Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation: News in English, 02-11-06

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

CONTENTS

[01] HEADLINES

[02] CLERIDES

[03] UN SECRETARY GENERA

[04] CHRISTOFIAS CYPRUS

[05] POOS CYPRUS

[06] KLERIDES EURO

[07] LUXAIR CRASH

[08] ELECTION USA

[09] MIDEAST GOVT

[10] MIDEAST GUNMAN

[11] IMF TURKEY

[12] RADIOMARATHON ENDS

[13] WEATHER WEDNESDAY 6 NOVEMBER 2002

[01] HEADLINES

-- UN Secretary General Kofi Annan is still undecided as to his next move in the Cyprus peace process, as he himself has said.

-- A Luxair plane on a flight from Berlin crashed in thick fog near Luxembourg airport today, killing at least 10 people. And,

- Republicans seized control of the U.S. Congress yesterday, reclaiming power in the Senate and expanding their majority in the House of Representatives in a historic sweep for Republican President George W. Bush.

[02] CLERIDES

He also said the Greek Cypriot side will not accept a bad solution for the sake of acceding in the EU.

The existence of the letter was confirmed by Government Spokesman Michalis Papapetrou, who said it was part of the decisions taken in Athens during President Clerides' visit there.

In statements to CyBC, Mr Papapetrou also said that the contacts of Greek Prime Minister Costas Simitis are part of the same diplomatic mobility.

[03] UN SECRETARY GENERA

According to the Cyprus News Agency, as consultations on Cyprus continue at the UN seat, it has emerged that Mr. Annan has received letters on the matter from US President George Bush and British and Dutch Premiers, Toni Blair and Wim Kok, in which they express support for Mr. Annan's peace effort and a proposed UN solution plan for Cyprus.

Mr. Annan had a telephone conversation with Greek Foreign Minister George Papandreou with regard to Cyprus, who expressed his support for the UN chief's peace efforts and said any settlement should be in line with UN resolutions and the European Union laws and regulations.

Speaking after a briefing he received from his special adviser on Cyprus Alvaro de Soto, Mr. Annan said his envoy gave him ''a thorough briefing on what he has been doing since I last saw him.''

[04] CHRISTOFIAS CYPRUS

He condemned however efforts by the Americans and British, who, in conjunction with the UN Secretary General, have prepared a proposal for an overall settlement of the Cyprus problem and with the pretext of the elections in Turkey and Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash's illness, they are trying to submit it on the eve of the Copenhagen European Council.

In a speech in Athens, Mr. Christofias said that bearing in mind the conclusions of the Helsinki European Council which said a solution to the Cyprus problem is not a precondition for the island's accession to the EU, the result should be positive for the Cypriot candidacy.

He said if the UN Secretary General decides to submit a plan, it should align with UN resolutions on Cyprus, high level agreements and the acquis communautaire.

[05] POOS CYPRUS

The draft report says that the European Parliament considers Cyprus and nine other candidate countries to be ready to undertake their time frame which has already been set.

It also expresses the hope that Cyprus will enter the EU united with a single sovereignty, based on a overall agreement.

It also reiterates the continued support to the UN Secretary-General in efforts to find a political settlement on Cyprus, based on the Security Council resolutions.

[06] KLERIDES EURO

The announcement was made by Finance Minister Takis Klerides at a meeting in Brussels of EU Finance Ministers and their counterparts from the candidate countries, who discussed pre-accession economic programmes for 2002 relating to fiscal and monetary issues.

During the meeting, it was ascertained that other candidate countries have a smaller per capita income than EU member states.

[07] LUXAIR CRASH

A government spokesman said the Fokker-50 plane carrying 19 passengers crashed five km from the Grand Duchy's international airport.

He said of the 19 passengers, there are reported to be seven or eight survivors.

[08] ELECTION USA

Republicans beat incumbent Democrats in Georgia and Missouri to reclaim at least a one-seat margin of power in the Senate, with races in Minnesota, South Dakota and Louisiana undecided.

They also picked up at least two seats in the House, building on their six-seat majority in a huge win for Mr. Bush, who crisscrossed the country nonstop in the campaign's final days to drum up Republican support.

Mr. Bush's younger brother Jeb won re-election as governor in Florida and Democrat Gov. Gray Davis won re-election in California, while Republicans claimed the governor's mansion in Maryland for the first time in 36 years on a big night for the party nationwide.

All 435 House seats, 34 of 100 Senate seats and 36 state governorships were at stake in the midterm election.

[09] MIDEAST GOVT

Prime Minister Ariel Sharon called an early general election yesterday the centre-left Labour Party, including Foreign Minister Shimon Peres, quit his coalition in a row over funding for Jewish settlements on occupied land.

Mr. Netanyahu, 53, revealed his credentials on national television yesterday in the run-up to a Likud Party vote which will decide whether he or Mr. Sharon, 74, leads the party list in a general election expected on January 28.

By taking up the foreign portfolio in Mr. Sharon's minority government, Mr. Netanyahu returns to a political stage he largely abandoned after Labour's Ehud Barak ousted him as prime minister in a 1999 election.

[10] MIDEAST GUNMAN

The armed wing of the Hamas militant group said one of its members carried out the attack.

The gunman apparently managed to get into the settlement near the Egyptian border by walking in with Palestinian workers, the guard said.

At least 1,646 Palestinians and 625 Israelis have been killed since the Palestinian revolt began in September 2000 after peace talks

[11] IMF TURKEY

Turkey's financial markets have soared since the Justice and Development Party's (AKP) landslide election win on Sunday. Analysts have said the rise reflected confidence in the new government's approach to reforms demanded by the IMF programme.

Odd Per Brekk, the IMF's representative to Turkey told Reuters that the organisation was encouraged by the statements the party has made concerning the economic programme.

He said they expect the mission will be invited back soon to continue discussions on the programme.

Turkey must complete a range of outstanding reforms to earn a next $1.6 billion loan tranche from the fund.

[12] RADIOMARATHON ENDS

The Radiomarathon was jointly organised by the Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation (CyBC) and the Cyprus Popular Bank, and backed by the large circulation Greek language daily ''Phileleftheros".

Contributions so far are estimated at one million, a hundred and fifty thousand pounds.

[13] WEATHER

Temperatures will rise 25 C inland and on the coasts and 17 over the mountains.

Tonight, the weather will be clear with passing cloud. Winds will be north-westerly light, two to three beaufort and the sea calm to slight. Temperatures will fall to 12 C inland, 15 over the coasts and 10 over the mountains.

The fire hazard remains very high in all forest areas.

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