Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation: News in English, 02-11-27

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

CONTENTS

[01] HEADLINES

[02] ANNAN NEW LETTER

[03] DENKTASH PLAN

[04] UN DEVELOP

[05] PAPANDREOU RICE

[06] KASOULIDES LONDON

[07] IRAQ INSPECTORS

[08] BUSH SEOUL

[09] MIDEAST

[10] WEATHER WEDNESDAY 27 NOVEMBER 2002

[01] HEADLINES

-- Rauf Denktash has prepared a document with amendments to provisions of the UN Secretary-General's plan for a Cyprus settlement, especially about the maps and the timeframe given in various stages of the plan until the completion of the agreement.

-- The US will contribute so that the dynamic behind a Cyprus settlement will continue even after the December European Council in Copenhagen, if there is no solution to the division of Cyprus by then, said US President George Bush's National Security Adviser, Condoleeza Rice.

-- U.N. arms inspectors completed their first field mission in Iraq in four years today, the opening move in their search for banned Iraqi weapons of mass destruction. And, -- A Palestinian carrying out a suicide car bombing against an Israeli army post was killed in the Gaza Strip today as militant groups vowed to avenge the deaths of two of their commanders in the West Bank.

[02] ANNAN NEW LETTER

According to the greek newspaper "Apogevmatini", the UN Secretary-General has sent a letter to the leaders of the two communities in Cyprus calling on them to respond to his plan by November 30.

The newspaper said the letter which has the form of "take it or leave it", will be made known to the governments of Greece and Turkey.

[03] DENKTASH PLAN

According to the Cyprus News Agency, the Denktash document regarding the alterations on the introductory document of the Annan plan has been given to Ankara and will be examined before it is handed to the UN.

The Turkish Cypriot leader's advisor on Cyprus, Ergun Olgun, avoided confirming the reports, noting that Mr. Denktash will make his positions known very shortly.

US State Department Coordinator on Cyprus, Thomas Weston, is expected to visit Mr. Denktash today in hospital where he is recuperating since his open heart surgery on October 7 in New York, in an efort to persuade him to accept the plan as a basis for negotiation.

A visit scheduled by US Undersecretary for Political Affairs, Marc Grossman, was cancelled at the last moment after it was known that Mr. Denktash has prepared his reply to the Annan proposal. Sources said the Turkish Cypriot leader is not expected to be discharged before Christmas.

[04] UN DEVELOP

UN Secretary-General's Special Advisor, Alvaro de Soto, met last night in Berlin Turkey's new Foreign Minister Yasar Yakis and today he will meet Deputy Foreign Minister Ugur Ziyial in Ankara.

Mr.Yakis had stated last night that he had the impression Rauf Denktash was ready to negotiate the plan.

He also expressed the Turkish government's view that negotiations can start in the next few days, but no agreement for a common state can be signed due to Mr. Denktash's illness.

[05] PAPANDREOU RICE

The assurance was given to Greek Foreign minister George Papandreou by US President George Bush's National Security Adviser, Condoleeza Rice in a meeting yesterday in Washington.

Ms. Rice said the US prefer a solution to the Cyprus problem now, but it is more apparent that the time left is not enough and Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash's negative stance do not allow optimism.

She noted the Us will continue pressing for a solution before and after Copenhagen.

Mr. Papandreou said that it is important for Greece that the Cyprus problem is not forgotten if there is no solution before Copenhagen, but to find a new dynamic which will continue after the EU summit which will decide on enlargement.

[06] KASOULIDES LONDON

In statements in London, Mr. Kasoulides said there is no problem if this takes place before or after Copenhagen.

Speaking after a dinner given by the Greek Cypriot brotherhood to British Mps and members of the House of Lords, Mr. Kasoulides reiterated the intention of the Greek Cypriot side to work constructively for a solution until December 12 and after Copenhagen too, if there is no settlement before December because of the Turkish stance.

He called on British MPs to contribute to a solution, since, he said, Britain is country with many bonds with Cyprus and can show the necessary interest, bearing in mind the sensitivities of the people of Cyprus.

[07] IRAQ INSPECTORS

The inspectors spent around three hours at a large military compound east of Baghdad before returning to their headquarters at the old Canal Hotel on the outskirts of the capital at noon.

There was no immediate word from the inspectors or the Iraqi authorities on how the inspection went.

The inspections are in line with U.N. Security Council Resolution 1441, which offers Iraq a last chance to give up weapons of mass destruction which it denies possessing.

The United States has threatened a war on Iraq if it does not disarm.

[08] BUSH SEOUL

The accident in June, and the court martial acquittal of the vehicle's driver and navigator last week, sparked angry street demonstrations and calls for the withdrawal of 37,000 U.S. troops stationed in South Korea.

The emotive court case concluded as South Korea and the United States were grappling with North Korea's newly revealed nuclear arms programme, which requires a delicate balancing of interests between Seoul and Washington.

[09] MIDEAST

The Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine claimed responsibility for the attempted attack, raising the spectre of more violence on the eve of a pre-election leadership ballot in Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's Likud party.

The explosion came amid vows of revenge by the militant groups Hamas and the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades for the killings of two of their commanders last night in what witnesses said was an Israeli missile strike in the Jenin refugee camp.

[10] WEATHER

Temperatures will rise to 21 C inland, 22 on the coasts and 13 C over the mountains.

Tonight, there will be cloud with north to north-easterly light winds, three beaufort and the sea slight. Temperatures will fall to 11 C inland, 13 on the coasts and six over the mountains.

The fire hazard remians high in all forest areas.

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