Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation: News in English, 02-10-04

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

CONTENTS

[01] NY TALKS

[02] DENKTASH TALKS

[03] DENKTASH OPERATION

[04] BOUCHER CYPRUS

[05] MAURER

[06] EU ENLARG

[07] TURKEY EU YILMAZ

[08] IRAQ UN USA

[09] AFGHAN TRUCE

[10] PAPADOPOULOS LIST

[11] INDIAN VISIT

[12] POLL CYBC

[13] WEATHER FRIDAY 4 OCTOBER 2002

[01] NY TALKS

Mr Annan will hold another meeting with the two at 10pm Cyprus time and following the meeting, President Clerides will return to Cyprus.

CyBC correspondent Yiannis Nicolaou reported that instead of progress, regression was achieved at yesterday's meetings.

[02] DENKTASH TALKS

In a statement on his way to his meeting last night with mr. Annan, the Turkish Cypriot leader said if the EU accepts Cyprus, then the talks will end and the island will be divided forever.

President Clerides refused to comment on Mr. Denktash's statement.

[03] DENKTASH OPERATION

Mr. Denktash, who has a blocked artery, might make use of his presence in New York and undergo the operation this weekend. He will need at least five to six weeks to recuperate.

[04] BOUCHER CYPRUS

He further said he hopes that the two leaders will seize this historic opportunity to try to reach a Cyprus settlement this year.

[05] MAURER

Speaking last night during a working dinner hosted by the Limasol Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Mr. Maurer stressed the significance of a united Cyprus in the EU and expressed the hope the Cyprus problem will be solved before the Copenhagen European Council.

He reminded the Helsinki decision which said a solution to the Cyprus problem is not a pre-requisite for accession and noted Cyprus has done important steps in harmonising with the acquis communautaire.

Mr Maurer left Cyprus this morning.

[06] EU ENLARG

According to an EU source the 10 are Poland, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Slovenia, Cyprus and Malta.

The EU executive will propose a target date of 2007 for Romania and Bulgaria to join the bloc.

Despite strong U.S. pressure, the Commission will not recommend giving Turkey, the 13th candidate, a date for starting entry negotiations, though it will also not prejudge a final decision by EU leaders when they meet for their big "enlargement summit" in Copenhagen in December.

The Commission's regular report on the aspirants, due out next Wednesday, will call for strict monitoring of candidates' implementation of EU law after entry negotiations are concluded in December and the treaty is signed next April.

[07] TURKEY EU YILMAZ

EU sources told Reuters the EU Commission's regular report on membership aspirants, due out next Wednesday, would propose a 2004 date for 10 countries to join the grouping. But they said Ankara would be denied a firm date for talks because of failure so far to meet in full economic and human rights criteria.

Turkish deputy prime minister Mesut Yilmaz said he considered the final word on the issue, which could become a strong factor in Turkey's November elections, would be with EU leaders at a December summit in Copenhagen

Mr Yilmaz, in charge of relations with the EU, said "The impression his country has is that the progress report will only make observations about Turkey, it will not make any specific recommendations.

[08] IRAQ UN USA

Hans Blix, the executive chairman of the U.N. Monitoring, Verification and Inspection Commission, known as UNMOVIC said they hope to hear something about what their planning is and they will tell them about their planning.

Mr. Blix, in charge of accounting for Iraq's chemical, biological and ballistic weapons, works in tandem with Mohamed ElBaradei, director-general of the Vienna-based International Atomic Energy Agency, responsible for nuclear arms.

After Iraq decided to admit inspectors and agreed to most of their demands, Blix and ElBaradei made plans to send advance teams to Baghdad in mid-October, which the United States opposed. Both men met with Iraqi arms experts in Vienna earlier this week.

But they made clear to U.N. Security Council members yesterday they would hold off going to Baghdad until the 15-member body adopted a new resolution, although they legally had a right to begin work almost immediately.

[09] AFGHAN TRUCE

A U.N. mediator helped to broker the ceasefire along with officials sent by rival commanders Abdul Rashid Dostum and Ustad Atta Mohammad.

The effort followed clashes yesterday between Dostum and Atta's supporters in the Pir Naqshi area in the northern province of Samangan.

[10] PAPADOPOULOS LIST

According to the Athens News Agency, Mr Boucher explained that US embassies decide how to maintain broad ranges of contacts across the political and social spectrum in any country they are.

He said that Mr Papadopoulos was on the Treasury Department's list in the 90s regarding trade and financial transactions with Yugoslavia but that he does not think he is on the list anymore.

[11] INDIAN VISIT

The Indian Premier arrives in Cyprus on Monday afternoon and will meet President of the Republic Glafcos Clerides. He will also hold talks with the President which will cover a wide range of issues, including bilateral relations, and international and regional issues.

Premier Vazbayi will also meet the President of the House of Representatives and Nicosia Mayor Michalakis Zembilas.

He will complete his visit on Wednesday.

[12] POLL CYBC

When asked who would they vote for President, a total of 43,8% said Tassos Papadopoulos, a further 31,9% said Yiannakis Omirou, while 4% want Nicos Koutsou as President of the Republic and a total of 5,3 per cent said they would cast a blank vote.

Asked who they think will win the February presidential elections, 46 per cent said Tasos Papadopoylos, another 16 per cent said Yiannakis Omirou, while Foreign Minister Yiannakis Kasoulides received an eight per cent and Attorney-General Alecos Markides garnered 6 per cent. A total of 22 per cent said they did not know or did not want to reply.

The poll showed people want a president who will inspire trust, be close to the people, have leadership skills, be experienced and tell the truth.

The poll was conducted by VPRC and CyMar Market Research between 12-14 September.

[13] WEATHER

Winds will be south-westerly to north-westerly moderate, four beaufort and the sea slight. Temperatures will rise to 28 C inland and 18 in the mountains.

Tonight the weather will be mainly clear with some passing cloud. Winds will be north-westerly light, two to three baufort and the sea slight. Temperatures will fall to 16 C inland, 18 on the coasts and 13 on the mountains.

The fire hazard remains extremely high in all forest areas.

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