Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 04-04-28

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

CONTENTS

[01] China expresses respect for Cyprus' choice

[02] MEPs: Unacceptable for no vote to lead to regime's recognition

[03] Alvaro de Soto bids farewell to Cyprus

[04] Greece - Cyprus agree on future strategy

[05] Cyprus Stock Exchange

[06] Greece and Cyprus remain dedicated to reunification goal

[07] Weather and Temperatures for Cyprus

[08] UK not intending to change policy of non-recognition of regime

[09] UN says G/C referendum result raises serious questions

[01] China expresses respect for Cyprus' choice

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China expresses respect for Cypriots' choice

Nicosia, Apr 28 (CNA) -- China has said that the decision of the people of Cyprus on a UN plan for a solution should be respected.

According to the Chinese news agency Xinhua, Foreign Ministry spokesman Kong Quan said China wanted to see the question of Cyprus resolved with a comprehensive, just and reasonable solution through negotiations.

He said China respected the choice of the Cypriots and would continue to make its efforts with the international community for a proper solution to the Cyprus issue.

[02] MEPs: Unacceptable for no vote to lead to regime's recognition

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MEPs: Unacceptable for no vote to lead to regime's recognition

Nicosia, Apr 28 (CNA) British Members of the European Parliament Theresa Villiers and Ian Twinn called for a positive approach from the European Commission and the Labour government towards Cyprus.

Speaking in Brussels the Conservative MEPs said it is vital that the international community accept the result of the referendum noting that ''it is arrogant and unjustified for the European Commission to criticise the result of a democratic vote''.

''We are all saddened that the lengthy negotiations have not produced a settlement that is acceptable to Cyprus' two communities but we must now look forward and decide how to solve the problems highlighted in Saturday's referenda'' the MEPs said.

As regards to reports that British Secretary and the British Permanent Representative to the EU are actively pushing for direct contacts between the EU and unrecognised Turkish Cypriot administration in the north, the MEPs note that it would be unacceptable for the G/C's ''no'' vote ''to lead to the recognition of the regime on Northern Cyprus because this would reward and condone the Turkish invasion''.

[03] Alvaro de Soto bids farewell to Cyprus

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Alvaro de Soto bids farewell to Cyprus

Nicosia, Apr 28 (CNA) -- Alvaro de Soto, UN special adviser of the UN Secretary General, leaves Cyprus at lunch time today, returning to New York, after more than four years of efforts to reach a negotiated settlement that would reunite the island.

De Soto will fly from Nicosia international airport, now under UN control, by helicopter to the RAF British Base of Akrotiri and from then on aboard a UN aircraft he will go to Turkey and Athens to bid farewell to his former interlocutors in the Cyprus peace effort.

The Peruvian diplomat leaves Cyprus after the failure of the latest attempt to reunite the island. Greek Cypriots voted in their overwhelming majority (76 per cent) against a UN plan for a political settlement (the Annan plan). Turkish Cypriots voted in favour of the plan (65 per cent).

In Ankara, he will meet Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan, Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul and possibly Ugur Ziyal, foreign ministry under-secretary.

[04] Greece - Cyprus agree on future strategy

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Greece - Cyprus agree on future strategy

by Christa Nikolaou

Athens, Apr 28 (CNA) -- Greece and Cyprus have stressed that the verdict of the people of Cyprus on a UN-proposed solution in Cyprus must be respected, adding that future moves on how to handle the question of Cyprus have been agreed between the two capitals.

Speaking at a joint press conference after talks with Cyprus President Tassos Papadopoulos, Greek Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis said the objective remained the reunification of the island, on the basis of the UN plan (the Annan plan), ''an agreed and viable solution that provides the people of Cyprus with the necessary feeling of security.''

Karamanlis reiterated his full support and solidarity with Cyprus, praised moves by Papadopoulos towards the Turkish Cypriots to help improve their standard of living and said there was a need to maintain the interest of the international community in a resolution of the question of Cyprus.

President Papadopoulos said he was deeply thankful to Karamanlis for his support in ''these difficult and crucial times'' and said the decision of the Cypriot people in Saturday's referendum was ''a sovereign right'' of the people.

When asked if he would keep his pledge not to veto Turkey's European aspirations, Papadopoulos stressed that ''I stand by what I said last time I was asked the same question and I will repeat. É think it is in the interest of Cyprus that Turkey is a European state provided and on condition that Turkey behaves like a European country and complies with all the principles on which the European Union was established and the acquis communautaire.''

[05] Cyprus Stock Exchange

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Cyprus Stock Exchange

Nicosia, Apr 28 (CNA) - The Cyprus Stock Exchange (CSE) All Share
Index closed at today's stock exchange meeting as follows:

CSE General Index                               82,44   ( 2,07)

Traded Value                  CYP  1.003.287

FTSE/CYSE 20                  CYP    745.437   359,42   ( 3,35)
FTSE Med 100                                 6.611,15   (-0,30)

Sectoral Indices

Banks                         CYP     579.863  104,05   ( 2,81)
Approved Investment
Companies                 CYP      29.590   72,32   (-0,39)
Insurance Companies           CYP       2.898   16,05   ( 0,75)
Manufacturing Companies       CYP     124.704   53,87   ( 1,28)
Tourism Companies             CYP       3.696   55,92   ( 3,84)
Trading Companies             CYP      32.165   23,45   ( 3,40)
Building and Cement Companies CYP       8.076   65,62   ( 1,39)
Énformation Technology
Companies                 CYP       4.345    2,83   ( 2,91)
Financial Services Companies  CYP      22.177    9,13   (-1,08)
Fish Culture Companies        CYP           0   12,47   ( 0,73)
Hotels                        CYP       7.769   31,41   (-0,03)
Other Companies               CYP     168.595   67,45   ( 1,49)

* The third column presents the percentage variation of

[06] Greece and Cyprus remain dedicated to reunification goal

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Greece and Cyprus remain dedicated to reunification goal

by Christa Nicolaou

Athens, April 28 (CNA) - Greece's Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis pledged that Greece and Cyprus remain firmly dedicated to the goal of complete cooperation and coordination to achieve the soonest an agreed viable and functional solution to the Cyprus problem based on the UN Secretary-General's plan, which will provide Cypriots the necessary feeling of security.

Karamanlis was speaking during a press conference with Cypriot President Tassos Papadopoulos after talks between the two governments in the Greek capital.

It was the first meeting following Saturday's referenda on the two sides of the divide in Cyprus where Greek Cypriots voted against the Annan plan by an overwhelming majority. Turkish Cypriots approved the plan.

President Papadopoulos and Premier Karamanlis agreed on ways to maintain the international interest and dynamic on Cyprus.

Karamanlis said that during the meeting they ascertained identity of views regarding the situation as it has developed following the democratic will of the people of Cyprus in Saturday's referendum.

He reminded ''the will of the people of Cyprus should in every circumstances be respected, as provided by the UN Secretary-General's documents.''

The Greek Premier reiterated the Greek government's ''insistence on supporting with all our power the Republic of Cyprus,'' adding ''we agreed on the further handling and the need to maintain the international interest and dynamic to solve the Cyprus problem.''

''Our firm aim remains the reunification of Cyprus,'' Karamanlis said, adding that ''we welcome the decision of Cyprus to take new measures to support Turkish Cypriots and to do everything possible so that Turkish Cypriot citizens will get the EU assistance they would have had if there were a settlement.''

He added that ''our aim is to ease and prepare their reunification with the Greek Cypriot community.''

''We remain firmly dedicated to thorough cooperation and coordination with the government of the Republic of Cyprus and our common aim is no other than to achieve the soonest an agreed viable and functional solution to the Cyprus problem based on the UN Secretary-General's plan which will provide Cypriots the necessary feeling of security,'' Karamanlis added.

President Papadopoulos thanked the Greek government and the Prime Minister for ''their support in the hard and crucial times for the Republic of Cyprus.''

''The decision as far as the Annan Plan is concerned was the sovereign right of the people of Cyprus and whatever the result of this democratic procedure, Greece will remain by our side and support us,'' he added.

Asked if the common aim is to find a solution before the end of the year, President Papadopoulos said ''it is impossible to set deadlines for such issues, it is not only up to us but depends on many other factors.''

The Cypriot President said plans such as the Annan Plan ''do not fade or die, they are always on the table,'' adding that efforts are still underway to make this plan acceptable by the people of Cyprus when the time comes.

At this point, Karamanlis said no specific deadline was set and that the basis of the negotiation remains the Annan Plan. He reminded that the EU Council of Ministers on Monday, despite having completely different evaluations, reconfirmed that the aim remains the reunification of the island.

[07] Weather and Temperatures for Cyprus

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Weather and Temperatures for Cyprus

Nicosia, Apr 28 (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                 26            13           FAIR
Larnaca                 25            12           FINE
Limassol                26            14           FINE
Paphos                  22            13           FINE

[08] UK not intending to change policy of non-recognition of regime

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UK not intending to change policy of non-recognition of regime

by Kyriacos Tsioupras

London, April 28 (CNA) - British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw said neither the UK nor the European Union as a whole were proposing any change in the long-standing policy of non-recognition of the regime in the Turkish occupied areas of Cyprus.

[09] UN says G/C referendum result raises serious questions

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UN says G/C referendum result raises serious questions

by Apostolis Zoupaniotis

United Nations, April 28 (CNA) UN Undersecretary General for Political Affairs Sir Kieran Prendergast said the result of the referendum by the Greek Cypriot electorate, which said ''No'' to the plan for a settlement proposed by UN chief Kofi Annan, strongly encouraged by Cyprus President Tassos Papadopoulos, ''raises serious questions.''

Briefing the Security Council on Cyprus, Sir Kieran also said the Secretary-General has begun to give careful thought to the implications of the result and what it means for the future.

He noted that while the result of last Saturday's vote was disappointing, the United Nations has nevertheless come closer than ever before to resolving one of the most delicate and complex conflicts on its agenda.

Informing the Security Council, Sir Kieran said ''time is needed for the dust to settle from the outcome of the referenda on 24 April,'' noting that ''the full implications of the outcome of these referenda may take a while to become apparent.''

He said the UN Secretary-General's Special Adviser on Cyprus Alvaro de Soto, who left the island today, is paying farewell calls in Ankara and Athens, before returning to New York over the weekend.

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