Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 04-07-02

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

CONTENTS

[01] Cyprus President pays working visit to Austria

[02] Bilirakis urges Bush, Powell and Annan to remain engaged in Cyprus

[03] Cyprus President stresses EU role in renegotiating Annan plan

[04] Schussel - Papadopoulos have a very positive exchange of views

[05] Weather and Temperatures for Cyprus

[06] Cyprus Stock Exchange

[07] Schussel: Austria backs a Cyprus solution based on European principles

[08] President Papadopoulos satisfied with Cyprus - Austrian relations

[09] Olympic torch relay in Cyprus

[01] Cyprus President pays working visit to Austria

0800:CYPPRESS:01

Cyprus President pays working visit to Austria

by Maria Koniotou

Vienna, Jul 2 (CNA) -- The Cyprus problem, issues of bilateral relations and cooperation in the European Union, EU matters and regional issues of common interest such as the Balkans, the Middle East and Iraq are on the agenda of today's talks between delegations of the governments of Cyprus and Austria, headed by Cyprus President Tassos Papadopoulos and Austrian Federal Chancellor Wolfgang Schussel.

Papadopoulos, who is paying a working visit to Austria, begins his meetings this morning with a breakfast he will have with Austrian journalists. He will give exclusive interviews to Austrian mass media.

At 1100 local time (12.00 Cyprus time) President Papadopoulos will arrive at the Chancellery where he will be welcomed by Schussel.

Papadopoulos and Schussel will then have a private meeting followed by talks between the two governments' delegations. The Cypriot President will be accompanied by Foreign Minister George Iacovou, Government Spokesman Kypros Chrysostomides, Cyprus' Ambassador to Austria Stavros Epaminondas and other officials.

At 1230 Papadopoulos and Schussel will make statements to the press and at 1300 Schussel will host a lunch for Papadopoulos.

At 1600 Papadopoulos will meet with the Austrian Foreign Minister Benita Ferrero - Waldner and at 1700 he will meet with the newly elected Federal President of Austria Heinz Fischer.

A reception for the Cypriots living in Austria will follow at the Cypriot Ambassador's residence and at 2000 President Papadopoulos will attend a dinner at the Ambassador's residence.

[02] Bilirakis urges Bush, Powell and Annan to remain engaged in Cyprus

1020:CYPPRESS:02

Bilirakis urges Bush, Powell and Annan to remain engaged in Cyprus

Nicosia, Jul 2 (CNA) -- US Congressman Mike Bilirakis, co-Chair of the Congressional Hellenic Caucus, has sent letters to President George Bush, US Secretary of State Colin Powell and UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, encouraging them to respect the Greek Cypriots' ''no'' vote on the Annan plan and to address the concerns of the Greek Cypriots.

Bilirakis urged them to remain engaged in efforts to reunify Cyprus. The US Congressman was joined by 94 other members of Congress who also signed the letters.

He said everyone involved in the negotiations of the Annan plan was very well aware of the concerns of the Greek Cypriots and the likelihood of their vote to reject the Annan plan. One would think that more efforts should have been made to address their legitimate concerns which could have secured a positive vote''.

''We must not forget that it is the Greek Cypriots who must live with whatever plan is adopted,'' said Bilirakis.

The US Congressman said the suggested settlement plan failed because it did not provide for guarantees to ensure the complete implementation of commitments under the plan, the removal of foreign troops on Cyprus and the elimination of the right of the guarantor powers to intervene in Cyprus and a viable, functional government free of built-in deadlocks and voting restrictions based on ethnicity.

He also said it failed to provide for a property recovery system that recognises the rights and interests of displaced Greek Cypriots, and a property compensation system that does not force Greek Cypriots to pay for their own restitution and the right of all Cypriots to buy property and to live wherever they choose without being limited by ethnic quotas.

The Greek Cypriot community overwhelmingly rejected the Annan Plan in a referendum last April while the Turkish Cypriot side approved it.

Cyprus has been divided since 1974 when Turkish troops invaded and occupied 37 percent of the islands territory.

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

[03] Cyprus President stresses EU role in renegotiating Annan plan

1250:CYPPRESS:03

Cyprus President stresses EU role in renegotiating Annan plan

by Maria Koniotou

Vienna, Jul 2 (CNA) -- Cyprus President Tassos Papadopoulos has expressed the belief that Europe would be able to help either on the bilateral level or on a more broad initiative in efforts for resuming negotiations for a solution to the Cyprus problem.

Speaking here today to Austrian journalists, Papadopoulos said Europe has to be interested in the Cyprus problem since the three protagonists, namely Greece, the United Kingdom and Cyprus, are now members of the EU and the fourth one, Turkey, keenly pursuits its own accession to the EU.

[04] Schussel - Papadopoulos have a very positive exchange of views

1430:CYPPRESS:05

Schussel - Papadopoulos have a very positive exchange of views

by Maria Koniotou

Vienna, Jul 2 (CNA) -- Austrian Chancellor Wolfgang Schussel has expressed hope that there is the will to find a negotiated settlement in Cyprus and a workable modus vivendi.

Schussel made this statement after having talks here today with Cyprus President Tassos Papadopoulos, who is paying a two-day working visit to Vienna.

''We regret that the Annan plan (a UN solution plan) was rejected, President Papadopoulos explained the concerns and the perceptions of the Cypriot people, we do hope that there is the will to find a pragmatic solution, a workable modus vivendi for both parts of Cyprus,'' the Austrian Chancellor said.

Schussel said he had ''a very positive exchange of views'' with Papadopoulos.

In his remarks, the Cyprus President said he extended an invitation to Schussel to visit Cyprus and expressed his gratitude for the assistance and support Austria had lend Cyprus in the accession process, prior to its accession in May 2004.

[05] Weather and Temperatures for Cyprus

1520:CYPPRESS:06

Weather and Temperatures for Cyprus

Nicosia, Jul 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                 37            24          FINE
Larnaca                 32            22          FINE
Limassol                32            21          FINE
Paphos                  30            20          FINE

[06] Cyprus Stock Exchange

1530:CYPPRESS:07

Cyprus Stock Exchange

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

CSE General Index                               73,96   (-0,39)

Traded Value                  CYP     115.198

FTSE/CYSE 20                  CYP      72.973  329,00   (-0,15)
FTSE Med 100                                 6.397,66   (-0,15)

Sectoral Indices

Banks                         CYP      60.393   95,76   ( 0,39)
Approved Investment
Companies                 CYP       1.999   71,90   (-0,25)
Insurance Companies           CYP         524   11,31   ( 3,76)
Manufacturing Companies       CYP       9.039   46,89   (-1,03)
Tourism Companies             CYP         145   45,90   (-0,22)
Trading Companies             CYP       5.227   20,86   (-5,40)
Building and Cement Companies CYP       1.136   62,04   ( 0,89)
Énformation Technology
Companies                 CYP         852    2,29   ( 0,00)
Financial Services Companies  CYP       2.495    6,98   (-0,99)
Fish Culture Companies        CYP           0   11,40   ( 3,35)
Hotels                        CYP       1.131   25,11   (-0,99)
Other Companies               CYP      29.860   60,10   ( 0,05)

* The third column presents the percentage variation of

[07] Schussel: Austria backs a Cyprus solution based on European principles

1625:CYPPRESS:08

Schussel: Austria backs a Cyprus solution based on European principles

by Maria Koniotou

Vienna, Jul 2 (CNA) - Austria shares the view of the Cyprus government that a political settlement in Cyprus should be based on European principles, Austrian Chancellor Wolfgang Schussel said here today after meeting Cyprus President Tassos Papadopoulos, who is paying a working visit to Austria.

Schussel said ''we regret that the Annan plan was rejected and President Papadopoulos has explained to me the concerns and the perceptions of the Cypriot people. We do hope that there is the will to find a pragmatic solution, a workable modus vivendi for both parts of Cyprus.''

President Papadopoulos said he had invited the Chancellor to visit Cyprus and expressed gratitude for this visit, the very warm reception he had and the way the Austrian side had listened to the arguments he put forward.

[08] President Papadopoulos satisfied with Cyprus - Austrian relations

1940:CYPPRESS:09

President Papadopoulos satisfied with Cyprus - Austrian relations

by Maria Koniotou

Vienna, Jul 2 (CNA) Cyprus President Tassos Papadopoulos has expressed satisfaction with his meeting with Austrian Chancellor Wolfgang Schussel and said he hoped that Vienna would play a positive role in EU discussions regarding a package of measures relating to trade between Turkish occupied north of Cyprus and the Union.

[09] Olympic torch relay in Cyprus

1950:CYPPRESS:10

Olympic torch relay in Cyprus

Nicosia, Jul 2 (CNA) The Olympic flame will soon burn for a short time in Cyprus, final stop in its journey back to Athens, as preparations are entering their final stage.

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