Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation: News in English, 99-06-30

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

CONTENTS

WEDNESDAY 30 JUNE 1999

[01] HEADLINES

[02] GOVERNMENT RESOLUTIONS

[04] UN RESOLUTIONS

[05] FINLAND PRESIDENCY

[06] OCALAN DEMONSTRATIONS

[07] CEM PAPANDREOU

[08] CIVIL DEFENCE

[09] SOLDIERS DRUGS

[10] CYBC CRISIS

[11] WEATHER

[01] HEADLINES

The two resolutions give the UN Secretary General the go-ahead to call the two sides to negotiations this autumn,

European Union expansion will be the Finnish EU Presidency's priority,

The exiled Kurdish parliament is warning tourists to avoid Turkey,

[02] GOVERNMENT RESOLUTIONS

Foreign Minister Ioannis Kassoulides offered an analysis of last night's Security Council resolutions following a Minister's Council meeting.

He noted that following intense diplomatic efforts by Cyprus and Greece, the Security Council reiterated word for word the parameters in which a solution will be found, as outlined in the Secretary-General's 1990 report.

Mr. Cassoulides clarified that the resolutions' reference to all issues being on the negotiating table, means that all of the Cyprus problem's aspects will be discussed without one having priority over another.

He added that the delineation of the parameters, does not legitimize Rauf Denktash's desire to raise the issue of confederation.

The Foreign Minister expressed sorrow that a reference to the missing was not included in the resolution, as per Dame Anne Hercus' intervention. Dame Hercus had said that here efforts on the issue are at a point which may bear fruit.

Avoiding describing the resolutions as a success, Mr. Cassoulides said what is most important is that the two sides arrive at the negotiating table with good will.

[04] UN RESOLUTIONS

The two resolutions, one pertaining to the renewal of UNFICYP's mandate and the other to Mr. Annan good offices on Cyprus, were approved unanimously by the Security Council.

With the two resolutions, the Security Council reaffirms all its past decisions on Cyprus and particularly resolutions 1217 and 1218 passed in 1998.

The Security Council asked the two leaders in Cyprus to enter negotiations on the Cyprus problem without conditions, with all issues on the negotiating table, with a commitment by the two leaders to continue negotiations until a solution is found and with both leaders taking completely into consideration all relevant UN resolutions.

Resolution 1250 pertaining to the renewal of UNFICYP's mandate reaffirms a solution based on a single state with a single nationality and international personality, all under a bicommunal, bizonal federation.

The resolution asks for a gradual reduction of armaments and both sides are asked to initiate a gradual process aimed at limiting and eventually substantially reducing troops and armaments as a first step towards the complete withdrawal of all non-Cypriot military forces.

[05] FINLAND PRESIDENCY

This from Finish Minister of Foreign Trade and European Affairs Kimmo Sasi, during a meeting this morning with the head of Cyprus' negotiation team, George Vassiliou.

Mr. Sasi, along with Special Representative on the Cyprus problem, Jako Blomberg, is in Cyprus to present the Finnish Presidency's programme to the government. The Finnish Presidency begins tomorrow.

The two officials also discussed the island's accession course and its problem with Foreign Minister Ioannis Kassoulides.

Mr. Sasi said negotiations on Cyprus' accession to the EU will be one of the Finnish Presidency's most important issues.

[06] OCALAN DEMONSTRATIONS

The parliament, which is the PKK's political wing, stated that the situation could go out of control if Turkey disregards Europe's pleas not to execute Ocalan.

The Kurdish leader's lawyers announced they will immediately appeal to the European Court on Human Rights on the grounds of a breach of proper legal procedures.

US State Department spokesman James Rubin also questioned Turkish legal procedures.

Ankara will not be able to carry out the sentence as long as the case remains before the European Court.

Meanwhile, the US has closed its consular offices in Constantinople and Adana as a precautionary measure, while many Turkish businesses in Germany have been the targets of bombing attacks by masked perpetrators.

[07] CEM PAPANDREOU

The meeting will take place on the sidelines of a special summit called by the UN Secretary-General on Kossovo.

Acting Greek Foreign Minister Yiannos Kranidiotis will also take part in the discussion and the Cyprus problem is expected to be on the agenda.

The two ministers have exchanged letters on Greek-Turkish relations.

Ismail Cem asked for co-operation on combating terrorism, while George Papandreou set the issue on a broader Balkan basis.

Mr. Papandreou counterproposal closer co-operation on trade, as well as a Balkan security agreement.

Greek diplomatic sources stated that more serious issues will be discussed if progress is made on economic matters.

Mr. Cem, however, gave full backing to Mr. Denktash's demands for recognition and separate sovereignty before he would sit down for talks on the Cyprus problem.

He also detected a significant change within the European Union on Turkey's accession.

[08] CIVIL DEFENCE

Speaking on civil defence matters, Mr. Christodoulou said that six thousand shelters have been upgraded in the last two and-a-half months.

The Interior Minister announced that as of Saturday, July third, Civil Defence officials will begin informing the public on which shelter should be used in case of emergency.

He also referred to the readiness of students to deal with an emergency, adding that eight drills have been performed in schools along the ceasefire line.

Mr. Christodoulou also referred to Civil Defence manning efforts and said that civil defence will be bolstered by more personnel released from National Guard duty by October.

[09] SOLDIERS DRUGS

The two guardsmen, 19-year-olds Christodoulos Kosta Stamati and Stylianos Nikola, both from Limassol, as well as 30 year-old Kypros Nicolaou, also from Limassol, were arrested last night after a well-planned sting operation by Drug Enforcement personnel.

Stamatis arranged a rendezvous with a police officer on the old Nicosia-Limassol road near Kornos, to sell drugs. He arrived at the rendezvous with 58 grams of cannabis in his possession.

The officer revealed his identity and fellow officers attempted to arrest Stamatis, but he attempted to flee the scene with his car, hitting two officers. One officer injured his leg.

Stamatis managed to flee, but was arrested by other Drug Enforcement officers a kilometre away after he stopped to pick up the other suspects.

[10] CYBC CRISIS

Providing reasons why the issue was included on the agenda, Mr. Katsourides said a series of events like the departure of distinguished personnel from CyBC, lead to the conclusion that the state broadcaster is in trouble.

CyBC Executive Council President Antonis Drakos said the problem revolved mainly around a financial burden created by high employment costs and the fact that these costs are completely shouldered by the employee's pension fund.

He also said that proposals put forth by special counsel on the upgrading of programs at CyBC will be implemented during the new programming season.

CyBC Director General Pavlos Soteriades said that state support is needed so that state broadcaster can meet its goals.

Other Executive Council members referred to a decreased willingness by the state to support public broadcasting, while CyBC union representatives disagreed with the special counsel's proposals, stressing that they reject an overwhelming majority of the proposals.

The committee will continue discussion on the issue at its next meeting.

[11] WEATHER

The winds will be mainly westerly light to moderate, 3 to 4 beaufort.

The sea will be generally slight, but moderate in windward areas.

The temperature will drop to 21 degrees inland and the coasts, and to 17 in the mountains.

Tomorrow will be mainly fine, but some local cloud in the afternoon may produce showers, mainly in the mountains.

The winds will be southerly moderate, 4 beaufort.

The sea will be moderate on the west and south windward coastal areas.

The temperature will reach 35 degrees inland, 32 on the south coast, 29 on the west coast and 26 in the mountains.

Maximum and minimum temperatures today:

Nicosia 35 and 21 Limassol 33 and 23 Larnaca 31 and 21 Paphos 29 and 21 and Prodromos 27 and 18.

The fire hazard is great in all forest areas.

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