Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 05-04-18

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

CONTENTS

[01] Cyprus President on a state visit to Czech Republic

[02] Cyprus President visits Prague War Cemetery

[03] Cyprus Government evaluates results of voting in occupied Cyprus

[04] European Commission welcomes Talat's success

[05] US congratulates Talat on his victory

[06] Weather forecast for Cyprus

[07] Cyprus hopes Turkish Cypriots to contribute to settlement

[08] Akkelidou appointed advisor of Commissioner Kyprianou

[09] Cyprus Stock Exchange

[10] Cyprus wishes EU's more active role, says President papadopoulos

[01] Cyprus President on a state visit to Czech Republic

Cyprus President on a state visit to Czech Republic

by Athena Arsalidou

Prague, Apr 18 (CNA) -- Cyprus President Tassos Papadopoulos, who is currently in Prague for a state visit, will hold today official talks with his Czech counterpart Vaclav Klaus and meet other members of the Czech government.

President Papadopoulos is accompanied by Foreign Minister George Iacovou, Minister of Commerce, Industry and Tourism George Lillikas and other officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Iacovou and Lillikas will hold today separate meetings with their Czech counterparts, Cyril Svoboda and Milan Urban.

[02] Cyprus President visits Prague War Cemetery

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Cyprus President visits Prague War Cemetery

Prague, Apr 18 (CNA) -- Cyprus President Tassos Papadopoulos began his official visit here by visiting the Prague War Cemetery, where Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots, who lost their lives during the Second World War, are buried next to each other.

The visit took place at President Papadopoulos' wish, who said that it was a symbolic gesture, aiming to send the message that Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots can coexist in a reunited Cyprus.

ĢIt is a symbolic gesture on my behalf, in order to underline that Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots lost their lives in the struggle for freedom and democracy, and against oppression and fascism. It was a time when both communities could fight for these ideals, without any intervention of nationalism and chauvinism, that foreigners spread later among our people," he noted.

[03] Cyprus Government evaluates results of voting in occupied Cyprus

0830:CYPPRESS:03

Cyprus Government evaluates results of voting in occupied Cyprus

Nicosia, Apr 18 (CNA) -- The Cyprus Government evaluates the results of the voting in Cyprus' occupied areas mainly with the purpose to assess its effect on the further course of the Cyprus problem, Government Spokesman Kypros Chrysostomides has said in a written statement.

He said ''the Cyprus Government expresses hope that the Turkish Cypriot leadership around Mr (Mehmet Ali) Talat will respond to the challenge before it to contribute, to the extent it concerns it, to the achievement of a just and viable solution the soonest possible.''

Chrysostomides said ''the termination of the presence of Mr Rauf Denktash in the leadership of the Turkish Cypriot community constitutes a significantly positive development. What remains to be seen is in which way and how much will the changes in the Turkish Cypriot community leadership affect future developments,'' he noted.

''The Government hopes that Turkey and the Turkish Cypriot leadership around Mr. Talat will respond positively to our invitation and call for the creation of the necessary conditions for the resumption of a renewed negotiation process, under the auspices of the Secretary-General and in accordance with the Security Council resolutions, which, after the necessary preparation, will be able to lead to the desired solution of a united Cyprus where Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots will live in peace, democracy and prosperity,'' Chrysostomides stressed.

He assured that ''we remain firmly committed to a just, functional and viable solution of a bicommunal, bizonal federation based on international law, in conformity with the fundamental principles of the European Union and the acquis communautaire, which will secure the unity of the state, its institutions, the society and the economy.''

Chrysostomides reiterated ''that the legal and political position of the Government vis a vis the voting in the occupied areas remains the same as that of the international community and the United Nations Security Council, which is expressed in its relevant resolutions, mainly resolution 550 (1984), which describes such elections as secessionist acts aiming at consolidating the division of our country.''

He also pointed out that the developments in the occupied areas should be examined within the political framework in which they take place.

''It should not be forgotten that the illegal regime that Turkey has created in the occupied areas and its population-which is a product of a demographic violence- is financially sustained and politically and militarily controlled by Turkey mainly through the active illegal presence of more than 35.000 Turkish troops and through the political control of the Turkish settlers who have long outnumbered the Turkish Cypriots. It is, therefore, impossible that Turkish Cypriots may express their free political will independently from Turkey,'' he said.

Chrysostomides said that ''nevertheless, the Government of the Republic of Cyprus believes that following Cyprus accession to the European Union and the EUs decision to accord Turkey a date for commencement of accession negotiations, Cypriots can look forward to the future with greater confidence and optimism.''

[04] European Commission welcomes Talat's success

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European Commission welcomes Talat's success

Nicosia, Apr 18 (CNA) -- The European Commission has welcomed Mehmet Ali Talat's success at yesterday's voting in Cyprus' occupied areas.

It said that it expects that this result would create favourable conditions for a resumption of talks under the aegis of the UN in view of a comprehensive solution to the Cyprus issue.

In a statement released by its Representation in Cyprus, the Commission assured that ''it remains ready to actively support all efforts to this aim and to play a more active role in this respect.''

[05] US congratulates Talat on his victory

0910:CYPPRESS:05

US congratulates Talat on his victory

Nicosia, Apr 18 (CNA) -- The United States have congratulated Mehmet Ali Talat on his victory at yesterday's voting in Cyprus' occupied areas, noting that this consists ''reaffirmation'' of Turkish Cypriots' commitment to the reunification of the island.

In a written statement, US State Department deputy spokesman Adam Ereli assured that the US ''will continue to support the efforts of the UN Secretary General to promote a solution to the long-standing division of the island, based on the UN Secretary General's settlement plan and in a manner acceptable to majorities on both sides of the island.''

[06] Weather forecast for Cyprus

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Weather forecast for Cyprus

Nicosia, Apr 18 (CNA) -- The Meteorological Office at Larnaca International Airport has issued the following weather forecast for Cyprus:

Tuesday and Wednesday: 19/04/2005 - 20/04/2005

At times partly cloudy, with temporal, mostly high cloud. Winds will be southwesterly to westerly, mostly gentle to moderate 3 to 4BF, with stronger winds on Tuesday that will reach up to 5 BF in some windward areas in the afternoon. The sea state will range from slight to moderate.

Maximum temperatures will range from around 25C inland, to 23C near the coast and to 18C over the Prodromos area on the mountains.

Minimum temperature will range from around 10C inland, to 13C near the coast and to around 9C over the Prodromos area.

Outlook for Thursday and Friday: 21/04/2005 - 22/04/2005

Temporal medium and high cloud, that will increase on Friday, with chance of some rain on Friday.

Temperatures will rise on Thursday and fall slightly on Friday.

Sea temperature: 18C

[07] Cyprus hopes Turkish Cypriots to contribute to settlement

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Cyprus hopes Turkish Cypriots to contribute to settlement

Nicosia, Apr 18 (CNA) - The Cyprus government has expressed hope that the new Turkish Cypriot leadership under Mehmet Ali Talat would ''respond to the invitation it has before it to contribute accordingly to achieving a just and viable solution of the Cyprus problem the soonest possible.''

Government Spokesman Kypros Chrysostomides reiterated the government's commitment to a just, functional and viable bizonal, bicommunal federal settlement of the Cyprus problem, on the basis of international law and the fundamental principles of the EU.

Commenting on an invitation by Talat to President Tassos Papadopoulos for a meeting and the fact that the Turkish Cypriot politician has requested the resumption of UN efforts for a settlement, Chrysostomides said the government's position was clear on this and that efforts should start within the Un framework, with the active participation of the EU.

[08] Akkelidou appointed advisor of Commissioner Kyprianou

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Akkelidou appointed advisor of Commissioner Kyprianou

Nicosia, Apr 18 (CNA) - Cyprus' former Minister of Health Constantina Akkelidou has been appointed advisor of Cypriot Commissioner for Health and Consumer Protection Markos Kyprianou.

The European Commission representation in Nicosia has announced that Akkelidou will provide Commissioner Kyprianou with specialised advice and research material on public health and nutritional safety issues.

[09] Cyprus Stock Exchange

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Cyprus Stock Exchange

Nicosia, Apr 18 (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                       420.154,55

GSE GENERAL INDEX                       85,18    -1,23    391.392,65
FTSE/CySE 20                           404,06    -0,87    308.935,41
MAIN MARKET INDEX                    1.210,61    -0,88    310.383,15
PARALLEL MARKET INDEX                1.017,78    -1,35     10.194,68
INVESTMENT COMPANIES MARKET INDEX    1.008,44    -0,54     13.398,92
MAIN AND PARALLEL MARKETS INDEX      1.203,28    -0,90    320.577,83
BANKS INDEX                          1.234,56    -0,93    264.183,69
HOTELS INDEX                           978,34    -3,43      5.452,00
ALTERNATIVE MARKET INDEX             1.005,42    -1,34     71.421,27
FTSE Med (15/04/2005)                7.440,06    -1,20

* The second column presents the percentage variation of the indices
as compared to the last meeting.

[10] Cyprus wishes EU's more active role, says President papadopoulos

1445:CYPPRESS:10

Cyprus wishes EU's more active role, says President papadopoulos

By Athena Arsalidou

Prague, Apr 18 (CNA) -- Cyprus President Tassos Papadopoulos stressed today that the Greek Cypriot side wishes for a more active role of the European Union in the efforts to solve the Cyprus issue, since it has to make clear that some provisions of the UN proposed Annan plan are not compatible with the EU norms and regulations.

President Papadopoulos was speaking after official talks with Czech President Vaclav Klaus, who on his part expressed conviction that Turkey's European course would bring a positive impulse to the efforts to solve the Cyprus problem and reassured that his country would be ready to contribute to those efforts.

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