Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 04-12-16

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

CONTENTS

[01] British Minister: Annan plan the only realistic basis for settlement

[02] Cyprus President : There will be very hard negotiations at EU Summit

[03] Cyprus President: There will be very hard negotiations at EU Summit (2)

[04] Weather forecast for Cyprus

[05] Cyprus Stock Exchange

[06] Weather and Temperatures for Cyprus

[07] Cyprus President not satisfied with Barroso’s statements

[08] Solana calls on Turkey to recognise Cyprus

[09] Cyprus President neither optimistic nor pessimistic

[10] Turkish Premier meets Greek counterpart

[01] British Minister: Annan plan the only realistic basis for settlement

0950:CYPPRESS:01

British Minister: Annan plan the only realistic basis for settlement

by Kyriakos Tsioupras

London, Dec 16 (CNA) -- The British government remains strongly committed to achieving a Cyprus settlement and continues to believe that the Annan plan represents the only realistic basis for a comprehensive solution, British Minister for Europe Dennis MacShane has said.

MacShane was replying to a question by British Labour MP Ben Chapman, in the House of Common, on what plans he has to take forward the Annan plan on Cyprus, with particular reference to direct flights from the UK to Cyprus' Turkish occupied areas.

[02] Cyprus President : There will be very hard negotiations at EU Summit

1010:CYPPRESS:02

Cyprus President: There will be very hard negotiations at EU Summit

Larnaca, Dec 16 (CNA) -- Cyprus President Tassos Papadopoulos said negotiations among EU member states during the EU Summit, which begins today in Brussels and will decide on whether to give Turkey a date to open accession negotiations, will be very hard until the last minute.

Speaking at Larnaca airport prior to his departure for Brussels to attend the European Council, Papadopoulos assured that ''we will strive until the very last moment to achieve those we consider to be necessary.''

Invited to say if veto against Turkey, the country that occupies Cyprus' northern part since 1974, is among his choices, Papadopoulos said veto is a choice for every country for any issue.

''If at this particular case conditions will be created to exercise it or not, this is the question,'' he said.

''Certainly what is indicated are hard negotiations until the last moment. I cannot tell if the Council's deliberations will go on normally or if we will face a crisis. What I certainly know is that negotiations will be very hard until the last minute and will depend on many imponderable factors and on the positions of other countries, that they will certainly not tell us,'' he noted.

Papadopoulos said ''we have taken every action we could take, we have made contacts, discussions, proposals and until the last moment we will strive to achieve those we consider as necessary''.

[03] Cyprus President: There will be very hard negotiations at EU Summit (2)

1130:CYPPRESS:03

Cyprus President: There will be very hard negotiations at EU Summit(2)

Larnaca, Dec 16 (CNA) -- Cyprus President Tassos Papadopoulos said negotiations among EU member states during the EU Summit, which begins today in Brussels and will decide whether to give Turkey a date to open accession negotiations, will be very hard until the last minute.

Speaking at Larnaca airport prior to his departure for Brussels to attend the European Council, Papadopoulos assured that ''we will strive until the very last moment to achieve those we consider to be necessary.''

Invited to say if veto against Turkey, the country that occupies Cyprus' northern part since 1974, is among his choices, Papadopoulos said veto is a choice for every country for any issue.

''If at this particular case conditions will be created to exercise it or not, this is the question,'' he said.

''Certainly what is indicated are hard negotiations until the last moment. I cannot tell if the Council's deliberations will go on normally or if we will face a crisis. What I certainly know is that negotiations will be very hard until the last minute and will depend on many imponderable factors and on the positions of other countries, that they will certainly not tell us,'' he noted.

Papadopoulos said ''we have taken every action we could take, we have made contacts, discussions, proposals and until the last moment we will strive to achieve those we consider as necessary''.

'' I will try to do what is right for Cyprus, what I deem that it is for the benefit of the Cyprus people both at short-term and long-term.''

The Cypriot President also said that last night he spoke on the phone with Greek Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis, whom he is going to meet as soon as he arrives in Brussels.

Asked if the Cyprus Republic has secured the necessary support of other countries to its demands, Papadopoulos said the support of other countries is already given and noted that ''the issue is if this support, that what we ask for is rational and justified, will be incorporated in the decision taken. All these depend on a lot of factors.''

''It seems that Turkey has received assurances from strong countries that it will be granted a date without conditions and we have received assurances that Turkey will have to comply with certain preconditions,'' he noted.

Papadopoulos said that ''the discussion will take place between these two positions and it depends on what other countries will decide - something which also affects the Cyprus problem - that is if the countries insist on their reservations or if they abandon them. All these are imponderable factors that are not known now.''

To a remark that there are three scenarios for what is going to happen at the Summit - a compromise, hard negotiations or a crisis - Papadopoulos said these are three existing scenarios.

Asked if the Cypriot side will consider the signing of the protocol to extend Turkey's customs union with the 10 new member states to be adequate for her, Papadopoulos said ''no one begins negotiations by outlining his final limits, nor does he begin by putting unreasonable demands. You have to find the middle road.''

He noted the situation is being shaped according to the reactions of other countries as well, noting that ''this is a discussion between the 25 heads of states, and each country has its own positions, with its own degree of intense and insistence.''

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

[04] Weather forecast for Cyprus

1200:CYPPRESS:04

Weather forecast for Cyprus

Nicosia, Dec 16 (CNA) -- The Meteorological Office at Larnaca International Airport has issued the following weather forecast for Cyprus:

Friday and Saturday: 17/12/2004 to 18/12/2004 --------------------

On Friday, the weather will be mainly fine with a few local cloud.

Wind: Northeasterly to Southeasterly, gentle 3 and later up to moderate 4BF.

Sea State: Slight

Temperature: Min/Max 5/14 C inland, 7/17 C over coastal areas and -3/3 C over Prodromos areas.

On Saturday, there will be high cloud for a start then gradually mainly cloudy weather. There will be also risk of local rain late in the afternoon and some snow over the high mountains areas.

Wind: Northeasterly to Southeasterly, gentle 3 and later up to moderate 4BF.

Sea state: Slight

Temperature: Min/Max 7/16 C inland, 9/19 C over coastal areas and 0/5 C over Prodromos area.

Outlook for Sunday and Monday: 19/12/2004 to 20/12/2004 ----------------------------- Sunday: Mainly cloudy with rain, isolated thunderstorms and snow over the mountains. Small decrease in temperature.

Mmonday: Uncertain weather, with sunshine and showers at times. Risk of isolated thunderstorms. Small increase in temperature.

[05] Cyprus Stock Exchange

1425:CYPPRESS:05

Cyprus Stock Exchange

Nicosia, Dec 16 (CNA) - The Cyprus Stock Exchange (CSE) All Share
Index closed at today's stock exchange meeting as follows:

INDICES BASE VALUES: FTSEMed=5000, OTHERS=1000

TRADED VALUE                       180.675,34

GSE GENERAL INDEX                       72,04     0,35    142.348,99
FTSE/CySE 20                           338,33     0,42    112.419,88
MAIN MARKET INDEX                    1.012,11     0,46     83.567,19
PARALLEL MARKET INDEX                  889,16     0,32      4.919,74
INVESTMENT COMPANIES MARKET INDEX      882,69    -2,19     11.256,97
MAIN AND PARALLEL MARKETS INDEX      1.007,37     0,45     88.486,93
BANKS INDEX                          1.025,27     0,46     44.543,03
HOTELS INDEX                           873,96     2,21      8.341,99
ALTERNATIVE MARKET INDEX               854,52     0,54     68.286,32
FTSE Med (15/12/2004)                6.687,43    -0,02

* The second column presents the percentage variation of the indices

[06] Weather and Temperatures for Cyprus

1450:CYPPRESS:06

Weather and Temperatures for Cyprus

Nicosia, Dec 16 (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               10             6              CLOUDY
Larnaca               12             6              CLOUDY
Limassol              14             5              FAIR           Paphos                14             7              FINE

[07] Cyprus President not satisfied with Barroso’s statements

1645:CYPPRESS:07

Cyprus President not satisfied with Barrosos statements

by Nicos Bellos

Brussels, Dec 16 (CNA) Cyprus President Tassos Papadopoulos has said he was not satisfied with a statement made by the European Commission President that Ankara is obliged to recognise the Republic of Cyprus before Turkey joins the European Union.

Jose Manuel Barroso had called on Turkey to make certain gestures that will help her win the support of all EU member state in order to begin accession negotiations with the European Union. These gestures include signing the supplementary protocol of the Ankara Agreement, relating to the recognition of the Republic of Cyprus.

Responding to questions, Barroso said diplomatic recognition of Cyprus has to take place before Turkey becomes a full member of the EU.

Asked what Ankara should do, Barroso replied Cyprus will be sitting at the same table as Turkey when accession negotiations begin. What message will Turkey send if it does not recognise a member state sitting at the same table.

Speaking to reporters on arrival in Brussels, President Papadopoulos said I am not satisfied with Mr. Barrosos statements that recognition must take place before Turkey joins the EU.''

Asked how the presence of Turkish occupation troops in Cyprus can be reconciled with the start of accession negotiations between the EU-Turkey, Barroso said he opposed setting new political conditions on Turkey, other than those included in the Copenhagen criteria, adding that a UN plan (Annan Plan) for a Cyprus settlement was supported by Turkey.

[08] Solana calls on Turkey to recognise Cyprus

1645:CYPPRESS:08

Solana calls on Turkey to recognise Cyprus

by Nicos Bellos

Brussels, Dec 16 (CNA) European Union High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy Javier Solana called on Turkey Thursday to recognize the Republic of Cyprus, noting that otherwise it will be ''difficult'' for Ankara to become part of the European family.

[09] Cyprus President neither optimistic nor pessimistic

1925:CYPPRESS:09

Cyprus President neither optimistic nor pessimistic

by Grigoris Savva

Brussels, Dec 16 (CNA) Cyprus President said here today he was neither optimistic nor pessimistic with regard to the outcome of the European Summit in Brussels, due to start shortly.

He was speaking after a meeting with Greek Premier Costas Karamanlis who afterwards met his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayip Erdogan.

Responding to a question on whether he is planning to veto Turkey's EU bid to begin accession negotiations, he replied: ''What do you expect me to say?''

Asked on how he looks at developments, he said: ''It is good. I am neither optimistic, nor pessimistic''.

[10] Turkish Premier meets Greek counterpart

2000:CYPPRESS:10

Turkish Premier meets Greek counterpart

Iacovos Tsaggaris

Brussels, Dec 16 (CNA) Turkish Premier Recep Tayip Erdogan expressed the hope that the issue of the recognition of the Republic of Cyprus by Ankara will be resloved at the European Union Summit, which gets underway soon.

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