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Thursday, 18 April 2024
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Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation: News in English, 02-10-04Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation at <http://www.cybc.com.cy/>CONTENTS
[01] NY TALKSThe UN Secretary-General's taks with President of the Republic Glafcos Clerides and Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash continue today for the second day, without any hope for any progress to be made due to Mr. Denktash's insistence on the recognition of two so called "sovereign states".Mr Annan will hold another meeting with the two at 10pm Cyprus time and following the meeting, President Clerides will return to Cyprus. CyBC correspondent Yiannis Nicolaou reported that instead of progress, regression was achieved at yesterday's meetings. [02] DENKTASH TALKSThe UN Chief's statement that the talks should continue even after Cyprus enters the EU enraged Mr. Denktash.In a statement on his way to his meeting last night with mr. Annan, the Turkish Cypriot leader said if the EU accepts Cyprus, then the talks will end and the island will be divided forever. President Clerides refused to comment on Mr. Denktash's statement. [03] DENKTASH OPERATIONAccording to CyBC's correspondent in New York, Rauf Denktash might undergo open heart surgery in New York.Mr. Denktash, who has a blocked artery, might make use of his presence in New York and undergo the operation this weekend. He will need at least five to six weeks to recuperate. [04] BOUCHER CYPRUSIn Washington, State Department Spokesman Richard Boucher said the US strongly supports the UN Secretary-General's good offices mission in Cyprus.He further said he hopes that the two leaders will seize this historic opportunity to try to reach a Cyprus settlement this year. [05] MAURERChief Negotiator in the Accession talks with the EU, Leopold Maurer, said nothing can avert Cyprus' accession to the European Union in the first wave of enlargement.Speaking last night during a working dinner hosted by the Limasol Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Mr. Maurer stressed the significance of a united Cyprus in the EU and expressed the hope the Cyprus problem will be solved before the Copenhagen European Council. He reminded the Helsinki decision which said a solution to the Cyprus problem is not a pre-requisite for accession and noted Cyprus has done important steps in harmonising with the acquis communautaire. Mr Maurer left Cyprus this morning. [06] EU ENLARGThe European Commission will recommend next week that 10 candidate countries should join the European Union in 2004 but will propose no date for Turkey to start accession talks.According to an EU source the 10 are Poland, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Slovenia, Cyprus and Malta. The EU executive will propose a target date of 2007 for Romania and Bulgaria to join the bloc. Despite strong U.S. pressure, the Commission will not recommend giving Turkey, the 13th candidate, a date for starting entry negotiations, though it will also not prejudge a final decision by EU leaders when they meet for their big "enlargement summit" in Copenhagen in December. The Commission's regular report on the aspirants, due out next Wednesday, will call for strict monitoring of candidates' implementation of EU law after entry negotiations are concluded in December and the treaty is signed next April. [07] TURKEY EU YILMAZTurkey said today it would continue to press for a firm date for talks on European Union membership, despite indications that a Commission report would refuse such a commitment.EU sources told Reuters the EU Commission's regular report on membership aspirants, due out next Wednesday, would propose a 2004 date for 10 countries to join the grouping. But they said Ankara would be denied a firm date for talks because of failure so far to meet in full economic and human rights criteria. Turkish deputy prime minister Mesut Yilmaz said he considered the final word on the issue, which could become a strong factor in Turkey's November elections, would be with EU leaders at a December summit in Copenhagen Mr Yilmaz, in charge of relations with the EU, said "The impression his country has is that the progress report will only make observations about Turkey, it will not make any specific recommendations. [08] IRAQ UN USAFresh from talks with Iraqi officials, the top U.N. inspectors confer with U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell and national security adviser Condoleezza Rice today about how they intend to operate and ensure the safety of their teams.Hans Blix, the executive chairman of the U.N. Monitoring, Verification and Inspection Commission, known as UNMOVIC said they hope to hear something about what their planning is and they will tell them about their planning. Mr. Blix, in charge of accounting for Iraq's chemical, biological and ballistic weapons, works in tandem with Mohamed ElBaradei, director-general of the Vienna-based International Atomic Energy Agency, responsible for nuclear arms. After Iraq decided to admit inspectors and agreed to most of their demands, Blix and ElBaradei made plans to send advance teams to Baghdad in mid-October, which the United States opposed. Both men met with Iraqi arms experts in Vienna earlier this week. But they made clear to U.N. Security Council members yesterday they would hold off going to Baghdad until the 15-member body adopted a new resolution, although they legally had a right to begin work almost immediately. [09] AFGHAN TRUCEEfforts were underway on Friday to disarm hundreds of fighters in northern Afghanistan after a fresh ceasefire was agreed to end a day of clashes.A U.N. mediator helped to broker the ceasefire along with officials sent by rival commanders Abdul Rashid Dostum and Ustad Atta Mohammad. The effort followed clashes yesterday between Dostum and Atta's supporters in the Pir Naqshi area in the northern province of Samangan. [10] PAPADOPOULOS LISTState Department Spokesman Richard Boucher said he does not think presidential candidate Tasos Papadopoulos is still on the so called "Treasury Department's list".According to the Athens News Agency, Mr Boucher explained that US embassies decide how to maintain broad ranges of contacts across the political and social spectrum in any country they are. He said that Mr Papadopoulos was on the Treasury Department's list in the 90s regarding trade and financial transactions with Yugoslavia but that he does not think he is on the list anymore. [11] INDIAN VISITIndia's Prime Minister, Atal Bihari Vazbayi will conduct a two-day official visit to Cyprus, on his way to Copenhagen where he will participate in the EU-India summit.The Indian Premier arrives in Cyprus on Monday afternoon and will meet President of the Republic Glafcos Clerides. He will also hold talks with the President which will cover a wide range of issues, including bilateral relations, and international and regional issues. Premier Vazbayi will also meet the President of the House of Representatives and Nicosia Mayor Michalakis Zembilas. He will complete his visit on Wednesday. [12] POLL CYBCTassos Papadopoulos is leading the presidential race with 12 points, according to a poll which CyBC television presented.When asked who would they vote for President, a total of 43,8% said Tassos Papadopoulos, a further 31,9% said Yiannakis Omirou, while 4% want Nicos Koutsou as President of the Republic and a total of 5,3 per cent said they would cast a blank vote. Asked who they think will win the February presidential elections, 46 per cent said Tasos Papadopoylos, another 16 per cent said Yiannakis Omirou, while Foreign Minister Yiannakis Kasoulides received an eight per cent and Attorney-General Alecos Markides garnered 6 per cent. A total of 22 per cent said they did not know or did not want to reply. The poll showed people want a president who will inspire trust, be close to the people, have leadership skills, be experienced and tell the truth. The poll was conducted by VPRC and CyMar Market Research between 12-14 September. [13] WEATHERThis afternoon there will be local cloud with some rain and isolated storms inland and on the mountains.Winds will be south-westerly to north-westerly moderate, four beaufort and the sea slight. Temperatures will rise to 28 C inland and 18 in the mountains. Tonight the weather will be mainly clear with some passing cloud. Winds will be north-westerly light, two to three baufort and the sea slight. Temperatures will fall to 16 C inland, 18 on the coasts and 13 on the mountains. The fire hazard remains extremely high in all forest areas. Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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