Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation: News in English, 01-08-27

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

CONTENTS

[01] headlines

[02] cassoulides

[03] niots

[04] denktash

[05] land

[06] israel

[07] fyrom

[08] teachers

[09] immigrants

[10] weather MONDAY 27 AUGUST 2001

[01] headlines

Rauf Denktash leaves today for talks with EU Enlargement Commissioner Geunter Verheugen and UN Secretary General Kofi Annan,

Land under UN control near Nicosia airport will be returned to its owners,

Israel killed the leader of the Popular front for the Liberation of Palestine today,

AND a British soldier was killed when his vehicle was attacked in the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia.

[02] cassoulides

Briefing delegates this morning at the International Conference of Overseas Cypriots, Cassoulides said efforts are being concentrated on three basic fronts, the most important being the island's accession to the European Union.

Noting that negotiations with the bloc are scheduled to conclude next year and that a decision on accession is awaited in 2004, Cassoulides said as the accession date approaches, voices will grow louder on whether the island will join the EU before or after a solution.

The Foreign Minister assured that the Greek Cypriot side will not forget the occupied part of the island for the sake of accession to the EU.

On the second front, Cassoulides stressed the island's diplomatic efforts towards a solution.

He said that the UN have informed the Greek Cypriot side that slight, unsubstantial changes will occur at the renewed talks.

Cassoulides stressed that the Greek Cypriot side will not react if these changes do not take the talks back to the beginning.

On the third and final front, the Foreign minister referred to Turkey's efforts to undermine the Cyprus' republic's sovereignty and its internationally recognised status as the sole, legitimate government of the entire island.

Cassoulides referred to Ankara's attempts to secure some resolutions from Islamic countries indicating that Cyprus would be partititioned if it joined the EU.

[03] niots

Speaking after a morning meeting, Niotis said the Council of Overseas Greeks has drafted a far-reaching plan to influence global power centres towards a Cyprus settlement.

He also stressed that Greek-Turkish relations cannot improve if Turkey does not demonstrate the political will to resolve the long-standing issue.

[04] denktash

Denktash will head to Salzburg tomorrow where he will meet with UN Secretary General Kofi Annan.

Speaking in the occupied areas last night, Denktash again claimed that in order to be viable, Cyprus settlement must be based on what he called the present reality of the situation.

Denktash added that he and Kofi Annan will review the reasons why the last round of talks was halted and if there is enough common ground for a resumption.

He added that he would explain to Guenter Ferheugen what he called the mistaken and dangerous issue of the island's accession to the European Union.

Sources said Nicosia and Athens have received assurances that the EU enlargement commissioner will make clear to Denktash that the EU rejects his views on recognition of the occupation regime.

[05] land

Cassoulides admited that consultations are ongoing with the peacekeeping force and an announcement will be made following their conclusion.

Regarding talks between the government and SBA authorities on the Akrotiri antenna issue, Cassoulides said an announcement will be made either today or tomorrow.

[06] israel

Abu Ali Mustafa was the most high-profile militant to be killed under a policy of tracking and killing Palestinians accused by Israel of attacks on Israelis since a Palestinian uprising erupted 11 months ago.

Palestinian officials charged that Israel was "inviting hell to break loose". Palestinians say Israel has assassinated more than 60 militants in a policy that has drawn widespread international condemnation.

Mustafa was killed when at least two missiles struck his fourth-storey office in the West Bank city of Ramallah, not far from Palestinian President Yasser Arafat's headquarters.

Palestinian witnesses said helicopters hovered overhead before firing two missiles through the window of Mustafa's office.

Mustafa replaced George Habash as the leader of the PFLP in July 2000.

The group is part of a "rejectionist front" that has vowed to wreck the Palestine Liberation Organisation's peace deals with Israel that began with the 1993 Oslo accords.

[07] fyrom

The death highlights the risks to NATO troops set to begin gathering up rebel weapons today under a controversial peace plan.

NATO's Task Force Harvest said youths apparently hurled something at the vehicle last night while the soldier drove towards the capital Skopje. Britain's Defence Ministry said he was hit by a piece of concrete.

The soldier -- one of 1,400 Britons in the 4,500-strong NATO force -- was rushed to Camp Bondsteel, headquarters of the U.S. contingent in the NATO-led peacekeeping force in neighbouring Kosovo, where his condition was stabilised.

But after he was transferred to University Hospital in Skopje, he died despite doctors efforts.

The death was the first to hit NATO's force, which will be gathering up thousands of weapons to be surrendered voluntarily by guerrillas of FYROM's ethnic Albanian minority over the next 30 days.

Britain has by far the biggest contingent in the NATO force, and Prime Minister Tony Blair's office issued a statement calling the death a "tragic incident". The soldier's name would not be released until his family had been notified.

[08] teachers

Speaking on CyBC radio this morning, Stavrou said that teachers will keep to their decision taken last week not to allow inspectors into their classrooms.

Stavrou stressed that this decision will not change.

Regarding other points of contention between the union and the Education Ministry, Stavrou said that there is a long way to go before they are resolved.

He added that the union has protested strongly and is warning that further action may be taken.

[09] immigrants

The five Syrians and four Iraqis claimed during questioning that they disembarked from a Syrian port on a fishing boat.

They said that two people where in charge of the boat, but they later escaped using another vessel.

The immigrants added that they were accompanied on the boat by another two Syrians who are being saught by police.

[10] weather

There will be moderate sea breezes, 3 to 4 beaufort, while seas will be slight to moderate.

Temperatures will reach 35 degrees inland, and between 30 and 32 on the coasts.

Tonight will remain fine with fog patches developing in some areas in the early hours.

Winds will be westerly to northwesterly light, 2 to 3 beaufort with slight seas.

Temperatures will drop to 21 degrees inland, 22 on the southern and eastern coasts, 19 on the western coast and 17 in the highest mountains.

A reminder that the fire hazard is extreme in all forest areas.

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