Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation: News in English, 03-11-06

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

CONTENTS

[01] HEADLINES

[02] IACOVOU REPORT

[03] REPORT PARTIES

[04] US EU REPORT

[05] HOUSE EU

[06] IRAQ

[07] EU RUSSIA

[08] KOREA

[09] WEATHER THURSDAY 6 NOVEMBER 2003

[01] HEADLINES

--Foreign Minister George Iacovou expressed full satisfaction over the contents of the progress reports of the European Commission for Cyprus and Turkey.

--US State Department's Deputy Spokesman Adam Ereli has expressed Washington's support over the content of the European Commission's strategy paper on Turkey that says a Cyprus settlement on the basis of the Annan plan should be found by 1 May 2004.

-- The House of Representatives in a special session today, is debating the convention for the new European Union constitution

And,

--Washington is set to order thousands of troops to prepare for duty in Iraq next year, U.S. officials said, as Britain's top envoy in Baghdad warned of difficult months ahead due to persistent guerrilla attacks.

[02] IACOVOU REPORT

Speaking to CyBC radio from Moldavia where he is attending a council of Europe meeting, Mr. Iacovou said that despite Turkish efforts to change the report, nothing was achieved. This, he added, shows the strong EU wish to see the Cyprus problem solved before the island's accession to the EU next May.

He also said that Turkey has realised that the EU does not tolerate "bargaining" on Cyprus.

However, Mr. Iacovou pointed out that the sincerity of statements made by Turkey's Foreign minister Abdullah Gul that Ankara will make stronger efforts to solve the Cyprus problem will be confirmed in the near future.

[03] REPORT PARTIES

AKEL said for the first time the EU is making a clear link between the Cyprus problem and Turkey's EU aspirations.

Democratic Rally leader Nicos Anastasiades, welcomin the report said it lucidly links the Cyprus issue with Turkey's EU course while socialist EDEK said the clear political message which the EU is sending out to Turkey gives a new dimension in efforts to solve the problem.

[04] US EU REPORT

In statements after the European Commission published the reports, Mr. Ereli noted this has been the US position for a long time.

''Our view is that we agree with the language in the commission's report that says a Cyprus settlement on the basis of UN Secretary General Annan's plan should be found by May 1 of next year,'' the State Department's Deputy Spokesman said.

[05] HOUSE EU

House President Demetris Christofias said today's session signals in the most official manner the Cyprus House participation in the debatefor the future of Europe.

He also said that deputies who represent the people, should have a say in EU matters.

Turkish Cypriot newspaper Afrika publisher, Sener Levent, said he is attending the House session because the House represents both communities.

The morning session ended at one and will resume at four this afternoon. It is broadcast live from CyBC's first TV and radio channel.

[06] IRAQ

"I believe we are in for a rough winter," Sir Jeremy Greenstock told Britain's Times newspaper.

He said insurgents "want to try and close Baghdad down and make it look as though Iraq can't work with coalition forces", and added British troops could still be in Iraq in 2005.

Faced with daily guerrilla attacks and a string of suicide bombings, the United States has been pushing for more countries to share the burden of policing Iraq, but with limited success.

U.S. officials did not give the number of American troops being called up for Iraq, but said they would include Marines as well as two regular Army divisions, the 1st Infantry Division in Germany and the 1st Cavalry Division from Fort Hood, Texas.

A spokesman for Paul Bremer, the head of Iraq's U.S.-led postwar administration, said he was open to the creation of a new Iraqi security force to help root out guerrillas and foreign militants.

[07] EU RUSSIA

Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi rallied to Mr. Putin on the eve of the twice-yearly Russia-EU summit, distancing himself from fears the row could change Moscow's attitude to big business.

Some EU officials have said they want reassurances after the arrest of YUKOS head Mikhail Khodorkovsky two weeks ago and the freezing by prosecutors of a large stake in the company.

Italy holds the rotating EU presidency and Berlusconi was hosting the summit. Top EU officials flew in for the half-day encounter, including Commission President Romano Prodi and foreign policy chief Javier Solana.

Also attending was EU External Relations Commissioner Chris Patten, more critical on the YUKOS affair, saying Russia would have to submit to "a common acceptance of the rule of law".

[08] KOREA

The march accompanied a half-day strike by about 90,000 union workers at South Korea's largest automaker and other worksites over lawsuits related to labour disputes and working conditions.

A Reuters photographer said dozens of unionists and at least six elderly bystanders were hurt as police with shields fought workers armed with long wooden sticks. Earlier, 10,000 workers blocked a six-lane avenue in the capital Seoul.

The latest labour unrest follows a year of violent worker protests and was fuelled by the suicides of union leaders who demanded authorities end the practice of seizing wages or suing over lost production or damaged property after strikes.

[09] WEATHER

Tonight cloud will thicken to give local rain and storms over the coasts. Winds will be south-westerly to north-westerly light, three beaufort, variating from moderate to strong, four to five beaufort.

The sea will be slight to moderate in windward areas. Temperatures will fall to 14 C inland, 16 on the coasts and 11 over the mountains.

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