Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 03-12-18

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

CONTENTS

[01] Cyprus House approves state budget

[02] Chinese military delegation visits Cyprus

[03] Verheugen urges Ankara to assume initiative for Cyprus solution

[04] Weather and Temperatures for Cyprus

[05] Cyprus Stock Exchange

[06] Defence Minister meets Chinese senior military official

[07] Weston: all four parties need to show necessary political will

[08] Cyprus reference in European Parliament resolution

[01] Cyprus House approves state budget

0945:CYPPRESS:01

Cyprus House approves state budget

Nicosia, Dec 18 (CNA) -- The House of Representatives approved at 0145 local time this morning (2345 GMT, Wednesday 17 Dec 2003) the state budget for 2004, with 48 votes in favour and one vote against.

Seven out of eight parliamentary parties (Leftwing AKEL, rightwing Democratic Rally, centre-right Democratic Party, Socialist Movement EDEK, United Democrats, Struggling Democratic Movement (ADIK) and Ecologists-Environmentalists Movement) voted for the budget after a three-day parliamentary debate. The New Horizons' only deputy Christos Clerides voted against.

[02] Chinese military delegation visits Cyprus

0950:CYPPRESS:02

Chinese military delegation visits Cyprus

Nicosia, Dec 18 (CNA) -- A Chinese military delegation, headed by China's General Assistant of the Chief of General Staff, Lieutenant Li Yu, is paying a three-day official visit to Cyprus at the invitation of the Ministry of Defence. The delegation arrived here last night.

[03] Verheugen urges Ankara to assume initiative for Cyprus solution

1000:CYPPRESS:03

Verheugen urges Ankara to assume initiative for Cyprus solution

by Nicos Bellos

Brussels, Dec 18 (CNA) -- EU Enlargement Commissioner Gunter Verheugen has said a Cyprus settlement is not a precondition for Turkey's European course but is politically linked with its candidacy for EU membership.

Speaking before the European Parliament plenary yesterday Verheugen called on Ankara to assume an initiative for a Cyprus settlement by May 1st, 2004, when Cyprus will officially join the EU.

[04] Weather and Temperatures for Cyprus

1610:CYPPRESS:04
Weather and Temperatures for Cyprus
Nicosia, Dec 18 (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                12            5     SHOWERS
Larnaca                14           10     SHOWERS
Limassol               15            8     SHOWERS
Paphos                 14           11     SHOWERS

[05] Cyprus Stock Exchange

1640:CYPPRESS:05

Cyprus Stock Exchange

Nicosia, Dec 18 (CNA) - The Cyprus Stock Exchange (CSE) All Share
Index closed at today's stock exchange meeting as follows:

CSE General Index                               79,23   (-0,26)

Traded Value                  CYP    258.709

FTSE/CYSE 20                  CYP    174.072   317,49   (-0,58)
FTSE Med 100                                 5.729,38   (-0,26)

Sectoral Indices

Banks                         CYP    145.062    89,78   (-0,67)
Approved Investment
Companies                 CYP      9.376    69,55   ( 0,78)
Insurance Companies           CYP        556    15,19   (-0,07)
Manufacturing Companies       CYP     32.112    57,22   ( 1,26)
Tourism Companies             CYP      1.765    66,25   (-0,41)
Trading Companies             CYP      7.703    20,13   (-0,59)
Building and Cement Companies CYP     14.589    69,39   ( 0,36)
Énformation Technology
Companies                 CYP      6.042     3,16   (-1,56)
Financial Services Companies  CYP      5.081    10,61   (-1,94)
Fish Culture Companies        CYP          0    11,58   (-1,03)
Hotels                        CYP      7.825    37,16   ( 0,05)
Other Companies               CYP     27.078    73,44   (-0,37)

* The third column presents the percentage variation of

[06] Defence Minister meets Chinese senior military official

1705:CYPPRESS:07

Defence Minister meets Chinese senior military official

[07] Weston: all four parties need to show necessary political will

1850:CYPPRESS:08

Weston: all four parties need to show necessary political will

Nicosia, Dec 18 (CNA) -- US Special Coordinator for Cyprus Thomas Weston has called on all four interested parties in the question of Cyprus to show the political will to enable the resumption of talks, which could take place as soon as possible once the parties meet the requirements of the Secretary General to conclude his peace proposal and put it to a referendum.

Speaking at a press conference, as he continues his contacts here and before flying off to Turkey, he said the Annan plan, a UN peace proposal on a comprehensive settlement, is the only realistic vehicle to find a negotiated settlement.

Referring to his meetings in the Turkish occupied north of Cyprus, he said he does not see eye to eye on everything with Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash but said several Turkish Cypriot political leaders share Washington's outlook on the way forward towards a solution.

On the situation in occupied Cyprus, after the ''parliamentary elections'' last Sunday, Weston said that it is politically unsettled but the result should encourage Turkish Cypriot leaders to move towards negotiations.

Weston continues to believe that it is possible to find a negotiated agreement by May 1 next year, when Cyprus joins the European Union.

[08] Cyprus reference in European Parliament resolution

1915:CYPPRESS:09

Cyprus reference in European Parliament resolution

by Nicos Bellos

Brussels, Dec 18 (CNA) -- The European Parliament has called on all parties, in particular Turkey and the Turkish Cypriot leadership, to meet the criteria the UN Secretary General has laid down for them in order to resume negotiations for a political settlement.

The resolution notes with interest the outcome of Sunday's ''parliamentary elections'' in Turkish occupied Cyprus and hopes this is indicative of support for a comprehensive settlement.

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