More

than
Golf
1 Free Main Course
Sunday lunches at edenmore...
www.edenmore.com 70 Drumnabreeze road, Magheralin, Moira, Co. Down
One Free Main COurse pertable OF FOur Call 92619241
Can McCoy do it again?
The pride of Northern Ireland
Since 1737
www.newsletter.co.uk
Price: 85p (IR 1.30 EURO) Saturday, April 14, 2012



2
7
5
t
h

A
n
niversa
r
y

Y
e
a
r
INSIDE
Leaders discuss
Chinas Christians
FIRST Minister Peter Robinson
has discussed Chinas Chris-
tians some of whom are bru-
tally repressed by their Commu-
nist rulers with the countrys
most senior female politician.
A DUP spokesman told the
News Letter that Mr Robin-
son had discussed the issue
of Christian churches in China
with Madame Liu Yandong
during her historic visit the
most senior Chinese politician
to ever visit the Province.
However, Mr Robinsons party
which stressed the importance
of building relationships with
China said that the conversa-
tion was private and declined
to give details of what was said.
Although Chinas constitution
defends freedom of religion,
churches not registered with
the authorities are illegal and
forced underground, with some
Christian leaders being jailed or
tortured.
Yesterday Madame Liu told a
high-powered audience at the
University of Ulster that her de-
cision to visit Northern Ireland
before travelling to London
demonstrated Chinas commit-
ment to the Province.
Northern Irelands two uni-
versities yesterday unveiled
ambitious Chinese expansion
plans.
Turn to pages 6&7
BY SAM McBRIDE
Political Correspondent
sam.mcbride@newsletter.co.uk
PICTURE: Kelvin Boyes/Presseye
Some of the 16,000-
strong crowd of music
fans who descended on
Belfasts docklands for a
spectacular MTV concert
last night.
The star-studded event
was staged on the slipway
where the Titanic was
launched.
Pixie Lott and Katy B were
among the big names at
the Titanic Sounds event
which was recorded for
broadcast to millions
across 153 territories
early next month see
page 3
Titanic
Sounds
rock city
MEP blasts timing of
ministers Euro visit
DARD and the Northern Ireland Executive have been criticised by an MEP over the scheduling of a trip to the European Commission in Belgium when MEPs will not be there.
Ulster Unionist MEP Jim Nicholson has hit out at what he has described as an unforgivable inability to effectively coordinate
Northern Irelands engagement with the European Institutions. The comments from the UUP representative come after confrmation that the Agriculture Minister, Michelle ONeill, along with a delegation of DARD offcials, is to travel to Brussels to meet with Commission offcials on CAP reform during a week when MEPs sit in plenary in Strasbourg - some 200 miles away in neighbouring France. In a statement Mr Nicholson said:
It is no secret that the Parliament sits one week of each month in Strasbourg. So the fact that the Agriculture Minister and DARD offcials are to travel to Brussels next week to discuss CAP reform with the Commission, during a week when MEPs are not actually there, is yet another example of the NI Executives failure to get to grips with how it engages with the European Institutions. It is vital for our local agricultural and fsheries
industries and Northern Ireland as a whole that our Department of Agriculture improves how it interacts with Europe to help ensure that we can secure the best deal possible. Given where we are in terms of the reform of both the CAP and CFP you would think that any itinerary for a visit by the Agriculture Minister would include meeting Northern Irelands MEPs as a matter of priority. This is particularly the case as co-decision
BY ANDREW CROMIE andrew.cromie@farminglife.com
Lely open day at Co
Armagh farm
PAGES 36-37
NI branding for NI
Charolais Club
PAGES 40-41
Saturday, April 14, 2012
BurRes o
CornascrIebe
MarkaIhIII oad, ForIadoWn
TaIaphona 0ZB 8BB4 0ZZB
WWW.h0rkesaI.co.0k
LS05 PKN0Y6N Fu|| Range Avai|ab|e
Prices Now From 99 + VAT
NEWT6080 NEWT60S0 NEWT5070 NEWT5060 for immediate de|ivery
Specia| Dea|s Avai|ab|e
Contact Wllbert ou 07889S84444 Check out our weosite for qualit] used tractors www.burkesnl.oo.uk
1he best FIeughs, the best 0eaIers, the best Frices.
8e||ab|||ty, PerIormaoce 8 Va|0e. F|od o0t more cootact yo0r |oca| dea|er or ca|| 0s oo. +353 5 7751597 8aymood Aroo|d. 0780 387421 www.kveroe|aod.com
0ootact.
0av|d Forg|e
L|mavady. 028 77722375
James 0erva|s
8eragh. 028 8075822
A|ao N||oe ractors
0arryd0II. 028 90817111
Newry. 028 30821230
8eas oI F|ovoy
8a||ymooey. 028 29571232
QUADS: Joshua Hogg of
Castlederg with his grandads quad lambs. He is photographed with his grandad Robert K Oliver of Aughadulla, Dromore, Co Tyrone. Also in photo are uncles John McKane and James Oliver. The lambs were three weeks old on Wednesday. Picture by Heather Hogg
Continued on page fve
AP hoping to guide Gold Cup hero to Aintree glory - SPORT
WIN
A two-night
break at the
Magherabuoy
Hotel,
Portrush
SEE PAGE 6
Lockerbie
bomber taken
to hospital
SEE PAGE 12