Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation: News in English, 01-11-23

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

CONTENTS

[01] HEADLINES

[02] Christofias Fontaine

[03] Turkey parliament

[04] Luxembourg team

[05] Land registry

[06] Afghan wrap

[07] Enclaved beating

[08] Hotel fire

[09] Tailer

[10] Weather lunchtime FRIDAY 23 NOVEMBER 2001

[01] HEADLINES

The Turkish parliament is convening today behind closed doors, with the Cyprus problem and Euro-turkish relations expected to top its agenda of discussions,

Afghanistan's Northern Alliance today launched a three-pronged offensive on on Taliban fighters trapped in the northern enclave of Kunduz, last redoubt of the hardline militia outside their spiritual heartland in the south

and

The Sun, launched "Mick Aid" in a tongue-in-cheek bid to boost the flagging sales of Mick Jagger's solo album.

[02] Christofias Fontaine

In statements to our station, Christofias said that the European Commission and the European Parliament have concurring opinions regarding Cyprus'accession. He also noted that Turkish reactions and their effects on Cyprus should be of serious concern to the government.

The house president stressed that European Union countries have expressed their support for Cyprus, but have shown reservation, in private meetings. He also expressed the view that this concern will intensify as the accession date nears, with or without a solution of the Cyprus problem.

[03] Turkey parliament

No less than 126 deputies requested the discussion, with the effort being spearheaded by independent deputy Mehmet Ali Irtemtselik. The request was made after a speech by foreign minister Ismail Cem on the second of November, in which he said that Turkey will be called to make serious decisions in the Cyprus issue, that will bear a heavy cost.

In his proposal, Irtemtselik noted that the Cyprus problem is going through a critical phase and requested that the Turkish government disclosed all the information available to it, so that a comprehensive discussion on how to deal with the situation, can be discussed.

Referring to today's discussion, foreign minister Ioannis Casoulides said moderate deputies are exercising unprecedented criticism regarding the way prime minister Bulent Ecevit and Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash, are handling the Cyprus problem.

He noted that moderates cannot accept the notion that the two men's policies might affect Turkey's EU accession negotiations.

[04] Luxembourg team

The six countries have developed a close cooperation, in order to promote this common goal and within this framework, foreign ministers meet every six months to brief each other on the progress that has been achieved in accession negotiations and further coordinate their efforts.

After a meeting last night with House leader Dimitris Christofias, Hungarian foreign minister Yianos Martoni said Cyprus' accession to the European Union, is a unique opportunity to promote a solution to the Cyprus problem.

Christofias called on the international community to reject Turkish threats of annexing the occupied territories, if the Cyprus republic joins the EU.

[05] Land registry

Secretary of the Kato Pyrgos community council Charalambos Plastiras, will be issued a remand today by the Paphos district court.

According to our stations' sources, the suspects' bank accounts, contained part of the money from illegal dealings, that Krinos Theocharous and Andreas Savvas, already in custody, for the same case, seem to have been moving around.

[06] Afghan wrap

And in a sign of mounting pressure in the south, a Taliban official said their supreme leader, Mullah Mohammad Omar, had fled his stronghold in the city of Kandahar for a more secure hideaway, leaving a deputy in his place.

The U.S.-backed Alliance attacked Kunduz yesterday after talks on the surrender of some 15 thousand Taliban and fighters loyal to fugitive Osama bin Laden collapsed.

Alliance forces rained rocket and artillery fire on their foes, pounded yesterday, Thanksgiving Day in the United States, by U.S. bombers that have ceaselessly harried the Taliban for harbouring Osama bin Laden.

But the real target for the U.S.-led coalition is Kandahar, where most of the radical militia's forces are massed after their swift rout by the Northern Alliance from most of the rest of the country, including the capital, Kabul.

Using the latest spying and thermal imaging equipment, special U.S. forces on the ground and high-tech reconnaissance aircraft are combing the desolate hills and mountains of southern Afghanistan for Omar and bin Laden.

Other unmanned aircraft are firing missiles at caves and tunnels where the millionaire militant might be holed up.

[07] Enclaved beating

The Karpass coordinating committee said that the attack against Stylianos Papazaharia, 72, happened in the presence of another settler, that Papazaharia, had called to help him.

In a written announcement, the Committee said that Papazaharia is being psychologically blackmailed to leave the occupied territories, so that the settler can usurp his coastal property and his houses, at the centre of the village, and turn them into shops.

The numbers of the Greek Cypriot enclaved in the occupied territories have been steadily declining in the last decade.

[08] Hotel fire

According to police reports, the fire was spotted at around twenty to four at the hotel's ground floor, in the corridor leading to the swimming pool.

The fire was immediately put out and the residents ran no risk.

The causes of the blaze are being investigated.

[09] Tailer

Anyone buying a copy of "Goddess in the Doorway" was promised a "Mick Aid: I did my bit for the old git ", badge by the Sun whose showbusiness columnist Dominic Mohan said he was "trying to save a prehistoric animal from dying out."

The 58-year-old Rolling Stones frontman launched a major publicity blitz for his fourth solo album but sales have been disappointing.

"Help rescue the legend" pleaded The Sun which bought 100 albums to give away to readers.

It reported that the album had reached number 82 in the album charts, selling just two thousand three hundred copies.

[10] Weather lunchtime

Winds will be moderate southeasterly, three to four beaufort, over slight seas.

Tonight it will be mainly clear.

Winds will be light to moderate southerly, three to four beaufort, over slight to moderate seas.

Temperatures will fall to eight degrees inland, and 11 on the coast.

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