Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation: News in English, 02-05-29

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

CONTENTS

[01] HEADLINES

[02] COUNCIL

[03] DENKTASH

[04] FAO

[05] PETROL

[06] Markides

[07] simitis

[08] INDIA

[09] WORLD CUP

[10] ISRAEL

[11] WEATHER WEDNESDAY 29 MAY 2002

[01] HEADLINES

Cyprus hosts for the first time a UN Food and Agriculture Organisation regional meeting,

The government has second thoughts over increasing the price of petrol,

The names of unsavoury characters and prominent personalities grace a list of people issued permits to carry a gun,

And india and Pakistan traded mortal and machine gun fire across their fronteer in disputed Kashmir.

[02] COUNCIL

Mr. Papapetrou said yesterday's talks between President Clerides and Rauf Denktash focused on security issues which will also be at the forefront in Friday's meeting.

Without revealing any further details, Mr. Papapetrou said many obstacles continue to hamper the talks.

The government spokesman made the remarks following the end of a National Council meeting at the Presidential Palace this morning.

President Clerides briefed the island's political leadership on his contacts with Greek Prime Minister Costas Simitis and other Greek leaders last week.

Referring to a Turkish National Security Council meeting on the Cyprus issue, Mr. Papapetrou called on Ankara to swiftly take decisions on whether it wants a Cyprus settlement and to fulfill its own European Union aspirations, or to carry on with its occupation of more than a third of the island at the expense of its own interests.

[03] DENKTASH

He also claimed that he does not wish to waste time in the talks and repeated his demands for a Cyprus solution based on a two-state model.

The occupation regime leader added that Ankara will not abandon what he called Turkey's rights to the island for the sake of its own accession to the European Union.

[04] FAO

It is the first time that Cyprus hosts a regional FAO conference.

In his address opening the conference, President Clerides stressed that the government continues to attach great importance to agriculture because it is one the economy's most significant sectors.

FAO chief Jacques Diouff said Europe can contribute more to the organisation's efforts.

The conference will prepare the ground work for the International Food Conference which will take place in Rome between June 10 and 13.

It will also study the results of a Europe-wide conference on food safety held recently in Budapest which aimed at improving the quality of food set to market on a global scale.

Taking part in the Nicosia conference are ministers and deputy ministers of agriculture from European countries, EU officials, FAO experts, as well as observers from other international organisations.

[05] PETROL

Trade Minister Nicos Rolandis met with representatives from oil companies.

In remarks after the meeting, Mr. Rolandis said his ministry will monitor the price of crude over the next few days and will decide accordingly.

He noted however, that there is a chance petrol prices might not be increased if global crude prices continue to drop.

[06] Markides

Speaking on CyBC radio this morning, Mr. Markides added that there is a second list of individuals given gun permits with the consent of either the Cabinet or the Justice Minister.

The attorney general said that the law had been misinterpreted for years now and gun permits were being issued in a way that was illegal.

Mr. Markides said issuing gun permits by making individuals special constables was not the current police chief's idea, but something that has been wrongly followed for many years now.

He added that since it has now been proven that the procedure was illegal, gun permits should be revoked and referred to the Cabinet or the Justice Minister for approval.

[07] simitis

Mr. Simitis made the remark following a meeting with Greek President Costis Stephanopoulos.

The two men discussed domestic and foreign policy issues.

Mr. Simitis also briefed the Grek President on his contacts with political leader and on the consensus over how national issues and potential dangers should be handled.

Referring to Ankara's proposal on the European Union's Rapid Reaction force, Mr. Simitis said that it must be changed.

[08] INDIA

Pakistani officials said six people died and 20 were wounded by Indian fire into Punjab province in firing overnight.

Several people have died and scores injured since firing in Kashmir intensified after a May 14 attack on an Indian army base in the Himalayan territory that India blamed on Pakistan-based Islamic militants.

British foreign minister Jack Straw began the second leg of his South Asian peace mission with a series of talks with key ministers in New Delhi to press both sides to ease tensions.

But India yesterday said there could be neither peace talks nor any scaling down of its massive military buildup on the border until it sees clear evidence Pakistan has moved against the militants and torn down rebel camps in Kashmir.

[09] WORLD CUP

The event will begin at two o'clock and will last for approximately two hours.

The programme will feature traditional dances, classical music concerts, songs from pop groups and a fashion show.

Football legends Franz Beckenbauer of Germany and Portugal's Eusebio, will also put in an appearance.

The event will be re-broadcast at quarter past eleven on CyBC's first television channel.

[10] ISRAEL

In the latest attack, a gunman sneaked into the Itamar settlement near the West Bank city of Nablus last night and opened fire on a group of boys playing basketball killing three.

Hours earlier, a Palestinian had shot dead an Israeli who was driving along a West Bank road, and the Israeli army killed a Palestinian during a raid on the city of Jenin.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the two Palestinian attacks.

After the attacks, Israeli troops raided West Bank villages near Bethlehem overnight and re-entered the city of Qalqilya. The army said it had detained eight people.

[11] WEATHER

Winds will be southwesterly to westerly moderate, 4 beaufort, turning fresh, 5 beaufort in windward areas.

Seas will be moderate, while temperatures will reach 30 degrees inland, 28 on the southern and eastern coasts, and 27 on the western and northern coasts.

It will be mainly fine tonight with light to moderate, westerly to northwesterly winds, 3 to 4 beaufort.

Temperatures will drop to 16 degrees inland and the eastern coasts, 17 on the western coasts and 11 in the highest mountains.

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

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