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Thursday, 21 November 2024
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Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation: News in English, 02-09-03Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation at <http://www.cybc.com.cy/>CONTENTS
[01] HEADLINESThe US State Department's Special Co-ordinator for Cyprus is expected on the island later today, while Britain's Special Representative intimates at the possibility of a solution this autumn, even though Turkey and the Turkish-Cypriot leader appear as intransigent as ever, eliciting criticism from the occupied areas of the island;The sixth round of talks between the President of the Republic and the Turkish-Cypriot leader drew to a close today, with the stage being set for this Friday's 3-way Paris meeting with the UN Secretary-General; A boat goes up in flames at Larnaka Marina; and... A word to the wise for heart patients. weston tonight [02] WESTON TONIGHTThe US State Department's Special Co-ordinator for Cyprus, Thomas Weston, is expected on the island later today, following contacts in Ankara and Athens.Mr Weston is already in Athens, where this afternoon he is scheduled to meet with Deputy Foreign Minister Tassos Yiannitsis, while yesterday saw him holding talks with Turkey's Undersecretary for Foreign Affairs, Ugur Ziyal, in Ankara. In a statement after yesterday's meeting carried by the Turkish media, Thomas Weston described his talks as "constructive", adding that during these he ascertained that Ankara is indeed striving for a peaceful resolution of the Cyprus Issue. Turkey's media further reported that Mr Weston categorically denied the existence of a US plan for a Cyprus settlement, noting that what his country does have is ideas on what would be appropriate in order for a solution to be achieved. [03] CYPRUS AUTUMNThomas Weston's visit meanwhile comes hot on the heels of that realised by Britain's Special Representative for Cyprus, Lord David Hannay, who in a written statement on leaving the island yesterday afternoon, hinted at the possibility of a comprehensive settlement by this autumn.According to information made available to our station, Britain is basing its hopes on the thesis that Ankara, not wishing to see Cyprus accede to the European Union with the island's long-standing problem unresolved, will strive towards some sort of arrangement prior to the EU Copenhagen summit this December. The same sources mentioned that Britain believes that within the framework of such an agreement, the powers to be granted to the constituent parts of any possible Cyprus Federation will not be sovereign, while fundamental powers such as foreign, monetary and defence policy cannot possibly be exercised by a body other than a future central government. [04] TURKEY CYPRUSAt the same time, former Turkish Foreign Minister and permanent advisor to Turkish-Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash, Mumtaz Soyzal, last night voiced the opinion that the international community has begun to accept the possibility of a two-state partnership in Cyprus.Speaking on a Turkish television channel, Mr Soyzal said that he does not view as possible a solution of the Cyprus Issue before the EU Copenhagen summit, noting pointedly that no Turkish-Cypriot would ever allow what he described as "a selling-out of Cyprus". Turkey's current Foreign Minister, Shukru Sina Gurel, also took part in the programme, saying that the Cyprus Issue should not constitute an obstacle in Turkey's EU accession course, even though he did reiterate that should the 15-nation bloc accept Cyprus within its ranks, the northern, occupied part of the island will be unified with Turkey. [05] OCCUPIED AREAS REACTIONIn the occupied areas meanwhile, Turkish-Cypriot politicians are continuing to criticise Rauf Denktash over intransigent statements being made just a few days before this Friday's Paris meeting among himself, President of the Republic Glafkos Clerides, and UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan.The leader of the occupied areas Communal Liberation Party, Hussein Angolemli, charging Mr Denktash with leading the Turkish-Cypriots to destruction, called on him not to issue statements contrary to settlement efforts and the island's EU accession. Republican Turkish Party Chairman Mehmet Ali Talat went a step further, criticising Mr Denktash of hegemonism and isolationism from his people, saying that the Turkish-Cypriot leader should stop underestimating those representing the majority and accept that a solution has to be found. [06] TALKS CLOSEPresident of the Republic Glafkos Clerides and Turkish-Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash this morning met for the last time before their scheduled meeting in Paris with UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan this Friday.In line with the UN-requested news blackout on the direct settlement talks, no statements were made by either side either immediately before or after the meeting, even though informed sources had mentioned earlier that today's session would most probably focus on a continuation of the citizenship aspect of the Cyprus Issue. Last night however, and commenting on his meeting with Lord Hannay, Mr Denktash said that the difficulties hampering a solution are rooted in the fact that all those concerned consider the problem "resolvable", and at the same time claimed that should his positioning not be adhered to, up to 60 thousand Turkish-Cypriots may find themselves displaced for, as he said, "yet another time". Asked if he will be meeting with occupied areas' party leaders prior to his departure for Paris, Rauf Denktash said that this is not at all necessary, since the 3-way meeting will simply focus and a reviewal of everything that has transpired to date. [07] PAPANDREOU ANNANIn view of Friday's meeting, Greek Foreign Minister is tomorrow scheduled to meet with the UN Secretary-General on the sidelines of the Earth Summit being held in Johannesburg.UN sources also mentioned that Kofi Annan will be meeting with Turkish President Ahmet Necdet Sezer at the same venue. No other information was available, but it's expected that the two meetings will focus, in part at least, on the latest efforts aimed at a resolution of the Cyprus Issue. [08] LARNACA BOAT FIREAnd a non-political item just before today's tailer, with a fire breaking out on board a vessel docked at the Larnaka Marina at around 8:30 last night.The blaze was promptly put out by Fire Department personnel, but not before causing damages estimated at some 20 thousand pounds to the craft, registered to one Christakis Georgiou from Larnaka. Light damages were also sustained by a craft docked alongside. Preliminary police investigations have ruled out the possibility of the fire being the result of arson. [09] TAILER HEALTHA word to the wise in today's tailer, with French researchers reporting yesterday that a little bit of wine may not only prevent heart disease, but may even help those who've already had an attack from having a second one.The study, carried out by the Joseph Fourier University of Grenoble, focused on 353 men aged 40 to 60 who had just had an attack, and found that those who drank two or more glasses of wine regularly were 50% less likely than non-drinkers to have a second attack. There were no significant differences in how severe the attacks had been, what medication the men took or what they ate. Writing in the American Heart Association's journal "Circulation", the French team said their subjects experienced a total of 104 cardiovascular complications such as another attack or a stroke within a year after the first incident. 36 occured among men who abstained from alcohol, 34 among men who drank fewer than two glasses of wine a day, 18 among those who drank about two a day, and 16 among men who drank an average of four to five glasses a day. The researchers pointed out however that more studies are needed to better define what type of patient would most benefit from moderate drinking after a heart attack. On the flip side of the coin, the American Heart Association recommends drinking only moderately, and advises anyone who does not drink against starting to do so. [10] WEATHERGenerally fair conditions are forecast for this afternoon, even though patchy cloud may lead to the possibility of scattered showers, mainly inland and over the mountains. Winds will be light to moderate west-to-southwesterlies, 3-4BF, gusting to strong, 5BF, at times, on slight to moderate seas, while temperatures are not expected to exceed 32C inland and in the south, 30C in the west, and 23C at higher altitudes.Generally fair conditions are also forecast for this evening, with skies once again being marked by patchy cloud. Winds will abate to light west-to-northwesterlies, 3BF, gusting to 4 at times, on slight to moderate seas, while temperatures will drop to 20C inland, 22C in coastal regions, and 14C on the higher reaches of the Troodos mountains. A reminder that the fire hazard is extremely high in all forest areas. Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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