Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation: News in English, 02-10-02

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

CONTENTS

[01] Headlines

[02] Clerides

[03] Alvaro

[04] Kasoulides

[05] Maurer

[06] Arafat

[07] Miracle

[08] Weather WEDNESDAY 2 OCTOBER 2002

[01] Headlines

--- Israel put Yasser Arafat's compound back under the gun yesterday, sending army marksmen to take up positions nearby amid reports militants slipped out after troops aborted a siege under U.S. pressure.

--- Iraq agreed to let U.N. arms inspectors back in, possibly within a fortnight, but the United States rejected any resumption of inspections before a tough new Security Council resolution was in place.

And

--- The Vatican has approved a miracle attributed to Mother Teresa of Calcutta, moving the nun who spent her life helping the poorest of the poor one step closer to sainthood, Vatican sources said.

[02] Clerides

He added it was positive that Mr. Annan would not be submitting his own thoughts or ideas at this stage.

Asked if the UN Chief would be submitting a solution plan in November, the President noted that, as far as he knew, Mr. Annan had not yet decided what his next move would be.

Speaking on his departure last night for New York, President Clerides said that if there was no settlement by December, talks to solve the problem would continue after the island's accession to the EU.

Later today, President Clerides will meet with the envoys of Britain and the United States, Lord David Hannay and Thomas Weston.

Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash will also have similar meetings with the two envoys.

[03] Alvaro

In a statement to the London Times, Mr. de Soto expressed certainty there gaps could be bridged, thus leading to a settlement.

The newspaper has also printed a statement by European Commissioner on Enlargement Gunter Verheugen, who said the key to a solution was in the hands of Ankara.

The statements of Mr. de Soto and Mr. Verheugen are hosted in a two page supplement on Cyprus' Independence Day.

[04] Kasoulides

Mr. Kasoulides added that he expected a positive progress report on Cyprus by the European Commission on October 9.

He said that in December, Cyprus would be treated as the other nine candidate countries.

[05] Maurer

Speaking on his arrival, Mr. Maurer said there was no doubt Cyprus would be among the countries comprising the next enlargement in December.

He said Cyprus was always the best among candidate countries in harmonisation with the acquis communautaire, and so he did not see any reason why Cyprus should not wrap up negotiations first.

During his stay on the island, Mr. Maurer will meet Cyprus' Chief Negotiator with the EU George Vassiliou and will hold talks with technocrats on issues revolving around bicommunal programmes that are sponsored by the European Commission, through UNOPS.

[06] Arafat

Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, smarting from the humiliation of having to scrap the siege without arresting wanted men inside, predicted Israel would halt Palestinian "terror" within a few months and pave the way for political talks.

Sharon gave no details, but has said military action in Gaza aimed at destroying the operational capabilities of Hamas, a militant Islamic group behind dozens of suicide bombings, should be Israel's next step in what he calls a war against terror.

But Israeli leaders have acknowledged that Israel might have to temper its military moves against the Palestinians while the United States pursues Arab and international support for a possible offensive against Iraq.

[07] Miracle

The move means the nun, who was known as the "saint of the gutter" will likely be beatified, or declared a blessed of the Church, next year.

The miracle was the subject of a closed-door meeting at the Vatican in which doctors explained it to cardinals, bishops and priests who are members of the saint-making department known as the Congregation for the Causes of Saints.

The miracle involved a 30-year-old Indian woman, Monica Besra, who was suffering from a stomach tumour and was healed inexplicably after praying to the nun.

At such meetings doctors tell the members of the congregation they have no medical explanation for the healing.

Last month the same department decided Mother Teresa, who died in 1997, possessed "heroic virtues" of the Christian faith for her services to the poor and her holiness.

[08] Weather

Winds will be southwesterly to westerly, moderate, four beaufort, and in windward areas strong, five beaufort.

Seas will be slight to moderate.

Temperatures will reach 29 degrees inland and along the south and east coasts, to 27 along the west coast, and to 23 over the mountains.

Tonight will be cloudy in patches, clearing towards dawn.

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

Temperatures will drop to 18 degrees inland, to 20 along the coast, and to 16 over the mountains.

The fire hazard is extremely high in all forest areas.

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