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Saturday, 21 December 2024
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Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation: News in English, 03-06-03Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation at <http://www.cybc.com.cy/>CONTENTS
[01] Anan reportThe report of the UN Secretary General for the renewal of the UNFICYP mandate was released last night. Kofi Anan, refers to the Cyprus issue, saying that recent developments on the island and mainly the partial lifting of restrictions on free movement cannot substitute a comprehensive settlement. The UN chief added that it is very unlikely to achieve a solution without a real political commitment from both sides to the proposals he submitted and without a final deadline for the conclusion of negotiations. He also expressed satisfaction for the partial lifting of restrictions and the good will shown among Greek and Turkish cypriots. Kofi Anan expressed the hope that the two sides can build on this good will by taking further steps to cement trust, adding that UNFICYP is ready to contribute towards this end.[02] National CouncilThe president of the republic Tassos Papadopoulos last night briefed the National Council on talks he held in Athens last week. Following the meeting the president stated that the EU measures for Turkish cypriots are basically the measures of the Cyprus government and concern trade. The president said that the final package was the result of numerous negotiations and noted that a republic of Cyprus delegation twice flew to Brussels for talks with EU officials. Asked if there is total agreement on the measures, President Papadopoulos said that it is not an issue of agreement, but an exchange of views on how best they can be implemented.[03] VerheugenCommissioner for Enlargement Gunther Verheugen stated that the support measures for Turkish cypriots, either by the Greek cypriot side or the European Union, cannot substitute the need for a comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus issue. He also expressed the conviction that the package of measures, particularly on trade, expected to be adopted tonight by the European Commission, will go towards the economic development of the northern part of Cyprus. In an interview to the Greek cypriot daily "O Phileleptheros", Gunther Verheugen also said that the Anan plan remains on the negotiating table and the EU sees it as the only basis for a solution and the only realistic way to achieve progress.[04] EU MeasuresEuropean Union measures for Turkish Cypriots call for nine million euros in funding for economic development programmes in Northern Cyprus and three million for rapprochement initiatives. The second part of community aid concerns facilitating trade from northern part to EU member states. According to Cyprus News Agency sources, the decision plan will say that until a settlement of the Cyprus problem is achieved, documents for exports will be issued by the Turkish Cypriot chamber of commerce.[05] Denktash attackThe Turkish cypriot press has bitterly attacked Rauf Denktash over his policy on the Cyprus issue. Commenting on his statement that the dividing line saved the Turkish cypriots from genocide, the daily "Ortam", writes that he is the last supporter of the dividing wall. Remaining intransigent, Denktash once again demanded recognition for his illegal state, saying that it has given out title deeds to Turkish cypriots living in the north. He suggested that the American money that would be given to house Turkish cypriots that will have to move in case of a solution, be given as compensation to Greek cypriots for loss of property in the occupied territories.[06] British TourismCyprus is ranked eighth in the preferences of British tourists, according to 2003 statistics released by the British Travel Agents Association. It is estimated that 1.3 million British holiday makers will visit Cyprus this year. Greece is the third most popular destination and more than 3 million British tourists are expected to descend on the Greek shores this year. Spain is top of the pile, with France taking third place, while Turkey is down in tenth.[07] G8 SummitOver to foreign news and The world's leading industrial powers today voiced confidence in an economic recovery, as the anticlimactic end of their annual three day summit was marred by a third night of violent anti-capitalist protests.In a final summary issued by France, the Group of Eight nations focused on the need for structural reforms and greater flexibility in the rich nations' economies and did not mention the sensitive issue of currency instability. They also sought to draw a line under bitter transatlantic differences over the Iraq war, which half the G8 opposed, saying all now agreed the time had come to reconstruct Iraq. During the night, several thousand demonstrators blocked the main bridge over the Rhone river in the Swiss city of Geneva, 40 kilometers from the summit site, and clashed with police. Two dozen were arrested. Most anti-globalisation activists had left the area after large weekend protests. The G8 talks, held under tight security cover behind rings of military and police forces at the French spa town of Evian, on the other side of Lake Geneva, ended with a news conference by the host, French President Jacques Chirac. [08] Bush MideastPresident George W. Bush today began meeting Arab leaders in the Middle East to launch the most ambitious U.S. peace mission to the region for more than two years.Amid tight security, Bush met Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak ahead of a U.S.-Arab summit in the Egyptian Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh. The summit was due to be joined by Saudi Crown Prince Abdullah, Jordan's King Abdullah, Bahrain's King Hamad and Palestinian Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas, making his debut on the international stage. Bush, meeting the new Palestinian prime minister for the first time, was seeking support for the Middle East peace "road map", drawn up by the United States, the United Nations, the European Union and Russia. The road map, the most far-reaching Middle East peace plan of Bush's two-and-a-half years in office, outlines a series of reciprocal steps by Palestinians and Israelis leading to the creation of a Palestinian state by 2005. Tomorrow, Bush is to hold a landmark summit with Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and Abbas in the Jordanian port city of Aqaba. The U.S. president had refused to meet veteran Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat. [09] Turkey BombA bomb today exploded on a roadside in Constantinople, slightly injuring the driver of a regular morning minibus carrying prosecutors and staff to a hardline State Security Court in the city.Chief prosecutor Cengiz Engin told Reuters that the attack was aimed at the bus carrying prosecutors. Television pictures showed the mark of the blast on the pillar of a road bridge in the west of the city. Police officials said the bomb appeared to have been set off by remote control as the minibus passed. State Security Courts handle political and terrorism prosecutions as well corruption and organised crime cases. [10] TailerAnd finally, Move over Spider-Man, mere mortals may soon be coming to a ceiling near you.Researchers at the University of Manchester say they have cracked the secret of one of the reptile world's greatest climbers, the gecko, and produced a sticky tape that can mimic the lizard's gravity-defying abilities. Soon, people could walk on walls like comic-book superhero Spider-Man. The new adhesive, gecko tape, contains billions of tiny plastic fibres which are similar to natural hairs covering the soles of geckos' feet. Bob Full of Berkeley University in the U.S., which was also involved, said the technology could be used for handling computer chips and could have applications in medicine. Plans are under way to produce larger pads and to improve the tape's durability, said the journal Nature Materials, which published the paper. But the University said cost was currently prohibitive. [11] WeatherIt will be mainly fine this afternoon, with clouds locally, expected to bring rain, mainly inland and on the mountains. Winds will be moderate southwesterly, force four over slight to moderate seas in windward areas. Temperatures will rise to 30 degrees inland, 28 on the coasts and 18 on the mountains. Tonight it will be mainly fine, with thin mist and low clouds expected to form in some areas. Winds will be light northerly, force two to three over slight seas. Temperatures will drop to 17 degrees inland, 18 on the coasts and 10 on the mountains. The fire hazard is very high in all forest areas.Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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