Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 03-04-24

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

CONTENTS

[01] Nearly 5,000 Cypriots cross the divide

[02] Annan discusses Cyprus in Austria

[03] Greece welcomes crossings in Cyprus

[04] Crossing of Cypriots continues

[05] Ancient coins repatriated

[06] US welcomes measures in aid of a political settlement

[07] Turkey should recognise Armenian genocide, says Christofias

[08] NOTE TO CNA SUBSCRIBERS

[09] Cyprus Stock Exchange

[10] Poos says crossing of divide ''good omen'' for settlement

[11] Government welcomes easing of restrictions on free movement

[12] Weather forecast for Cyprus

[13] Weather and Temperatures for Cyprus

[14] Government says easing of restrictions not solution

[15] Greek and Turkish Cypriots continue to cross divide

[16] House President leaves for Brussels on April 28

[01] Nearly 5,000 Cypriots cross the divide

0825:CYPPRESS:01

Nearly 5,000 Cypriots cross the divide

Nicosia, Apr 24 (CNA) -- Police have said that nearly 5,000 Cypriots crossed Wednesday from the northern Turkish-occupied areas of Cyprus into the southern government-controlled part of the island and vice-versa.

Most of them, nearly 3,000, were Turkish Cypriots who entered the free areas of the Republic for the day, following a partial easing of restrictions on their freedom of movement by the illegal occupation regime.

[02] Annan discusses Cyprus in Austria

0830:CYPPRESS:02

Annan discusses Cyprus in Austria

by Apostolis Zoupaniotis

United Nations, Apr 24 (CNA) -- UN Secretary General Kofi Annan has discussed the question of Cyprus with Austrtian government officials, it was announced in New York.

[03] Greece welcomes crossings in Cyprus

0930:CYPPRESS:03

Greece welcomes crossings in Cyprus

by Nicos Bellos

Brussels, Apr 24 (CNA) -- Greek Foreign Minister George Papandreou has welcomed the easing of restrictions on free movement between Cyprus' northern Turkish-occupied areas and the southern government- controlled part of the island.

''Something very important happened on Wednesday. Thousands of Cypriot citizens crossed from one to the other side. We welcome this, we hail contacts between people,'' he said.

[04] Crossing of Cypriots continues

1000:CYPPRESS:04

Crossing of Cypriots continues

Nicosia, Apr 24 (CNA) -- Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots are queuing at check points on either side of the divide to cross from the southern government-controlled areas to the northern Turkish- occupied part of the island and vice versa.

This is the second day Cypriots are expressing an interest in visiting a part of their country, many had not seen before because the continuing Turkish occupation of Cyprus has prevented them from doing so.

The crossings take place after an announcement by the illegal Turkish Cypriot regime to ease restrictions it had imposed on the freedom of movement of Turkish Cypriots and Greek Cypriots. The regime continues to demand that Greek Cypriots show their passports to move freely in the areas of the Republic under Turkish occupation, part of their own country.

So far about 70 Turkish Cypriots have crossed into the free areas of the Republic and many Greek Cypriots are waiting to go to the occupied north.

Greek Cypriots have told CNA that they were encouraged by Wednesday's events and said they felt moved by the prospect of seeing their homes and villages after 29 years of Turkish occupation.

It is estimated that so far about 120 Greek Cypriots have expressed an interest to visit the occupied areas.

Some Turkish Cypriots said they would visit the shops in Nicosia, others said they would seek information about acquiring passports of the Republic and birth certificates while others said that they would visit their villages.

Police officers are out in force to keep law and order and have put up tents to make waiting easier for everybody.

[05] Ancient coins repatriated

1025:CYPPRESS:05

Ancient coins repatriated

Nicosia, Apr 24 (CNA) -- Italy has returned to Cyprus 161 4th century BC silver coins, illegally exported from the island which the thieves tried to sell through the Internet.

The return of the coins, apparently illegally removed from the Amathus area on the southern coast where one of the island's ancient kingdoms thrived, was the culmination of concerted action between the Italian and the Cypriot authorities, that stopped the sale.

[06] US welcomes measures in aid of a political settlement

1050:CYPPRESS:06

US welcomes measures in aid of a political settlement

Nicosia, Apr 24 (CNA) -- The US has welcomed the easing of restrictions on free movement in Cyprus, stressing however that the ultimate goal remains a negotiated political settlement that would last.

US State Department spokesman Richard Boucher said Washington backs the principle of freedom of movement and is supportive of genuine measures aiming at increasing contact between the island's two communities.

[07] Turkey should recognise Armenian genocide, says Christofias

1145:CYPPRESS:07

Turkey should recognise Armenian genocide, says Christofias

Nicosia, Apr 24 (CNA) -- Cyprus House of Representatives President Demetris Christofias has called on Turkey to recognise the Armenian genocide of 1915 as a first step in the respect of international law and order which Ankara has to make, if it wants to align itself with the realities of today's world.

The call came from the House President as he addressed a commemoration meeting to mark 88 years since the genocide, organised here last night by the Armenian Metropolis in Cyprus.

[08] NOTE TO CNA SUBSCRIBERS

The Cyprus News Agency will be closed for Easter holidays on Saturday and Sunday 26 and 27 April.

Tomorrow, Friday April 25, CNA will be open from 08.00 to 13.00 hours.

On Monday, 28 April, CNA will be open from 09.00 to 14.00 hours.

[09] Cyprus Stock Exchange

1400:CYPPRESS:08

Cyprus Stock Exchange

Nicosia, Apr 24 (CNA) - The Cyprus Stock Exchange (CSE) All Share
Index closed at today's stock exchange meeting as follows:

CSE General Index                               89,22   ( 1,62)

Traded Value                  CYP    831.022

FTSE/CYSE 20                  CYP    529.834   353,19   ( 2,75)

Sectoral Indices

Banks                         CYP    441.611   102,59   ( 2,78)
Approved Investment
Companies                 CYP     10.470    75,63   ( 1,45)
Insurance Companies           CYP     14.319    17,58   ( 1,85)
Manufacturing Companies       CYP     14.023    59,01   ( 0,63)
Tourism Companies             CYP      6.121    94,96   ( 2,21)
Trading Companies             CYP      7.585    18,57   (-0,16)
Building and Cement Companies CYP     14.401    72,98   (-1,38)
Énformation Technology
Companies                 CYP      2.820     2,91   ( 0,69)
Financial Services Companies  CYP     18.907    15,91   ( 0,95)
Fish Culture Companies        CYP        199    12,75   ( 0,00)
Hotels                        CYP     16.869    44,01   ( 0,71)
Other Companies               CYP    101.865    82,83   ( 1,54)

* The third column presents the percentage variation of

[10] Poos says crossing of divide ''good omen'' for settlement

1440:CYPPRESS:09

Poos says crossing of divide good omen for settlement

Nicosia, Apr 24 (CNA) European Parliament Rapporteur on Cyprus' accession to the European Union Jacques Poos said he hoped the failure of The Hague talks is only an accident and that a unified Cyprus can enter the European Union the soonest.

[11] Government welcomes easing of restrictions on free movement

1520:CYPPRESS:10

Government welcomes easing of restrictions on free movement

Nicosia, Apr 24 (CNA) -- The government welcomed today the easing of restrictions on free movement of Cypriots, which the illegal Turkish Cypriot regime in occupied Cyprus had imposed, and described this development as ''positive.''

Government Spokesman Kypros Chrisostomides stressed however that such moves do not constitute the solution of the Cyprus question and reiterated the government's resolve to find a negotiated settlement.

He said by around lunchtime today about 300 Turkish Cypriots crossed from the northern Turkish occupied areas into the southern government controlled part of the island.

[12] Weather forecast for Cyprus

1520:CYPPRESS:11

Weather forecast for Cyprus

Nicosia, Apr 24 (CNA) -- The Meteorological Office at Larnaca International Airport has issued the following weather forecast for Cyprus:

Friday and Saturday 25/04/2003 to 26/04/2003 --------------------

The weather on Friday and Saturday will be cloudy with showers and thunderstorms. The wind will prevail southwest to west moderate 4 bf during daytime and west to northwest 3 during nighttime. The state of sea will be up to moderate. The maximum temperature over inland and the coastal areas will range from 18 to 22 C and the minimum from 8 to 12 C while over the mountains the temperature will range from 6 to 15 C.

Outlook for Sunday and Monday 27/4/2003 to 28/4/2003

The weather on Sunday will be mainly fine but a local thunderstorm during afternoon is not to be excluded. The temperature will note a small rise. On Monday the weather will be fine and the temperature will rise further.

[13] Weather and Temperatures for Cyprus

1610:CYPPRESS:12

Weather and Temperatures for Cyprus

Nicosia, Apr 24 (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           14         CLOUDY
Larnaca                24           15         CLOUDY
Limassol               24           16         CLOUDY
Paphos                 25           18         CLOUDY

[14] Government says easing of restrictions not solution

1840:CYPPRESS:13

Government says easing of restrictions not solution

Nicosia, Apr 24 (CNA) - Cypriot Minister of Defence Kyriakos Mavronicolas sent the message today that the easing of the restrictions on the free movement of Cypriots, which the illegal Turkish Cypriot regime in occupied Cyprus had imposed, was not a solution of the Cyprus problem, adding that efforts to reach a settlement would continue.

[15] Greek and Turkish Cypriots continue to cross divide

1845:CYPPRESS:14

Greek and Turkish Cypriots continue to cross divide

Nicosia, Apr 24 (CNA) - A total of 1,628 Turkish Cypriots had crossed into the government-controlled areas of the Republic of Cyprus by 1800 local time today (1500 GMT), after the easing yesterday of restrictions on the free movement of Cypriots, which the illegal Turkish Cypriot regime in occupied Cyprus had imposed.

A Police press release says by the same time today, a total of 4,437 Greek Cypriots had crossed over into the areas under Turkish occupation.

Of the 1,628 Turkish Cypriots, 1,323 crossed into the free areas from the Ledra Palace checkpoint in Nicosia and 305 through the Pergamos checkpoint.

[16] House President leaves for Brussels on April 28

1915:CYPPRESS:15

House President leaves for Brussels on April 28

Nicosia, Apr 24 (CNA) - President of the Cypriot House of Representatives Demetris Christofias departs for Brussels on April 28 to participate in the 15th meeting of the European Parliament President with the presidents of parliament of the countries participating in the enlargement process.

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