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Thursday, 15 August 2024
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Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation: News in English, 02-11-06Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation at <http://www.cybc.com.cy/>CONTENTS
[01] HEADLINES-- President of the Republic Glafcos Clerides, in a letter to UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, stressed the importance of reaching a viable solution that would create a state that can function properly and take decisions with regard to the EU, which Cyprus is expected to join in 2004.-- UN Secretary General Kofi Annan is still undecided as to his next move in the Cyprus peace process, as he himself has said. -- A Luxair plane on a flight from Berlin crashed in thick fog near Luxembourg airport today, killing at least 10 people. And, - Republicans seized control of the U.S. Congress yesterday, reclaiming power in the Senate and expanding their majority in the House of Representatives in a historic sweep for Republican President George W. Bush. [02] CLERIDESPresident of the Republic Glafcos Clerides, in a letter to UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, stressed the importance of reaching a viable solution that would create a state that can function properly and take decisions with regard to the EU, which Cyprus is expected to join in 2004.He also said the Greek Cypriot side will not accept a bad solution for the sake of acceding in the EU. The existence of the letter was confirmed by Government Spokesman Michalis Papapetrou, who said it was part of the decisions taken in Athens during President Clerides' visit there. In statements to CyBC, Mr Papapetrou also said that the contacts of Greek Prime Minister Costas Simitis are part of the same diplomatic mobility. [03] UN SECRETARY GENERAUN Secretary General Kofi Annan is still undecided as to his next move in the Cyprus peace process, as he himself has said.According to the Cyprus News Agency, as consultations on Cyprus continue at the UN seat, it has emerged that Mr. Annan has received letters on the matter from US President George Bush and British and Dutch Premiers, Toni Blair and Wim Kok, in which they express support for Mr. Annan's peace effort and a proposed UN solution plan for Cyprus. Mr. Annan had a telephone conversation with Greek Foreign Minister George Papandreou with regard to Cyprus, who expressed his support for the UN chief's peace efforts and said any settlement should be in line with UN resolutions and the European Union laws and regulations. Speaking after a briefing he received from his special adviser on Cyprus Alvaro de Soto, Mr. Annan said his envoy gave him ''a thorough briefing on what he has been doing since I last saw him.'' [04] CHRISTOFIAS CYPRUSHouse President Demetris Christofias said Cyprus' accession to the European Union should be considered a fact.He condemned however efforts by the Americans and British, who, in conjunction with the UN Secretary General, have prepared a proposal for an overall settlement of the Cyprus problem and with the pretext of the elections in Turkey and Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash's illness, they are trying to submit it on the eve of the Copenhagen European Council. In a speech in Athens, Mr. Christofias said that bearing in mind the conclusions of the Helsinki European Council which said a solution to the Cyprus problem is not a precondition for the island's accession to the EU, the result should be positive for the Cypriot candidacy. He said if the UN Secretary General decides to submit a plan, it should align with UN resolutions on Cyprus, high level agreements and the acquis communautaire. [05] POOS CYPRUSCyprus' Rapporteur at the European Parliament, Jacques Poos said he was fully satisfied over the draft resolution on the progress report on Cyprus approved yesterday by the Foreign Affairs committee of the Euro Parliament.The draft report says that the European Parliament considers Cyprus and nine other candidate countries to be ready to undertake their time frame which has already been set. It also expresses the hope that Cyprus will enter the EU united with a single sovereignty, based on a overall agreement. It also reiterates the continued support to the UN Secretary-General in efforts to find a political settlement on Cyprus, based on the Security Council resolutions. [06] KLERIDES EUROCyprus is the only candidate country seeking European Union membership to have declared its desire to adopt the EU currency, the euro, as soon as possible, after it joins the Union.The announcement was made by Finance Minister Takis Klerides at a meeting in Brussels of EU Finance Ministers and their counterparts from the candidate countries, who discussed pre-accession economic programmes for 2002 relating to fiscal and monetary issues. During the meeting, it was ascertained that other candidate countries have a smaller per capita income than EU member states. [07] LUXAIR CRASHA Luxair plane on a flight from Berlin crashed in thick fog near Luxembourg airport today, killing at least 10 people.A government spokesman said the Fokker-50 plane carrying 19 passengers crashed five km from the Grand Duchy's international airport. He said of the 19 passengers, there are reported to be seven or eight survivors. [08] ELECTION USARepublicans seized control of the U.S. Congress yesterday, reclaiming power in the Senate and expanding their majority in the House of Representatives in a historic sweep for Republican President George W. Bush.Republicans beat incumbent Democrats in Georgia and Missouri to reclaim at least a one-seat margin of power in the Senate, with races in Minnesota, South Dakota and Louisiana undecided. They also picked up at least two seats in the House, building on their six-seat majority in a huge win for Mr. Bush, who crisscrossed the country nonstop in the campaign's final days to drum up Republican support. Mr. Bush's younger brother Jeb won re-election as governor in Florida and Democrat Gov. Gray Davis won re-election in California, while Republicans claimed the governor's mansion in Maryland for the first time in 36 years on a big night for the party nationwide. All 435 House seats, 34 of 100 Senate seats and 36 state governorships were at stake in the midterm election. [09] MIDEAST GOVTRight-wing challenger Benjamin Netanyahu prepared to be sworn in as Israel's new foreign minister today after wasting no time launching a campaign to lead Israel with a get-tough policy towards the Palestinians.Prime Minister Ariel Sharon called an early general election yesterday the centre-left Labour Party, including Foreign Minister Shimon Peres, quit his coalition in a row over funding for Jewish settlements on occupied land. Mr. Netanyahu, 53, revealed his credentials on national television yesterday in the run-up to a Likud Party vote which will decide whether he or Mr. Sharon, 74, leads the party list in a general election expected on January 28. By taking up the foreign portfolio in Mr. Sharon's minority government, Mr. Netanyahu returns to a political stage he largely abandoned after Labour's Ehud Barak ousted him as prime minister in a 1999 election. [10] MIDEAST GUNMANA Palestinian gunman snuck into a Jewish settlement in the southern Gaza Strip today and opened fire on a greenhouse, killing two Jewish settlers before a guard shot him dead.The armed wing of the Hamas militant group said one of its members carried out the attack. The gunman apparently managed to get into the settlement near the Egyptian border by walking in with Palestinian workers, the guard said. At least 1,646 Palestinians and 625 Israelis have been killed since the Palestinian revolt began in September 2000 after peace talks [11] IMF TURKEYThe International Monetary Fund said today it was encouraged by the statements on economic policy made by Turkey's new government as the crisis- hit country works to implement a 16 billion dollar pact.Turkey's financial markets have soared since the Justice and Development Party's (AKP) landslide election win on Sunday. Analysts have said the rise reflected confidence in the new government's approach to reforms demanded by the IMF programme. Odd Per Brekk, the IMF's representative to Turkey told Reuters that the organisation was encouraged by the statements the party has made concerning the economic programme. He said they expect the mission will be invited back soon to continue discussions on the programme. Turkey must complete a range of outstanding reforms to earn a next $1.6 billion loan tranche from the fund. [12] RADIOMARATHON ENDSThe 13th Radiomarathon for children with special needs, ended at midnight last night with contributions exceeding one million pounds.The Radiomarathon was jointly organised by the Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation (CyBC) and the Cyprus Popular Bank, and backed by the large circulation Greek language daily ''Phileleftheros". Contributions so far are estimated at one million, a hundred and fifty thousand pounds. [13] WEATHERThis afternoon, the weather will be clear with passing cloud. Winds will turn to moderate sea breezes, three to four beaufort and the sea slight.Temperatures will rise 25 C inland and on the coasts and 17 over the mountains. Tonight, the weather will be clear with passing cloud. Winds will be north-westerly light, two to three beaufort and the sea calm to slight. Temperatures will fall to 12 C inland, 15 over the coasts and 10 over the mountains. The fire hazard remains very high in all forest areas. 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