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

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

CONTENTS

[01] Second phase of Cyprus talks begins today

[02] US anticipates solution in Cyprus talks

[03] EU Commissioner excludes permanent derogations in Cyprus agreement

[04] Straw calls on Cypriots to reserve judgment on UN plan for settlement

[05] Greek FM: deviation from UN and EU decisions on Cyprus unacceptable

[06] UN holds intensive bilateral contacts with parties in Burgenstock

[07] UN hand Papadopoulos document with Turkish positions

[08] Swiss authorities take strict security measures for Cyprus talks

[09] Weather and Temperatures for Cyprus

[10] Cyprus Stock Exchange

[11] Second phase of UN-led Cyprus talks already underway, says UN

[12] Greece and Turkey continue talks on security issue

[13] Meeting between G/C & T/C delegations cancelled by de Soto

[14] Limited prospects for real negotiation in Burgenstock, says G/C side

[15] UN not aware why meeting of G/C & T/C sides was cancelled

[16] Mediterranean Committee of the Socialist International meets in Cyprus

[17] Meeting between G/C and T/C delegations cancelled at T/C request

[01] Second phase of Cyprus talks begins today

0745:CYPPRESS:01

Second phase of Cyprus talks begins today

by Athena Arsalidou

Burgenstock, Mar 24 (CNA) -- The second phase of the UN-led Cyprus talks, that aim at reunifying the island on the basis of a peace proposal by the UN Secretary General, begins today in the afternoon, in Burgenstock, on the shores of lake Lucerne, Switzerland.

Cyprus President Tassos Papadopoulos and Mehmet Ali Talat, authorized by Turksih Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash to attend the talks on his behalf, will have a direct meeting today under UN auspices, in the presence of Greek and Turkish Foreign Ministers Petros Molyviatis and Abdullah Gul, CNA has learnt.

UN Secretary General Kofi Annan is due to arrive here March 27 to meet all the parties involved in the talks, which are enlarged in the second phase of this effort with the participation of the Greek and Turkish Premiers, Kostas Karamanlis and Tayyip Erdogan, who will arrive in Burgenstock, March 28.

The second phase of the talks ends on March 29. It is not clear at this stage of the talks whether the UN Secretary General will be present during the third phase of the talks, which provides for Kofi Annan's arbitration on those issues of the Annan plan that had not yet been agreed upon by the sides.

[02] US anticipates solution in Cyprus talks

0835:CYPPRESS:02

US anticipates solution in Cyprus talks

Washington, Mar 24 (CNA) -- The US expects to see a solution emerge from the UN-led Cyprus talks, that have moved to a Swiss resort this week, US State Department spokesman Richard Boucher has said.

[03] EU Commissioner excludes permanent derogations in Cyprus agreement

0855:CYPPRESS:03

EU Commissioner excludes permanent derogations in Cyprus agreement

by Nicos Bellos

Brussels, Mar 24 (CNA) -- European Union Commissioner responsible for enlargement Gunter Verheugen has reaffirmed that the Commission cannot accept derogations from the acquis communautaire of unlimited time to be incorporated in an agreement that may be reached for the reunification of Cyprus, which joins the Union on May 1 this year.

Similar assurances were given by the Director General of the Commission's Legal Department, at a meeting on Tuesday with Cyprus Foreign Minister George Iacovou.

[04] Straw calls on Cypriots to reserve judgment on UN plan for settlement

1020:CYPPRESS:04

Straw calls on Cypriots to reserve judgment on UN plan for settlement

by Kyriakos Tsioupras

London, Mar 24 (CNA) -- British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw has appealed to Cypriots to wait until the final version of a UN -proposed political settlement is in front of them before they pass judgment on it.

[05] Greek FM: deviation from UN and EU decisions on Cyprus unacceptable

1205:CYPPRESS:06

Greek FM: deviation from UN and EU decisions on Cyprus unacceptable

by Christa Nikolaou

Athens, May 24 (CNA) -- Greek Foreign Minister Petros Molyviatis has stressed that Athens could not accept any deviation from UN decisions and European Union rules and regulations with regard to a political settlement in Cyprus.

He expressed hope that the Turkish side would display a moderate approach at the ongoing UN-led talks for a political settlement in Cyprus to allow a reunited country to join the EU on May 1 this year.

[06] UN holds intensive bilateral contacts with parties in Burgenstock

1300:CYPPRESS:07

UN holds intensive bilateral contacts with parties in Burgenstock

by Maria Koniotou

Burgenstock, Mar 24 (CNA) -- The UN was having intensive bilateral contacts with the parties involved in the question of Cyprus, hours before the official start of enlarged talks later today, UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric, who has flown from New York to Switzerland for the talks, told CNA.

Dujarric also said that UN Secretary General's Special Adviser for Cyprus Alvaro De Soto met last night with Cyprus President Tassos Papadopoulos. Recalling the blackout the UN has imposed on the talks, Dujarric said he could not elaborate on the contents of their discussion.

CNA has learnt that the meeting lasted about 40 minutes and Papadopoulos and De Soto had an initial exchange of views.

[07] UN hand Papadopoulos document with Turkish positions

1355:CYPPRESS:08

UN hand Papadopoulos document with Turkish positions

by Maria Koniotou

Burgenstock, Mar 24 (CNA) -- The UN has delivered to Cyprus President Tassos Papadopoulos a nine-page document outlining the positions of the Turkish Cypriot side, tabled at the ongoing talks.

The paper, entitled ''Consolidated list of Turkish Cypriot proposals'', was handed to the Cypriot President by UN Secretary General's special adviser on Cyprus Alvaro de Soto, who conducts the talks between the Greek Cypriot and the Turkish Cypriot sides.

The document refers to the demands of the Turkish Cypriot side for what it calls ''strengthened bizonality'' of the state that would emerge from the talks and for permanent derogations from European Union rules and regulations to be incorporated in an eventual agreement as well as for a reduction in the number of Greek Cypriot refugees who would return to their homes under Greek Cypriot administration.

President Papadopoulos communicated the paper to the leaders of Greek Cypriot political parties who accompany him to the Swiss resort for the duration of the talks at their morning meeting.

[08] Swiss authorities take strict security measures for Cyprus talks

1420:CYPPRESS:09

Swiss authorities take strict security measures for Cyprus talks

By Athena Arsalidou

Burgenstock, Mar 24 (CNA) -- The Swiss government has taken strict security measures around the Burgenstock hotel village, where the UN-led enlarged talks on the Cyprus issue begin later today.

[09] Weather and Temperatures for Cyprus

1425:CYPPRESS:10

Weather and Temperatures for Cyprus

Nicosia, Mar 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                 25            11           FINE
Larnaca                 26            12           FINE
Limassol                23            16           FINE
Paphos                  20            14           FINE

[10] Cyprus Stock Exchange

1435:CYPPRESS:11
Cyprus Stock Exchange
Nicosia, Mar 24 (CNA) - The Cyprus Stock Exchange (CSE) All Share
Index closed at today's stock exchange meeting as follows:

CSE General Index                               86,50   ( 0,53)

Traded Value                  CYP    511.455

FTSE/CYSE 20                  CYP    297.820   373,95   ( 0,86)
FTSE Med 100                                 6.128,19   ( 0,78)

Sectoral Indices

Banks                         CYP     242.798  108,06   ( 0,44)
Approved Investment
Companies                 CYP      12.930   73,91   (-0,61)
Insurance Companies           CYP         880   17,04   (-0,18)
Manufacturing Companies       CYP      14.392   56,88   ( 1,63)
Tourism Companies             CYP       2.328   57,61   ( 2,13)
Trading Companies             CYP      11.588   23,72   ( 0,68)
Building and Cement Companies CYP      15.648   72,69   ( 0,97)
Énformation Technology
Companies                 CYP      39.752    3,01   ( 0,33)
Financial Services Companies  CYP      14.958   10,14   ( 2,01)
Fish Culture Companies        CYP           0   10,73   (-0,28)
Hotels                        CYP       4.892   34,60   (-0,92)
Other Companies               CYP     133.084   70,40   ( 0,49)

* The third column presents the percentage variation of

[11] Second phase of UN-led Cyprus talks already underway, says UN

1735:CYPPRESS:12

Second phase of UN-led Cyprus talks already underway, says UN

by Athena Arsalidou

Burgenstock, Mar 24 (CNA) -- The second phase of the UN-led Cyprus talks already started last night at a solid pace and at a diplomatic and higher level, UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric who is in Burgenstock told CNA.

[12] Greece and Turkey continue talks on security issue

1740:CYPPRESS:13

Greece and Turkey continue talks on security issue

by Maria Koniotou

Burgenstock Mar 24 (CNA) -- Greece and Turkey held here today a meeting for the security issue in Cyprus.

The meeting was not attended by high level officials and CNA has learnt that no progress was achieved.

CNA/MK/EC/2004 ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

[13] Meeting between G/C & T/C delegations cancelled by de Soto

1750:CYPPRESS:13

Meeting between G/C & T/C delegations cancelled by de Soto

by Maria Koniotou

Burgenstock, Mar 24 (CNA) A meeting that was to take place at 1800 local time here between the delegations of the Greek and Turkish Cypriot sides in the presence of UN Secretary-Generals Special Adviser Alvaro de Soto was cancelled by the UN diplomat himself.

[14] Limited prospects for real negotiation in Burgenstock, says G/C side

1925:CYPPRESS:14

Limited prospects for real negotiation in Burgenstock, says G/C side

By Maria Koniotou

Burgenstock, Mar 24 (CNA) The Greek Cypriot side believes there are no prospects for a real negotiation between the parties involved during the UN-led enlarged talks on the Cyprus issue.

According to sources the positions of the Turkish side, handed to the G/C side by UN Secretary Generals Special Adviser for Cyprus Alvaro de Soto remain the same and are outside the framework of the Annan plan calling for ''strengthened bizonality'' of the state that would emerge from the talks and permanent derogations from European Union rules and regulations to be incorporated in an eventual agreement.

They also provide for a reduction in the number of Greek Cypriot refugees who would return to their homes under Greek Cypriot administration.

[15] UN not aware why meeting of G/C & T/C sides was cancelled

1930:CYPPRESS:15

UN not aware why meeting of G/C & T/C sides was cancelled

By Athena Arsalidou

[16] Mediterranean Committee of the Socialist International meets in Cyprus

2005:CYPPRESS:15

Mediterranean Committee of the Socialist International meets in Cyprus

Nicosia, Mar 24 (CNA) The Mediterranean Committee of the Socialist International meets Friday at the southern coastal town of Limassol with the participation of representatives from Mediterranean, European countries and the US.

Turkish representatives have also been invited at the two-day meeting (26-27 March) organized by KS EDEK but they have not yet replied whether they will participate.

[17] Meeting between G/C and T/C delegations cancelled at T/C request

2030:CYPPRESS:16

Meeting between G/C and T/C delegations cancelled at T/C request

Nicosia, 24 Mar (CNA) -- The first meeting at the Swiss resort of Burgenstock on lake Lucerne between the Greek and Turkish Cypriot delegations in the presence of the special advisor to the UN Secretary General on the Cyprus issue Alvaro de Soto, scheduled for 18:00 local time, was cancelled at the request of the Turkish Cypriot side, informed sources have told CNA.

The reasons for the request were not clear.

According to the same sources, the Turkish Cypriot delegation asked for the cancellation after a meeting in Burgenstock between the Foreign Ministers of Greece Petros Molyviatis and Turkey Abdullah Gul, after which a Greek spokesman said it was "premature" to consider convening an official four-party conference with the participation of the governments of the two countries.

As agreed in New York on February 13 between UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, the leaders of both Cypriot communities, Greece and Turkey, if talks between the two sides in Cyprus failed to produce an agreement on the basis of the Annan plan for a settlement by 22 March, then the UN chief would convene "a meeting of the two sides, with the participation of Greece and Turkey in order to lend their collaboration, in a concentrated effort to agree on a finalized text by 29 March."

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