Athens News Agency: News in English, 04-04-24

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From: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/>

CONTENTS

[01] Final results of Cyprus referenda

[02] Cyprus-Island wide results 95.01%

[03] Greek Cypriots overwhelmingly reject UN plan

[04] Cypriots vote on reunifying their island in historic referenda.

[05] Foreign Exchange Rates: Monday

[06] Weather Forecast: Sunshine turning to rain on Saturday

[01] Final results of Cyprus referenda

The majority of Turkish Cypriots in northern Cyprus have voted for the Annan plan. Specifically, 64.91% of Turkish Cypriots voted 'yes', while 35.01% voted ''no.''

The reverse is true of the Greek Cypriot side which overwhelmingly voted against the Annan plan, with votes against representing 75.83% of the vote, while only 24.17% voted in favour of the plan.

[02] Cyprus-Island wide results 95.01%

Nicosia, Apr 24 (CNA) - With 95.01% of votes counted in the

government-controlled areas of the Republic from today's referendum

on a UN plan for a Cyprus settlement, 75.66% or 297,441 voted against

it and 24.34% or 95,672 in favour of the plan.

The percentage of votes counted translates into 456,576 registered

voters, with 407,311 having voted and 10.79% abstaining.

Valid votes were 96.51%, invalid 2.62% and blank 0.86%.|

[03] Greek Cypriots overwhelmingly reject UN plan

NICOSIA (ANA/G. Leonidas) - With 50% of votes counted from Saturday's referendum on a UN plan for a Cyprus settlement, 76.26% of Greek Cypriots have voted ''no,'' 23.74 have voted ''yes,'' and 3.86% are blank or invalid.

On the Turkish Cypriot side, with 25% of votes counted, 67% have voted in favour of the plan and 33% against it.

[04] Cypriots vote on reunifying their island in historic referenda.

Cypriots in both the north and south of the divided island turned out on Saturday to take part in the historic twin referenda that will decide their future and whether Cyprus will join the European Union reunited on May 1.

The ballot boxes opened at 7:00 in the south, with a higher-than-usual voter turnout, while over half of the electorate had cast their vote by 13:00, when voting was resumed after a one-hour break.

Voting in the Turkish-occupied north began one hour later at 8:00 and will continue until 19:00 in the evening.

According to the ANA correspondent in Nicosia, voting was conducted smoothly and without incident in both the Turkish-occupied north and the Greek-Cypriot areas in the south throughout the day.

President Tassos Papadopoulos

Cyprus President Tassos Papadopoulos cast his

ballot today in the referendum to approve or dismiss a UN plan for a

Cyprus settlement, noting that this was an historical day that would

determine the future of the island.

''This day is an historical day. Today's voting will determine the

future of our homeland. I am certain that the Cypriot citizens will

behave responsibly with mutual respect. I am sure that the decision

of the people of Cyprus will be fully respected by all,'' he said.

The Cypriot President called on everyone to avoid any incidents or

celebrations, and to respect the result of the referendum. ''Let us

not blacken the day with any incidents. With unity, union of hearts

and discretion we will move forward,'' he said.

''The people of Cyprus, Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots, deserve

better days and I am certain they will come,'' he added.

Apart from the Greek Cypriot journalists and TV crews, some 20

Turkish and Turkish Cypriot reporters, as well as many international

media representatives, were present at the polling station, at

Deftera, in Nicosia District, where President Papadopoulos cast his

ballot.|

AKEL-General Secretary

AKEL General Secretary Demetris Christofias cast his ballot and called for low tones and calmness ''so that we can determine the next steps as united as possible.''

Christofias expressed certainty that ''the people will reaffirm the

level of our political culture and political civilisation, and will

carry out this voting in conditions of calmness, a sense of

responsibility and discretion for the next day.''

''I want to underline that whatever the result is, a lot of work will

be needed, unity on the home front, low tones, calmness, to be guided

by reason to determine the next steps as united as possible,''

Christofias said.

He also sent a message of respect towards the Turkish Cypriots,

assuring them that ''on the next day, we will work for a common

homeland in conditions of security, cooperation and effort for a

joyful and happy future.'' |

Democratic Rally President

Nicos Anastasiades,Democratic Rally President cast his ballot saying

''yes'' to reunification, ''yes'' to the rights of the refugees and

every citizen, and ''no'' to division.

Anastasiades said ''the question each one of us is called on to

answer is if we will advocate in favour of the accession of a

reunited Cyprus to the EU''.

''My answer was 'yes' to reunification, 'yes' to the rights of the

refugees, 'yes' to the rights of every citizen, 'no' to division,

'yes' that our borders are in Kyrenia and Apostolos Andreas,'' he

said.

Asked how he felt holding in his hands the specific ballot of the

referendum, Anastasiades said ''each person who holds the ballot

knows that he holds the fate of our country in his hands, the fate of

liberating or continuing an unacceptable situation.''

He said that ''maybe this is one of the most crucial or the most

crucial moments in the history of Cypriot Hellenism, when each one of

us takes the fate of his country in his hands.''

''A 'no' is a stone on the wall that divides our country. A 'yes'

reunited it. Let everyone consider this. That is why I am making a

warm call with calmness, without fanaticism, but with determination

to dare, this is the time for reunification,'' he added.

Anastasiades said that ''whatever the result is, it will be

respected, because this is the decision of the people.''

He reiterated that the people should ''understand that each one of us

is writing history today, each one's vote has its own meaning.''

Anastasiades noted that the atmosphere in which the voting is taking

place is calm and characterised by political culture. ''I would like

to believe that this will continue throughout the day and I have no

doubt about this, as about the result. It is there that everyone will

be called upon to consider the next day,'' he added.

Asked what his thought were about the day after, Anastasiades said,

''I want to be optimistic about today, in order to be more optimistic

about tomorrow and the future.

[05] Foreign Exchange Rates: Monday

Reference buying rates per euro released by the European Central Bank

U.S. dollar 1.198

Pound sterling 0.675

Danish kroner 7.501

Swedish kroner 9.210

Japanese yen 130.5

Swiss franc 1.572

Norwegian kroner 8.303

Cyprus pound 0.591

Canadian dollar 1.623

Australian dollar 1.635

[06] Weather Forecast: Sunshine turning to rain on Saturday

Sunny weather is forecast in all parts of the country, turning to showers and storms from afternoon on the mainland and over the Ionian Sea. Winds variable, light. Temperatures in Athens from 11C to 24C and in Thessaloniki between 10C and 21C.

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