Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 05-09-16

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

CONTENTS

[01] Cypriot President sees progress on EU counterstatement

[02] Cypriot FM discusses Cyprus and EU with counterparts in US

[03] Cyprus Stock Exchange

[04] Greek & Cypriot leaders pledge to continue work for justice in Cyprus

[05] Women's Socialist International to hold regional conference in Cyprus

[06] Maritime Cyprus 2005 Conference begins September 26

[07] Cyprus and Athens bourses sign deal for common platform

[08] Spokesman: Turkey continuously violates international law

[09] COREPER fails again to agree on counterstatement

[01] Cypriot President sees progress on EU counterstatement

0805:CYPPRESS:01

Cypriot President sees progress on EU counterstatement

by Maria Myles

New York, Sep 16 (CNA) - There has been no agreement yet among European Union members on the text of a statement with respect to a Turkish declaration but there is progress on the matter, Cypriot President Tassos Papadopoulos said here yesterday.

He did not however rule out the possibility of reaching agreement on an EU counterstatement to a unilateral declaration Ankara has made, saying that it does not recognise Cyprus, a member state of the Union it wishes to join.

Speaking to journalists at the UN seat in New York, he said there are indications that Britain, that is currently exercising the EU rotating presidency, would accept some of the suggestions put forward by Cyprus on the content of the counterstatement, pointing out however that there remained disagreements on the matter.

[02] Cypriot FM discusses Cyprus and EU with counterparts in US

0815:CYPPRESS:02

Cypriot FM discusses Cyprus and EU with counterparts in US

by Maria Myles

New York, Sep 16 (CNA) - Cypriot Minister of Foreign Affairs George Iacovou had a series of meetings here yesterday with counterparts, during which he talked about the question of Cyprus and other matters of mutual interest relating to Cyprus' role as a member of the European Union.

The Minister, in New York for the World Summit and the UN General Assembly, met a delegation of the American Jewish Committee, led by its president Robert Goodkind, and his counterparts from Armenia, Vartan Oskanian, and San Marino, Febio Berardi.

[03] Cyprus Stock Exchange

1520:CYPPRESS:03

Cyprus Stock Exchange

Nicosia, Sept 16 (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                     2.871.151,46

GSE GENERAL INDEX                       99,09     2,63  2.736.515,06
FTSE/CySE 20                           500,02     3,14  2.347.718,47
MAIN MARKET INDEX                    1.493,76     3,09  2.370.045,26
PARALLEL MARKET INDEX                1.042,20    -0,01     35.983,32
INVESTMENT COMPANIES MARKET INDEX    1.143,56     2,23    250.615,86
MAIN AND PARALLEL MARKETS INDEX      1.477,20     3,01  2.406.028,58
BANKS INDEX                          1.578,16     3,44  2.086.329,37
HOTELS INDEX                         1.115,78    -0,53      9.481,28
ALTERNATIVE MARKET INDEX             1.006,32     0,85    100.355,77
FTSE Med (15/9/2005)                 8.260,71     0,42

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

[04] Greek & Cypriot leaders pledge to continue work for justice in Cyprus

1840:CYPPRESS:04

Greek & Cypriot leaders pledge to continue work for justice in Cyprus

by Maria Myles

New York, Sep 16 (CNA) -- The Greek and Cypriot leaders as well as leaders of the Greek and Cypriot American community here have pledged to continue their efforts until justice is done in Cyprus, pointing out that they work in concert and towards the same goal, to see this East Mediterranean island free of the Turkish occupation.

The pledges were made at the 2005 annual awards gala of the Cyprus Federation of America, which honoured Greek Premier Costas Karamanlis and his Foreign Minister Petros Molyviatis.

Present at the dinner was Cyprus President Tassos Papadopoulos, who in his brief remarks to a packed hall at the Hilton hotel here, stressed that there is no discord between Nicosia and Athens in the cause of offering support for the question of Cyprus.

[05] Women's Socialist International to hold regional conference in Cyprus

1850:CYPPRESS:05

Women's Socialist International to hold regional conference in Cyprus

Nicosia, Sept 16 (CNA)Womens Socialist International will hold its regional conference in Cyprus on Sunday, September 18.

The conference entitled ''Women for Peace'' comprising representatives from the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities, from Greece, Israel, Lebanon, Palestine Cameroon and Canada, will discuss the Cyprus problem, the situation in the Middle East and women's role in political, economic and social development.

Speaking during a press conference here today, Pia Locateli, Women's Socialist International President and Member of the European Parliament (MEP) said that the solution of the Cyprus problem remains at the heart of Women's Socialist International, adding that she personally assisted efforts to reunify Cyprus before the April 2004 referendum on a UN plan for a Cyprus settlement.

[06] Maritime Cyprus 2005 Conference begins September 26

1940:CYPPRESS:06

Maritime Cyprus 2005 Conference begins September 26

Nicosia, Sept 16 (CNA)--The problem created to the Cypriot registry by Turkey's blockade against ships under Cypriot flag, will be discussed during the 2005 Maritime Cyprus Conference to be held in the coastal of Limassol on September 26-28.

Speaking during a press conference, Communication and Works Ministry Permanent Secretary Makis Constantinides said that approximately 800 representatives from the Cypriot and international shipping industry will participate during the Conference entitled Shipping: What lies ahead? A Three Piece Puzzle.

[07] Cyprus and Athens bourses sign deal for common platform

1945:CYPPRESS:07

Cyprus and Athens bourses sign deal for common platform

Nicosia, Sept 16 (CNA) -- The Cyprus Stock Exchange (CSE) and the Athens Stock Exchange (ASE) signed today an agreement to create a common trading platform for the two markets, which is due to start operation next year.

The Presidents of CSE and ASE, Akis Cleanthous and Greek Spyros Kapralos respectively, signed the agreement.

[08] Spokesman: Turkey continuously violates international law

2000:CYPPRESS:08

Spokesman: Turkey continuously violates international law

Nicosia, Sept 16 (CNA) --- Turkey continues to violate international law and it even makes efforts to persuade the international community that the European Union is wrong by asking Turkey to comply with the international law, Government Spokesman Kypros Chrysostomides has stressed today.

Commenting on statements by Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan who said that the European Union ''is rude towards Turkey'', and that ''the Union's demand for Turkey to recognise the Republic of Cyprus is contrary to diplomatic ethics'', Chrysostomides said ''it seems that Turkey has a very special way of assessing international facts''.

[09] COREPER fails again to agree on counterstatement

2030:CYPPRESS:09

COREPER fails again to agree on counterstatement

by Nicos Bellos

Brussels, Sept 16 (CNA) -- The Committee of Permanent Representatives in Brussels (COREPER) failed to agree today on the European Union's counterstatement to Turkey's unilateral declaration that it does not recognise the Republic of Cyprus.

The discussion at COREPER level was based on a new draft of the British EU Presidency, the wording of which did not satisfy the Permanent Representatives of Cyprus, Nicos Emiliou, Greece, Vasilis Kaskarelis, who have been backed by other EU countries.

The new draft has added a new sentence in the paragraph regarding the Customs Union Protocol and its implementation by Turkey, that states '' failure (on behalf of Turkey) to implement its obligations in full will affect the overall progress in the negotiations''.

Regarding the wording about the Cyprus issue and the UN role, the new draft states that the efforts for a solution of the Cyprus problem should be ''in line with relevant UN Security Council Resolutions and the principles on which the EU is founded''.

The previous draft only made a reference to the UN Secretary General's efforts for a solution of the problem.

According to diplomatic sources the Greek Permanent Representative focused on the recognition of Cyprus by Turkey and asked that this issue be coupled with Turkey's accession course and not with its actual accession to the Union, as has been stated in the British presidency's draft. Dissociate

He also asked that the recognition issue is dissociated from efforts for a comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus issue in the framework of the UN.

The Cypriot and Greek positions were supported by the Permanent Representatives of the Czech Republic and Hungary, who asked the British presidency to take their views into consideration.

The British Permanent Representative acknowledged the need for further changes in the draft text that will take place early next week. A further extraordinary meeting of COREPER might take place on Monday in the event that there is consensus.

According to EU sources, the new draft states as follows:

''The European Community and its Member States acknowledge the signature by Turkey of the Additional Protocol to the Agreement establishing an Association between the European Community and its Member States on the one part and Turkey on the other, in accordance with the conclusions of the European Council of December 2004. They regret that Turkey felt it necessary to make a declaration regarding the Republic of Cyprus at the time of signature.

The European Community and its Member States make clear that this declaration is unilateral, does not form part of the Protocol and has no legal effect on Turkeys obligations.

The European Community and its Member States expect full, non-discriminatory implementation of the Additional Protocol, and the removal of all obstacles to the free movement of goods, including restrictions on means of transport.

Turkey must apply the Protocol fully to all EU Member States. The EU will monitor this closely and evaluate full implementation in 2006. The European Community and its Member States stress that, the opening of negotiations on the relevant chapters depends on Turkeys implementation of its contractual obligations to all member States. Failure to implement its obligations in full will affect the overall progress in the negotiations.

The European Community and its Member States recall that the Republic of Cyprus became a Member State of the European Union on 1st May 2004. They underline that they recognise the Republic of Cyprus, only, as a subject of international law.

Prior recognition of all Member States is a necessary component of accession. Accordingly, the EU underlines the importance it attaches to the normalisation of relations between Turkey and all EU Member States, as soon as possible.

In that context, the European Community and its Member States agree on the importance of supporting the efforts of the UN Secretary General to bring about a comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus problem, in line with relevant UN Security Council Resolutions and the principles on which the EU is founded, and that a just and lasting settlement will contribute to peace, stability and harmonious relations in the region.

The Council will ensure a follow-up on the progress made on all these issues in 2006''.

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