Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation: News in English, 02-09-09

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

CONTENTS

[01] Headlines

[02] Simitis

[03] Formula

[04] OSCE

[05] Abattoir

[06] Kenteris Thanou

[07] Iraq

[08] Mideast

[09] Weather MONDAY 9 SEPTEMBER 2002

[01] Headlines

--- The Mediterranean Group of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe began a meeting this morning in Limassol.

--- Iraq could build a nuclear bomb within months if it obtained fissile material from abroad but lacks the ability to make its own nuclear material, a leading independent think-tank said.

And

--- Israeli armour and troops raided Palestinian-ruled areas in the central Gaza Strip and engaged in firefights with Palestinian gunmen.

[02] Simitis

Mr. Simitis added that Greece is prepared for such an event and would give a fierce battle so that Cyprus is included in the first wave of countries to accede to the bloc.

[03] Formula

The newspaper says that this agreement will provided for postponing Cyprus' accession to the European Union and setting a date for the commencement of accession negotiations for Turkey.

It also writes that the real give and take begins now, with the UN Secretary General's Special Adviser on Cyprus, Alvaro de Soto, working on alternative land-for-sovereignty maps.

"Kibrisli" says that these maps must be ready by October 3, when UN chief Kofi Annan will meet President Glafcos Clerides and Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash in New York.

The newspaper says there is also a British scenario, according to which the framework of a solution and EU accession will be discussed simultaneously and that the Turkish Cypriots will participate in this process.

It ends its report by saying that the Cyprus problem will be solved within 18 months and will be followed by Cyprus' accession to the EU.

[04] OSCE

The meeting, which is hosted by the House of Representatives, is preparatory in view of the Conference on the Mediterranean to convene in Madrid on October 3.

The Conference will deal with securing peace, democracy and welfare in the Mediterranean region.

Addressing today's meeting, House President Demetris Christofias said security and cooperation in the fragile area of the Mediterranean could not be promoted effectively without steadfast commitment to the principles of international law.

He added that it was unreal to expect that the Mediterranean basin would become an area of peace and security without solving chronic political problems on the basis of UN resolutions.

Mr. Christofias cited the Cyprus issue as one of those problems, saying that for 28 years now it is an open wound in the heart of the Mediterranean.

[05] Abattoir

The abattoir's premises were inspected at the end of July.

The negative findings have been confirmed by the abattoir's president, Nicosia Mayor Michalakis Zambelas, who expressed hope that the upgrading process according to European standards would be concluded by February.

[06] Kenteris Thanou

The will participate in tonight's event organised by the Cyprus Olympic Committee to present authentic Olympic products for the Athens 2004 Games.

The presentation will be held at the Conference Centre in Nicosia.

[07] Iraq

John Chipman, director of the International Institute for Strategic Studies, told BBC radio that if President Saddam Hussein acquired enriched uranium with help from abroad, Iraq could put a nuclear warhead on a missile capable of hitting Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Israel, Turkey, Jordan and Iran within a year.

- - - -

French President Jacques Chirac said in an interview that he would like to see a new government in Iraq but warned against ousting Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein without United Nations backing.

He told the New York Times he proposed a Security Council resolution that would give Iraq a three-week deadline for readmitting U.N. weapons inspectors without any restrictions or preconditions.

- - - -

German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder defended his criticism of U.S. war plans against Iraq, saying he feared any attack would break apart a year-old international alliance against "international terrorism".

- - - -

U.S. President George W. Bush makes his case that Iraqi President Saddam Hussein should be ousted because of his weapons program to another sceptical ally -- Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chretien.

Canada, a staunch U.S. ally, has made no secret of the fact that it is cool to the idea of attacking Iraq without first working through the United Nations and its weapons inspectors to try to halt Iraq's biological, chemical and nuclear programs.

- - - -

Top advisers to U.S. President George W. Bush cited new evidence that Saddam Hussein is trying to make a nuclear bomb as they made the administration's case to topple the Iraqi leader -- with or without international support.

U.S. officials have said that in the past 14 months, Iraq had tried to buy thousands of special aluminum tubes they believe were to be used in devices to enrich uranium.

- - - -

The two Kurdish groups that control northern Iraq agreed over the weekend to bury historic rivalry and form a united front to grasp the opportunities they see in U.S.-led efforts to oust President Saddam Hussein.

- - - -

U.S. Middle East envoy retired Marine Gen. Anthony Zinni urged caution in dealing with Iraq, saying the potential impact of military action on Israel, relationships with key allies and the war on terrorism had to be carefully weighed.

[08] Mideast

"We are still suffering from the unjust Israeli siege and closures against our people," the Palestinian Legislative Council's speaker, Ahmed Korei, also known as Abu Ala, said in opening remarks.

- - - -

Israeli armour and troops raided Palestinian-ruled areas in the central Gaza Strip and engaged in firefights with Palestinian gunmen.

Palestinian residents said a large number of tanks and other Israeli armour cordoned off the town of Deir al-Balah and were stationed along a Palestinian-ruled road near the entrances to the nearby refugee camps of al-Bureij and Nusairat.

- - - -

Two key al Qaeda network members have affirmed that Osama bin Laden was personally involved in planning the September 11 attacks on the United States, a journalist who interviewed the two men said.

Yosri Fouda, an investigative journalist with al-Jazeera Arabic satellite television, said the interviews did not give evidence on whether the Saudi-born militant was dead or alive.

- - - -

Arab states risk locking their exploding populations in poverty and eroding limited natural resources if they fail to deepen economic reforms and break out of a two-decade slump, a new international survey said.

A preview of the Arab World Competitiveness Report acknowledged that the Arab world had made some progress with macroeconomic and structural reforms, but said privatisation, trade and investment liberalisation needed to be sustained to bear fruit.

[09] Weather

Winds will be southwesterly to westerly, light to moderate, three to four beaufort, and locally along the west coast strong, five beaufort. Seas will be slight to moderate.

Temperatures will reach 33 degrees inland, 31 along the south and east coasts, 28 along the west and north coasts, and 22 over the mountains.

Tonight will be generally clear with a few sparse clouds.

Winds will be mainly northwesterly to northeasterly, light, two to three beaufort, over slight seas.

Temperatures will drop to 19 degrees inland and along the west coast, to 21 along the south coast, and to 13 over the mountains.

The fire hazard is extremely high in all forest areas.

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