Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 06-05-19

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

CONTENTS

[01] PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS - LAST DAY FOR PUBLIC DEBATES

[02] ``HELIOS`` AIR CRASH - DRAFT REPORT

[03] CYPRUS - EUROVISION SONG CONTEST

[01] PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS - LAST DAY FOR PUBLIC DEBATES

According to the law, on the eve and on the day of the elections, (Saturday and Sunday 20 and 21 May), it is prohibited to transmit, advertise or publish any news item or announcement, paid or unpaid, that is directly or indirectly linked with the elections, except announcements issued by the Chief Returning Officer.

The law provides for a number of penalties in the event of violation.

Special arrangements have been made for the Greek Cypriot voters, who will cross over from the Turkish occupied areas to the free areas of the Republic to cast their ballot.

For the first time after the Turkish invasion in 1974, Turkish Cypriots who reside in the government controlled part of the island will be able to cast their vote in this years elections.

Elections for the three representatives of the Armenian, the Maronite and the Latin religious groups, who do not have the right to vote in the House of Representatives, will also take place simultaneously.

In the previous elections in 2001, left-wing AKEL party secured 34,71% (142.647 votes) and 20 seats with the right wing Democratic Rally in second place with 34% (139.732 votes) and 19 seats.

Centre-right Democratic Party received 14,84% (60.977 votes) and 9 seats and the Social Democrats Movement 6,51% (26.770 votes) and four seats. The New Horizons party with 3% (12.334 votes), the United Democrats with 2,59% (10.640 votes), the Democratic Struggling Movement (ADIK) with 2,16% (8.860 votes) and the Ecologists and Environmentalists Movement with 1,98%, (8.128 votes) all secured one seat each.

In 2001, with a total of 1.771 polling stations to serve 467.543 registered voters, 428.990 voters cast their votes, or 91,75%.

There were 410.996 or 95,81% valid votes, 10.188 or 2,37% invalid votes.

Political differences that emerged after a referendum on a UN-proposed plan for a comprehensive settlement in Cyprus, in April 2004, changed the political scene in Parliament, since two new parties were founded, the European Democracy Party and the European Party.

As a result, at the dissolution of the Parliament in April 2006, AKEL held 20 seats, DISY 15, DIKO 9, the Socialdemocrats Movement 4, the European Party 4, United Democrats 1, ADIK 1, Ecologists and Environmentalists` Movement 1, and European Democracy 1.

[02] ``HELIOS`` AIR CRASH - DRAFT REPORT

Tsolakis presented the report, which will be finalised sixty days from today (July 18), after the concerned parties make their comments, to the head of Cypriot Air Accident and Incidents Investigation Committee Costas Orfanos during a special ceremony in the presence of Cypriot President Tassos Papadopoulos.

[03] CYPRUS - EUROVISION SONG CONTEST

The Cypriot entry Why angels cry, performed by Annete Artani, participated in the Eurovision Song Contest semifinal but was left behind after a televoting procedure amongst all participating countries.

The ten countries of the semifinal that qualified for Saturdays final are: Russia, Former Yugoslavian Republic of Macedonia, Bosnia Herzegovina, Lithuania, Ukraine, Ireland, Sweden, Turkey and Armenia

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