Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation: News in English, 99-05-04

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

CONTENTS

THURSDAY 4 MAY 1999

[01] HEADLINES

[02] YUGO REFUGEES

[03] YUGO BLAIR

[04] USA TORNADOES

[05] SPOKESMAN EUROPE

[06] CHRISTODOULOU CYBC

[07] TELEPHONISTS/TAXI

[08] YUGO GREECE

[09] MURDER ATTEMPT

[10] PENSIONERS/ADOPTION

[11] TURKEY ECEVIT

[12] YUGO DEVELOP

[13] WEATHER

[01] HEADLINES

-- Britain's prime minister today vowed that NATO would defeat the "hideous racial genocide" of Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic.

-- As many as 45 people were feared dead and many more were missing today after a deadly storm of tornadoes shattered thousands of homes in Oklahoma and Kansas.

-- Government Spokesman, Costas Serezis said any problems that arise during discussions relating to Cyprus' European Union accession process are dealt with in the most appropriate manner.

And, -- A son allegedly tried to kill his deaf father this afternoon at Kato Polemidia in Limassol, by shooting him with a shotgun.

[02] YUGO REFUGEES

Home Secretary Jack Straw said there were plans to bring one planeload of refugees a day to Britain.

In total, EU states have accepted only about 20,000 Kosovo Albanians since NATO began bombing Yugoslavia on March 24.

France, second in the EU in terms of the numbers it has accepted with just 1,824, says it will take up to 6,000 of the 800,000 people estimated to have fled Kosovo in the past year.

Meanwhile, addressing the European Parliament in Strasbourg today, German Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer said that, with the flood of refugees continuing unabated, it was no longer a question of the European Union wondering whether the refugees should be kept near home.

[03] YUGO BLAIR

Tony Blair said NATO's prolonged air campaign would triumph over Mr Milosevic and that a new Serbia rid of his "corrupt dictatorship" could then rejoin the international community.

[04] USA TORNADOES

Rescue teams, working with search dogs and heavy equipment, sifted through vast fields of rubble in the search for more victims. Officials said at least 100 people were still unaccounted for. Workers kept a wary eye on the skies today because of the threat of more severe weather from dark clouds hanging over Oklahoma City. Parts of the state were under a tornado warning again.

As many as four dozen tornadoes, some 1.6 km wide and 10 miles high, raked Oklahoma and Kansas yesterday in what weather forecasters described as a "super outbreak of tornadoes.

Oklahoma City and Wichita, Kan. were worst hit, although officials said they were still waiting for word from small communities that had been in the twisters' path.

President Bill Clinton expressed his sorrow and made sure the Federal Emergency Management Agency and other federal resources were mobilised to the stricken areas immediately.

[05] SPOKESMAN EUROPE Government Spokesman, Costas Serezis said any problems that arise during discussions relating to Cyprus' European Union accession process are dealt with in the most appropriate manner.

The Spokesman said it is natural that problems of this nature are being brought up during discussions with the EU because of the particular circumstances Cyprus is facing.

However he said that these problems were dealt with, many with success, and others are on the way to being solved.

[06] CHRISTODOULOU CYBC

The minister and the CyBC board and administration discussed the problems which the corporation is facing and ways to solve them.

Mr Christodoulou said CyBC's new role should be determined based on european and international reality. He also assured that the government will support CyBC's efforts to reform.

On his part, the chairman of the board, Antonis Drakos pointed out the difficult circumstances in which CyBC has to operate, noting that in some fields such as advertising it is virtually impossible for the corporation to compete with private stations.

[07] TELEPHONISTS/TAXI

They also threatened to take indefinite strike action if their demands are not met.

The strikers cut off Severis Avenue, causing traffic chaos for about twenty minutes.

Meanwhile, Agia Napa taxi drivers also demonstrated outside the presidential palace.

They are demanding the government withdraws a decision which allowed rural taxis to operate on an urban basis. They handed a petition to President Glafcos Clerides, noting that they will too escalate their strike measures if no action is taken to meet their demands.

[08] YUGO GREECE

Speaking before the Greek parliament, Mr Simitis also said that Greece will increase efforts for an amalgam of principles with actions which will lead to Yugoslav acceptance to withdraw its troops from Kosovo and the safe return of refugees to their homes.

Opposition leader, New Democracy President, Costas Karamanlis pointed out the great danger of the Balkan crisis spreading and causing instability in the region.

[09] MURDER ATTEMPT

Sotiris Toumazou, 28, allegedly shot his father, Andreas Sotiriou, alias Kalios, injuring him in the face and hands.

The suspect was disarmed by two policemen who were not on duty at the time. The victim is being treated at Limassol General Hospital.

[10] PENSIONERS/ADOPTION

The Cyprus Union of Pensioners are calling for an improvement of the health benefits and additional benefits to pensioners if the government decides to impose new taxes.

The General Secretary of the Union, Michalis Panagi said around 30 thousand out of the 80 thousand pensioners receive the minimum pension which is 101 pounds per month and the highest 145 pounds.

Meanwhile, the issue of supporting childless couples who wish to adopt children was also discussed today at the Presidential Palace.

Labour Minister, Andreas Moushoutas said procedures will be simplified and an office will be opened in Romania, where childless couples can apply to adopt children.

[11] TURKEY ECEVIT

Meanwhile, lawyers for PKK leader, Abdullah Ocalan have asked for a radio and reading material to be given to the Kurdish leader to ward off damage to his mental health while in a remote Turkish jail.

A delegation from the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture has also urged the Turkish authorities to freely allow visits by Abdullah Ocalan's relatives and find him a better exercise area.

[12] YUGO DEVELOP

Serb media said a NATO bomb hit a bus packed with women and children early yesterday afternoon on the road leading from Pec, to the Yugoslav republic of Montenegro, killing at least 20 people. Meanwhile, NATO planes today fired at least two missiles at a previously hit industrial plant in the town of Valjevo.

Last night alliance warplanes hit a television building in northern Serbia and a military airport near Belgrade.

In the diplomatic field, Russian envoy Viktor Chernomyrdin, said after meeting US President Bill Clinton at the White House that a diplomatic solution to the conflict was now closer.

Mr Clinton said there could be a pause in the bombing campaign, but only if Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic submitted to NATO terms in the Kosovo crisis.

However, UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, who was due to meet Chernomyrdin later today, cautioned against expecting any quick diplomatic fix to the crisis.

Germany announced that foreign ministers of the Group of Seven major industrial powers plus Russia would meet in Bonn on Thursday to discuss solutions to the conflict.

In another development, Belgrade today said that 1,200 Yugoslavs had been killed so far by NATO bombing and 5,000 seriously injured.

[13] WEATHER

Temperatures will rise to 32 inland, 27 on the south and east coasts and 24 over the west and mountains.

Join us again tomorrow for more news

GOODNIGHT

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