Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 03-01-29

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

CONTENTS

[01] Hungary sees historic opportunity to solve Cyprus problem

[02] Bangladesh continues to support Cyprus cause

[03] Cyprus' EU accession good omen for Iran

[04] Weston: Several elements give hope for Cyprus settlement

[05] UN chief reports on UNFICYP budget

[06] Cyprus Stock Exchange

[07] CoE SG says UN plan presents window of opportunity

[08] De Soto meets Turkish officials

[09] Weather and Temperatures for Cyprus

[10] White powder found in envelope at UN talks site

[11] Tests on white powder negative, says UN

[12] Talks’ venue moved, as anthrax ruled out

[13] Talks' venue moved, as anthrax ruled out - REPEAT STORY

[14] Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot party leaders meet

[15] Clerides says mistakes could jeopardize EU accession

[01] Hungary sees historic opportunity to solve Cyprus problem

1300:CYPPRESS:01

Hungary sees historic opportunity to solve Cyprus problem

Nicosia, Jan 29 (CNA) -- Hungarys new ambassador to Cyprus Janos Kisfalvi has said there is a historic opportunity to solve the Cyprus problem and hoped that all parties concerned will have the political resolve and courage to seize it.

[02] Bangladesh continues to support Cyprus cause

1310:CYPPRESS:02

Bangladesh continues to support Cyprus cause

Nicosia, Jan 29 (CNA) -- Cyprus President Glafcos Clerides said if the Turkish Cypriot side displays the necessary political to negotiate meaningfully it will be possible to reach a solution within the coming months.

[03] Cyprus' EU accession good omen for Iran

1325:CYPPRESS:03

Cyprus' EU accession good omen for Iran

Nicosia, Jan 29 (CNA) -- Iran's new ambassador to Cyprus, Seyed Reza Hadj-Zaryabashi has said the invitation for Cyprus to join the European Union (EU) is a good omen, and will add to the number of friends of the Islamic Republic of Iran in the EU.

[04] Weston: Several elements give hope for Cyprus settlement

1330:CYPPRESS:04

Weston: Several elements give hope for Cyprus settlement

by Apostolis Zoupaniotis

New York, Jan 29 (CNA) -- There are several elements in the Cyprus talks which give some hope that a settlement will be achievable, US State Department Special Coordinator for Cyprus, Thomas Weston, has said.

[05] UN chief reports on UNFICYP budget

1445:CYPPRESS:05

UN chief reports on UNFICYP budget

by Apostolis Zoupaniotis

United Nations, Jan 29 (CNA) -- The expenditure for the functioning of the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP) for the period 1 July 2001 - 30 June 2002 reached 41,644,5 dollars, a UN Secretary General's performance report on the budget of the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus for this period, said. The financial resources apportioned were 42,395,1 dollars.

[06] Cyprus Stock Exchange

1445:CYPPRESS:06

Cyprus Stock Exchange

Nicosia, Jan 29 (CNA) - The Cyprus Stock Exchange (CSE) All Share
Index closed at today's stock exchange meeting as follows:

CSE General Index                               91,63   (-1,55)

Traded Value                  CYP    671.448

FTSE/CYSE 20                  CYP    295.160   356,79   (-1,63)

Sectoral Indices

Banks                         CYP    178.597   103,21   (-1,83)
Approved Investment
Companies                 CYP      9.041    80,76   (-0,19)
Insurance Companies           CYP      1.254    19,96   ( 2,78)
Manufacturing Companies       CYP     12.026    62,55   (-1,20)
Tourism Companies             CYP     12.158   100,15   (-2,96)
Trading Companies             CYP     21.195    18,68   (-3,06)
Building and Cement Companies CYP     23.090    73,30   (-1,47)
Énformation Technology
Companies                 CYP      7.773     3,23   (-0,31)
Financial Services Companies  CYP     19.157    17,93   (-1,54)
Fish Culture Companies        CYP        522    14,48   ( 4,32)
Hotels                        CYP     14.118    45,57   (-1,49)
Other Companies               CYP    206.457    85,74   (-1,19)

* The third column presents the percentage variation of

[07] CoE SG says UN plan presents window of opportunity

1410:CYPPRESS:07

CoE SG says UN plan presents window of opportunity

Nicosia, Jan 29 (CNA) -- Council of Europe Secretary-General, Walter Schwimmer, has said the current UN plan on Cyprus presents a unique window of opportunity to find a lasting solution.

Schwimmer made the statement yesterday in the opening paragraph of his speech before the Parliamentary Assembly Session where he set out the CoEs priorities for 2003.

[08] De Soto meets Turkish officials

1415:CYPPRESS:08

De Soto meets Turkish officials

Constantinople, Jan 29 (CNA) -- UN Secretary General's special adviser on Cyprus Alvaro De Soto said here today that Justice and Development party leader Recep Tayyip Ergdogan was willing to find a solution to the Cyprus question.

De Soto, who met yesterday Prime Minister Abdullah Gul and Foreign Ministry Undersecretary Ugur Ziyal, said after meeting the latter that an agreement on Cyprus was possible and that the two sides must have the political will and work hard.

[09] Weather and Temperatures for Cyprus

1455:CYPPRESS:09

Weather and Temperatures for Cyprus

Nicosia, Jan 29 (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           5          FAIR
Larnaca                 19           8          FAIR
Limassol                18           7          FINE
Paphos                  18           8          FAIR

[10] White powder found in envelope at UN talks site

1530:CYPPRESS:10

White powder found in envelope at UN talks site

Nicosia, Jan 29 (CNA) -- An envelope, containing white powder, was received at the local office of UN Secretary General's special adviser on Cyprus Alvaro de Soto, UN Peace Keeping Force Spokesman Brian Kelly said here today.

Kelly told CNA that experts are examining the substance to ascertain its exact nature and added that Cyprus government officials have been notified about the incident.

Cyprus Government Spokesman Michalis Papapetrou confirmed to CNA that the government had been notified about the incident.

''Shortly after noon today, the office of the special adviser received a piece of mail from overseas containing a suspicious white powder,'' Kelly said.

He said UNFICYP security was immediately alerted and precautionary measures were taken.

Kelly said the area adjacent to the offices in question was cordoned off and an investigation by the UN police began.

''Government officials were alerted by the UN. Now laboratory technicians are examining the powder to ascertain its exact nature,'' Kelly added.

Spokesman Papapetrou told CNA that ''an envelope was received today at the office of Alvaro de Soto, and it contained white powder.''

Asked if the Cyprus police were called in, the spokesman said at this stage he did not know.

[11] Tests on white powder negative, says UN

1615:CYPPRESS:11

Tests on white powder negative, says UN

Nicosia, Jan 29 (CNA) The UN said tests on a white powder found in an envelope at the local office of UN Secretary General's special adviser on Cyprus Alvaro de Soto proved negative.

UN Peace Keeping Force Spokesman Brian Kelly told CNA here Wednesday that ''the tests carried out by state technicians proved negative.''

''The substance is not considered dangerous,'' he added.

The Spokesman had said earlier the office of the special adviser received a piece of mail from overseas containing a suspicious white powder. The area adjacent to the offices in question was cordoned off and an investigation by the UN police was underway.

[12] Talks’ venue moved, as anthrax ruled out

1825:CYPPRESS:12

Talks venue moved, as anthrax ruled out

Nicosia, Jan 29 (CNA) Todays meeting within the framework of the UN-led direct talks on Cyprus has been moved to the Ledra Palace hotel, in the UN controlled buffer zone here, as a precautionary measure, after white powder was found in an envelope at the local office of UN Secretary General's special adviser on Cyprus Alvaro de Soto proved.

A press release from the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus said anthrax was ruled out after tests were carried out on samples of the powder by state laboratory technicians. Around 50 people underwent precautionary decontamination procedures, it added.

Following this mornings incident at the Good Offices office in UNPA, Nicosia, where a piece of mail from overseas was revealed to contain suspicious white powder, tests have been carried out on samples of the powder by state laboratory technicians. As a result of these tests, anthrax has been ruled out. However, further tests are being conducted, the outcome of which will be made known tomorrow, it said.

Meanwhile, some 50 people, comprising Good Offices and UNFICYP staff, as well as members of the technical committees, have been meeting at the Nicosia Conference Centre at the time of the incident, underwent precautionary decontamination procedures before departing the scene, the statement added.

[13] Talks' venue moved, as anthrax ruled out - REPEAT STORY

1830:CYPPRESS:12

Talks venue moved, as anthrax ruled out

Nicosia, Jan 29 (CNA) Todays meeting within the framework of the UN-led direct talks on Cyprus has been moved to the Ledra Palace hotel, in the UN controlled buffer zone here, as a precautionary measure, after white powder was found in an envelope at the local office of UN Secretary General's special adviser on Cyprus Alvaro de Soto.

A press release from the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus said anthrax was ruled out after tests were carried out on samples of the powder by state laboratory technicians. Around 50 people underwent precautionary decontamination procedures, it added.

Following this mornings incident at the Good Offices office in UNPA, Nicosia, where a piece of mail from overseas was revealed to contain suspicious white powder, tests have been carried out on samples of the powder by state laboratory technicians. As a result of these tests, anthrax has been ruled out. However, further tests are being conducted, the outcome of which will be made known tomorrow, it said.

Meanwhile, some 50 people, comprising Good Offices and UNFICYP staff, as well as members of the technical committees, have been meeting at the Nicosia Conference Centre at the time of the incident, underwent precautionary decontamination procedures before departing the scene, the statement added.

[14] Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot party leaders meet

1845:CYPPRESS:13

Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot party leaders meet

Nicosia, Jan 29 (CNA) Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot political parties urged here Wednesday the leaders of the two communities ''to engage in substantive negotiations aiming at achieving an agreement as soon as possible.

The position was outlined in a joint communique released after a joint meeting of Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot political parties which exchanged views on the ongoing direct talks between the leaders of the two communities under the auspices of the UN.

The joint communique, issued by the Slovak Embassy, which is hosting the meetings, said the political party leaders and representatives welcomed the new political parties joining the meeting and would meet again on March 3 at 10.30am.

[15] Clerides says mistakes could jeopardize EU accession

2020:CYPPRESS:14

Clerides says mistakes could jeopardize EU accession

Nicosia, Jan 29 (CNA) President Glafcos Clerides said possible mistakes in the stance, which the Greek Cypriot side maintains on the Cyprus question, could delay the conclusion of the country's accession to the European Union.

He said it was necessary to make careful steps in the Cyprus problem, until accession is concluded.

Our homeland is going through a period of critical, decisive significance, Clerides said in a speech during the inauguration of the new Finance Ministry building, adding that we must continue to make careful steps to complete our accession to the EU.

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