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Thursday, 18 April 2024
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Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation: News in English, 03-06-24Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation at <http://www.cybc.com.cy/>CONTENTS
[01] headlinesThe government is drafting a bill allowing for the transport of Turkish Cypriot goods into the government-controlled areas,Illegal settlers and the rights of enclaved Greek Cypriots in the occupied north will be up for discussion today at the Council of Europe's Parliamentary Assembly, The US administration believes the Annan plan is the best hope for a Cyprus settlement, AND Israeli troops rounded up more than 130 Palestian militants in a sweep of the West Bank for suspected militants. [02] TransportThe government will put a draft bill to Parliament allowing for the transport of goods by truck from the occupied areas into the government controlled south.President Tassos Papadopoulos made the announcement following a meeting with a delegation from Turkish Cypriot opposition party United Cyprus. The President also announced that a 15 pound fee for issuing birth certificates has been scrapped for both Greek and Turkish Cypriots. Another support measure up for review is insurance rates for Turkish Cypriots crossing over with their cars. The government is looking into extending the coverage period without increasing rates. President Papadopoulos said the United Cyprus delegation, headed by Izzet Izcan, raised these issues "persistently but convincingly" during their meeting at his Lakatamia home. [03] Council CyprusIllegal settlers in the occupied north of Cyprus and the rights of enclaved Greek Cypriots will be discussed today at the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe.This, after the Turkish delegation yesterday tried to block discussion on the pretext that the situation on the island has changed following the easing of travel restrictions. The delegation also claimed that the Council of Europe should avoid negatively affecting Cyprus settlement efforts. Reaction to the Turkish delegation's arguments came from British Labour MP Tom Cox who said lack of progress in UN-sponsored settlement efforts is owed to Rauf Denktash's intransigence. In the end, 97 Euro-MPs voted against excluding the issues from debate, while 53 voted in favour. [04] Council of EuropeThe Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe yesterday adopted a motion by MP Christos Pourgourides on areas in Cyprus where the European Convention of Human Rights cannot be implemented.The Parliamentary Assembly recommended that the Council of Ministers take action to ensure that more people become familiar with the Convention and to help train those who can prevent human rights violations. The Assembly also recommends that more light is shed on Convention provisions which oblige states to comply with European Court of Human Rights rulings. [05] DenksIncreasingly annoyed over mounting criticism against him from some Turkish politicians, Rauf Denktash again claimed that it's not the Turkish side which is blocking settlement efforts and that Cyprus cannot join an organisation in which Turkey is not a member.Denktash made the remarks in response to criticism by former Turkish foreign minister Ilter Turkmen who wrote in Turkish daily Hurriyet that Turkish Cypriot leaders are ignoring Turkey's bid to join the European Union. Denktash said Turkish Cypriots are mainly taking into account Turkey's rights over Cyprus enshrined in the agreements establishing the Cyprus Republic, which also block, both directly and indirectly, the island's union with Greece. [06] USThe United States strongly believe that the solution for re-unifying Cyprus must be found using the Annan plan as a foundation.Briefing yesterday foreign reporters, a senior US Administration official expressed the hopoe that both sides on the island can work seriously to deal with remaining differences so that the Annan plan can be successful. [07] DisyAs the war of words heats up over charges that the government is discriminating against some civil servants, Kissos leader Yiannakis Omirou dismissed as completely unacceptable what he called Disy attempts to block the government from doing its job.Mr. Omirou said Disy appears to have not come to terms with the fact that it lost the elections last February. He said a government has been elected into office with a clear public mandate to follow through with campaign pledges. Referring to appointments on the boards of semi-state organisations, Mr. Omirou said President Papadopoulos isn't about to pick appointees from a single party, but will select the best people from across the political spectrum. He noted, however, that it's natural the bulk of appointees will come from parties forming the coalition government. [08] MideastIsraeli troops rounded up more than 130 Palestinians in sweeps for suspected militants, drawing Palestinian charges that Israel was trying to sabotage efforts to reach a ceasefire.Israeli forces launched raids in the West Bank in operations the army said were aimed at "terrorists and their helpers" behind suicide bombings and other attacks on Israelis. About 130 Palestinians, including suspected militants and people wanted for questioning, were rounded up without resistance in sweeps targeting the Islamic group Hamas in Hebron and Nablus. Parallel talks between top Israeli and Palestinian security officials ended with no final agreement overnight on a proposed Israeli troop pullback from the northern Gaza Strip and the West Bank town of Bethlehem. [09] Dynamite shipGreece said a seized ship carrying an "atomic bomb"-sized quantity of dynamite was destined for a phantom company in Sudan and the crew had been charged with transporting explosives.Tunisia, where the 680-tonne cargo of explosives was loaded in the port of Gabes on May 12 and 13, and Sudan said there was nothing sinister about the shipment and that it was for civilian use. In Khartoum, Sudanese Foreign Minister Mustafa Osman Ismail said it had summoned the Greek ambassador to Sudan to complain about the Greek action. Greek Shipping Minister George Anomeritis said the Comoros-flagged Baltic Sky, seized on Sunday by Greek special forces after a NATO tip-off, did not report its cargo of explosives when coastguards stopped it after its movement aroused suspicion. Sudan is on a U.S. list of states accused of sponsoring terrorism. Al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden was based in Sudan from 1991 to 1996. [10] JournosTurkish Cypriot Journalists' Union chief Suleyman Erguklu is pushing for arrangments allowing reporters to cross the cease fire line through the pedestrians-only Ledra Palace checkpoint in order to make their job easier.Mr. Erguklu has already sent letters to Government Spokesman Kypros Chrysostomides, Cyprus Journalist Union boss Andreas Kannaouros and UNFICYP Spokesman Brian Kelly. Mr. Kannaouros raised the issue with Justice Minister Doros Theodorou who issued instructions to ease travel for journalists through Ledra Palace. Mr. Kannaouros also sent his own letter to Mr. Erguklu denouncing Rauf Denktash's demand that Greek Cypriot journalists show their passports in order to cross into the occupied north. weather A low pressure system lingering over the region is expected to bring generally dry conditions and unseasonably high temperatures. This afternoon will be fine with some scattered clouds in the mountains. Winds will be generally moderate, force 3 to 4, from mostly northeasterly and southeasterly directions. Seas will be slight to moderate with temperatures reaching 36 degrees inland, 32 on the south coast, 29 on the west coast and 27 in the highest mountains. Fine tonight with light, northwesterly to northeasterly winds, force 2 to 3 and with slight seas. Temperatures will drop to 22 degrees inland, 20 on the coasts and 18 in the mountains. More fine conditions tomorrow with temperatures reaching 38 degrees inland, 34 on the south coast, 31 on the west coast and 29 in the mountains. A reminder, as always, that the fire hazard is great in all forest areas. [11] weatherA low pressure system lingering over the region is expected to bring generally dry conditions and unseasonably high temperatures.This afternoon will be fine with some scattered clouds in the mountains. Winds will be generally moderate, force 3 to 4, from mostly northeasterly and southeasterly directions. Seas will be slight to moderate with temperatures reaching 36 degrees inland, 32 on the south coast, 29 on the west coast and 27 in the highest mountains. Fine tonight with light, northwesterly to northeasterly winds, force 2 to 3 and with slight seas. Temperatures will drop to 22 degrees inland, 20 on the coasts and 18 in the mountains. More fine conditions tomorrow with temperatures reaching 38 degrees inland, 34 on the south coast, 31 on the west coast and 29 in the mountains. A reminder, as always, that the fire hazard is great in all forest areas. Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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