Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation: News in English, 02-11-05

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

CONTENTS

[01] Headlines

[02] Erdogan Cyprus

[03] Weston

[04] Alvaro

[05] Denktash

[06] Israel

[07] World

[08] Radiomarathon

[09] Weather TUESDAY 5 NOVEMBER 2002

[01] Headlines

--- US State Department Special Coordinator for Cyprus, Thomas Weston, has said that there is a sense of urgency surrounding the Cyprus problem, which is recognised and reflected in US activities in Nicosia and New York.

--- Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon announced today an early general election for February after failing to form a new right-wing coalition government.

And

--- The United Nations is close to agreeing a resolution on Iraq which would give Washington scope to act alone if Baghdad blocks arms inspections, US Secretary of State Colin Powell was quoted as saying.

[02] Erdogan Cyprus

Mr. Erdogan told New Greek Television that a solution would be found according to the Belgian model.

He added that he had made this proposal to UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, whom he met a while ago.

Mr. Erdogan also noted that he would press on with Turkey's European Union accession course, and expressed hope that Greece, which will be holding the rotating EU presidency for the first six months of 2003, would back this effort.

Papandreou Cyprus

Speaking on the same programme, Greek Minister of Foreign Affairs George Papandreou said Mr. Erdogan's position about the Belgian model was very important.

He added that if Mr. Erdogan's words were put into practice, then the Cyprus problem would be on its way towards a solution.

Mr. Papandreou did not rule out the possibility of the UN chief submitting a solution plan before the Copenhagen European Council in December.

He assured the Cyprus people that Greece was by its side, no matter what its response was to such a plan, and that Greece would continue to struggle for the island's accession to the EU and for a just political settlement.

Mr. Papandreou said "we will be there, supporters of the big yes or no, if necessary".

[03] Weston

Mr. Weston was speaking after a meeting late last night with UN Secretary General Kofi Annan in New York, during which they discussed the Cyprus problem.

The American diplomat, referring to his recent talks in Nicosia, said he had a very good meeting with President Glafcos Clerides.

Mr. Weston noted that things are speeding up and that the United States were holding meetings with the UN chief's Special Adviser on Cyprus Alvaro de Soto and other persons involved in the Cyprus problem.

Sources said Mr. Weston conveyed to Mr. Annan the position of the US administration, that the UN should submit proposals on a Cyprus settlement as soon as possible and that the United States would back peace efforts with all their might.

According to sources, Mr. Weston will fly to Ankara at the end of the week in order to get a picture of the new government's intentions regarding the Cyprus problem.

[04] Alvaro

A spokesman for Kofi Annan said the UN chief would be meeting today with his Special Adviser on Cyprus, Alvaro de Soto.

Mr. de Soto is also scheduled to meet with the US and British envoys for Cyprus, Thomas Weston and Lord David Hannay.

The UN diplomat will also meet with Rauf Denktash's aide Ergun Olgun.

Meanwhile, in Washington US officials are launching a series of meetings with the chief of the Turkish armed forces.

[05] Denktash

Ergun Olgun, a close aide to Rauf Denktash, said the Turkish Cypriot leader's health was improving and that arrangements were already being made for the transatlantic trip home.

Mr. Olgun added that Mr. Denktash met yesterday in New York with US State Department Special Coordinator for Cyprus Thomas Weston.

[06] Israel

He said his desire to preserve Israel's "special relationship" with the White House was a main consideration in deciding not to press ahead with efforts to woo ultranationalist parties into his minority government.

A defiant Sharon said he had refused to give in to "political extortion" while courting partners for the narrow coalition he had hoped to form after the centre-left Labour Party bolted the 20-month-old "unity government" last week.

Labour abandoned its partnership with Sharon in a dispute over funding for Jewish settlements on occupied lands where Palestinians want to establish a state.

Sharon said he had made "the responsible choice" and "opted for the lesser of two evils" by deciding to go to new elections.

[07] World

- - - -

The United Nations is close to agreeing a resolution on Iraq which would give Washington scope to act alone if Baghdad blocks arms inspections, US Secretary of State Colin Powell was quoted as saying.

Mr. Powell told French daily Le Figaro he was confident weeks of negotiations within the U.N. Security Council over an Iraq resolution were close to a compromise which the United States and other Council members could live with.

- - - -

Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has pardoned the country's top jailed dissident, boosting the embattled reformist movement at a critical point in its power struggle with conservative rivals.

Abdollah Nouri, a former interior minister and close ally of moderate President Mohammad Khatami is viewed as a potential leader of Iran's reformists and is second only to Khatami in popular appeal.

- - - -

Yemen said it was investigating the cause of a car blast which killed six alleged al Qaeda members after a US official said the vehicle was destroyed by a missile fired from a US drone.

- - - -

The European Court of Justice said eight European Union states had broken community legislation by striking bilateral "open skies" air transport agreements with the United States.

The European Commission launched the case against the states four years ago after being snubbed by EU governments over its request to negotiate an EU-wide pact on transatlantic air traffic rights with the United States.

- - - -

A day after China seized the initiative with a free trade zone plan in Southeast Asia, Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi took the first steps to include the world's number two economy in a regional trade deal.

- - - -

Medicinal cannabis could be available on prescription in Britain as early as next year following the successful completion of key clinical trials, the drug company behind the treatment said.

[08] Radiomarathon

The two-day charity campaign, which ends at midnight, is organised by the Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation and the Laiki Group with the support of the Phileleftheros Group.

So far, over 600 thousand pounds have been gathered for the cause.

A total of 58 collection points are operating all over the free areas of the Republic, while twelve money-box cars are driving around the island collecting contributions.

CyBC continues its special radio and television programmes today, to support the cause.

[09] Weather

Winds will be southwesterly to northwesterly, light to moderate, three to four beaufort, over slight to moderate seas.

Temperatures will reach 24 degrees inland and along the coast, and 15 over the mountains.

Tonight will be generally clear with a few sparse clouds.

Winds will be northwesterly, light, three beaufort, over slight seas.

Temperatures will drop to 13 degrees inland, to 15 along the coast, and to 10 over the mountains.

The fire hazard is very high in all forest areas.

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