Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation: News in English, 03-11-13

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

CONTENTS

[01] HEADLINES

[02] LOIZIDOU IACOVOU

[03] IACOVOU

[04] ERDOGAN DENKTASH

[05] ITALY MINISTER IRAQ

[06] IRAQ ITALY

[07] MIDEAST TALKS

[08] CYPRUS NATO

[09] ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS

[10] WEATHER THURSDAY 13 NOVEMBER 2003

[01] HEADLINES

-- Foreign Minister George Iacovou has welcomed the Council move, outlined in a resolution adopted today by the Committee of Ministers, and said it was particularly important that the resolution stresses the obligation to comply with the Court rulings unconditionally.

--Italy's defence minister today visited Italian soldiers wounded in a devastating suicide attack in southern Iraq that killed 27 people, and the U.S. military said another American soldier had been killed.

And, --Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmed Qurie are likely to meet within 10 days.

[02] LOIZIDOU IACOVOU

Foreign Minister George Iacovou has welcomed the Council move, outlined in a resolution adopted today by the Committee of Ministers, and said it was particularly important that the resolution stresses the obligation to comply with the Court rulings unconditionally.

Titina Loizidou, the Greek Cypriot who won the case against Turkey, said she was pleased with today's developments and added ''it seems the principles of the system aimed at protecting human rights have prevailed".

''This is a very important interim resolution,'' the minister said, adding that it was adopted during a vote that is considered by the Committee unanimous.

Thirty-four Council members voted in favour, two abstained and nine did not participate in the vote. Turkey does not vote.

[03] IACOVOU

''The resolution gives Turkey a week's notice to pay Titina Loizidou the compensation decided by the Court and expresses the Committee's determination to take all necessary measures against Turkey if she once again fails to do so'', he says.

He further adds ''the Committee of Ministers expresses its strong disapproval for the fact that so far Turkey has not complied with its obligation, according to Article 46 of the European Convention of Human Rights, to implement the Court's decision''.

It also reaffirms the obligation for unconditional compliance with the Court's decisions and calls on Turkey to reevaluate its position and pay the compensation.

Mr. Iacovou remarks ''the Committee reached its decision after Turkey's refusal to pay the compensation and her insistence on unacceptable terms that offended the authority of the Court and the Council of Europe''.

The Foreign Minister adds in his statement that he hopes Turkey, in the context of its European aspirations, will at last comply with the decisions of the European Court of Human Rights, respecting the principles and institutions of European law and order.

[04] ERDOGAN DENKTASH

According to the Turkish Cypriot press, Mr. Erdogan discussed with Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul the messages which he will convey to Turkish Cypriots during his illegal visit to the occupied areas.

However, Mr. Gul ruled out the possibility that Mr. Erdogan will announce any initiative on Cyprus on Saturday.

However, Mr. Denktash said that the road which will be pointed out by Mr. Erdogan on Saturday will be important for all.

[05] ITALY MINISTER IRAQ

In another development, Japan announced it was deferring the planned despatch of non-combat troops to Iraq.

Grappling with an expanding insurgency, U.S. forces hit back last night after a string of night attacks on the U.S.-led administration's Baghdad headquarters.

They used a Hercules attack aircraft to destroy an abandoned Baghdad warehouse thought to be used by guerrillas, officials said. Two Iraqis were killed in a U.S. helicopter strike against a van used to launch mortar attacks on the U.S. military.

In Washington, President George W. Bush directed Iraq's U.S. governor, Paul Bremer, to speed the transfer of postwar authority to the Iraqi people, drawing the administration's policy closer to that of its sceptical European allies.

The U.S. military said an American soldier was killed in a roadside bomb attack in Baghdad on Wednesday. Another soldier was wounded when their Humvee vehicle was hit.

Guerrillas have now killed 156 U.S. troops since Bush declared major combat in Iraq over on May 1.

In Nassiriya, Italian spokesman Andrea Angeli told Reuters Defence Minister Antonio Martino had gone straight to the Italian military hospital to comfort the wounded.

Mr. Martino, who has blamed the bombing on supporters of deposed Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein, was also expected to inspect the blasted military police base on the Euphrates riverfront in the town.

About 2,300 Italian troops are in southern Iraq and Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi has said they will stay.

[06] IRAQ ITALY

Flowers were placed on forgotten war memorials and children asked why their fathers would not come home. Polemics took a back seat to grieving -- for the time being -- as most politicians held fire and prepared to bury the nation's dead.

"Italy pierced in its heart," was the headline in Rome's Il Messaggero that seemed to sum up the national mood a day after the devastating blast that also killed nine Iraqis in Nassiriya, southern Iraq.

The dead included 16 Italian police officers and two Italian civilians, the country's highest military death toll in one incident since World War Two.

The killings shocked a nation that had forgotten that its troops were at war because they had been relatively untouched by attacks that have targeted mostly Americans.

Italians believed their soldiers and police were on a peace mission to help Iraq get back on its feet after the U.S.-led invasion that toppled Saddam Hussein. The troops arrived after Washington declared the end of major combat in May.

[07] MIDEAST TALKS

Speaking a day after the Palestinian parliament ratified Qurie's new cabinet, Israeli Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom said the first thing that will happen is a meeting between Prime Minister Sharon and Abu Ala. This is expected within 10 days, in his opinion.

Israeli media said the meeting with Mr. Qurie, also known as Abu Ala, would take place only after Mr. Sharon returns late next week from a visit to Italy which starts on Monday.

Palestinian cabinet minister Saeb Erekat said no specific date had been set for the talks: "

Mr. Qurie said earlier this week he hoped to meet Sharon but only if advance preparations ensured the talks would break the current deadlock in reviving a U.S.-backed peace plan stalled by violence.

[08] CYPRUS NATO

Cyprus will have an active observer status. The aim of the exercise is to test the structures of negotiation and cooperation between the two organisations during periods of crisis.

[09] ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS

Justice and Public Order Minister Doros Theodorou said sine of these people arrive illegally on the island by sea but most of them come through the dividing line because there are many points which are not controlled effectively as they are in British Bases soil.

[10] WEATHER

Temperatures will reach 21 C inland and on the coasts and 11 over the mountains.

Tonight, passing cloud will bring some light rain. Winds will be north-westerly to north-easterly light, two to three beaufort and the sea slight. Temperatures will fall to nine degrees inland, 11 on the coasts and three over the mountains.

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