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/ Diplomacy and money share the spotlight
/
YESTERDAY'S papers divided their attention between the Cyprus problem and
the crisis in the Stock Exchange.
_Phileleftheros
_ reflected the general Cyprus problem uncertainty with a headline that
read: "Talks in December perhaps."
Referring to the outcome of President Glafcos Clerides' visit to New York,
Phileleftheros said that the date of US presidential emissary Alfred Moses' visit to the Nicosia Athens and Ankara had not been finalised.
The paper said progress on the Cyprus problem now depended on decisions
made in Helsinki at the EU summit from December 10 to 11.
While Moses' visit had been planned to begin on October 7, the paper said
that diplomatic information put the date back at least a week.
On the Stock Exchange, Phileleftheros said the institution's reliability
was being sorely tested by its closure over the last four weeks and the
fact that it might not reopen on Monday.
The paper said the Stock Exchange board's president Dinos Papadopoulos had
said that there was a possibility the Finance Minister would be asked to
keep the Market closed for an additional two weeks from Monday.
The paper also reported that hospitals were carrying out frantic checks to
ensure a deadly Japanese virus had not been carried into Cyprus.
_Phileleftheros
_ said that a Limassol general hospital official had confirmed that
examinations to spot the T.T.V. virus were ongoing and would be completed
in approximately two months.
The paper said that the virus affected the liver and could be fatal. It can
be transmitted through blood transfusions, sexual intercourse and sharing
needles, Phileleftheros said.
_Alithia
_ said Clerides had made it clear that Cyprus would not enter talks with
the Turkish Cypriot side if it meant a negative revision of G8, EU and UN
decisions on the Cyprus problem.
Reporting on Clerides' Thursday night speech on the occasion of
Independence Day yesterday, Alithia quoted Clerides as saying,
"Unfortunately once again the Turkish side's position remained negative."
The paper also reported that it was uncertain wether the Stock Exchange
would reopen on Monday, "although a decision on which brokerage offices
would take part in dealings on Monday was expected by early afternoon
Thursday, contradicting opinions during the marathon meting led to the
postponement of a decision until Friday."
_Alithia
_ also reported that the CyBC buildings had been invaded by a plague of
fleas.
The paper said that many employees had been suffering allergic reactions to
bites from the insects believed to have been brought in by the many cats
and dogs scattered around the station.
_Alithia
_ said CyBc management had asked the municipality to fumigate the area but
that this had led to another problem.
The poison used by the municipality was not suitable for closed spaces
making the atmosphere inside the offices unbearable.
_Alithia
_ said that CyBC1 radio had to stop transmission because it was impossible
for them to breath in their offices, the worst affected. CyBC3 radio staff,
meanwhile, continued work after putting on masks to protect them from the
fumes.
© Copyright Cyprus Mail 1999
