Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 02-04-02

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

CONTENTS

[01] UN Secretary-General briefed on Cyprus

[02] Greek Foreign Ministry Spokesman refutes Ismail Cem

[03] Nicosia Mayor inaugurates photographic exhibition in New York

[04] Cyprus Stock Exchange

[05] Government expresses solidarity with Arafat, says ready to play a role

[06] Israel appreciates Cyprus' efforts for Mideast peace

[07] Weather and Temperatures for Cyprus

[08] UK Friends of Cyprus delegation visits Cyprus

[09] Palestinian Ambassador says Arafat will not leave homeland

[10] AKEL expresses solidarity with Palestinian people

[01] UN Secretary-General briefed on Cyprus

1030:CYPPRESS:01

UN Secretary-General briefed on Cyprus

by Apostolis Zoupaniotis

United Nations, Apr 2 (CNA) -- UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan had a briefing here Monday from his special envoy for Cyprus Alvaro de Soto on the outcome of the ongoing direct talks on Cyprus.

According to diplomatic sources, de Soto wishes to intensify the peace talks and have his role at the negotiating table strengthened and facilitated through the submission of papers and proposals to the Greek and Turkish Cypriot sides, which have been engaged in talks since mid January.

However, the same source believe it is highly unlikely for de Soto to get the green light from the UN to put forward ideas with a view to facilitate the negotiations.

[02] Greek Foreign Ministry Spokesman refutes Ismail Cem

1130:CYPPRESS:02

Greek Foreign Ministry Spokesman refutes Ismail Cem

Athens, Apr 2 (CNA) -- The Greek government does not believe that prolongation of the Middle East crisis can affect the procedure for European Union enlargement and Cyprus' accession to the EU.

This statement was made by Greek Foreign Ministry Spokesman Panayiotis Beglitis, who added that on the opposite, "a prolonged crisis in the Middle East and the wider region confirms the strategic aim of speeding up the procedure of enlargement, because with the accession of Cyprus, the strategic role of the EU in the region will be strengthened."

Regarding Turkey's reactions to Cyprus' entry into the EU, Beglitis pointed out that the best answer has been given by the EU through its institutions and official spokesmen.

Asked about the activities of Turkish Foreign Minister Ismail Cem, who is trying to promote Turkish policy for the exclusion of Cyprus from the EU if there is no settlement of the political problem, basing his arguments on a provision of the Helsinki Agreement for taking into consideration all factors after the conclusion of the accession negotiations, Beglitis said:

"The interpretation of the Helsinki conclusions is being done daily by the EU member states and the EU institutions and the best answer to the reactions of Turkey are the recent statements of the EU enlargement Commissioner Gunter Verheugen, who has reaffirmed, during his visit to Greece, the EU position regarding Cyprus' accession.

CNA/KTS/GP/2002 ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

[03] Nicosia Mayor inaugurates photographic exhibition in New York

1210:CYPPRESS:03

Nicosia Mayor inaugurates photographic exhibition in New York

New York, Apr 2 (CNA) -- Nicosia Mayor Michalakis Zambellas inaugurated on Sunday evening, at the New York Greek Culture Institute, a photographic exhibition entitled "Nicosia: the divided capital, 6.000 years of history".

The exhibition, which lasted for only one day, was organised by the Cyprus General Consulate in New York with the support of the Greek- American Chamber of Commerce and the Greek Culture Institute.

[04] Cyprus Stock Exchange

1500:CYPPRESS:04

Cyprus Stock Exchange

Nicosia, Apr 2 (CNA) - The Cyprus Stock Exchange (CSE) All Share
Index closed at today's stock exchange meeting as follows:

CSE General Index                              112.75  (-1,54)

Traded Value                  CYP  1.698.534

FTSE/CYSE 20                  CYP    625.954   472,93  (-1,42)

Sectoral Indices

Banks                         CYP    384.634   130,49  (-1,05)
Approved Investment
Companies                 CYP    386.992    99,14  (-2,97)
Insurance Companies           CYP     21.501    38,33  ( 0,45)
Manufacturing Companies       CYP     59.982    60,45  (-2,20)
Tourism Companies             CYP     78.083    77,06  (-1,81)
Trading Companies             CYP     34.507    26,88  (-1,96)
Building and Cement Companies CYP     23.293    55,10  (-1,96)
Énformation Technology
Companies                 CYP     23.781     6,74  (-3,16)
Financial Services Companies  CYP    274.893    21,09  (-2,36)
Fish Culture Companies        CYP        527    19,97  (-3,99)
Hotels                        CYP    115.181    70,45  (-2,08)
Other Companies               CYP    173.448   115,13  (-0,39)

* The third column presents the percentage variation of

[05] Government expresses solidarity with Arafat, says ready to play a role

1520:CYPPRESS:05

Government expresses solidarity with Arafat, says ready to play a role

Nicosia, Apr 2 (CNA) -- The Cyprus government has expressed full solidarity with Yaser Arafat, called for a dialogue and said it is ready to play a role in the effort to defuse the situation in the Middle East.

[06] Israel appreciates Cyprus' efforts for Mideast peace

1730:CYPPRESS:06

Israel appreciates Cyprus' efforts for Mideast peace

Nicosia, Apr 2 (CNA) - Israel appreciates the efforts of the international community, including Cyprus, towards peace in the Middle East but notes that the problem is not one of mediators, as there are "too many" in the region, but one of Palestinian aggressiveness, the responsibility of which "lies totally and solely upon the shoulders of Yasser Arafat".

Israeli Ambassador to Cyprus Michael Eligal told a press conference today that Israel was following "a doctrine of self defence" in its actions against the Palestinian Authority and described Arafat as an "enemy", in whom Israel has "lost faith".

Eligal noted that "Israel's goal is to return to talks after the massacre stops" and said that although Israel was "ready to make painful concessions" in order to reach a peaceful agreement, if the Palestinians re-elected Arafat as their leader then there would be a deadlock in negotiations.

Replying to questions regarding Cyprus' offer to host Middle East negotiations, Eligal said "the problem is not a question of mediators, maybe we have too many mediators".

He said "we appreciate the efforts of the international community and Cyprus, but this is not the problem".

[07] Weather and Temperatures for Cyprus

1740:CYPPRESS:07

Weather and Temperatures for Cyprus

Nicosia, Apr 2 (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                  18           8         FAIR
Larnaca                  19           9         FAIR
Limassol                 18           9         FAIR
Paphos                   18           8         FAIR

[08] UK Friends of Cyprus delegation visits Cyprus

1810:CYPPRESS:08

UK Friends of Cyprus delegation visits Cyprus

Nicosia, Apr 2 (CNA) - A delegation of the UK "Friends of Cyprus" Committee begins tomorrow a series of meetings in Cyprus, at the invitation of the House of Representatives.

During their stay, head of the delegation Lord Corbett and members Lord Alf Dubs, MPs Andrew Love and Robert Spink, MEP Mary Honeyball and Secretary of the Committee Mary Southcott, will be received by President Glafcos Clerides and House President Demetris Christofias.

The six-member delegation will also meet with the Cyprus' Chief Negotiator with the EU George Vassiliou, Foreign Minister Ioannis Kasoulides, Chairman of the House Standing Committee on European Affairs Tassos Papadopoulos and Deputy Chairman of the House Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs Demetris Syllouris.

[09] Palestinian Ambassador says Arafat will not leave homeland

1920:CYPPRESS:09

Palestinian Ambassador says Arafat will not leave homeland

Nicosia, Apr 2 (CNA) - Palestinian President Yasser Arafat "will never leave the homeland, neither alive nor as a martyr", Palestinian Ambassador to Cyprus Samir Abu Gazallah said here today.

Speaking through an interpreter after a meeting with United Democrats President George Vassiliou, Gazallah said his people would arise victorious from the Middle East conflict, adding that nobody could "determine the fate of the people, when they start knocking on the door of freedom with their own blood".

[10] AKEL expresses solidarity with Palestinian people

1940:CYPPRESS:10

AKEL expresses solidarity with Palestinian people

Nicosia, Apr 2 (CNA) -- Cypriot left-wing party AKEL today demanded the immediate implementation of resolution 1402 of the UN Security Council on the Middle East, an end to the "effort to humiliate and exterminate" Palestinian President Yasser Arafat and exertion of greater pressure by the international community on Israel to terminate its military operations against the Palestinians.

It also underlined the need to promote a UN decision safeguarding the international protection of the Palestinian people.

The Central Committee of the main opposition party AKEL, at a meeting this morning, expressed solidarity with the Palestinian people, noting at the same time that Palestinians and Arabs in general should recognise the state of Israel.

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