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

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

CONTENTS

[01] State Department says Cyprus’ accession to EU a watershed moment

[02] Cyprus President: EU has decided on Cyprus' status after accession

[03] UN Under SG leaves Cyprus

[04] Cyprus President says T/C leader rejects suggestions on territory

[05] UN envoy travels to Ankara Friday

[06] Weather forecast for Cyprus

[07] Cyprus Foreign Minister seeks clarifications from Britain

[08] Negotiations move at slow pace, says Cyprus Government Spokesman

[09] Comments by British FM not a warning, says Cyprus Foreign Minister

[10] Cyprus Stock Exchange

[11] Weather and Temperatures for Cyprus

[12] Cyprus' largest dam overflows

[13] Cypriot parties express concern over non-progress in negotiations

[14] EU Military Committee Chairman visits Cyprus

[15] FCO spokesman: legal position on Cyprus EU accession remains clear

[01] State Department says Cyprus’ accession to EU a watershed moment

0845:CYPPRESS:01

State Department says Cyprus accession to EU a watershed moment

by Demetris Apokis

Washington, Mar 4 (CNA) -- For Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots, Cyprus accession to the European Union on May 1 is a watershed moment in the decades-long conflict said Elizabeth Jones, US Assistant Secretary for European and Eurasian Affairs.

In her testimony on Wednesday before the Subcommittee on Europe of the House International Relations Committee, Jones said the breakthrough in negotiations brokered by Secretary General Annan on February 13 brings a final settlement within reach.

[02] Cyprus President: EU has decided on Cyprus' status after accession

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Cyprus President: EU has decided on Cyprus' status after accession

Nicosia, Mar 4 (CNA) -- Cyprus President Tassos Papadopoulos recalled there is an EU decision concerning Cyprus' status after its accession to the EU.

The Cypriot President was asked to comment on a statement by British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw, who had told CNN Turk that Greek Cypriots would be representing in the EU only the southern part of the island if they say "no" in a referendum to a UN plan for a solution to the Cyprus problem.

[03] UN Under SG leaves Cyprus

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UN Under SG leaves Cyprus

Nicosia, Mar 4 (CNA) -- UN Under Secretary General for Political Affairs Sir Kieran Prendergast left Cyprus for New York, UNFICYP'S spokesman Brian Kelly told CNA today.

[04] Cyprus President says T/C leader rejects suggestions on territory

1220:CYPPRESS:04

Cyprus President says T/C leader rejects suggestions on territory

Nicosia, Mar 4 (CNA) -- Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash has not accepted suggestions put forward by the Greek Cypriot side on the status of the territory which will be returned after a settlement as envisaged by the Annan Plan, said Thursday Cyprus President Tassos Papadopoulos.

Speaking after returning to the Presidential Palace from his ninth meeting with Denktash, President Papadopoulos also said that the Greek Cypriot side submitted an overall plan on how to handle the issue of the transitional period.

[05] UN envoy travels to Ankara Friday

1230:CYPPRESS:05

UN envoy travels to Ankara Friday

Nicosia, Mar 4 (CNA) -- UN Secretary-Generals special Adviser on Cyprus Alvaro de Soto leaves for Ankara tomorrow for consultations, UNFICYP Spokesman Brian Kelly told CNA.

[06] Weather forecast for Cyprus

1240:CYPPRESS:06

Weather forecast for Cyprus

Nicosia, Mar 4 (CNA) -- The Meteorological Office at Larnaca International Airport has issued the following weather forecast for Cyprus:

Friday and Saturday: 05/03/2004 to 06/03/2004 -------------------- On Friday, the weather will be cloudy at times with rain or thunderstroms.

On Saturday, the weather will be unsettled with probability of isolated showers and snowfalls over Troodos mountains.

WIND: S'ly to SW'ly moderate to fresh locally strong becoming later W'ly to NW'ly strong locally near gale.

STATE OF SEA: Moderate to rough becoming later rough locally very rough.

TEMPERATURE: On Friday, maximum temperature will reach 20 C inland and over west coast, 22 C over south and east coast and 15 C over Prodromos. Minimum temperature will fall to 12 C inland and over Prodromos and to 15 C over coastal areas.

On Saturday, maximum temperature will be around 15 C inland, 17 C over coastal areas and 6 C over Prodromos. Minimum temperature will fall to 4 inland, 7 C over coastal areas and -2 over Prodromos.

Outlook for Sunday and Monday: 07/03/2004 to 08/03/2004 ------------------------------ The weather will be mainly fine with patchy cloud. The temperature is expected to indrease.

[07] Cyprus Foreign Minister seeks clarifications from Britain

1320:CYPPRESS:07

Cyprus Foreign Minister seeks clarifications from Britain

Nicosia, Mar 4 (CNA) -- Cyprus Foreign Minister George Iacovou has sought clarifications from Britain about statements British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw made yesterday in Turkey relating to Cyprus' accession to the European Union.

Speaking after a meeting with British High Commissioner Lyn Parker, Iacovou said Parker was not in a position to confirm or deny Straw's remarks because he did not have before him the full text of his statements.

Straw was reported as saying that a no vote by the Greek Cypriots to a UN peace proposal and a yes vote by the Turkish Cypriots would mean that the Greek Cypriot side would represent only the southern part of the island as it is de facto divided.

Foreign Minister Iacovou said Parker reaffirmed Britain's long standing position on Cyprus and its adherence to protocol 10 of the Accession Treaty which the Republic of Cyprus has signed.

[08] Negotiations move at slow pace, says Cyprus Government Spokesman

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Negotiations move at slow pace, says Cyprus Government Spokesman

Nicosia, Mar 4 (CNA) -- The UN-led negotiations have not progressed at the desired pace, Cyprus Government Spokesman Kypros Chrysostomides said, two weeks after talks began on a UN peace proposal for a comprehensive settlement.

He said Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash, who sits at the negotiating table with Cyprus President Tassos Papadopoulos, focuses his attention on promoting divisive positions that would keep the Greek Cypriots and the Turkish Cypriots apart.

[09] Comments by British FM not a warning, says Cyprus Foreign Minister

1500:CYPPRESS:09

Comments by British FM not a warning, says Cyprus Foreign Minister

Nicosia, Mar 4 (CNA) -- Cyprus Foreign Minister George Iacovou does not believe that remarks made by his British counterpart in Turkey were meant to be a warning for the Greek Cypriots but Iacovou does acknowledge that Jack Straw used undiplomatic and ambiguous language.

The Cypriot minister said Nicosia did not make any representations to London on the matter as the full text of statements attributed to Straw is not yet available.

[10] Cyprus Stock Exchange

1715:CYPPRESS:10

Cyprus Stock Exchange

Nicosia, Mar 4 (CNA) - The Cyprus Stock Exchange (CSE) All Share
Index closed at today's stock exchange meeting as follows:

CSE General Index                               87,59   (-0,23)

Traded Value                  CYP    549.334

FTSE/CYSE 20                  CYP    366.157   376,71   (-0,02)
FTSE Med 100                                 6.418,33   (-0,26)

Sectoral Indices

Banks                         CYP     300.800  109,18   (-0,01)
Approved Investment
Companies                 CYP      37.990   74,90   (-0,48)
Insurance Companies           CYP       8.453   16,89   ( 0,72)
Manufacturing Companies       CYP      20.562   57,54   (-0,07)
Tourism Companies             CYP       6.948   60,50   (-1,85)
Trading Companies             CYP      25.141   24,04   (-1,03)
Building and Cement Companies CYP       1.283   71,14   ( 0,38)
Énformation Technology
Companies                 CYP       1.760    3,23   (-0,31)
Financial Services Companies  CYP      51.136   10,81   ( 1,50)
Fish Culture Companies        CYP         102   10,68   (-3,78)
Hotels                        CYP       9.914   36,28   (-0,63)
Other Companies               CYP      52.237   70,73   (-1,27)

* The third column presents the percentage variation of

[11] Weather and Temperatures for Cyprus

1717:CYPPRESS:11

Weather and Temperatures for Cyprus

Nicosia, Mar 4 (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                 21            15           CLOUDY
Larnaca                 24            16           CLOUDY
Limassol                23            16           CLOUDY Paphos                  26            15           CLOUDY

[12] Cyprus' largest dam overflows

1730:CYPPRESS:12

Cyprus' largest dam overflows

Nicosia, Mar 4 (CNA) Kourris, Cyprus' largest dam, outside Limassol on the south of the island, has overflown for the first time since its construction in 1988, a development the Minister of Agriculture, Natural Resources and the Environment Timis Efthimiou has described as ''a landmark event''.

[13] Cypriot parties express concern over non-progress in negotiations

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Cypriot parties express concern over non-progress in negotiations

Nicosia, Mar 4 (CNA) -- The Greek Cypriot Democratic Rally and the Turkish Cypriot Peace and Democracy Movement have expressed concern regarding the absence of progress in UN-led negotiations for a Cyprus solution, currently underway.

[14] EU Military Committee Chairman visits Cyprus

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EU Military Committee Chairman visits Cyprus

Larnaca, Mar 4 (CNA)-- European Union's Military Committee Chairman Finnish General Gustav Hagglund is visiting Cyprus to be briefed on the situation of the National Guard.

[15] FCO spokesman: legal position on Cyprus EU accession remains clear

2025:CYPPRESS:15

FCO spokesman: legal position on Cyprus EU accession remains clear

Nicosia, Mar 4 (CNA) -- The legal position as regards to Cyprus' accession to the European Union remains clear, a British Foreign Office Spokesman has said.

''The legal position remains clear. Cyprus' accession to the EU on 1 May is provided for by the Treaty of Accession, which was signed in Athens last April and subsequently ratified by all EU Member States," the spokesman said in the wake of critical remarks from local politicians about statements by British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw.

"In the absence of a settlement, a divided Cyprus will join the EU and the application of the acquis would be suspended in the north,'' the spokesman added.

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