Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 10-10-01

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

CONTENTS

[01] CYPRUS - INDEPENDENCE - 50TH ANNIVERSARY

[01] CYPRUS - INDEPENDENCE - 50TH ANNIVERSARY

A military parade took place in the capital Nicosia Cyprus.

President of the Republic Demetris Christofias, flanked by Greek National Defence Minister Evangelos Venizelos and Cyprus Defence Minister Costas Papacostas, took the salute of the parade, watched also by the islands political, military and religious leadership as well as members of the diplomatic corps.

Participating in today`s parade were infantry, artillery and naval forces and members of the Greek military contingent stationed in Cyprus in accordance with the 1960 Treaty of Establishment of the Republic, the police, the fire brigade, the forestry and the civil defence services.

Present were also a military police unit, comprising mainly reservists, and a special unit of commandos, set up 1996, of well trained regular members of the armed forces.

Commando units, naval forces and various branches of the Republic`s armed forces also paraded.

The Cyprus Police band led the parade, before taking its place opposite the officials to play military marches for the duration of the parade.

A 21 gun-salute was fired at dawn and will be fired again at sunset.

President Christofias and First Lady Elsi Christofia will host a reception for the public this evening at the Presidential Palace. Earlier President Christofias will receive the congratulations of the diplomatic and consular corps.

A grand celebration is scheduled this evening at Eleftheria Stadium Tassos Papadopoulos in Nicosia.

President of the Hellenic Republic Karolos Papoulias arrives in Cyprus at midday today to attend celebrations. He will also confer with President Christofias on Saturday before returning to Athens.

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