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Friday, 22 November 2024
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Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation: News in English, 01-11-07Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation at <http://www.cybc.com.cy/>CONTENTS
[01] HEADLINESA visit to Athens by Turkish Foreign Minister Ismail Cems is being overshadowed by Ankara's latest threats against Cyprus,The Cyprus issue will be at centre stage in London talks between Foreign Minister Ioannis Cassoulides and British officials, The Afghan opposition appears poised for an attack on the strategic city of Mazar-i-Sharif, Israel withdrew from Palestinian-ruled Ramallah, AND Concorde has returned to the skies. [02] CEMA visit to Athens by Turkish Foreign Minister Ismail Cem is being overshadowed by the latest Turkish threats against Cyprus which jeopardise the still fragile rapprochment between Greece and Turkey.Cem is in Athens on a reciprocal visit following a recent trip to Ankara by his Greek counterpart, George Papandreou. While in Athens, Cem will meet with Greek President Costis Stephanopoulos and Prime Minister Costas Simitis. Turkish Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit has threatened that Ankara would annex the occupied part of Cyprus, if the island accedes to the European Union. Cem himself said recently that Ankara is determined to uphold its honour over the Cyprus issue. [03] TaurusMeanwhile, threats continue to flow out of Turkey unabated, as General Hourshit Tolon, Commander of the Aegean Army, claimed that Cyprus' accession to the European Union will lead the Eastern Mediterranean to a new crisis with unforseen consequences.He called on the European Union to find out if Greek Cypriots and Greece are, in his words, preparing for a fait accomplis in the Eastern Mediterranean. Speaking in the occupied areas where he is observing military manouevres as part of the exercise Taurus 2001, General Tolon said European Union's insistence on allowing the Greek Cypriot side to join the bloc creates obstacles for the Greek Cypriots to seek a Cyprus settlement. General Tolon threatened that Turkish armed forces are capable of countering any dangers which could jeopardise Turkey's rights in the Eastern Mediterranean, adding that the army is closely watching every military move made by Greece and Cyprus. [04] denktashContinuing his provocative rhetoric, occupation regime leader Rauf Denktash claimed that Cyprus' accession to the European Union will contribute to the final division of the island.He added that some who believed the island's accession would act as a catalyst to settlement efforts are beginning to realise this. In statements carried by Turkish Cypriot newspaper Kibrisli, Denktash said visits to the island by US State Department Special Cyprus coordinator Thomas Weston and UN envoy Alvaro De Soto were conducted so that the Cyprus issue is not forgotten following the September 11 terrorist attacks in the US. [05] cassoulidesThe Cyprus issue and Ankara's latest threats of annexing the occupied areas in the event of Cyprus' accession to the European Union, will be the focus of talks in London this afternoon between Foreign Minister Ioannis Cassoulides and his British counterpart Jack Straw.Cassoulides will later attend a luncheon with British envoy for Cyprus, Lord Hannay, while in the evening, he will pay a courtesy visit to acting British Prime Minister John Prescott. Tonight, Cassoulides will address a dinner hosted by the Greek Cypriot Brotherhood of London and attended by MPs, members of the House of Lords and reporters. Cassoulides travelled to London from Brussells, where he took part in the EuroMediterranean conference. [06] afghanThe Afghan opposition said it moved troops forward which appear poised for an offensive, as the United States bombed front line targets of the ruling Taliban north of the capital, Kabul.While the hardline Islamic movement said heavy U.S. bombardment had left their defences undented, the Afghan opposition moved troops in northern Balkh province closer to the strategic city of Mazar-i-Sharif. Forces loyal to ethnic Uzbek warlord General Abdul Rashid Dostum had also moved towards the city. Meanwhile, Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf arrived in Iran on for talks. Iran is opposed to the Taliban but is also vehemently opposed to the U.S. military action. And in New York, voters picked Republican media mogul Michael Bloomberg as their new mayor to lead the recovery from the September 11 attacks. [07] mideastIsraeli tanks and troops withdrew from Palestinian-ruled Ramallah after a two-week occupation of parts of the town which drew sharp international criticism.Israel has now left four of the six Palestinian towns in the West Bank it entered last month after Palestinian gunmen killed an Israeli cabinet minister, but it is still blockading many Palestinian areas. The United States has demanded a withdrawal from all six towns and called for an end to 13 months of Israeli-Palestinian violence in efforts to bolster Arab and Islamic support for its anti-terror offensive in Afghanistan. The Ramallah pullout went ahead despite violence yesterday in which five Palestinians and an Israeli soldier died. [08] refugeesIn a bid to bolster laws safeguarding the ownership and administration of Turkish Cypriot property, the House Committee on Refugees unanimously decided to re-introduce a law prohibiting civil servants from owning Turkish Cypriot land.The Committee also decided unanimously to prohibit ownership of Turkish Cypriot houses by individuals who are not refugees. Committee chairman Aristofanis Georgiou explained that a time extension will be given for all those who are not entitled to the property to move out. Georgiou said that many Turkish Cypriot homes, whiche were in the past used as residences, are now being used illegally as storage areas and to house foreign domestic helpers. [09] ArtifactsSome of the most significant Bronze age artifacts found on the island and which belonged to a private collection in Britain will be repatriated.The artifacts, part of a collection belonging to British scholar Desmond Morris, went under the hammer yesterday at Christie's auction house in Britain. According to the Cyprus News Agency, the artifacts were purchased by Dinos Leventis, Cyprus, Ambassador to UNESCO, who acted on the advice of Cyprus officials. [10] bombThe Cyprus Union of Newspaper and Magazine Editors has condemned the attempted bombing of the home of Politis newspaper publisher, Yiannis Papadopoulos.In an announcement, the Union called the act unscrupulous and criminal, and stressed that the state, as well as society at large, are obliged to resist such base actions which aim to silence the press and prevent it from carrying out its mission. The Union also expressed its full support for Papadopoulos and called on the government to act decisively in order to safeguard the freedom of the press. [11] concordeConcorde returned to service in a double display of confidence in air travel after last year's disaster and the September 11 attacks on the United States.Air France flight AF002, carrying 92 mainly fare-paying passengers, took off this morning on its 235-minute flight from Paris Charles de Gaulle airport to New York's John F. Kennedy airport at twice the speed of sound. British Airways, the aircraft's only other operator, flew a host of British business leaders and celebrities from London's Heathrow on an invitation-only Concorde to JFK 57 minutes later and will resume scheduled transatlantic flights on Friday. New York mayor Rudolph Giuliani was to greet both flights on arrival at JFK. Concorde had been grounded since an Air France charter bound for New York crashed in flames just after take-off from Paris on July 25 last year, killing 113 people. [12] weatherGenerally fine conditions this afternoon with some scattered clouds.Winds will be northwesterly to southwesterly light to moderate, 3 to 4 beaufort, with slight seas. More fine conditions tonight with cloudy periods. Winds will be westerly to northwesterly light, 2 to 3 beaufort with slight seas. Temperatures will drop to 11 degrees inland, 13 on the coasts and 7 in the highest mountains. The fire hazard remains great in all forested areas. Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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