Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 09-06-06

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

CONTENTS

[01] EUROPEAN ELECTIONS - CYPRUS - POLLS OPEN

[02] CHIEF RETURNING OFFICER ATTENDANCE

[03] EUROELECTIONS PRESIDENT VOTE

[04] CYPRUS - GSSE

[01] EUROPEAN ELECTIONS - CYPRUS - POLLS OPEN

In the second European Parliament voting since the Republic joined the European Union in 2004, a total of 526,060 registered voters will go to polls to elect the six MEPs from Cyprus.

Left wing ruling AKEL, rightwing Democratic Rally, centre Democratic Party, socialist EDEK, centre-right European Party and the Ecologists Environmentalists, each have six candidates running.

The Cyprus Reunification Movement has four candidates the National Popular Front two while five independent candidates, including incumbent Marios Matsakis are also running.

The number of voters includes 6,458 community citizens living in Cyprus, as well as 9,628 Cypriots who will be voting abroad. A total of 1,126 polling stations will be set up, including 34 abroad.

There is a 9% increase in the number of voters, compared with the European elections of 2004, with the number of Turkish Cypriots having doubled and the number of EU citizens voting in Cyprus having tripled compared with the 2004 figures.

Chief Returning Officer Lazaros Savvides said in Nicosia there were 209,392 registered voters, of which 207,225 are Greek Cypriots, 571 Turkish Cypriots and 1,596 EU citizens, Famagusta 28,616, of which 27,865 Greek Cypriots, 261 Turkish Cypriots and 490 EU citizens, Larnaca 86,764, of which 85,721 Greek Cypriots, 90 Turkish Cypriots and 953 EU citizens, Limassol 144,367, of which 143,017 Greek Cypriots, 274 Turkish Cypriots and 1.076 EU citizens, and Pafos 47,293, of which 44,842 Greek Cypriots, 108 Turkish Cypriots and 2.343 EU citizens, while 9,627 Greek Cypriots and one Turkish Cypriot will be voting abroad.

Furthermore, 410 polling stations will operate in Nicosia, plus two special polling stations, one for the enclaved and one for the prisoners, 320 in Limassol, 50 in the free areas of Famagusta, 179 in Larnaca, 131 in Pafos and 34 abroad.

Polling stations will be set up in Athens (five), Thessaloniki (three), Patra, Komotini, Larissa, Volos, Heraklion, Rethymno, Serres, Rhodes, Mytilene, Ioannina, Kalamata, Kozani, London (three), Manchester, Birmingham, Berlin, Brussels, Moscow, Prague, Budapest, Sofia, Doha and Dubai.

The Turkish Cypriots living in the government controlled areas of Cyprus, as well as the EU citizens in Cyprus, will be voting at the same polling stations as the Greek Cypriots, depending on the area they reside on the island.

Polling stations have opened at 0600 local time (0300 GMT) and close at 2000 local time, with a one-hour break from 1200 to 1300. Polling stations abroad for Cypriot voters will be synchronised to close at the same time as those on the island.

For voting procedures abroad, a total of 166 officers will work at the polling stations, of which 45 are embassy staff and 121 specially trained personnel from Cyprus.

In Cyprus, around 10,000 civil servants and police officers will be working to cover all stages of the voting procedure.

The counting of ballot papers will be carried out at the polling stations, as soon as they close, and results will be announced on June 7, late at night, when the last polling station in the EU closes.

The six successful candidates from Cyprus will be proclaimed MEPs at the International Fair grounds in Nicosia, soon after the announcement of the results.

[02] CHIEF RETURNING OFFICER ATTENDANCE

Chief Returning Officer Lazaros Savvides announced here Saturday that voting, which began at 0600 local time (0300 GMT) was progressing in an orderly manner and that by 1000 local time, a total of 13.7% of the voters had cast their ballot.

In detail, 14.75% people voted in Nicosia, 13% in Limassol, 12.36% in the free areas of Famagusta, 13.74% in Larnaca and 12.75% in Paphos .

A total of 526,060 people are registered to vote. The number of voters includes 6,458 community citizens living in Cyprus, as well as 9,628 Cypriots who will be voting abroad. A total of 1,126 polling stations will be set up, including 34 abroad.

[03] EUROELECTIONS PRESIDENT VOTE

In statements after casting his vote in the Elections for the Members of the European Parliament 2009, Christofias expressed certainty that the process of the elections will run smoothly without any problems, as in previous elections in Cyprus.

``Needless to say that whenever people are given the opportunity to express their will they must proceed to the polling stations,`` Christofias said, noting that after casting his vote he wants once again to call on people to proceed to the polling stations.

[04] CYPRUS - GSSE

According to the official website of the Games, Iceland is in the second place with 68 medals (30 gold, 21 silver and 17 bronze medals) and Luxembourg in the third place with 48 medals ( 21 gold, 11 silver, and 16 bronze medals).

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