Nicosia - Greek Cypriot President Dimitris Christofias has suggested a series of proposals towards further reconciliation of the Greek and Turkish parts of the divided Mediterranean island.

Among the proposals broadcast on Cypriot television Wednesday morning was the cancellation of the annual autumn military exercises by the National Guard in the Greek Cypriot south of the island and the Turkish Army in the north.

"I also propose a full demilitarization of the Old City of Nicosia and the setting up of a demilitarized zone," Christofias said in a speech to the Council of Europe shown on television.

Nicosia, Sept 24: Gholamhossein Nejabat, Managing Director of the National Petrochemical Company (NPC) of Iran, has said that 20 subsidiaries of NPC have been earmarked for privatization.

He added that so far Carbon Iran, Farabi, Abadan, Kharg, Isfahan, Arak, Shiraz, Razi and Polika Karaj have been wholly privatized and that 52 of the 81 subsidiaries of the National Petrochemical Company have been semi-privatized.

Nejabad told journalists that more companies would be privatized if Iran Privatization Organisation approved the transfer of other petrochemical companies as a single block or holding companies.

Athens, Nicosia - Greek and Turkish Cypriot leaders focused peace negotiations Thursday on governance and power sharing in an effort to find a formula to reunite the divided Mediterranean island.

It was the third meeting between Cyprus President Dimitris Christofias and Turkish Cypriot leader Mehemt Ali Talat since they launched a new round of peace talks on September 3.

"We will meet again on October 8 to discuss the shape the future federal government should take," said Christofias.

Nicosia, Sept 18 : The Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) in its latest monthly report has lowered its forecast for 2009 world oil demand to 0.9 million barrels a day (b/d), that is 1.00 per cent, compared with 1.03 per cent, as was the previous estimate.

Oil consumption next year OPEC forecasts will average 87.7 million b/d. The basic reason for the lowering of the forecast is falling demand in the United States which is the largest consumer in the world

Athens/Nicosia - Greek and Turkish Cypriot leaders are meeting on Thursday to discuss power-sharing and governance in a new round of peace talks set on ending a decades old conflict and reunite the divided Mediterranean island.

Cyprus President Dimitris Christofias and Turkihs Cypriot leader Mehemt Ali Talat launched a new round of peace talks on September 3.

Peace talks have been deadlocked after former president Tassos Papadopoulos led the Greek-Cypriot rejection of a UN reunification plan in a 2004 referendum.

Turkish Cypriots had overwhelmingly voted in favour.

Nicosia  - Leaders on expressed their hope on Wednesday of clinching a deal at ending a decades-old conflict and reunite the eastern Mediterranean island following a new round of peace talks.

Greek Cypriot President Dimitris Christofias, representing southern Cyprus and Turkish Cypriot President Mehmet Ali Talat, representing the northern third of the island, met for two hours inside the UN- patrolled buffer zone that separates the two communities.