Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 08-04-30

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

CONTENTS

[01] TOKAS - FUNERAL

[02] RUSSIA - GREECE

[03] CYPRUS - OLYMPICS

[01] TOKAS - FUNERAL

President of the Republic Demetris Christofias, a close friend of Tokas, travelled to the Greek capital to attend the funeral held at public expense, while Cypriot Minister of Education and Culture, Andreas Demetriou delivered the funeral oration.

Tokas, who was born in Limassol on 8 June 1954, on the south coast of the island, was receiving treatment for cancer at an Athens hospital when he succumbed in the early hours Sunday.

Distinguished for his countless hits, Marios Tokas wrote songs for big Greek names such as Demetris Mitropanos, Yiannis Parios, Manolis Mitsias, Haris Alexiou, Demetra Galani and Antonis Kalogianis.

The son of Cypriot journalist and writer Kypros Tokas, Marios moved to Athens in 1974 with the dream to make a career in the music industry. He studied simultaneously at the Philosophical School and the State Conservatory.

From an early age he exhibited a talent in music writing and in 1978 he released his first album entitled ``Ta tragoudia tis pareas``, which earned him an early critical acclaim. This was followed by another great success, the ``Mikra Erotika`` sang by Antonis Kalogianis.

More successes followed over the years, establishing him as a great composer. He also wrote the music for a number of psalms.

Marios Tokas is survived by his wife and three children.

[02] RUSSIA - GREECE

Speaking after Tuesdays meeting, the Russian President said they discussed the situation in Cyprus and Kosovo and specific ways to deepen the traditionally good relations between the two countries.

The positions of the two countries are close and we support compliance with the principles of international law, he noted.

The Greek Prime Minister said that recent moves on the Cyprus issue were also raised during the bilateral consultations and expressed Greeces great appreciation for the firm positions which Russia maintains on Cyprus.

In the past several weeks, fresh efforts have begun between the Greek Cypriot and the Turkish Cypriot communities to prepare the ground for substantive negotiations between the community leaders with a view to reaching a political settlement that will reunite Cyprus, divided since the 1974 Turkish invasion.

[03] CYPRUS - OLYMPICS

Chinese Ambassador in Nicosia, Zhao Yali, has said that his country is ready to organise the Beijing Olympic Games and announced that President Christofias will attend the opening ceremony of the Games.

The Chinese Ambassador, who hosted Wednesday a celebrating reception in Nicosia on the occasion of the 100 day countdown of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, commended Cyprus on its stance regarding the Tibet issue and expressed Chinas gratitude.

I would like to express our gratitude for the stance of the Cypriot government. The Cypriot Foreign Minister has said that politics should be kept away from the Olympic Games and expressed his wish for the success of the Games, Zhao said.

Over 100 heads of state and government will be present at the opening ceremony, among them the Cypriot President.

The Ambassador wished Cyprus all the best at the Games that will take place between 8 - 24 August, 2008.

We hope that the Cypriot athletes will be blessed to succeed, especially in tennis, shooting and high jump, he said.

China, he noted, will be represented for the first time with 500 athletes.

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