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Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 01-12-16Cyprus News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Cyprus News Agency at <http://www.cyna.org.cy>CONTENTS
[01] Elections - Nicosia candidates hopeful for success1155:CYPPRESS:01Elections - Nicosia candidates hopeful for success Nicosia, Dec 16 (CNA) -- The two candidates contesting the seat of the mayor of the world's last divided capital, Nicosia, backed by opposite sides of the political spectrum, expressed optimism about the outcome of today's poll for local administration. "I am optimistic and I have faith in the people of Nicosia," Kypros Chrysostomides, a lawyer by profession, said at the polling station where he exercised his right to vote. Today, he added, "is the day for the local administration and democracy has to function." Chrysostomides is backed by the leftwing AKEL party, the centre-right Democratic Party, the Socialdemocrats Movement and the rigtwing New Horizons party. In his remarks, Michalakis Zampelas, a chartered accountant by profession who has the support of the ruling Democratic Rally party, the government's junior partner the United Democrats and the Democratic Movement ADIK, said the outcome of the elections "will be a victory for the people of Nicosia and not a personal or a party victory." "I am an independent candidate with immense experience in management and administration, I am optimistic today and I will be optimistic tomorrow," Zampelas said, adding that the people of Nicosia need a capable and effective mayor to deal with the problems they are facing. He said no party has the right to celebrate a party victory as this belongs to the people and added "a victory for Chrysostomides will also be a victory of the people of Nicosia." Replying to questions, he said he had no political ambitions except to serve the people of Nicosia and try to solve their problems, working with party leaders and any government that is in power. Election results are expected to be announced before midnight. Chrysostomides was born in 1942 in the village of Kathikas, in Paphos district on the western part of the island and studied law in Greece and other European countries. He has worked in a Council of Europe committee on human rights and in 1973 he settled in Nicosia. He has been involved in various social and scientific committees and organisations and is a member of international bodies, including an advisory centre to the Greek government. Chrysostomides, backed by four parliamentary parties, wrote five books on the Cyprus question and he set up a political movement "Platform for the Renewal of the Centre." He is married with two daughters. Michalakis Zampelas was born in 1942 in the village of Palehori, in Nicosia district, and studied accountancy in Britain. He set up his own business in 1970 and today he is the president and partner in Ioannou-Zampelas and Pricewaterhouse Coopers, which offers services to over 15.000 clients at home and abroad. He is involved in many social and charity organisations and has put forward proposals for the economic and financial development of Cyprus in the aftermath of the 1974 Turkish invasion of the island. He is married with three daughters. CNA MM/GP/2001 ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY [02] Polling runs smoothly1220:CYPPRESS:02Polling runs smoothly Nicosia, Dec 16 (CNA) -- Polling for municipal and community elections, which started at 0700 local time (0500 GMT), was interrupted at 1200 noon for an hour. The office of the Chief Returning Officer of the Ministry of Interior announced that everything was running smoothly and no problems were reported three hours into the voting. In Nicosia some 15 per cent of the registered voters had cast their vote, in Limassol about 20 per cent, in Famagusta district about 13 per cent, in Larnaca approximately 24 per cent and in Paphos 17 per cent. Some 170,000 Cypriots will go to the polls today to elect their representatives for local administration, with the mayoral contest attracting most of the attention. There are 33 municipalities throughout Cyprus, nine of which are in the northern Turkish-occupied part of the Republic. Refugees will vote twice today, once for a mayor in their place of residence prior to the 1974 Turkish invasion of Cyprus and a second time for the local authority in their temporary place of abode. Nicosia district has ten municipalities, Limassol five, Famagusta seven, Larnaca and Paphos four and three in the Turkish-occupied district of Kyrenia. CNA MM/GP/2001 ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY [03] Interior Minister: no problem in today's polling1330:CYPPRESS:03Interior Minister: no problem in today's polling Nicosia, Dec 16 (CNA) -- Interior Minister Christodoulos Christodoulou said about one third of the registered voters had cast their vote by noon today, as the polls closed for an hour and added that first results for small municipalities should be out at around 10 tonight. "Today we are sitting for exams in democracy again and I am sure that, as in the past, we shall pass these exams with flying colours," the minister said, noting that as Cyprus prepares to join the European Union, it has to convey the message that it is not lagging behind any of its European future partners in this respect. He said about 37 per cent of the voters had actually cast their vote by 1200. Polling stations opened at one and will remain open until five o'clock. Some 468,000 Cypriots are eligible to vote in today's poll to elect 30 mayors and community leaders in 240 communities. The hottest seat is that of the mayor of Nicosia, contested by two candidates backed by opposing fronts on the political spectrum. CNA MM/GP/2001 ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY [04] Local government elections - Party leaders express optimism1400:CYPPRESS:04Local government elections - Party leaders express optimism Nicosia, Dec 16 (CNA) -- Polling for representatives in local administration started today in the southern government controlled areas of Cyprus, with the main interest focusing on the election of the next mayor of the divided capital Nicosia where two main contestants are seeking the people's vote. Candidates for the posts of municipal and community leaders are backed by either the ruling Democratic Rally (DISI) party or the key opposition parties leftwing AKEL, centre-right Democratic Party (DIKO) and the Socialdemocrats Movement (KISOS). In many cases other parties or movements have expressed support for one or the other candidate. Some 468.000 eligible voters will cast their vote today for the election of 30 mayors (three were elected unopposed). Community leaders will be elected in 240 communities. Refugees are eligible to vote for their municipality as well as for the area in which they are temporarily residing. As party leaders went to cast their vote, journalists pressed on with questions about links between today's election outcome and the 2003 presidential elections. Party leaders were careful in their public remarks on this score but there was an underlying feeling that they too were thinking about possible future prospects and cooperation. Demetris Christofias, General Secretary of the main opposition party AKEL and President of the House of Representatives, expressed hope that the party share of the vote will increase. He said the three-party coalition formed for the local administration elections should continue to operate beyond today's poll to serve the interests of the people and acknowledged that AKEL believes cooperation among progressive forces for all electoral battles is a must. The leader of the ruling Democratic Rally (DISI) party Nicos Anastasiades said his party will emerge "stronger" from these elections, noting that when the results are out "the people and not the parties will be celebrating." Asked if the election outcome could be a judgment for the presidential elections, Anastasiades said "for us the election of mayors cannot have the seal of party affiliation in any way, let those who expect political messages from today's contest wait until the results are out." Tassos Papadopoulos, leader of the Democratic Party (DIKO), said his party decided to back Kypros Chrysostomides for Nicosia mayor because it believes he has the necessary political background to deal with the problems of the divided capital and act taking into account political considerations with regard to the question of Cyprus. Replying to questions, he said Europe which Cyprus aspires to join places a lot of importance on local administration. He dismissed press suggestions that today's elections will give indications for the presidential elections. The Social Democrats Movement leader (KISOS) Yiannakis Omirou said these elections were very important for local administration which should be in line with European institutions and expressed optimism that the tripartite coalition will elect mayors in many municipalities. President of the New Horizons party (NEO) Nicos Koutsou said today the party will get the people's mandate for participation in local administration as well. George Perdikis, of the Environmentalists Movement, said he hoped his party would have a strong representation in local administration to work for better services for the people. The leader of the Democratic Struggle Movement (ADIK) Dinos Michaelides said candidates for local administration must be judged by their experience and ability, service to the community and their intention to serve the community. He said local elections cannot determine the presidential elections because local society knows its own needs as well as government omissions. CNA MM/GP/2001 ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY [05] President: Peace talks will not affect EU negotiations1705:CYPPRESS:05President: Peace talks will not affect EU negotiations Larnaca, Dec 16 (CNA) -- Cyprus President Glafcos Clerides believes that the conclusion of accession negotiations with the European Union, should they coincide with peace talks for a comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus problem, will not influence the Republic's entry into the Union, noting that the EU is set to stick to the enlargement timeframe it has decided and accept new members in time for the 2004 European Parliament elections. [06] British envoy arrives in Cyprus1715:CYPPRESS:06British envoy arrives in Cyprus Larnaca, Dec 16 (CNA) -- Britain's special representative for Cyprus Lord David Hannay arrived today on the island for a three-day visit. [07] Polling for municipal and community elections concluded1735:CYPPRESS:07Polling for municipal and community elections concluded Nicosia, Dec 16 (CNA) -- Polling for municipal and community elections, which started at 0700 local time (0500 GMT), has been concluded at 1700 local time. [08] Interior Minister: Voting has been conducted in order1840:CYPPRESS:08Interior Minister: Voting has been conducted in order Nicosia, Dec 16 (CNA) -- Interior Minister Christodoulos Christodoulou has expressed his full satisfaction for the order in which the voting for the municipal and local authorities has taken place. Cyprus News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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