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Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 03-04-15Cyprus News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Cyprus News Agency at <http://www.cyna.org.cy>CONTENTS
[01] Cyprus satisfied with UN SC resolution on Cyprus0820:CYPPRESS:01Cyprus satisfied with UN SC resolution on Cyprus by Apostolos Zoupaniotis United Nations, Apr 15 (CNA) -- Cyprus Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Sotos Zackheos, has expressed satisfaction with the resolution 1475 on Cyprus unanimously adopted Monday by the Security Council. Underlining that the end result was a compromised text, the Cypriot diplomat said the Council members reiterated their support to the continuation of the Good Offices mission of the Secretary General on Cyprus and considered the UN peace plan as a basis for further negotiations. [02] Cyprus President leaves for Athens to sign Accession Treaty1010:CYPPRESS:02Cyprus President leaves for Athens to sign Accession Treaty by Maria Koniotou Athens, Apr 15 (CNA) -- Cyprus President Tassos Papadopoulos arrives in Athens later today, heading a 20-member delegation. In the Greek capital he will sign tomorrow on behalf of the Republic of Cyprus the Accession Treaty for full European Union membership. The Cypriot President will be accompanied by House President Demetris Christofias, former Cyprus Presidents Glafcos Clerides and George Vasiliou, Foreign Minister Georgios Iacovou and Cyprus' chief negotiator with the EU Takis Hadjidemetriou. The Treaty will be signed by the President and the Foreign Minister. Attorney General Alecos Markides, Undersecretary to the President Christodoulos Pasiardis, Cyprus' Permanent Representative to the EU Theofilos Theofilou and the Republic's representative to the European Convention Michalis Attalides will also be in Athens. Government Spokesman Kypros Chrisostomides is also Athens for the signing ceremony. All eight parliamentary parties will be represented either by their leaders or spokespersons. AKEL will be represented by its parliamentary spokesman Nikos Katsourides, DISI and DIKO by their respective deputy presidents Panayiotis Demetriou and Nikos Kleanthous, and KISOS by its leader Yiannakis Omirou. The New Horizons will be represented by President Nikos Koutsou, the United Democrats by their Deputy President Michalis Papapetrou, ADIK by its leader Dinos Michaelides and the Environmentalists by General Secretary George Perdikis. [03] EU-Cyprus Joint Committee meets1045:CYPPRESS:03EU-Cyprus joint committee meets by Nicos Bellos Brussels, Apr 15 (CNA) -- The people of Cyprus cannot be denied in their own country the rights European citizens enjoy within the European Union, Cyprus' permanent representative to Brussels, Ambassador Theofilos Theofilou, has said. [04] Spokesman: SC resolution does not point the finger at Turkey1140:CYPPRESS:04Spokesman: SC resolution does not point the finger at Turkey by Maria Koniotou Athens, Apr 15 (CNA) -- The Cyprus government said UN Security Council resolution 1475 on Cyprus, approved unanimously last night, contains important points that were expected to be included in it, but fails to point the finger at Turkey for the collapse of the talks in The Hague. Government Spokesman Kypros Chrisostomides, in the Greek capital for the signing on Wednesday of the Accession Treaty by Cyprus and the other nine acceding countries, told CNA that the important points, which were included, are: [05] Erdogan seeks help to solve Cyprus problem1230:CYPPRESS:05Erdogan seeks help to solve Cyprus problem Constantinople, Apr 15 (CNA) -- You have to help too to solve the Cyprus problem, said Turkeys Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan when asked by CNA Director, Themis Themistocleous, what Ankara will do to solve the Cyprus problem after the collapse of the talks in The Hague. Erdogan opted not to comment on a question-remark that the Greek Cypriot side has done whatever it could, and has already made many compromises while he (Erdogan) failed to carry out what he had pledged for a Cyprus settlement. [06] EU - Cyprus Joint Parliamentary Committee to meet in Nicosia1300:CYPPRESS:06EU Cyprus Joint Parliamentary Committee to meet in Nicosia [07] Cyprus Problem and the EU1310:CYPPRESS:07Cyprus Problem and the EU By Emilia Christofi Nicosia, Apr 15 (CNA) -- As Cyprus signs the Accession Treaty of the European Union on Wednesday, it remains the only divided country in Europe, with 37 per cent of its territory under Turkish occupation since 1974. The accession process was widely believed to act as a catalyst in efforts to solve the political problem. As UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan had said, the European Council decision in Helsinki in 1999 that opened the door to Turkeys candidature for accession, as well as the prospect for enlargement of the EU by ten new members, including Cyprus, produced an EU factor which provided a framework of incentives to reach a settlement, as well as deadlines within which to reach it. So the great venture began. Annan decided by the end of 1999 to launch a new effort that would allow the Treaty of Accession of the EU to be signed by a united Cyprus, which culminated with the submission of his plan on 11 November 2002 which was a basis for agreement on a comprehensive settlement. This proposal was constructed in such a manner that the two leaders could sign a two-page Comprehensive Settlement of the Cyprus Problem, the essence of which was that they would commit themselves to finalising negotiations, with United Nations assistance, on the basis of the substantive parts of the plan by 28 February 2003, and submit the plan to separate simultaneous referenda for approval on 30 March 2003. This would have allowed a new state of affairs to come into being and a reunited Cyprus to sign the Treaty of Accession to the European Union on 16 April 2003. After intensive consultations, he put forward a revised plan on 10 December, hoping to help the parties reach an agreement in time for the Copenhagen Council on 12 and 13 December, 2002. As the Copenhagen European Council invited Cyprus to join the European Union, the talks for a political settlement collapsed. Former Cyprus President, Glafcos Clerides, who is due to attend Wednesdays ceremony, said in a statement: It is with great satisfaction that I announce to the people of Cyprus that the great national aim of Cyprus accession to the EU has today been completed with the invitation of the Republic of Cyprus to become a member state. For a long time now we have been waiting for this historical day to come. Today is a landmark in the process or unification of the European continent and a start for a brighter common future. Our joy for this historical event would be complete if the Cyprus problem was already solved. We are deeply saddened because an agreement for a comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus problem was not achieved, despite efforts all these years, efforts which over the past few weeks reached a dramatic height. However, our commitment to achieve this aim the soonest possible remains, as always, strong. I address especially our Turkish Cypriot compatriots and call on them not to lose their faith in the necessity to live together in a reunited and prosperous Cyprus, member of the EU. I would like to assure that until a solution of the Cyprus problem is achieved, the Cypriot government will do everything possible, so that all Cypriots, Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots, can enjoy the benefits and rights deriving from Cyprus accession to the EU. The accession of our country to the united Europe provides us with the necessary certainty to take, over the next few weeks, daring measures that will help create a favourable climate for achieving a solution of our political problem. After the Copenhagen development and the end of the elections in Cyprus, where Tassos Papadopoulos took over, Annan visited Turkey, Greece and Cyprus, in the last week of February 2003. Annan formally presented a third version of his plan on 26 February, and invited the leaders to The Hague on 10 March to inform him whether they were prepared to sign a commitment to submit the plan for approval at separate simultaneous referenda on 30 March 2003. On 11 March, following negotiations with the two leaders and the guarantor powers lasting more than 19 hours, he announced that there had been no such agreement, and at that point the process which had begun in December 1999 reached the end of the road. Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash refused to put to a referendum Annan's proposal for a comprehensive settlement in Cyprus and said he wanted radical changes to it. Cyprus President Tassos Papadopoulos said he would put the plan to a referendum but asked for the legal aspects of the plan to be completed and for sufficient time to inform the people about its contents before they voted on it. So the Greek Cypriots were led to continue the road to the EU, without the Turkish Cypriots. However, the Government of Cyprus said it would announce measures in support of Turkish Cypriots after the signing of the Accession Treaty with the European Union. Government Spokesman Kypros Chrisostomides said these practical measures aim to create a climate of cooperation and to assist the search for a political settlement. This way, Turkish Cypriots can enjoy all the benefits of all citizens of the Republic of Cyprus to the greatest degree possible, until a solution is reached. The wording of the Protocol on Cyprus to be included in the Accession Treaty has been prepared accordingly. The application of the acquis communautaire in those areas of the Republic of Cyprus in which the government of the Republic of Cyprus does not exercise effective control is therefore suspended. In the event of a solution to the Cyprus problem, this suspension shall be lifted and the EU is ready to accommodate the terms of such a settlement in line with the principles on which the EU is founded. Membership of the European Union will provide a productive forum for a fair and lasting settlement in Cyprus, and will grant Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots a feeling of security, where their fundamental human rights will be safeguarded, within the framework of the acquis communautaire. EU position on Cyprus --------- The European Union has long maintained a clear and unequivocal stance on the Cyprus problem, noting it considers the status quo on the island as unacceptable and supports the UN Secretary-Generals efforts for a negotiated, comprehensive, just and lasting settlement, consistent with the relevant UN Security Council resolutions, the EU said in a declaration on 31 October 2000. Despite the repeated opposition by Rauf Denktash and Turkey towards Cyprus accession, and the threats unleashed over and over again, the EU, in a landmark decision at the Helsinki European Council in December 1999, explicitly stated that a solution to the Cyprus problem is not a precondition for the islands accession to the EU. This development was mainly achieved by Greek Foreign Minister, George Papandreou and the late, Cypriot born Foreign Undersecretary of Greece Yiannos Kranidiotis, who had played an instrumental role in bringing his homeland closer to the EU. Fifty-two year old Kranidiotis, with his son Nicholas and another four persons, were killed during a flight to Romania on the Greek Prime Minister's Falcon jet, in September 1999, when the plane lost altitude. This position has been reaffirmed by the European Council in the conclusions of its Nice summit on 9 December 2000 while the European Parliament said in a resolution on 5 September 2001, that it expresses support for the creation of a joint state with a single sovereignty and indivisible, which would have a single citizenship and guarantee fundamental freedoms and human rights. Specifically, the paragraph read: The European Council underlines that a political settlement will facilitate the accession of Cyprus to the EU. If no settlement has been reached by the completion of accession negotiations, the Councils decision on accession will be made without the above being a precondition. In this, the Council will take account of all relevant factors. Joint Parliamentary Committee ---------------- In early 1992, the joint Cyprus-EC Parliamentary Committee was established which composed of 31 members, 19 of which were members of the European Parliament and the remaining 12 members of the House of Representatives. The committee plays an important role in strengthening relations between the Cyprus Parliament and the Euro Parliament. [08] CENTRAL BANK OF CYPRUS PRESS RELEASEANNOUNCEMENTSALE OF GOVERNMENT REGISTERED DEVELOPMENT STOCK BY AUCTION ISSUE OF FIRST TRANCHÅ OF SERIES 2003 4,60% 15-YEAR STOCK The Central Bank of Cyprus announces the offer by auction on a bid-price basis of up to £10.000.000 4,60% Government Registered Development Stock with date of issue 23rd April, 2003 and repayment at par in fifteen years. Details about the auction are published in the form of an Announcement in the Official Gazette of the Republic on Friday 18th April, 2003. Government Registered Development Stocks (GRDS) offered by auction are issued in series. For 15-year GRDS, Series 2003 4,60% GRDS maturing in 2018 is offered, which will be effected in tranches that will take place during 2003. The issue of the First Tranche of Series 2003 4,60% 15-year GRDS will take place on 23rd April, 2003 - being the date of issue of the Series. The auction will take place on Tuesday 22nd April, 2003. Bids in the prescribed form for the 15-year stock will be accepted from 18th Arpil, 2003 until 9.00 a.m. of 22nd April, 2003. Only forms designed for the First Tranche Issue should be used. Application forms for the submission of bids and copies of the Announcement on the auction procedures and Terms of Issue for 15year GRDS can be obtained from the Securities Section of the Central Bank of Cyprus. 15 April, 2003 [09] AMAN and OANA sign cooperation agreement1345:CYPPRESS:08AMAN and OANA sign cooperation agreement Constantinople, Apr 15 (CNA) -- The Alliance of Mediterranean News Agencies (MENA), of which the Cyprus News Agency (CNA) is a full member, has signed a cooperation agreement with the Organisation of Asia-Pacific News Agencies (OANA). The agreement was signed yesterday in Constantinople (Istanbul) by Andreas Christodoulides, Director General of the Athens News Agency (ANA) and AMAN Chairman, and Vitaly Ignatenko, Director General of the Russian news agency ITAR-TASS and OANA Chairman. [10] Iacovou says absence from Treaty signing harmful for Turkey1400:CYPPRESS:09Iacovou says absence from Treaty signing harmful for Turkey Nicosia, Apr 15 (CNA) -- Cyprus Foreign Affairs Minister Georgios Iacovou said today that Turkey would only harm herself if it walked out from the signing ceremony of Cyprus' Accession Treaty with the European Union scheduled tomorrow afternoon in Athens. [11] Iacovou says UN resolution adopts Greek Cypriot positions1410:CYPPRESS:10Iacovou says UN resolution adopts Greek Cypriot positions Nicosia, Apr 15 (CNA) Cyprus Foreign Minister Georgios Iacovou said that the resolution on Cyprus passed unanimously yesterday by the UN Security Council adopts the positions of the Greek Cypriot side and deplores the Turkish side for its intransigence in efforts to solve the Cyprus problem. [12] Cyprus Stock Exchange
[13] Weather and Temperatures for Cyprus
[14] Papadopoulos leaves for Athens to sign Accession Treaty1800:CYPPRESS:13Papadopoulos leaves for Athens to sign Accession Treaty Larnaca, Apr 15 (CNA) - President of the Republic Tassos Papadopoulos departed today for Athens, heading a multi-member delegation, for tomorrow's signing of the Accession Treaty with the EU. [15] House President says Security Council resolution positive1840:CYPPRESS:14House President says Security Council resolution positive Nicosia, Apr 15 (CNA) - House of Representatives President Demetris Christofias said yesterday's UN Security Council resolution on Cyprus was a ''positive development'', noting that it includes a provision for further negotiations on the Annan plan and blames Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash for the latest failure of the peace talks. [16] President arrives in Athens1850:CYPPRESS:15President arrives in Athens Athens, Apr 15 (CNA) - President of the Republic Tassos Papadopoulos and his entourage arrived in Athens this afternoon for tomorrow's signing of the Accession Treaty with the EU. Cyprus News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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