Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 04-02-24

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

CONTENTS

[01] President rules out continuation of talks until December

[02] EU Council welcomes Commission support for UN process

[03] German Minister of State to visit Cyprus

[04] Australian envoy to visit Cyprus

[05] Europa Philharmonie concerts to celebrate Cyprus' EU accession

[06] Papadopoulos: without ratification, no Cyprus Republic

[07] Weather and Temperatures for Cyprus

[08] Cyprus Stock Exchange

[09] Swiss experts in Cyprus to advise two sides

[01] President rules out continuation of talks until December

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President rules out continuation of talks until December

Nicosia, Feb 24 (CNA) -- President Tassos Papadopoulos stressed here today that the goal of the current UN-led effort to find a negotiated settlement before Cyprus accedes to the European Union is to adhere to the timeframe Secretary General Kofi Annan has set out.

Speaking as he left the Presidential Palace for another meeting with Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Dentkash, the Cypriot President said one of the key issues under discussion is Turkey's demand to have the agreed solution ratified after Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots conduct separate simultaneous referenda.

Asked to comment on Denktash's suggestion that talks can continue until December, President Papadopoulos replied ''no, I have nothing of the sort in mind, we have begun talks with a view at reaching a settlement that would satisfy us that it will be accepted by the people by the end of the timeframe Annan has set out.''

[02] EU Council welcomes Commission support for UN process

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EU Council welcomes Commission support for UN process

by Nicos Bellos

Brussels, Feb 24 (CNA) -- European Union Foreign Ministers and their counterparts from the ten acceding countries have welcomed the preparedness of the European Commission to support the UN Secretary General's renewed effort to find a settlement before Cyprus joins the Union on May 1 this year.

The General Affairs and External Relations Council, which met here Monday, also said it will accommodate the terms of a settlement in line with the principles on which the EU is founded.

[03] German Minister of State to visit Cyprus

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German Minister of State to visit Cyprus

Nicosia, Feb 24 (CNA) -- German Minister of State for Europe Hans Martin Bury arrives here today for a brief visit to discuss EU related matters, financial concerns and the question of Cyprus.

[04] Australian envoy to visit Cyprus

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Australian envoy to visit Cyprus

Nicosia, Feb 24 (CNA) -- Jim Short, Australia's special envoy for Cyprus, arrives here today as part of his tour of various capitals where he discussed the question of Cyprus.

He is expected to see President Tassos Papadopoulos, and is due to see House of Representatives President Demetris Christofias tomorrow morning.

[05] Europa Philharmonie concerts to celebrate Cyprus' EU accession

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Europa Philharmonie concerts to celebrate Cyprus' EU accession

Nicosia, Feb 24 (CNA) - Events to celebrate Cyprus' accession to the EU continue with two concerts by Europa Philharmonie, the orchestra that was founded as a first reaction to the fall of the ''iron curtain'' that once divided Europe. The concerts, sponsored by the Republic of Cyprus, will be held on February 26 in Limassol and February 27 in Nicosia.

[06] Papadopoulos: without ratification, no Cyprus Republic

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Papadopoulos: without ratification, no Cyprus Republic

Nicosia, Feb 24 (CNA) -- The Greek Cypriot side demands not just a commitment but a real decision from the Turkish National Assembly for the ratification of a Cyprus agreement, Cyprus President Tassos Papadopoulos said here today.

Speaking to the press after the third meeting in the context of the UN-led talks which began last Thursday, President Papadopoulos explained that without a ratification of the agreement there will be no Cyprus Republic.

Asked if discussions on the important matters have begun during today's talks with Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash in the presence of UN Secretary General's special adviser for Cyprus Alvaro de Soto the Cypriot President said ''all issues are substantial''.

''As I have noted upon my arrival from New York the road ahead is long and difficult and we must be persuaded whether it is possible to achieve the changes we consider as essential in Annan Plan and be able to talk about a united Cyprus and not a Cyprus divided according to criteria of ethnic origin'', the President said.

Commenting on a remark that the Turkish Cypriot leader's stance does not seem to lead to the conclusion that there can be an agreement before the UN Secretary General steps in to fill in the gaps, Papadopoulos said ''proof of intentions and wishes will appear in the negotiating room, and so will our positions''.

''When he raises such issues we bring up the equivalent as included in my letter to the Secretary General dated 10 February. Obviously if he moves on in this direction we also have our own additional demands'', stressed President Papadopoulos.

Asked to comment on Turkish officials' remarks that the Turkish National Assembly should approve an agreement after the referenda in Cyprus he noted that the Turkish side seems to believe that it is enough to have a commitment that a ratification will take place.

''What we ask is not just a commitment but a real decision of the Turkish Parliament. You realise that without a ratification of the agreement there will be no Cyprus Republic and it will be not certain under what legal authority the Turkish troops will stay in Cyprus or even whether they must go away'', he noted.

Answering to another question he said that whenever the UN Secretary General's special adviser for Cyprus Alvaro de Soto, who conducts the talks, asks for separate meetings he will be ready to participate.

CNA ÊÍ/GP/2004 ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

[07] Weather and Temperatures for Cyprus

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Weather and Temperatures for Cyprus

Nicosia, Feb 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                 16             5           CLOUDY
Larnaca                 17             7           CLOUDY
Limassol                19            10           FAIR
Paphos                  18            10           FAIR

[08] Cyprus Stock Exchange

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Cyprus Stock Exchange

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

CSE General Index                               87,36   (-1,81)

Traded Value                  CYP  1.754.609

FTSE/CYSE 20                  CYP  1.446.156   373,84   (-2,79)
FTSE Med 100                                 6.414,70   (-0,22)

Sectoral Indices

Banks                         CYP   1.334.245  107,81   (-3,33)
Approved Investment
Companies                 CYP      80.005   76,33   (-0,33)
Insurance Companies           CYP       1.004   16,41   (-1,80)
Manufacturing Companies       CYP      12.119   57,54   (-0,95)
Tourism Companies             CYP      50.004   64,17   ( 6,26)
Trading Companies             CYP      40.969   23,44   (-0,42)
Building and Cement Companies CYP       6.662   70,97   ( 0,54)
Énformation Technology
Companies                 CYP       8.030    3,28   (-0,91)
Financial Services Companies  CYP      22.997   10,84   (-1,99)
Fish Culture Companies        CYP           0   12,22   ( 2,43)
Hotels                        CYP      22.448   36,40   ( 0,39)
Other Companies               CYP      40.480   72,53   (-0,75)

* The third column presents the percentage variation of

[09] Swiss experts in Cyprus to advise two sides

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Swiss experts in Cyprus to advise two sides

Nicosia, Feb 24 (CNA) - A team of Swiss experts, led by diplomat Didier Pfirter, will be in Cyprus this week to advise the legal teams of the two sides on harmonising more than 30 Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot laws in areas of constitutional, administrative, economic and public law.

The Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs posted a press release on its webpage saying that the team will also provide mediation services to the two parties, currently holding peace talks under UN auspices.

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