Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 03-12-19

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

CONTENTS

[01] State Deparment's 2003 Religious Freedom Report on Cyprus released

[02] UN Security Council calls for immediate resumption of Cyprus talks

[03] Boucher reiterates US support to Annan plan

[04] Problems will increase if no solution by May, says Irish Ambassador

[05] Spokesman: US envoy's stance ''unfair''

[06] Markides forms new political movement

[07] President asks Annan to reengage in talks

[08] Spokesman comments on European Parliament resolution

[09] President replies to Annan letter on missing persons

[10] Spokesman sees ''important'' elements in Council statement

[11] Weather and Temperatures for Cyprus

[12] Commission confirms conclusion of structural fund dialogue

[13] Cyprus Stock Exchange

[14] Cyprus has largest purchasing power among acceding countries

[15] Cyprus foreign trade statistics January-July 2003

[01] State Deparment's 2003 Religious Freedom Report on Cyprus released

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State Deparment's 2003 Religious Freedom Report on Cyprus released

by Demetris Apokis

Washington, Dec 19 (CNA) -- US State Department's Religious Freedom Report 2003 for Cyprus said there was no change in the status of respect for religious freedom during the period covered by the report, ''and government policy continued to contribute to the generally free practice of religion.''

[02] UN Security Council calls for immediate resumption of Cyprus talks

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UN Security Council calls for immediate resumption of Cyprus talks

by Apostolis Zoupaniotis

United Nations, Dec 19 (CNA) -- UN Security Council urged the Turkish Cypriot leadership and all parties concerned to strongly support the Secretary General's efforts and called for an immediate resumption of Cyprus talks on the basis of his proposals.

In a statement by the Council's President after unofficial deliberations of the Body, the members of the Council also ''welcome the fact that the majority of Turkish Cypriots have expressed their desire for a solution to the Cyprus problem and for accession to the EU.''

''This result is all the more noteworthy given pressures faced by the Turkish Cypriots to support the status quo,'' the statement said.

The members of the Council expressed hope ''that all parties in northern Cyprus and all other concerned parties will honour the desire of the majority of Turkish Cypriots as soon as possible.''

They also noted that they continue to believe ''that securing a comprehensive settlement negotiated on the basis of the detailed proposals of the Secretary General and accession to the EU by a reunited Cyprus would be in the interests of all Cypriots.''

''The members reiterate their full support for the good offices of the Secretary General as entrusted to him in Security Council resolution 1250. They urge the Turkish Cypriot leadership and all parties concerned to strongly support the Secretary General's efforts and, in this context, call for an immediate resumption of the talks on the basis of his proposals,'' the Security Council stressed.

[03] Boucher reiterates US support to Annan plan

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Boucher reiterates US support to Annan plan

Nicosia, Dec 19 (CNA) -- US State Department's Spokesman Richard Boucher has reiterated the US support to the UN Secretary General's plan for a Cyprus settlement, noting that this is the solution that needs to be looked at now by all the parties.

[04] Problems will increase if no solution by May, says Irish Ambassador

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Problems will increase if no solution by May, says Irish Ambassador

By Maria Myles

Nicosia, Dec 19 (CNA) -- Problems for Turkey, the Turkish Cypriots and President Tassos Papadopoulos will increase, if Cyprus joins the European Union on May 1 next year without a political settlement, Ireland's Ambassador here John Swift believes, and points out that in this eventuality the ceasefire line on the island will represent the de facto limit of the Community.

In an interview with CNA, before his country assumes the six monthly rotating EU presidency in January 2004, Swift indicated that the EU should decide on a date to begin accession negotiations with Turkey, if that country meets the criteria Brussels has laid down for it. In this respect he welcomed President Papadopoulos' position that he will not veto Turkey's accession, if it fulfills the terms the EU has set out for Ankara.

On the outcome of the ''parliamentary elections'' in Turkish occupied Cyprus, he said the pro-solution forces that back EU accession won a narrow victory but acknowledged that the distribution of ''seats'' which were divided equally between the main political forces does not help start a process that has a timeframe to it.

[05] Spokesman: US envoy's stance ''unfair''

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Spokesman: US envoy's stance ''unfair''

Nicosia, Dec 19 (CNA) -- Government Spokesman Kypros Chrysostomides has described ''unfair'' the view adopted by US coordinator on Cyprus that places President Tassos Papadopoulos on an equal par with the Turkish Cypriot side with regard to efforts for the immediate resumption of talks.

[06] Markides forms new political movement

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Markides forms new political movement

Nicosia, Dec 19 (CNA) -- Former Attorney General Alecos Markides today announced the formation of a political movement named ''Renewal Movement'', adding that he would seek to include Turkish Cypriots because the Movement will be open to all, irrespective of race or religion.

[07] President asks Annan to reengage in talks

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President asks Annan to reengage in talks

Nicosia, Dec 19 (CNA) -- President Tassos Papadopoulos has asked UN Secretary General Kofi Annan to reengage in the question of Cyprus with a view at resuming talks, Government Spokesman Kypros Chrysostomides has said.

He also said that Annan's demand to fix a date for a referendum on his peace proposal is not feasible because at present the Annan plan is not complete.

[08] Spokesman comments on European Parliament resolution

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Spokesman comments on European Parliament resolution

Nicosia, Dec 19 (CNA) - Cypriot Government Spokesman Kypros Chrysostomides said today that the European Parliament resolution on the Brussels European Council conclusions ''reiterates the Salonica European Council conclusions and calls Turkey and the Turkish Cypriot leadership in particular to show willingness to resume talks and negotiations on the basis of the Annan plan''.

[09] President replies to Annan letter on missing persons

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President replies to Annan letter on missing persons

Nicosia, Dec 19 (CNA) -- President Tassos Papadopoulos has accepted without any reservation suggestions UN Secretary General Kofi Annan has put forward with a view at making headway on the humanitarian issue of missing persons.

[10] Spokesman sees ''important'' elements in Council statement

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Spokesman sees ''important'' elements in Council statement

Nicosia, Dec 19 (CNA) -- Government Spokesman Kypros Chrysostomides has said that there are important elements in a statement issued Thursday by the Security Council.

[11] Weather and Temperatures for Cyprus

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Weather and Temperatures for Cyprus

Nicosia, Dec 19 (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            4         FAIR
Larnaca                14            5         FAIR
Limassol               13            7         CLOUDY
Paphos                 14            7         FAIR

[12] Commission confirms conclusion of structural fund dialogue

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Commission confirms conclusion of structural fund dialogue

Nicosia, Dec 19 (CNA) The European Commission confirmed on Thursday that the negotiations on the strategy for the implementation of structural funds in Cyprus, for the period 2004 to 2006, have been successfully concluded.

[13] Cyprus Stock Exchange

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Cyprus Stock Exchange

Nicosia, Dec 19 (CNA) - The Cyprus Stock Exchange (CSE) All Share
Index closed at today's stock exchange meeting as follows:

CSE General Index                               79,24   ( 0,01)

Traded Value                  CYP    564.225

FTSE/CYSE 20                  CYP    218.139   317,24   (-0,08)
FTSE Med 100                                 5.729,91   ( 0,01)

Sectoral Indices

Banks                         CYP    174.059    90,10   ( 0,36)
Approved Investment
Companies                 CYP      9.212    69,05   (-0,72)
Insurance Companies           CYP      5.964    14,82   (-2,44)
Manufacturing Companies       CYP      2.960    56,68   (-0,94)
Tourism Companies             CYP      7.805    66,19   (-0,09)
Trading Companies             CYP     13.451    20,11   (-0,10)
Building and Cement Companies CYP     21.307    70,07   ( 0,98)
Énformation Technology
Companies                 CYP      4.843     3,16   ( 0,00)
Financial Services Companies  CYP     13.219    10,69   ( 0,75)
Fish Culture Companies        CYP          0    11,67   ( 0,78)
Hotels                        CYP      8.966    37,03   (-0,35)
Other Companies               CYP    179.918    73,16   (-0,38)

* The third column presents the percentage variation of

[14] Cyprus has largest purchasing power among acceding countries

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Cyprus has largest purchasing power among acceding countries

By Nicos Bellos

Brussels, Dec 19 (CNA) The purchasing power of the residents of Cyprus is the largest among the ten acceding countries, according to a Eurostat report published today.

According to community figures, the per capita gross domestic product in Cyprus, expressed in purchasing power parities, reached 76% of the average community member, at the end of 2002. It was seven percent higher than Malta and Slovenia, which follow in the list of acceding countries.

[15] Cyprus foreign trade statistics January-July 2003

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Cyprus foreign trade statistics January-July 2003

Nicosia, Dec 19 (CNA) -- Cyprus' total imports were 1.360,4 million Cyprus pounds for the period January-July 2003 as compared with 1.473,1 million pounds in January - July 2002. (One Cyprus pound is trading at 1.9 US dollars)

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