Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 05-04-24

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

CONTENTS

[01] Iacovou says Cyprus an obstacle in Turkey's EU course

[02] Iacovou says Cyprus responsible for UNFICYP accommodation

[03] Iacovou expects Turkey to question EU common position

[04] President says Cyprus better off for rejecting Annan plan

[05] KKK-AKEL celebrates 80 years of existence

[06] Weather and Temperatures for Cyprus

[07] Iacovou represents Cyprus at new Pope's inauguration mass

[01] Iacovou says Cyprus an obstacle in Turkey's EU course

1245:CYPPRESS:01

Iacovou says Cyprus an obstacle in Turkey's EU course

Larnaca, Apr 24 (CNA) - Cypriot Minister of Foreign Affairs George Iacovou has said that "Turkey will be encountering the Cyprus problem and Cyprus as a huge obstacle in its aspirations to join the EU" and expressed the view that "there is no chance" of Turkey becoming an EU member "prior to a Cyprus settlement."

Speaking yesterday on departure for Rome, where he will be representing the President of the Republic and the government at the inauguration mass of newly elected Pope Benedict XVI, Iacovou said Turkey's EU accession course was "very complicated" and that "the progress made by Turkey so far is unsatisfactory."

[02] Iacovou says Cyprus responsible for UNFICYP accommodation

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Iacovou says Cyprus responsible for UNFICYP accommodation

Larnaca, Apr 24 (CNA) - Cypriot Minister of Foreign Affairs George Iacovou has said the Republic of Cyprus was responsible for providing accommodation for the UN Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP) and noted that the government's authorities had determined that the Ledra Palace hotel in the buffer zone was now unsuitable to host the force's members.

Speaking yesterday at Larnaca Airport on departure for Rome, where he will be representing the President of the Republic and the government at the inauguration mass of newly elected Pope Benedict XVI, Iacovou said UNFICYP had notified the government last year that it intended to abandon Ledra Palace in search for better accommodation.

[03] Iacovou expects Turkey to question EU common position

1315:CYPPRESS:03

Iacovou expects Turkey to question EU common position

Larnaca, Apr 24 (CNA) - Cypriot Minister of Foreign Affairs George Iacovou has said that the common position of the EU achieved by the Committee of Permanent Representatives (COREPER), in view of the EU-Turkey Association Council to be held on April 26, was "a good position," adding that he had "no doubt Turkey would try to question this position."

Speaking yesterday at Larnaca Airport on departure for Rome, where he will be representing the President of the Republic and the government at the inauguration mass of newly elected Pope Benedict XVI, Iacovou noted however that from the moment the position was adopted, "unanimity was necessary to change it in the future."

[04] President says Cyprus better off for rejecting Annan plan

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President says Cyprus better off for rejecting Annan plan

Nicosia, Apr 24 (CNA) - Cypriot President Tassos Papadopoulos has expressed conviction that Cyprus' position is today much better than it would have been if the plan for a Cyprus settlement proposed by UN Secretary General Kofi Annan had been accepted in a referendum on April 24 last year.

Speaking after the conclusion of a pancyprian congress to celebrate the 80 years of existence of the Cyprus Communist Party - AKEL and invited to comment on the fact that today is the first anniversary of the referendum, at which the Greek Cypriot community rejected the Annan plan, President Papadopoulos said ''what I had said then has been verified.''

''Hard work is needed and certainly our position today is much better than it would have been if we had accepted the Annan plan,'' he pointed out.

[05] KKK-AKEL celebrates 80 years of existence

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KKK-AKEL celebrates 80 years of existence

Nicosia, Apr 24 (CNA) - Leftwing AKEL envisions a united Cyprus, truly independent, democratic and peaceful, that will be the common homeland of Greek Cypriots, Turkish Cypriots, Maronites, Armenians and Roman Catholics, in which diversity in national origin, language and religion would harmoniously coexist in a common civilisation.

In a declaration adopted at a pancyprian congress in Nicosia to mark the 80th anniversary of the Cyprus Communist Party (KKK), which later became AKEL, the party notes that it is struggling for a peaceful solution of the Cyprus problem in the context of the UN and on the basis of UN resolutions and the high level agreements of 1977 and 1979.

The congress was addressed by President of the Republic Tassos Papadopoulos, as well as Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot political party leaders or representatives, while messages were sent in from dignitaries abroad. The key speaker at the congress was AKEL General Secretary, President of the House of Representatives, Demetris Christofias. A short film was also shown about the history and struggles of KKK-AKEL.

[06] Weather and Temperatures for Cyprus

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Weather and Temperatures for Cyprus

Nicosia, Apr 24 (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                 27          11          FINE
Larnaca                 23          15          FINE
Limassol                28          14          FINE
Paphos                  21          12          FINE
---------------------------------------------------------------

[07] Iacovou represents Cyprus at new Pope's inauguration mass

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Iacovou represents Cyprus at new Pope's inauguration mass

Nicosia, Apr 24 (CNA) - Minister of Foreign Affairs George Iacovou represented Cypriot President Tassos Papadopoulos and the government at the inauguration mass of newly elected Pope Benedict XVI, which took place today at Saint Peter's Basilica in the Vatican City.

After the religious ceremony, the new Pope received the leaders of foreign delegations, among whom many heads of state and government. In a brief meeting with the Pontiff, Iacovou conveyed the personal wishes of President Papadopoulos, the government and the people of Cyprus, wishing him every success.

Later on, Iacovou departed for Luxembourg, where he will participate in the EU General Affairs and External Relations Council.

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