reunited Cyprus acceding to the EU,'' adding that he even suggested that negotiations could continue until 28 March with a view to holding the referenda on 6 April.

The Secretary General said he shared with all peace loving Greek Cypriots, Turkish Cypriots, Greeks and Turks ''a deep sense of sadness.''

''I want the people of Cyprus to know that I have not given up on them,'' he said and expressed regret that the people have been denied the chance to decide their own future.

[06] Greece continues to support every effort for Cyprus settlement

0940:CYPPRESS:07

Greece continues to support every effort for Cyprus settlement

The Hague, Mar 11 (CNA) -- Greece has expressed its sadness and disappointment for the failure of the UN Secretary General's efforts to reach a Cyprus settlement during talks in The Hague.

Head of the Greek delegation in The Hague, Ambassador Anastasios Skopelitis said, according to the Athens News Agency, that ''as the UN Secretary General himself ascertained in his statement, the responsibility for the deadlock lies with Turkish Cypriot leader'' Rauf Denktash.

[07] Papadopoulos ready to continue for solution despite today's failure

1100:CYPPRESS:08

Papadopoulos ready to continue for solution despite today's failure

By Maria Myles

The Hague, Mar 11 (CNA) -- Cyprus President Tasssos Papadopoulos stressed here that inspite of today's failure to come to an agreement with the Turkish Cypriot side on holding referenda on a UN peace plan, he will continue his efforts to find a viable solution that will ensure the proper functioning of the state.

Speaking at a press conference early this morning, at the Peace Palace, the Cypriot president assured the Turkish Cypriots that he wishes to see wiser thoughts prevail so as all Cypriots can benefit from EU accession.

He also said that the changes Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash wanted to the UN peace proposal went far beyond the philosophy of the plan whereas his proposed amendments fell well within the parametres of the plan.

''I express sadness and disappointment that the efforts of many months the work done as well as the intensive talks here have ended in failure,'' President Papadopoulos told a packed room at the Peace Palace here at five in the morning after about 20 hours of intensive negotiations between the UN, the two sides in Cyprus and the three guarantor powers (Greece, Turkey and Britain).

The Secretary General was very explicit, very specific as to what actually happened, he said, adding that ''on our side we gave our clear answer to the question he posed when he asked us to come here and say with a yes or no on whether we are ready to put his plan to a referendum.''

''Our reply was yes we are ready to do that as long as the documents required for the whole package were ready in time and in particular the legislation which related to the functioning of the government of the common state,'' Papadopoulos said.

The Cypriot President pointed out that according to the recognition of the Secretary General ''all the things we have asked were within the parametres and the overall Annan plan''

Denktash, he said, has stated repeatedly and more so early this morning and last night at the talks that he wanted to bring about radical changes to the whole philosophy and the foundation of the plan.

''I want to give an assurance that despite of this setback we will continue our efforts for reaching a solution to the Cyprus question both before and after Cyprus joins the EU and the fact that this setback here today is not going to put us outside the course of trying to find a solution outside the parametres of the Annan plan,'' he said.

Addressing himself to the Turkish Cypriots, he expressed the hope that second thoughts would prevail and that soon enough ''we would both build the foundation which will allow us to have a viable solution so that a unified Cyprus would be able to enjoy the benefits and the advantages which the accession will produce.''

Papadopoulos expressed thanks to the UN team which worked hard and intensively for many months in Cyprus and more specifically he thanked Kofi Annan for his ''unfailing efforts, patience and wisdom in trying to promote a solution.''

Replying to questions, he said that the Annan plan would still be at the table in the future, as his experience has shown that ideas and documents produced during negotiations seem to be always present.

''Nothing that is placed at the negotiating table goes away permanently,'' he said.

Papadopoulos said it is possible after a solution has been found for the EU Council to incorporate everything that is agreed in the accession agreement.

Commenting on the issue of security, in response to claims by Denktash that the Cypriot President wanted security concerns agreed before an overall agreement, Papadopoulos explained that he would like to see any treaty signed by the three guarantor and Cyprus implemented. ''We must have assurances that such an agreement is implemented,'' he said.

[08] Press statement by UN Secretary-General on Cyprus (Full text)

1115:CYPPRESS:09

Press statement by UN Secretary-General on Cyprus (Full text)

By Maria Myles

The Hague, Mar 11, (CNA) --

"As agreed on 28 February, the two leaders came to The Hague yesterday for a very specific and agreed purpose: I asked each of them whether they were prepared to commit today to submit my 26 February 2003 plan to approval at separate simultaneous referenda on 30 March 2003, in order to achieve a comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus Problem.

Mr Papadopoulos answered that he was prepared to do so, as long as the people knew what they are being asked to vote on. To that end he wished to be sure that the gaps regarding federal legislation, as well as constituent state constitutions, would be filled. He underlined the importance of Greece and Turkey agreeing and committing to the security provisions in the plan. Furthermore, considerably more time was needed than was available for a proper, public campaign on the referendum to be carried out. These conditions need to be fulfilled before a referendum can take place. He said he was prepared not to re-open its substantive provisions if the other side was prepared to do likewise.

Mr Denktash answered that he was not prepared to agree to put the plan to referendum. He said he had fundamental objections to the plan on basic points. He believed that further negotiations were only likely to be successful if they began from a new starting point and if the parties agreed on basic principles. He added that Turkey was in any case not in a position to sign the statement requested of the guarantors because this first required the authorisation of parliament.

Efforts have continued in the course of yesterday and during the night to salvage the process and keep open the prospect of a reunited Cyprus accedding to the EU. I even suggested that negotiations could continue until 28 March with a view to holding the referenda one week later, on 6 April. Regrettably, these efforts were not successful for the reasons stated above.

Accordingly, as I said when I left Cyprus on 28 February, we have reached the end of the road. The two leaders have expressed their willingness to continue talks. But without a firm commitment to proceed energetically to a conclusion according to a strict work programme, culminating in separate simultaneous referenda, it will clearly not be possible to achieve a comprehensive settlement before the accession of Cyprus to the European Union on 16 April. That commitment is not in place at this time. I have therefore asked Mr de Soto to proceed to New York to prepare a detailed report to the Security Council. Mr de Soto's office in Cyprus will be brought to a close in the coming weeks.

I share tonight with all peace-loving Greek Cypriots, Turkish Cypriots, Greeks and Turks a deep sense of sadness. I am not sure another opportunity like this one will present itself again any time soon. Nevertheless, I want the people of Cyprus to know that I have not given up on them. I saw in their eyes their longing for peace and reunification. I regret that they have been denied the chance to decide their own future.

[09] Greek official blames Turkish side's stance

1200:CYPPRESS:10

Greek official blames Turkish side's stance

by Costas Iordanides

Athens, Mar 11 (CNA) -- The Turkish Cypriot side and Ankara are absolutely responsible for the deadlock at the Cyprus talks in The Hague, Greek Foreign Ministry Spokesman Panos Beglitis told CNA and expressed certainty that this was not the last opportunity since ''the momentum for a settlement remains consistent''.

[10] Hannay blames T/C leader for Cyprus deadlock

1215:CYPRESS:11

Hannay blames T/C leader for Cyprus deadlock

Nicosia, Mar 11 (CNA) -- Britain's special envoy for Cyprus, Lord David Hannay, placed the blame squarely on Turkish Cypriot Leader Rauf Denktash's shoulders for the Cyprus talks collapse in The Hague this morning, according to Reuter's.

''I am sad about it but I do not think that Mr Denktash left

[11] Cyprus Stock Exchange

1450:CYPPRESS:12
Cyprus Stock Exchange
Nicosia, Mar 11 (CNA) -- The Cyprus Stock Exchange (CSE) All Share
Index closed at today's stock exchange meeting as follows:

CSE General Index                               82,95   (-3,63)

Traded Value                  CYP    875.940

FTSE/CYSE 20                  CYP    589.961   313,18   (-6,12)

Sectoral Indices

Banks                         CYP    507.933    90,13   (-6,23)
Approved Investment
Companies                 CYP     15.690    73,81   (-2,35)
Insurance Companies           CYP      6.326    17,52   (-6,76)
Manufacturing Companies       CYP     19.826    58,61   (-1,01)
Tourism Companies             CYP      2.321    86,82   (-3,03)
Trading Companies             CYP     15.659    17,90   (-3,09)
Building and Cement Companies CYP     13.513    71,86   ( 0,11)
Énformation Technology
Companies                 CYP      4.316     2,88   (-1,71)
Financial Services Companies  CYP     44.148    15,88   (-0,87)
Fish Culture Companies        CYP          0    10,99   (-5,18)
Hotels                        CYP     12.262    43,47   (-1,29)
Other Companies               CYP     60.270    78,05   (-2,11)

* The third column presents the percentage variation of

[12] Weather and Temperatures for Cyprus

1505:CYPPRESS:13

Weather and Temperatures for Cyprus

Nicosia, Mar 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                17             6         CLOUDY
Larnaca                18             7         CLOUDY
Limassol               19             9         CLOUDY
Paphos                 18             8         CLOUDY

[13] Health Minister pledges help to save T/C leukemia girl

1525:CYPPRESS:14

Health Minister pledges help to save T/C leukemia girl

[14] Cyprus fleet will develop with EU accession, says Kazamias

1530:CYPPRESS:15

Cyprus fleet will develop with EU accession, says Kazamias

Nicosia, Mar 11 (CNA) -- Cyprus Communications and Works Minister, Kikis Kazamias, said here Tuesday the Cyprus fleet and existing infrastructure will develop further following the islands accession to the European Union.

[15] EU expresses regret over Cyprus talks, accession to go ahead

1655:CYPPRESS:16

EU expresses regret over Cyprus talks, accession to go ahead

By Nicos Bellos

Brussels, Mar 11 (CNA) The European Commission expressed regret Tuesday that UN efforts to solve the Cyprus problem failed but confirmed that the accession process will go ahead as scheduled.

A statement by Enlargement Commissioner, Gunter Verheugen, read by his spokesman, Jean Christophe-Filori, said the Commission encourages all parties concerned, and, in particular Turkey, to strive to achieve a settlement.

[16] Lillikas: No cancellations on behalf of German travel agencies

1910:CYPPRESS:17

Lillikas: No cancellations on behalf of German travel agencies

Nicosia, Mar 11 (CNA) -- There have been no cancellations of flight reservations towards Cyprus on behalf of German travel agencies, the island's Commerce, Industry and Tourism Minister Yiorgos Lillikas told CNA.

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