Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation: News in English, 02-05-17

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From: The Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation at <http://www.cybc.com.cy/>

CONTENTS

[01] HEADLINES

[02] council

[03] dinner

[04] markides

[05] anastasiades

[06] Palestinians

[07] sabri

[08] prisons

[09] report

[10] ecevit

[11] weather FRIDAY 17 MAY 2002

[01] HEADLINES

Attorney General Alecos Markides said the Greek Cypriot is dead against Turkish Cypriot demands for recognition,

The US has registered its full support for UN Secretary General Kofi Annan's statement that the core issues of the Cyprus problem can be solved by the end of June,

The European Union will decide today on the fate of the 13 Palestinian militants who remain at a Larnaca hotel.

AND as U.S. report found no proof that senior Palestinians ordered attacks on Israelis.

[02] council

A new Clerides-Denktash meeting this morning as part of direct Cyprus settlement talks is considered vital in that it is the first following the UN chief's visit.

The meeting lasted about 80 minutes and was attended by UN Cyprus envoy Alvaro De Soto as well as the two community leaders' top advisers.

There is no information on what happened at the meeting given a UN-imposed news blackout that is still in effect.

[03] dinner

The sources said Mr. Denktash refused to budge on issues concerning the substance of the talks and how they should carry on.

This, despite efforts by Mr. Annan and his Cyprus envoy Alvaro De Soto to convice the Turkish Cypriot leader to engage in substantial talks based on UN documents.

Mr. Denktash exhausted all his arguments without convincing the UN chief.

The Turkish Cypriot leader claimed that he has already conceded much because he accepted to sit down for negotiations without insisting that his regime be recognised first.

[04] markides

Commenting on Rauf Denktash's insistence for the creation of two separate sovereign states, Mr. Markides said on CyBC radio that the Greek Cypriot side's position remains unyieldingly and unwaveringly set against the notion.

Mr. Markides, who is one of President Clerides' advisers at ongoing direct settlement talks, added that UN Secretary General Kofi Annan failed in his main task of finding ways to push the talks forward because of the Turkish side's insistence on its unacceptable positions.

According to Mr. Markides, Mr. Annan also failed in his secondary mission of getting his UN Cyprus envoy Alvaro De Soto more actively involved in the talks because of the Turkish side's objections.

[05] anastasiades

Speaking on CyBC radio, Mr. Anastasiades described as significant the fact that Mr. Annan remained steadfast on the June target date and that the four core issues can be resolved.

On his part, Akel MP Andreas Christou said the UN chief's call to have a more active UN involvement in the talks rebuffed Rauf Denktash's efforts to keep the UN out of the process.

He also called important the fact that Mr. Annan admitted to a difference between President Clerides and Rauf Denktash over both the substance of the Cyprus problem and procedural issues.

[06] Palestinians

The "Nativity 13" as they have become known following the end the Israeli seige of Bethlehem's Church of the Nativity, have been guests at Larnaca's Flamingo hotel for the past week.

During yesterday's marathon meeting, EU officials could not decide on which member states will accept the Palestinians.

However, EU sources said most of the problems have been cleared up except for three key issues including how many Palestinians one country would accept.

The prevailing opinion is that no more than three Palestinians should be accepted by any one EU member state.

Another key issue is how the EU would react in case Israel asks for the Palestinians' extradition.

[07] sabri

Tuner's relatives and friends were arrested in Pergamos on their return to the occupied areas after visiting the footballer at his Larnaca home.

They were charged with supposedly violating a restricted military area.

The four were ordered to surrender all travel documents and were forbidden from leaving the occupied areas.

[08] prisons

He also suggested that the reports were planted intentionally.

Yesterday, Justice Minister Nicos Koshis said measures to guard Mr. Themistocleous' safety are in place.

Mr. Themistocleous resigned his post last week following a row with the Justice Ministry over a gag order againt him.

Mr. Themistocleous said he was surprised that the Civil Service Commission accepted his resignation.

He expected that the Commission would call him to explain the reasons that led to his resignation.

[09] report

However, the report said the Palestinian leadership had failed to make consistent and effective calls to Palestinians to refrain from violence, and did not make an effort to discipline people who instigated or engaged in violence.

Under U.S. law, the State Department reports to Congress twice a year whether President Arafat is sticking to promises he made as part of the 1993 accords.

These pledges included recognizing Israel's right to exist in peace and security, being committed to a peaceful resolution to the conflict, and renouncing terrorism.

[10] ecevit

Financial markets have been nervous over Mr. Ecevit's health because of fears that a possible early election could upset Turkey's $16 billion IMF programme.

The 76-year-old Prime Minister was taken to hospital with a stomach problem on May 4 and has been recovering at home ever since, causing concerns about a political vacuum in his absence.

However, Mr. Ecevit's spokesman said on Thursday he intended to go ahead with a visit to Pakistan and Afghanistan next week.

[11] weather

Winds will be mainly southeasterly to southwesterly light to moderate, 3 to 4 beaufort, with slight seas.

Tonight will be generally fine with fog patches and low cloud developing in some areas.

Winds will be northwesterly light, 3 beaufort with slight seas.

Temperatures will drop to 13 degrees inland, 15 on the coasts and 9 in the highest mountains.

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