Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation: News in English, 02-05-31

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

CONTENTS

[01] HEADLINES

[02] CLERIDES

[03] turks

[04] angelides

[05] guns

[06] nablus

[07] omirou

[08] denktash

[09] cup

[10] numbers

[11] pageant

[12] weather FRIDAY 31 MAY 2002

[01] HEADLINES

Turkey's all-powerful National Security Council called on Europe to immediately set a time table for accession negotiations with Ankara.

Police chief Andreas Angelides meets with President Clerides this afternoon to discuss the controversy over the issuing of licenses to carry a gun

Politicians condemned what they called the selective leaking of the names of those licensed to carry guns,

AND Israeli tanks and infantry entered Nablus in a new sweep through a West Bank city.

[02] CLERIDES

The meeting will be attended by UN Cyprus Envoy Alvaro De Soto.

The President of the Republic will travel to Copenhagen this coming Monday for talks with Danish Prime Minister Anders Fog Rasmusen on the island's EU accession course and settlement efforts.

The meeting will take place on an invitation by Mr. Rasmusen ahead of Denmark's assumption of the EU presidency in the second half of 2002.

It is expected that under Denmark's presidency, several key decisions on the bloc's enlargement will take place.

[03] turks

In a statement issued after last night's meeting, the Council expressed Ankara's support for Rauf Denktash and his stance in ongoing Cyprus settlement talks.

It also expressed the need to accelerate Turkey's actions over its obligations to democratize, modernise the economy, and safeguard human rights.

However, it was decided to extend the state of emergency in the country's mainly Kurkish-populated southeastern districts for another four months.

Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit did not attend the meeting for health reasons.

[04] angelides

Mr. Angelides arrived last night from Moscow, but avoided making any statements at Larnaca airport before his meeting with President Clerides.

[05] guns

Mr. Anastasiades called it a foolish action by foolish people with ulterior motives.

He said the matter should concern the President of the Republic.

Referring to the practice of allowing individuals to carry guns by appointing them special police constables, Mr. Anastasiades said this has been followed since 1960 which must be revised now that it has been deemed illegal.

Akel Parliamentary spokesman Andreas Christou also criticised the leak of names of individuals licensed to carry guns.

Mr. Christou said this was aimed at politicians to paint a picture that does not correspond with reality.

Mr. Christou came out against making the list of names public, but released only to the House and the Attorney General's office.

He said it appears that the special constable practice wrongly resulted in underworld figures obtaining guns.

[06] nablus

The operation, which included an incursion into Balata refugee camp near Nablus, coincided with a flurry of diplomatic activity to end more than 20 months of violence and a new wave of suicide bombings in Israel.

An armed Palestinian today infiltrated a settlement north of Nablus and was shot dead by a settler.

Osama el-Baz, an envoy sent by Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, met Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon ahead of planned talks in the United States next week between Mubarak and President George W. Bush.

Egypt's MENA news agency said the two men discussed the deteriorating situation in the region and ways of returning to the negotiating table.

[07] omirou

Following the meeting, Mr. Omirou said direct Cyprus settlement talks are ailing and called for pressure to be put on Turkey to change its intransigent stance.

He added that the island's accession course is the the top national goal and must be safeguarded from any possible efforts to derail it.

Mr. Laliotis said the Cyprus issue is now at a critical juncture and that Greece and Cyprus must work together to achieve their common aims.

Referring to the island's accession course, he said EU law offers security, development and prosperity for the entire island.

On the settlement talks, Mr. Laliotis urged the implementation of UN Security Council resolutions on Cyprus.

[08] denktash

Africa reprinted yesterday's front page article in the Turkish newspaper "Sabah" under the banner headline, "Shame Mr. Denktash".

An Africa columnist castigates all those who support Mr. Denktash's intransigence and notes that they have begun to worry the moment they realised that Turkey's interests are being endangered.

[09] cup

CyBC owns the exclusive television rights for the World Cup and will broadcast live all 64 matches from its first television channel.

Each night at nine o'clock, CyBC will broadcast a special two-hour programme featuring highlights from the day's matches including the most important match in its entirety.

Today, CyBC will link up with Seoul at 1:20 for the World Cup opening ceremony and at 2:30, will broadcast live the opening match between world champions france and Senegal.

32 teams are competing in the 17th world cup with the final taking place on June 30.

[10] numbers

Under the new rules, Nicosia numbers begin with 22, Famagusta with 23, Larnaca with 24, Limassol with 25 and Paphos with 26.

Mobile phone users must now dial 99 in front of the six digit number.

[11] pageant

The 19-year-old Demetra, who hails from occupied Yerolakkos village, took seventh place in the pageant that recently took place in Puerto Rico.

24-year-old Oxana Fedorova won the title of Miss Universe.

[12] weather

There will be moderate sea breezes, 4 beaufort, turning fresh and strong, 5 to 6 beaufort in windward areas.

Seas will be slight to moderate while temperatures in the afternoon are expected to reach 29 degrees inland, 27 on the southern coasts and 25 on the western coast.

Tonight will be fine with fog patches developing in the early hours.

Winds will be generally northwesterly light, 2 to 3 beaufort with slight seas.

Temperatures will drop to 15 degrees inland, 16 on the coasts and 10 in the highest mountains.

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