Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 03-04-03

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

CONTENTS

[01] Papadopoulos tells Denktash UN is best hope for Cyprus solution

[02] Work stoppage for Iraq as students protest outside US Embassy

[03] Weather forecast for Cyprus

[04] Christofias: Denktash ideas are not proposals

[05] Students, workers demand end to war in Iraq

[06] Cyprus Stock Exchange

[07] Weather and Temperatures for Cyprus

[08] EU wants Cyprus settlement through UN framework

[09] Government embarks on information campaign

[10] US ask Turkey to intervene towards Denktash

[11] British Bases continue logistical support for Iraqi crisis

[12] UN best way for Cyprus solution, says Britain

[01] Papadopoulos tells Denktash UN is best hope for Cyprus solution

0750:CYPPRESS:01

Papadopoulos tells Denktash UN is best hope for Cyprus solution

Nicosia, Apr 3 (CNA) -- Cyprus President Tassos Papadopoulos, in a reply letter to Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash notes the mission of good offices of the UN Secretary General represents the best hope for to proceed forward towards a comprehensive settlement.

At the same time he stresses to the Turkish Cypriot leader that if any negotiations are to be meaningful, Denktash should accept the continuation of the good offices mission of the Secretary General as well as the Secretary Generals plan as a basis for a further negotiating process.

In the letter, which was published at the end of last nights extraordinary session of the National Council in response to Denktashs letter to Papadopoulos containing ideas he believed could initiate a process of dialogue and consultation, leading to a working relationship, Papadopoulos blames Turkey and the Turkish Cypriot side for having not accepted Kofi Annans plan as a basis for negotiating the final comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus problem.

Papadopoulo's letter is as follows:

«I do not share your view that the stalemate at The Hague was due to 'the socio-psychological dimension of the problem and especially the deep crisis of confidence between the two sides.'

On the contrary, I believe that the real reason of the stalemate was that neither Turkey nor your side have accepted the Plan of the United Nations Secretary General as a basis for negotiating the final comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus problem. In addition your side has not cooperated in the work of the technical committees and in the preparation of legislation and documentation required under the Plan.

It is my considered opinion that the mission of good offices of the Secretary General represents the best hope for us to proceed forward towards a comprehensive settlement.

My position was made abundantly clear prior, during and after The Hague. I simply quote the statement I made after the stalemate at The Hague, which is still valid.

'I want to give you an assurance that despite of this setback we will continue our efforts for reaching a solution on the Cyprus problem, both before and after Cyprus accession to the EU and the fact of todays setback is not going to put us outside our course of trying to find a solution within the parameters of the Annan plan.'

If any resumption of the talks is to be meaningful, giving hope for a solution of the Cyprus problem on a comprehensive basis in the very near future, I believe that you might indicate at the outset that:

(a) You accept the continuation of the good offices mission of the Secretary General, as provided for in the relevant United Nations Security Council Resolutions.

(b) You accept the Plan of the Secretary General as a basis for a further negotiating process.

I sincerely hope that the Security Council will invite the Secretary General to continue his initiative with a view to arriving as soon as possible at a comprehensive settlement, which will entail the solution of all problems including those referred to in your letter.

I also copy this letter to the United Nations Secretary-General.»

[02] Work stoppage for Iraq as students protest outside US Embassy

1130:CYPPRESS:02

Work stoppage for Iraq as students protest outside US Embassy

Nicosia, Apr 3 (CNA) -- Work came at a standstill on the island as trade unions and its members in the free areas of the Republic of Cyprus held a half-hour work stoppage to protest the war in Iraq.

[03] Weather forecast for Cyprus

1320:CYPPRESS:03

Weather forecast for Cyprus

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

Friday and Saturday: 04/04/2003 to 05/04/2003

Friday: Mainly fine and hazy with local patchy cloud. Moderate northeasterly wind. State of sea slight to moderate.

Maximum temperature: 24 inland and coastal areas, 20 over Prodromos area.

Minimum temperature: 13 inland, 16 coastal areas and 14 over Prodromos areas.

Saturday: mainly fine with local cloud at times. Small chance of showers. Moderate to fresh westerly wind. State of sea, moderate to rough.

Temperature will slightly decrease from Saturday afternoon.

Outlook for Sunday and Monday: 06/04/2003 to 07/04/2003

Mainly fine with some clouds developing in the afternoons. Temperature are expected to fall.

[04] Christofias: Denktash ideas are not proposals

1330:CYPPRESS:04

Christofias: Denktash ideas are not proposals

Nicosia, Apr 3 (CNA) -- Cyprus House of Representatives President Demetris Christofias said he does not consider proposals what Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash has included in a letter to Cyprus President Tassos Papadopoulos on Wednesday, and described them as an effort to deviate from the substance.

[05] Students, workers demand end to war in Iraq

1415:CYPPRESS:05

Students, workers demand end to war in Iraq

Nicosia, Apr 3 (CNA) -- Workers, who staged a half-hour long work stoppage today, and students, who marched in protest towards the US embassy, amid strict security measures demanded in separate declarations an end to the war against Iraq and said Iraq's disarmament and democratisation should be carried out with UN consent.

[06] Cyprus Stock Exchange

1530:CYPPRESS:06

Cyprus Stock Exchange

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

CSE General Index                               83,06   ( 1,26)

Traded Value                  CYP    816.315

FTSE/CYSE 20                  CYP    366.997   319,17   ( 2,53)

Sectoral Indices

Banks                         CYP    275.156    91,66   ( 2,34)
Approved Investment
Companies                 CYP     10.017    72,62   ( 0,44)
Insurance Companies           CYP      2.165    17,12   ( 3,63)
Manufacturing Companies       CYP     21.705    56,96   ( 0,35)
Tourism Companies             CYP      3.251    84,97   ( 2,77)
Trading Companies             CYP     14.012    17,87   ( 2,82)
Building and Cement Companies CYP      3.363    71,96   (-1,98)
Énformation Technology
Companies                 CYP      1.979     2,87   ( 0,00)
Financial Services Companies  CYP     42.533    15,26   (-0,33)
Fish Culture Companies        CYP      7.443    10,87   ( 1,49)
Hotels                        CYP     30.927    43,18   ( 0,63)
Other Companies               CYP     73.238    78,46   ( 0,90)

* The third column presents the percentage variation of

[07] Weather and Temperatures for Cyprus

1535:CYPPRESS:07

Weather and Temperatures for Cyprus

Nicosia, Apr 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                24           13         CLOUDY
Larnaca                22           14         CLOUDY
Limassol               23           17         CLOUDY
Paphos                 20           17         CLOUDY

[08] EU wants Cyprus settlement through UN framework

1545:CYPPRESS:08

EU wants Cyprus settlement through UN framework

by Nicos Bellos

Brussels, Apr 3 (CNA) -- The European Commission wishes to see a peaceful resolution of the Cyprus question which could be achieved within the UN framework, Jean Christophe Filori, European Commission spokesman said here today.

His comments come as a response to an announcement on Wednesday by Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash of what he has described as a package of measures to assist a political settlement of the Cyprus problem.

[09] Government embarks on information campaign

1640:CYPPRESS:09

Government embarks on information campaign

Nicosia, Apr 3 (CNA) -- The government has embarked on a campaign to inform all interested parties about the real objectives and intentions behind a letter Turkish Cypriot leader has sent to the President, suggesting ideas to initiate a dialogue between the Greek Cypriot and the Turkish Cypriot sides.

''None of the ideas put forward by Rauf Denktash was specific and none can have immediate effect,'' Government Spokesman Kypros Chrisostomides said on the matter, adding that Denktash's proposals aimed at ''diverting the peace process away from the UN framework.''

[10] US ask Turkey to intervene towards Denktash

1650:CYPPRESS:10

US ask Turkey to intervene towards Denktash

by Nicos Bellos

Brussels, Apr 3 (CNA) -- The US have asked Turkey to exert pressure on Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash to work towards the resolution of the Cyprus question.

Diplomatic sources have said that US Secretary of State Colin Powell discussed, apart from the Iraqi crisis, the Cyprus problem and the Middle East issue with current EU Foreign Ministers Council president Greek Foreign Minister George Papandreou, Javier Solana, EU High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy and Chris Patten, EU Commissioner for external relations.

[11] British Bases continue logistical support for Iraqi crisis

1815:CYPPRESS:11

British Bases continue logistical support for Iraqi crisis

Nicosia, Apr 3 (CNA) -- A British military base in Cyprus, RAF Akrotiri, continues to provide logistical support in relation with the war in Iraq, British Bases deputy spokesman Tony Brumwell has said.

''This morning 14 persons arrived on board an aircraft in Akrotiri and were then flown on to Britain. Another 21 persons who arrived are currently in Akrotiri,'' he told CNA.

War wounded are flown in on a daily basis, he explained, most stay on the aircraft, which is refueled and then flies on to Britain.

[12] UN best way for Cyprus solution, says Britain

1910:CYPPRESS:12

UN best way for Cyprus solution, says Britain

by Kyriakos Tsioupras

London, Apr 3 (CNA) -- Britain believes that the best way to solve the Cyprus question is through the good offices mission of the UN Secretary General.

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