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Sunday, 22 December 2024
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Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation: News in English, 01-05-04Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation at <http://www.cybc.com.cy/>CONTENTS
[01] Headlines--- The US Administration has for the first time blamed Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash for the deadlock in Cyprus peace talks. The statement was welcomed by the Cyprus government.--- Three investigations are underway, involving health services and the Police, regarding the death of 14-year-old Giorgos Hadjidemetris, who died while undergoing surgery at the Nicosia General Hospital. --- Pope John Paul sets off to retrace the footsteps of St Paul today, starting in Greece where conservative Orthodox priests and nuns have spent weeks denouncing him as the "arch-heretic". And --- Israeli Foreign Minister Shimon Peres said he sensed progress toward peace in the Middle East after ending a White House visit, as Israel and the Palestinians awaited draft copies of a report by a fact-finding committee set up to investigate the causes of the violence. [02] DenkpowelThe US Administration has for the first time blamed Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash for the deadlock in Cyprus peace talks.US Secretary of State Collin Powell, speaking before a Senate Committee, said that the Cyprus problem is in a partially stagnant state, due to the positions adopted by Mr. Denktash. He also said that Washington supports UN efforts to convince the Turkish Cypriot leader to return to the negotiations. Mr. Powell noted that he was looking into the Cyprus question and seeking a better way to carry forward American involvement. He said he was also examining the role the US Special Coordinator could play in the peace efforts. [03] Papapetrou-powelGovernment Spokesman Michalis Papapetrou described Mr. Powell's statement as a very positive development.Speaking in Athens this morning, the Cypriot official told CyBC that this was the first time that the US Administration blamed Mr. Denktash for the deadlock. [04] Papapetrou-nationalThe Government Spokesman said today that the National Council would not be convening before the parliamentary elections of May 27.He stressed that the position of President Glafcos Clerides was crystal clear on this matter. Mr. Papapetrou told CyBC that nothing had emerged to justify a National Council meeting at this time, noting that this advisory body to the President could not convene every time exaggerated articles or unfounded reports appeared in the press. Referring to the meetings of President Clerides in Greece, Mr. Papapetrou said that Athens and Nicosia had confirmed their policy. [05] ViolationsThe Turkish airforce has violated Greek airspace for the third day running.Sources said that the Turkish warplanes violated the Athens FIR and the Greek national airspace. In all cases, the Turkish fighters were identified and intercepted. [06] HealthinvThree investigations are underway, involving health services and the Police, regarding the death of 14-year-old Giorgos Hadjidemetris, who died while undergoing surgery at the Nicosia General Hospital.Minister of Health Frixos Savvides told CyBC this morning that there was no reason to suspend persons before the conclusions of the investigations were submitted. [07] MeningitisReferring to the fresh cases of meningitis in Limassol, Mr. Savvides said there was no cause for concern.He told CyBC that this was not an epidemic and noted that the best way of protection was to follow basic personal hygiene rules. [08] PopePope John Paul sets off to retrace the footsteps of St Paul today, starting in Greece where conservative Orthodox priests and nuns have spent weeks denouncing him as the "arch-heretic".The Pope's first trip of the year will take him to Athens, Moslem Syria and Roman Catholic Malta on a six-day journey slated to test the fading stamina of the man known for his globetrotting. For the pontiff, who turns 81 this month, the trip will be the realisation of a dream -- a pilgrimage along the path taken by St Paul, the apostle who converted to Christianity on the road to Damascus. It will include a call for peace in a Golan Heights city once occupied by Israel and the beatification of three Maltese on the tiny Mediterranean island. But first, the Pope will face the delicate task of being the first pontiff to visit Greece since the Great Schism of 1054 divided Christianity into Eastern and Western branches. The Orthodox Church went along with a government invitation to the Pope -- who plans to hold a mass for a few thousand Catholics and pray across from the Acropolis on Arios Pagos hill, where Paul made his famous sermon to the "unknown god". But the visit has been greated with fervent opposition from some quarters of the Orthodox church. Some 8.000 police officers will be on duty, 600 more than were deployed for U.S. President Bill Clinton's visit to Athens in 1999 when an anti-American riot broke out. After leaving Greece tomorrow, the Pope will visit Syria and issue a peace appeal for the region. His arrival will mean he has travelled to Israel and all border nations that have been at war with it. After four days in Syria, the Pope ends his trip in predominantly Catholic Malta, presiding at a beatification ceremony for two Maltese priests and a nun. [09] MideastIsraeli Foreign Minister Shimon Peres said he sensed progress toward peace in the Middle East after ending a White House visit, as Israel and the Palestinians awaited draft copies of a report by a fact-finding committee set up to investigate the causes of the violence.Speaking amid a relative lull in fighting in the West Bank and Gaza today, Peres said he was leaving the Oval Office with a sense that progress could be made in the direction of peace to achieve a complete peace. At least 402 Palestinians, 76 Israelis and 13 Israeli Arabs have been killed since the Palestinian revolt against Israeli occupation began in late September after peace talks reached a deadlock. Peres, a former Israeli Prime Minister who won the 1994 Nobel Peace prize for his efforts for Middle East peace, went to Washington this week to persuade the new administration of President George W. Bush to take a stronger lead in brokering an end to the violence and bring the Israelis and Palestinians back to the negotiating table. Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon has sworn not to resume talks until violence ends in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. Peres said Bush was totally devoted to the peace process, while Bush said he reaffirmed Washington's desire for an end to violence in the Middle East. [10] WorldThe United States was voted off the key UN Human Rights Commission for the first time since it helped found the body in 1947 to probe abuses around the world.- - - - Cuba, one of Washington's arch-enemies at the UN forum monitoring human rights, said the failure of the United States to win re-election to the commission was just reward for its "arrogance." - - - - Hadassah, the US women's Zionist organisation that runs hospitals in Israel, won consultative status with the United Nations, capping a three-year effort that reflected the bitterness between Arabs and Jews in the Middle East. - - - - Picking anew at a sore point in US-Sino relations, President George W. Bush denounced Beijing's "intensifying attacks" on religious freedom as a sign of weakness, unworthy of a nation aspiring to greatness. - - - - Seeking to head off UN diamond export and travel sanctions, Liberia's president urged the Security Council to give it one last chance to prove it had cut off support for Sierra Leone's rebels. - - - - As Indonesia's politics descends deeper into gloom, Indonesia's tarnished military is repolishing its image and trying to position itself as the nation's saviour. - - - - Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo will soon lift a state of rebellion declared after supporters of her detained predecessor Joseph Estrada staged violent protests against her. - - - - Rwanda, Uganda and Burundi denounced as one-sided and false a report from a UN-appointed panel that accused them of looting the Congo's mineral riches and recommended sanctions against them. [11] WeatherThis afternoon will be generally fine, but local clouds may yield some showers.Winds will be southwesterly, moderate, four beaufort, over slight to moderate seas. Tonight will be clear. Winds will be northerly, light, two to three beaufort, over slight seas. Temperatures will drop to 13 degrees inland, to 16 along the coast, and to 9 over the mountains. The fire hazard is high in all forest areas. Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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