Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation: News in English, 02-12-09

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

CONTENTS

[01] HEADLINES

[02] DE SOTO MEETING

[03] WESTON CLERIDES

[04] COX CLERIDES

[05] ERDOGAN

[06] WORLD HIGHLIGHTS

[07] VASSILIOU

[08] TASOS PANGALOS

[09] VOLKAN

[10] NO TAXI

[11] WEATHER MONDAY 9 DECEMBER 2002

[01] HEADLINES

-- US State Department Special Coordinator for Cyprus Thomas Weston, told the press after meeting President Glafcos Clerides here today that the US are looking forward to a very productive week both here in Cyprus and in Copenhagen'.

-- European Parliament President, Pat Cox recalled the Helsinki conclusions on Cyprus, noting they have never changed, and stressed the decision on Cyprus will be taken without any external veto, indirectly referring to Turkey.

And, -- Turkish leader Tayyip Erdogan accused the European Union today of applying double standards in failing in the past to give his country a date to open entry negotiations.

[02] DE SOTO MEETING

It is the third meeting of Mr. De Soto and President Clerides since Saturday when the proximity talks began. Mr. De Soto will then go to the Turkish occupied north of Cyprus to meet Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash.

The meetings are carried out in view of the Secretary-General submitting a new revised plan for a Cyprus settlement.

[03] WESTON CLERIDES

The US envoy, who was accompanied by US Ambassador in Nicosia Michael Klosson, said they had, as usual, an exceptionally good and productive meeting'' with President Clerides.

[04] COX CLERIDES

He said the decision on Cyprus will be taken bearing in mind all relevant factors and now, he added, we have before us the substance of this provision.

He said the president outlined the issues which the Greek Cypriot side would like to negotiate on.

[05] ERDOGAN

Mr. Erdogan was speaking in Copenhagen just days before an EU summit in the Danish capital that Turkey insists should set a clear date for talks on it becoming a member. He has pledged a swathe of rights reforms to meet EU criteria and toured European capitals seeking support.

He told a news conference the fact that Turkey has not got a negotiation date is a double standard itself, adding that Turkey sees six countries that have not met all of the political criteria but which have negotiation dates. Mr. Erdogan called on the EU to abandon this double standard that is poisoning it.

He said Turkey was determined to pass two key rights reform packages, put together swiftly after his Justice and Development Party's poll triumph last month, by the end of this week.

Mr. Erdogan has suggested in the past that if traditionally Muslim Turkey were not given a date for talks many in the country might see the EU as a Christian club applying different standards to Ankara to keep it out of the expanding union.

Germany and France last week proposed giving Turkey a conditional date in 2005 to start entry talks, depending on a review in 2004, but Mr. Erdogan insists this would not be enough.

Danish Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen, whose country holds the EU's rotating presidency, told the Copenhagen news conference that Ankara must show it is implementing political and human rights reforms before the Union will set a date.

[06] WORLD HIGHLIGHTS

The results of their work, which was expected to keep the dossier under wraps for at least a week, will be keenly awaited by the United States, which Iraq has challenged to produce evidence to justify its threats of war.

In Washington, President George W. Bush is expected to unveil his new economic team on Monday, bringing CSX Corp chairman John Snow in as Treasury secretary as part of an ambitious drive to pump up the economy before the 2004 re-election campaign, sources familiar with the decision said.

Stephen Friedman, who served as co-chairman of Goldman Sachs with former Treasury Secretary Robert Rubin, is expected to head the White House National Economic Council, rounding out a team needed to champion a new round of tax cuts aimed at boosting business investment and increasing job growth.

In Israel, an aide to Prime Minister Ariel Sharon said his country would bar Yasser Arafat from making his Christmas pilgrimage to Bethlehem for the second straight year after he said he wanted to attend celebrations in the biblical town.

Raanan Gissin said Mr. Arafat is going to stay put.

Meanwhile, Mr. Arafat said Israel was using trumped-up accusations of Palestinian links to al Qaeda and U.S. threats of war on Iraq as cover for stepping up its military campaign in Palestinian areas.

Mr. Arafat said in an interview with Reuters at his battered West Bank compound that Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon had "no intention of achieving any peace" and instead was intent on escalating military operations against the Palestinians.

In Chicago, United Airlines, the world's second-largest airline, finished up arrangements for 1.5 billion dollar in financing needed to keep flying in bankruptcy, paving the way for a court filing expected today.

The bankruptcy would represent the largest ever in the airline industry, which remains mired in a historic money-losing downturn after the September 11, 2001, attacks.

And in Sydney, firefighters won a reprieve in the battle to tame some of the worst bushfires in decades around Australia's largest city after light rain and cooler weather dampened deadly blazes.

Fire officials said "round one" of Sydney's bushfire season might be over, but with much of Australia a tinderbox due to one of the worst droughts in 100 years, more fires can be expected.

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[07] VASSILIOU

He said he considers it a fact that Cyprus will accede and that its role and contribution in the whole effort will be appreciated.

Mr Vassiliou, said that during dinner last night with European Parliament President, Pat Cox, the latter assured him that that a single referendum should take place for both a solution to the Cyprus problem and the island's accession.

[08] TASOS PANGALOS

Speaking after meeting Greek PASOK deputy, Theodoros Pangalos, Mr. Papadopoulos expressed the view that it would be difficult for the UN to submit a revised plan, adding that if it is submitted, then it must be subject to further negotiations, based on President Clerides' statement.

On his part, Mr. Pangalos said the island's accession to the EU will take place, noting that the agreement for enlargement including Cyprus will go ahead.

Asked if he believes that progress can be made through negotiations, Mr. Pangalos said that was something which everyone wished for, however, he added, the Turkish views continue to worsen.

[09] VOLKAN

The survey was conducted by 950 people in 180 communities. Only six percent of those asked said they approve the Annan plan.

[10] NO TAXI

The drivers disagree with the Licensing Authority's decision to issue 269 new taxi licenses.

The Urban Taxi drivers association, in a statement, criticises the Road Transport department and the government for not speeding up the increase in taxi fares.

[11] WEATHER

Winds will be south-westerly to westerly moderate to fresh, four to five beafurot becoming strong, five beaufort in windward areas. The sea will be rough to very rough. Temperatures will rise to 18 C inland, 20 C on the coasts and 8 over the mountains.

tonight, there will be rain, with passing storms and snowfall over Troodos. Winds will be westerly to north-westerly moderate, three to four beaufort andf the sea moderate to rough. Temperatures will fall to 8 inland, 11 on the coasts and 3 over the mountains.

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