Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 01-12-04

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

CONTENTS

[01] UN: today's meeting offers an opportunity

[02] Clerides- Denktash meeting began

[03] Cyprus Stock Exchange

[04] Weather and Temperatures for Cyprus

[05] Alvaro de Soto - Text of agreement

[06] The European Commission welcomes the resumption of Cyprus talks

[07] US and Russian Ambassadors welcome direct talks

[08] Government spokesman: Conditions for direct negotiations exist

[09] Denktash proposes negotiations without break

[10] Foreign Ministry denounces massive killings in the Middle East

[11] Parties react to agreement for talks, ask for safeguards of UN process

[12] Belgian official welcomes Clerides-Denktash direct talks

[13] Greece: Clerides-Denktash talks create conditions for a solution

[01] UN: today's meeting offers an opportunity

0830:CYPPRESS:01

UN: today's meeting offers an opportunity

Nicosia, Dec 4 (CNA) -- UN Secretary General Kofi Annan hopes that the opportunity offered by today's meeting between President Glafcos Clerides and Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash, their first face-to-face meeting since August 1997, will be seized.

"This is an opportunity which the Secretary General hopes will be seized" Spokesman for the UN Secretary General Fred Eckhard told his daily briefing yesterday.

The President and the leader of the Turkish Cypriot community will meet this morning in Nicosia after an invitation by Denktash and an exchange of letters between the two leaders.

The meeting will take place at the residence of the UN Chief of Mission in the UN protected area.

Alvaro de Soto Secretary- General's Special Advisor on Cyprus will attend the meeting.

Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third.

Last September Denktash turned down an invitation by the UN Secretary General to resume the stalled proximity talks on the Cyprus problem. President Clerides accepted the invitation and expressed his readiness to work for a comprehensive settlement.

Last year Denktash abandoned UN-led proximity talks, demanding recognition for his self-styled regime in the areas of Cyprus occupied by Turkish troops since 1974, before returning to the peace talks.

CNA/AAR/MM/2001 ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

[02] Clerides- Denktash meeting began

1055:CYPPRESS:02

Clerides- Denktash meeting began

Nicosia, Dec 4 (CNA) -- Talks between Cyprus President Glafcos Clerides and Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash began here shortly after 10:00 am at the residence of the UN Chief of Mission in the UN buffer zone. UN Secretary General's Special Advisor on Cyprus Alvaro De Soto is attending the meeting.

President Clerides arrived at the venue in the presidential vehicle bearing the emblem of the Republic of Cyprus and the Cyprus flag.

Escorted by the Undersecretary to the President, Pantelis Kouros, Clerides was welcomed by UN Chief of Mission Zbigniew Wlosowicz and entered the residence without making any statement to the 230 journalists from Cyprus and abroad covering the meeting.

Rauf Denktash arrived a few minutes later in a car bearing the flag of the self-proclaimed "state" and a registration plate with the initials of the name given to the breakaway "state". He was accompanied by his aide, Ergun Olgun.

Wlosowicz welcomed Denktash, who also made no statement before entering the residence.

A couple of minutes later, Clerides and Denktash appeared at the threshold, accompanied by de Soto. The two shook hands in front of TV crews, reporters and photographers and reentered the house while de Soto, showing journalists a notebook and a pencil, asked them to "pray."

Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third.

Last September, Denktash turned down an invitation by the UN Secretary General to resume the stalled proximity talks on the Cyprus problem. President Clerides accepted the invitation and expressed his readiness to work for a comprehensive settlement.

[03] Cyprus Stock Exchange

1415:CYPPRESS:04

Cyprus Stock Exchange

Nicosia, Dec 4 (CNA) - The Cyprus Stock Exchange (CSE) All Share
Index closed at today's stock exchange meeting as follows:

CSE General Index                              133,71  (-0,74)

Traded Value                  CYP  8.523.383

FTSE/CYSE 20                  CYP  4.545.595   525,28  (-0,43)

Sectoral Indices

Banks                         CYP  3.293.905   144,24  (-0,78)
Approved Investment
Companies                 CYP    593.963   126,78  (-1,45)
Insurance Companies           CYP     98.418    52,94  ( 2,76)
Manufacturing Companies       CYP    229.491    55,12  (-1,87)
Tourism Companies             CYP    211.250   112,34  (-1,93)
Trading Companies             CYP    369.861    34,53  (-1,88)
Building and Cement Companies CYP     37.445    54,81  ( 0,16)
Énformation Technology
Companies                 CYP    199.211     0,31  ( 9,68)
Financial Services Companies  CYP    786.696    30,54  (-0,10)
Fish Culture Companies        CYP      4.555    28,57  (-1,75)
Hotels                        CYP    629.024    82,92  (-0,10)
Other Companies               CYP  1.467.300   151,27  (-0,72)

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

CNA/RG/2001
ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

[04] Weather and Temperatures for Cyprus

1425:CYPPRESS:05

Weather and Temperatures for Cyprus

Nicosia, Dec 4 (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                  16          9         RAIN
Larnaca                  19         11         CLOUDY
Limassol                 19         10         CLOUDY
Paphos                   19         10         CLOUDY
---------------------------------------------------------------

CNA/RG/2001
ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

[05] Alvaro de Soto - Text of agreement

1545:CYPPRESS:06

Alvaro de Soto - Text of agreement

Nicosia, Dec 4 (CNA) -- The full text of the statement read after the meeting today between Cyprus President Glafcos Clerides and the Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash by the special adviser to the UN Secretary-General on Cyprus Alvaro de Soto is as follows:

"At the meeting held today, 4 December 2001, between H.E Mr Glafcos Clerides, the Greek Cypriot leader, and H.E. Mr Rauf Denktash, the Turkish Cypriot leader, at the residence of the UN Chief of Mission and in the presence of Mr Alvaro de Soto, the Special Adviser to the Secretary-General on Cyprus, the two leaders agreed to the following:

That the Secretary-General, in the exercise of his mission of good offices, would invite the two leaders to direct talks;

That these talks will be held in Cyprus starting in mid-January 2002 on UN premises;

That there will be no preconditions;

That all issues will be on the table;

That they will continue to negotiate in good faith until a comprehensive settlement is achieved;

[06] The European Commission welcomes the resumption of Cyprus talks

1615:CYPPRESS:07

The European Commission welcomes the resumption of Cyprus talks

Nicosia, Dec 4 (CNA) -- The European Commission welcomed a decision today by Cyprus President Glafcos Clerides and Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash to resume talks in January for a comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus problem.

"It is encouraging that the two men have met and it is encouraging that they have agreed to meet again," said Jean-Christophe Filori, a spokesman for the Commission in Brussels.

[07] US and Russian Ambassadors welcome direct talks

1650:CYPPRESS:08

US and Russian Ambassadors welcome direct talks

Nicosia, Dec 4 (CNA) -- US and Russian Ambassadors to Cyprus, Donald Bandler and Vladimir Pavlinov, said here today they were pleased with the outcome of today's meeting between President Glafcos Clerides and Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash.

[08] Government spokesman: Conditions for direct negotiations exist

1715:CYPPRESS:09

Government spokesman: Conditions for direct negotiations exist

Nicosia, Dec 4 (CNA) -- President Glafcos Clerides believes that the conditions necessary for direct negotiations with Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash, under UN auspices, have been created, government spokesman Michalis Papapetrou said here today, adding that the possibility of a permanent solution cannot be left "unexplored and unexploited."

Commenting on today's agreement between Clerides and Denktash to begin direct talks in mid January in Cyprus, the government spokesman said the basis of the talks continues to be the UN Secretary General's good offices mission and his terms of reference, as defined in UN Security Council resolutions.

The government considers that the talks should be in earnest and should conclude within a "reasonable time frame" and promises to go to the negotiating table in good faith and with a strong desire for a settlement.

[09] Denktash proposes negotiations without break

1725:CYPPRESS:10

Denktash proposes negotiations without break

Nicosia, Dec 4 (CNA) - Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash proposed today that negotiations for a settlement to the Cyprus problem, starting in mid-January 2002, should continue without a break and aim for a settlement by June.

Speaking in Cyprus' Turkish occupied areas, after his first face-to-face meeting in four years with Cyprus President Glafcos Clerides, Denktash was quoted by AFP as saying that it would be unwise to put a time-limit on the talks, although they should not drag on for years.

[10] Foreign Ministry denounces massive killings in the Middle East

1830:CYPPRESS:11

Foreign Ministry denounces massive killings in the Middle East

Nicosia, Dec 4 (CNA) -- The Cyprus Foreign Ministry has explicitly denounced and expressed abhorrence over acts aiming at the massive killings of innocent civilians, especially children.

[11] Parties react to agreement for talks, ask for safeguards of UN process

1940:CYPPRESS:12

Parties react to agreement for talks, ask for safeguards of UN process

Nicosia, Dec 4 (CNA) -- Party leaders, cautious in their appraisal of Cyprus President Glafcos Clerides' agreement to engage in direct talks with the Turkish Cypriot leader, have stressed the need to ensure that any talks should take place within the UN framework to avoid any deviation from the agreed basis of negotiations.

Comments varied from outright approval of the Presidential moves, from the two coalition partners, to warnings about the possibility of allowing the Turkish side to consolidate its positions but also welcoming remarks from the main opposition party.

[12] Belgian official welcomes Clerides-Denktash direct talks

1950:CYPPRESS:13

Belgian official welcomes Clerides-Denktash direct talks

Larnaca, Dec 4 (CNA) - Belgian Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister Annemie Neyts, speaking in Turkey, today expressed her government's satisfaction over the first face-to-face meeting between Cyprus President Glafcos Clerides and Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash in the past four years, as well as their decision to continue their talks to solve the Cyprus problem.

[13] Greece: Clerides-Denktash talks create conditions for a solution

2010:CYPPRESS:14

Greece: Clerides-Denktash talks create conditions for a solution

Nicosia, Dec 4 (CNA) - The Greek government, through its Foreign Ministry spokesman Panayiotis Mpeglitis, said today that the agreement of Cyprus President Glafcos Clerides and Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash to continue direct talks in mid-January 2002 within the UN framework, "creates conditions for substantive negotiations to solve the Cyprus problem".

In a statement, Mpeglitis said that "the good will of the Turkish and Turkish Cypriot side remains to be proven by the substantive contribution to solving the Cyprus problem", adding that the direct talks will indicate whether Denktash "is acting with tactical maneuvres or has really shifted from his so far intransigent stance".

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