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Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation: News in English, 01-06-28Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation at <http://www.cybc.com.cy/>CONTENTS
[01] HEADLINESThick diplomatic traffic over the Cyprus problem is reported in Brussels where interantiona mediators and the European Union seek to promote a solution compatible with the Union's acqui.Turkey's Foreign minister resorts to threats again in his efforts to block Cyprus's accession to the European Union. In no avail, comments Cyprus's Foreign Minister Ioannis Cassulides. The UN Security Council has approved Coffi Annan's cantidacy for a second term of office. The celebrated american actor Jack Lemon died last night at the age of 76. [02] BRUSSELS CYPRUSBrussels is becoming the centre of diplomatic activity and efforts to promote a sttlement of the Cyprus problem.All international mediators are anxious, not only to restart the United Nations process of proximity talks between President Clerides and Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktas, but also to ensure that any settlement will comply with the European Union's aqui. European Commissioner for the enlargement Gunter Ferhoigen, raised the issue with Turkey's Foreign Minister Ismael Cem. He also met with the United States special coordinator on the Cyprus issue Thomas Weston. Today he is scheduled to meet Koffi Anan's special advisor on Cyprus, Alvaro De Soto. Gunter Ferhoigen seems to be playing a central and decisive role in formulating a drafte overall proposal for the settlement of the Cyprus problem awhich is expected to be presented to both perties when the process is resumed. [03] CEM CASSOULIDESHowever, Turkey's Foreign Minister Ismael Cem appears to continue in the path of intransigence. Speaking at the Joint Parliamentary Commission, Ismael Cem has resorted yet again to open threats. He unfoundedly alleged that Cyprus cannot join the European Union, because of a provision in the international agreements establishing the Republic of Cyprus, state that Cyprus cannot join any international organisation in Which the tree gurantors of its independence are not also members.Ismael Cem warned that Cyprus's accession would lead to what he called inevitable conflict and Turkey's radical responce. He also warned that such a developent would cause damage to the European Union's relations with Turkey. This brough immediate responce from Cyprus's Foreign Minister Ioannis Cassoulides who said that Cyprus will not decrease in any way Cyprus' resolution to cover the final lap in joining the European Union. Mr. Casoulides added that Europe woould not be intimmitated by threats of this kind. [04] IRELAND CYPRUSIreland's negative referdum result on the EU enlargement has caused the Irish government embarassment, visiting Irish minister of Marintimea and Natural resources, Frank Fahey said today.Speaking after a meeting with his Cyprus counterpart Neophytos Averof, Frank Fahey added that his government is willing to organise yet another referedum, hoping that this time it will yield positive results. He assured his interolcutors that his country does no wish to be an obstacle in the elargement process. [05] DEMOGRAPHICTurkish Parliamentarians and Turkish Cypriots members of an illegal assembly in the occupied areas, caused lost their cool when the report on the colonisation of the occupied ereas was presented to the Parliamentary Assemby of the Council of Europe.In their effort to discredit the report in which the number of mainland settlers is estimated at one hundred and twenty thousands, they made all sorts of unfounded claims. They alleged in fact that the number of Turkish Cypriots around the world are about trhee millions and the settlers are only Turkish Cypriots returning to their homes. They also reacted furiously to such terms as colonisation and occupation used in the report prepared by the President of the United European Left, Finish parliamentarian Yiakso Lakso. The raporteur will return to Cyprus for further investigations and he will also be visiting Turkey to investigate the origin of the settlers. But he was warned by the Turkish Cypriots not to bother if he continues to refer to the occupied areas as such. [06] VIOLATIONSCyprus charged Turkey with violation by its air fighters of Cyprus's air space and its Flight Information region with flights.Cyprus's permanent representative at the United Nations sent a letter to the Secretary General Koffi Anan, complaining about numerous such violations during the months of April and May. In the letter it is pointed out that these violation continue while efforts are exereted by the International community to promote a settlemet to the Cyprus problem. These acts, Cyprus's permanet reperesantive points out in his letter, constitute violation of international law and the Security Council resolutions. And Turkey is invited to abandon these paractices and join, instead, efforts to resolve the problem in accordance with international law and the UN resolutions. [07] IMMIGRANTSFour illegal male immigrants were stopped early this morning by police on the Aradippou-Dhekelia main road and were arrested.They are all of Arab origin and age between 23 and 40. They allege that they have come from Lebanon. All four of them were taken to Oroklini Police station while the circumstances of their arrival in Cyprus are investigated. It is considered likely that all four of them came from the occupied areas. [08] ANAN REELECTIONKofi Annan's bit for a second tenure as Secretary General, was approved for another five-year term by the U.N. Security Council, clearing the way for his re-election by the 189-member General Assembly on Friday.The action by the council last night came six months before his term expires on Dec. 31 and was praised by diplomats, U.N. staff and human rights groups. His re-election was a foregone conclusion after he announced he would run again in March and almost immediately received wide support. Some Southeast Asian countries had argued it was their turn to occupy the post, which, according to unwritten tradition, rotates among regions every 10 years. But they fielded no serious contender and would have had difficulty challenging Annan's popularity. The unanimous decision by the council was in stark contrast to his election five years ago which occurred after the United States cast a veto against Boutros-Ghali, saying he had not done enough to reform the U.N. bureaucracy. [09] CONSERVATIVESVotes will be cast on July 10 in the first round of a contest for the leadership of Britain's main opposition Conservative Party, a spokesman for the party today.With five contenders already running for the job vacated by William Hague after his party was trounced in general elections on June 7, nominations for candidates wanting to stand will close on Thursday, July 5, the spokesman said. Only Conservative members of parliament are allowed to vote in the first round of the contest. After that, the two candidates with greatest number of votes go through to a second round, where all Conservative Party members across the country vote. A poll published today showed that former finance minister Kenneth Clarke, a strong euro-phile, who declared his candidacy this week, is the favourite among all Conservative Party members to become the next leader. [10] TURKEY ECONOMYTurkey's nationalist deputy prime minister on Thursday called for political harmony behind a $15.7 billion IMF plan and warned political wrangling would only delay Turkey's recovery from crisis."If the complaining and criticism among political, economic and social actors becomes constant it will make establishing an atmosphere of trust difficult and delayed," Nationalist Action Party leader Devlet Bahceli told his party's MPs in parliament. His comments come amid a public row between MHP Communications Minister Enis Oksuz and Economy Minister Kemal Dervis over the appointment of private sector professionals to the board of state landline monopoly Turk Telekom, a key pledge to the IMF. The row appeared to have been resolved after a MHP minister, Koray Aydin, said the issue had been resolved. [11] SPAIN BOMBA package bomb exploded in central Madrid this morning injuring at least 10 people, in an attack that bore the hallmarks of the Basque separatist group ETA, state radio reported.The parcel, sent to a branch of a Basque bank, exploded causing substantial damage to the area. One person was believed to be seriously injured. Police had cordoned off the surrounding neighbourhood as firefighters rushed to the scene. Around 800 people have been killed in the Basque separatist group ETA's violent campaign for an independent Basque state which has spanned more than three decades. [12] JACK LEMONTwo-time Academy Award winner Jack Lemmon, one of America's best loved actors, died of complications from cancer yesterday night. He was 76.Lemmon, winner of two Academy Awards, died at USC Norris Cancer Hospital in Los Angeles with his wife Felicia, son Christopher, daughter Courtney and step-daughter Denise by his side. He had been in and out of the hospital for the past few months, his publicist Warren Cowan said. [13] WEATHERThis afternoon it will be mainly clear, with moderate sea breezes, four beaufort, over slight seas.Tonight, thin mist is expected to form in some areas. Winds will be light variable, two to three beaufort, over calm to slight seas. Temperatures will fall to 20 degrees inland, 21 on the coast and 17 on the mountains. The fire hazard is extremely high in all forest areas. Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |