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Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 03-01-17Cyprus News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Cyprus News Agency at <http://www.cyna.org.cy>CONTENTS
[01] Clerides says historical developments in 2003 make his candidacy a must0055:CYPPRESS:01 Clerides says historical developments in 2003 make his candidacy a must Nicosia, Jan 17 (CNA) Cyprus President Glafcos Clerides said historical developments on Cyprus would take place in the year 2003 for the Cyprus problem, which led to his decision to run for re-election during next months presidential elections.In a press conference on Thursday evening to the four main pancyprian television stations, Clerides said that if a solution to the Cyprus problem was reached before the end of the 16-month mandate he is seeking, he will resign earlier. The President said it would be a tremendous mistake if the Greek Cypriot side changed its policy on Cyprus during a period when the Turkish policy on Cyprus was changing with the government of the Justice and Development Party, and the Turkish Cypriot communitys uprising. He appealed to the Turkish Cypriot community on the island, saying the government empathizes with their concerns. Despite repeated questions, Clerides said he did not give the press conference to make a pre-election campaign, or come into conflict with any of the other candidates for the 16 February presidential elections, adding he had promised to give a press conference on his return from the Copenhagen European Council where Cyprus achieved its accession to the European Union. The reason I put forward my candidacy was because I believe that historical developments will take place in the year 2003 for the Cyprus problem. He said it would be right, whoever began those negotiations, and that would be he because he would still be in office on 28 February, to continue these negotiations until they are completed. Clerides explained that if a solution was to be achieved before the end of February, it would not be right for a president, who was leaving office on the 28th, to sign it, but that he should have a renewed mandate that the people are authorizing him to handle the issue and sign according to how he sees developments. Furthermore, Clerides said that if he had signed an agreement based on some amendments he had proposed (to the UN Secretary-General's plan for a Cyprus settlement) and then a new president would take over who disagreed with the amendments, then the new president, who would have been responsible for the referenda, would have to explain it to the people. In addition, Clerides said it would not be right just before reaching a solution to the longstanding Cyprus problem, to change the negotiating team. [02] Presidential candidacies to be submitted Friday0930:CYPPRESS:01Presidential candidacies to be submitted Friday Nicosia, Jan 17 (CNA) -- With just over a month to go until the presidential elections, nine hopefuls were converging Friday at a central Nicosia hotel to officially submit their candidacy. The elections will take place on February 16, with a second round a week later if necessary. The main candidates are incumbent President Glafcos Clerides, backed by the ruling Democratic Rally Party, the United Democrats and the Political Renewal Movement, Democratic Party leader Tassos Papadopoulos, backed by left wing AKEL party and Social Democrats Movement, New Horizons party leader Nicos Koutsou, and Attorney-General Alecos Markides, one of Clerides closest aides. The first candidate to submit his bid was Andreas Efstratiou, a businessman from Paphos. He was followed by lawyer Christos Iosifides. Musician Adamos Katsantonis will also submit his bid, as well as Pantelis Sofocleous, and George Mavroyenis. [03] President Clerides meets US envoy on Cyprus1230:CYPPRESS:02President Clerides meets US envoy on Cyprus Nicosia, Jan 17 (CNA) -- US State Department Special Coordinator for Cyprus Thomas Weston said the US wants to see a settlement to the Cyprus problem reached in a very short period of time. He was speaking after meeting President Glafcos Clerides, on the first day of his meetings on the island following his arrival on Thursday. [04] Candidates submit their bids for presidential elections1420:CYPPRESS:03Candidates submit their bids for presidential elections Nicosia, Jan 17 (CNA) -- Ten hopefuls have entered the presidential race in Cyprus, officially signaling the start of the election campaign. The elections will take place on Sunday, 16 February 2003. If necessary there will be a second round the following Sunday, 23 February 2003. Eight of the candidatures submitted are independent. Among them is incumbent President Glafcos Clerides, who is seeking a third term in office. The other two candidatures come from political parties. They are Tassos Papadopoulos, leader of the centre-right Democratic Party (DIKO), who is also supported by the leftwing AKEL party, the largest in the Parliament, and the Social Democrats Movement (KISOS) and Nicos Koutsou, supported by the New Horizons, the party that he heads. First to sumbit his candidature was Andreas Efstratiou, businessman, from Paphos who was proposed by Chrysostomos Georgiou. Referring to his independent candidacy, he said he is pursuing the right of the people and of the large family which always remains on the sidelines. Efstratiou said he would fight for justice, reunification of Cyprus and a solution to the Cyprus problem where for 28 years now our human rights are being violated. We want to live together Turkish Cypriots, Maronites, Armenians, Greek Cypriots, for an independent island, as it was handed to us by our heroes. The independent candidacy of lawyer Christos Iosifides, who followed, was proposed by Constantinos Ierodiakonou from Athienou village. In statements, he called on the media to carry out their duties so that all candidacies, either the realistic ones or the non-realistic ones, to be promoted equally, and according to the law. Attorney-General Alecos Markides, close aide to incumbent President Clerides, was the third to submit his candidature. He said he was optimistic he would be one of the two runners up to compete in the second week of the presidential elections. He said his candidacy, which was proposed by Vice-Rector of the University of Cyprus, Christos Schizas, was submitted before the people of Cyprus, independent of party and ideological view. He said he is offering a continuation of the right policy on Cyprus, the right preparation of the economy in view of the great European challenge, a firm administration on all great internal issues. Democratic Party President, Tassos Papadopoulos, was proposed by AKEL General Secretary Demetris Christofias. He said the candidacy of the forces of change is officially before the people and conveyed a message of unity, change and progress to the whole people of Cyprus. Papadopoulos said we are committed to peace, a solution and hope we will triumph. Our vision is common and anticipates its implementation, he added. Composer Adamos Katsantonis described his independent candidacy as a vision of culture. Proposed by Evangelos Karafotias, Katsantonis said that in the Cypriot reality of corruption, the collapse of moral values and with political integrity being at its lowest, culture is a bright and hopeful proposal for our society, and it helps efforts to solve the Cyprus problem. Civil engineer, Pantelis Sofocleous, proposed by his father Andreas Sofocleous submitted his independent candidacy, with an aim to rid of the establishment and to enable the representation of a society of citizens and the implementation of viable development. He said his programme was published in Turkish too, in an effort to convey a message of character, pre-election thought and morals. Incumbent President Clerides said he had submitted his candidature for a limited period explaining that the reason he did this was not because he wants to remain in power but because I believe that the year 2003 will be a historic year with regard both to the finalisation of the accession of Cyprus to the EU and of finding a solution to the Cyprus problem. I believe it was my duty to offer my services to my country, he said. His candidacy was proposed by former Mayor of Nicosia, Lellos Demetriades. Asked if he has any information UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan will visit Cyprus before the end of the SGs timeframe for a solution to the Cyprus problem, Clerides replied he has no official information, adding he would ask later today Annans Special Adviser on Cyprus, Alvaro De Soto about it. Clerides is scheduled to meet this afternoon Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash, in the presence of Alvaro de Soto, in the framework of the UN-led talks aiming at reaching a comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus problem. President Clerides' candidature was followed by that of George Mavroyenis, who was proposed by Dina Mavroyeni. He said he submitted his bid to safeguard the Constitution, and the state of the Republic of Cyprus. Mavroyenis said it has been ten years since he last submitted candidacy for presidential elections, adding the climate now was more civilised. New Horizons President Nicos Koutsou said by submitting his candidacy, he is pursuing to secure a higher percentage of the votes, to anable his party "to control authority. We are pursuing a strong percentage in the first round to become a political force with prospect, he added. Koutsou, whose candidacy was proposed by deputy Christos Clerides, said we are sending a message to all Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots that the proces which began in Copenhagen and which will continue in April and finalised in May 2004, should find the Republic of Cyprus united, with Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots together. Farmer and writer Costas Kyriakou was the final Cypriot citizen to submit his candidacy. He was proposed by Marios Alexandrou, while none of the supporters of his candidacy accompanied him. He only presented their election booklets. [05] Weather and Temperatures for Cyprus
[06] Cyprus Stock Exchange
[07] Weston says situation in occupied areas determining1705:CYPPRESS:06Weston says situation in occupied areas determining Nicosia, Jan 17 (CNA) - US State Department Coordinator on Cyprus, Thomas Weston, said here Friday the situation in the Turkish occupied areas of Cyprus could have a determining effect on whether or not the process for a Cyprus settlement will be successful within the timeframe which the UN Secretary General has set. [08] President reiterates terms of reelection bid1710:CYPPRESS:07President reiterates terms of reelection bid Nicosia, Jan 17 (CNA) -- President Glafcos Clerides reiterated today in no uncertain terms that his decision to seek reelection for a limited 16-month period rests on his belief that during this time there is a chance of seeing a political settlement in Cyprus. The President, in a written statement, also said that he would not serve a day longer beyond these 16 months, if elected in next month's presidential race. [09] EU monitoring team on working visit to Cyprus1825:CYPPRESS:08EU monitoring team on working visit to Cyprus Nicosia, Jan 17 (CNA) -- A large delegation of experts from Brussels, headed by European Union chief negotiator with Cyprus Leopold Maurer, will be on the island next week for talks. [10] Clerides and Denktash agree on talks schedule1920:CYPPRESS:09Clerides and Denktash agree on talks schedule Nicosia, Jan 17 (CNA) -- The leaders of the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot sides agreed here today to continue their intensive talks with three meetings a week. The arrangement was made at a two-hour long meeting here today between President Glafcos Clerides and Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash, in the presence of the UN Secretary General's Special Adviser on Cyprus Alvaro de Soto. [11] No objections to presidential candidatures1945:CYPPRESS:10No objections to presidential candidatures Nicosia, Jan 17 (CNA) -- No objections were filed within the deadline set out by the law with regard to the ten candidates who will contest next month's presidential elections, the office of the Chief Returning Officer Kyriakos Triantafyllides announced here today. ''All ten candidatures are valid and final,'' an official statement said. Preparations for the printing of the ballot papers on special safety paper have already begun, it said. ''Because for the election of the President of the Republic more than one candidacy has been submitted and because the deadline provided by the law and within which objections should be filed has elapsed without any objections, I the Chief Returning Officer, in the exercise of my duties as prescribed by the law, postpone any further election procedure to allow polling to take place on Sunday 16 February for the election of the President of the Republic, in accordance with the law,'' the statement said. The office of the Chief Returning Officer announced the order in which the names of the candidates will appear on the ballot paper and said photographs of the ten candidates will also be included in the ballot paper. First in line will be Nicos Koutsou, leader of the New Horizons party, second will be leader of the Democratic Party DIKO Tassos Papadopoulos, followed by Andreas Efstratiou, Christos Iosifides and Adamos Katsantonis. Incumbent President Glafcos Clerides is number six on the horizontal list of names, and next is Costas Kyriakou. [12] Nicosia and Athens mayors sign friendship protocol2015:CYPPRESS:11Nicosia and Athens mayors sign friendship protocol Nicosia, Jan 17 (CNA) -- The mayors of Nicosia and Athens, Michalakis Zampelas and Dora Bakoyianni, signed here today a protocol of ''friendship and cooperation'' on cultural, social and economic exchanges. Cyprus News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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