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Monday, 30 December 2024
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Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation: News in English, 01-12-11Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation at <http://www.cybc.com.cy/>CONTENTS
[01] HEADLINESThere are no new Cyprus settlement plans before the government at this time,Foreign Minister Ioannis Cassoulides said he would not be surprised if there is a U-turn in the rhetoric coming out of Ankara, Defence Minister Socrates Hasikos said he is certain Greece will exercise its veto at the Laiken summit if Turkey insists on excluding Cyprus and the Aegean from the operational zone of the newly formed Euro-army, EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana is in Israel for talks with Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, AND a memorial service will be held this afternoon at the US Embassy in Nicosia for the victims of the September 11 terrorist attacks. [02] papapetrouGovernment Spokesman Michalis papapetrou said the government has no knowledge so far of any settlement plan.Asked whether the government pas proposed any such plan, Papapetrou said the positions of the Greek Cypriot side are well known which President Clerides will take with him when he meets with Rauf Denktash for direct talks. [03] cassoulidesForeign Minister Ioannis Cassoulides said that he would not be surprised if Ankara's rhetoric marks a change.He added, however, that the Greek Cypriot side must wait for the start of direct talks when it will be proven at the negotiating table whether there is enough political will on Ankara's behalf to reach a mutually acceptable Cyprus settlement. Cassoulides stressed that any settlement must be a lasting one. Regarding the European Union, Cassoulides said it would be a better case scenario if Cyprus joins the block without a settlement than to have a solution which is not based on UN resolutions and EU law. The foreign Minister made the remarks at Larnaca airport before departing for Brusselst to attend an EU ministerial meeting during which two more accession chapters, those of the Environment and Justice, will be ratified. Cassoulides stressed that the closing of the Justice and internal affairs chapter, which includes issues regarding combatting orgainised crime and money laundering, are a firm rebuttal to all those who accuse Cyprus of lacking in resolve as far as this is concerned. [04] hasikosDefence Minister Socrates Hasikos said he is certain that Greek will exercise its veto at the upcoming Laiken Summit, if Turkey insists on its demands to exclude Cyprus and the Aegean from the operational zone of the newly-formed Euroarmy.Hasikos stressed that remarks by Greece's Foreign and Defence Ministers regarding the issue, create the strong impression in Nicosia that EU-member Greece will defend the island's rights. [05] christofiasHouse President Demetris Christofias accused Nicosia Mayoral candidate Michalakis Zambellas of digging into his pockets to support his own election campaign.He also accused Zambellas of introducing a new and unacceptable ethical conduct in the island's political life. However, the House President clarified that Zambellas is not trying to buy votes in the municipal elections. [06] mideastIsraeli forces killed two Palestinians in the West Bank and destroyed a Palestinian security headquarters in Gaza this morning, shortly before the start of a European mission to bolster U.S. peace efforts.Israeli troops shot at a Palestinian car which tried to break through an army checkpoint near the West Bank town of Tulkarm but a passenger in the car said troops opened fire after the vehicle slowed down to pass the barrier. The deaths were reported shortly before European Union foreign policy chief Javier Solana began talks with Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon in Jerusalem. Solana was also due to meet U.S. envoy Anthony Zinni and Palestinian President Yasser Arafat separately, one day after EU foreign ministers issued unusually harsh criticism of the Palestinian leader for not reining in militants. [07] afghansU.S.-backed tribal fighters closed in on Osama bin Laden's forces in Afghanistan's Tora Bora mountains as President George W. Bush branded the militant leader a murderer with no soul.Elsewhere, Britain agreed to lead an international security force in the volatile country, but reports from the southern city of Kandahar spoke of tribal warriors demanding a greater share of power there. Leaders of Afghanistan's biggest tribe, the Pashtun, struck a powersharing deal in Kandahar on Sunday, two days after Taliban rule collapsed in what was their stronghold and spiritual home. U.N. special envoy Lakhdar Brahimi arrived in the Afghan capital today to discuss the transfer of power ahead of the installation of an interim government on December 22 to succeed the hardline Taliban. In eastern Afghanistan, tribal forces closed in on trapped al Qaeda fighters loyal to bin Laden. Local forces were making gains as they attacked caves and tunnels in Tora Bora. U.S. special forces are helping tribal fighters pursuing al Qaeda. [08] christodoulouInterior Minister Christodoulos Christodoulou revealed that an internal investigation has confirmed that orders were in fact issued by a legal advisor evicting refugees from Turkish Cypriot property.Christodoulou said the orders were given without the knowledge of the advisor's political superiors and were duly carried out by employees of the Turkish Cypriot Property Management Service. Christodoulou said that the Interior Minister is the administrator of Turkish Cypriot property who has the final say on the issue and stressed that refugees will not be made refugees a second time. He added that he has given strict instructions to recall all eviction notices sent to refugees who will continue to cultivate Turkish Cypriot property. Christodoulou referred specifically to 400 donums of Turkish Cypriot land and other expensive property near Limassol's Governor's beach which has already been sold. The Interior Minister made the remarks at Larnaca Airport before departing for Geneva where he will represent Cyprus at a Ministerial conference of states which signed the 1951 Geneva Convention of Refugees and adjoining 1967 protocol. [09] stabbingLimassol District Court remanded English Cypriot Christos Patriotis for three days in connection with the stabbing of 27-year-old Limassol resident Michalis Papadopoulou.Under police questioning, Patriotis appeared to have admitted that he stabbed Papadopoulou because he thought the victim was a member of a club's security staff who threw him out earlier. [10] ceremonyA memorial service for the victims of the September 11 terrorist attacks in the US will be held this afternoon at the US embassy in Nicosia.President Clerides will attend the service, which will begin at exactly 3:46 this afternoon, exactly the moment in Eastern Standard Time when the first aircraft struck one of the two World Trade Centre towers. President Cleride will lay a wreath together with US Ambassador in Nicosia, Donald Bandler. A minute's silence will follow in memory of the victims of the terrorist attack. The American National Anthem will cap the service. [11] weatherCloudy periods this afternoon are expected to produce some isolated showers which in the mountainous regions will be accompanied by strong winds and hail.Snow is expected to fall on the highest Troodos peaks. Winds will be northwesterly light to moderate, 3 to 4 beaufort with moderate seas. More of the same is expected for tonight with winds remaining northwesterly, light to moderate, 3 to 4 beaufor, and with moderate seas. Temperatures will drop to 8 degrees inland, 10 on the coasts and 3 in the mountains. Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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