Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation: News in English, 99-07-25

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

CONTENTS

SUNDAY 25 JULY 1999

[01] HEADLINES

[02] GREEK TURKS DIALOGUE

[03] GREECE DOGMA

[04] CALAHAN VIMA

[05] MOROCCO FUNERAL

[06] SEREZIS ISSUE

[07] PAPHOS CHRISTODOULOU

[08] PALIOMETOHO MONUMENT

[09] TAXI DRIVER ATTACK

[10] FORMULA

[11] WEATHER

[01] HEADLINES

-- A Greek daily wrote that the Greek government is changing its policy regarding armaments within the framework of the joint defence pact with Cyprus.

-- The funeral of Moroccan King Hassan took place today, his coffin carried from the royal palace on an open military vehicle.

-- Israel's Prime Minister Ehud Barak today met Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika -- the first such contact between leaders of their countries.

And

-- Briton Eddie Irvine moved into serious contention for the Formula One world championship today with a dramatic victory for Ferrari in the Austrian Grand Prix.

[02] GREEK TURKS DIALOGUE

According to the Athens press, the result of the talks will determine whether more important issues will be able to be discussed at a further stage.

The talks start under the light of the continued Turkish threats in the Aegean and demands by Moslem deputies in the Greek parliament for Greece to recognise ethnic minorities in the country.

Greek Foreign Minister George Papandreou said that the talks would not be prevented from taking place but that elements in Turkey were evidently opposed to them.

[03] GREECE DOGMA

The newspaper said that the Greek government is making the changes to achieve the economic aims set for its accession to the economic and monetary union.

The newspaper claimed Cyprus is unwilling to undertake the political and financial cost of having an autonomous defence and tried to achieve the implementation of the joint defence pact through Greece's armament programme.

The newspaper further said that the Greek government is continuing to contribute to the island's armaments.

Following the deployment of the Russian S300 anti-aircraft missile system in Crete, Greece will provide Cyprus with a weaponry system worth 10 million Cyprus pounds, which will form the basis for the island's defence in the first hours of a possible attack.

[04] CALAHAN VIMA

He said Britain had suggested to the UN Secretary General an operation using British forces in an effort to avoid the second phase of the invasion.

However, he said Washington, considered the idea as unsuitable, noting that diplomacy was sufficient and that there were assurances that there was not going to be a second invasion.

Mr Calahan said that if US and British navy ships were sent to Turkey and Cyprus then the invasion could have been avoided.

[05] MOROCCO FUNERAL

Hundreds of thousands of Moroccans lined up the two km funeral route through the heart of the city, while world leaders led by U.S. President Bill Clinton followed behind the cortege on foot.

Hassan's son, 36, who was crowned Mohammed VI on Friday, walked directly behind his father's coffin.

Tens of thousands of Moroccans streamed into the centre of Rabat many of them walking miles through the scorching summer heat to attend the funeral of their long-serving monarch.

The funeral was attended by kings, princes, heads of state and senior officials from almost 50 nations.

A military royal guard of honour lined the entrance to the walled palace, while thousands of soldiers and policemen in ceremonial uniforms stretched out along the funeral route.

Hassan, who was a pivotal figure in the Arab world, died suddenly on Friday of a heart attack aged 70. He will be interred in a marble mausoleum alongside his father Mohammed V.

Meanwhile, U.S. President Clinton met Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak and Palestinian President Yasser Arafat at a three-way meeting in Rabat ahead of the funeral.

Syrian President Hafez al-Assad did not attend the funeral as expected and diplomats had speculated that he might have used the occasion to meet other Middle East leaders.

[06] SEREZIS ISSUE

Reports indicate that there are no plans for a thorough reshuffle in the near future.

Foreign Minister, Ioannis Kasoulides said today he does not want to make any comments on a reshuffle because it is not part of his duties.

Interior Minister, Christodoulos Christodoulou said President Clerides had clarified that he is not thinking to reshuffle the government at present.

Education Minister, Ouranios Ioannides said the Serezis issue will be settled tomorrow during a meeting between President Clerides and Mr Anastasiades.

Mr Serezis had said on Thursday that he received no political backing while the president of the ruling party, Mr Anastasiades, spoke of ingratitude on the part of Mr Serezis.

Government Spokesman told CyBC he does not wish to participate in the public discussion which Mr Anastasiades has started.

[07] PAPHOS CHRISTODOULOU

The issue was at the centre of a discussion during the Paphos Communities Union general assembly which took place in Chlorakas in the presence of Mr Christodoulou.

The Minister said the government is in a position to announce deadlines for the implementation of those projects which are still pending.

In a letter to President Glafcos Clerides, the Paphos communities had called for the immediate implementation of a number of projects which are of vital significance for the survival of the district's small communities.

[08] PALIOMETOHO MONUMENT

The culprits, thought to be young people, defaced the monument with black paint, causing outrage among village residents.

A memorial service was held today at Paliometoho for those who died during the invasion.

[09] TAXI DRIVER ATTACK

Demetris Yiannakou, 40, from Salamiou Paphos, and now a Larnaca resident, reported to the Police that the attacker was a foreigner, possibly a Russian.

He said he managed to get out of the car when he was attacked, and the attacker left.

The taxi driver suffered bruises on the neck and legs and was transferred to the First Aid department of the Larnaca General hospital.

[10] FORMULA

Eddie Irvine came home just three tenths of a second ahead of compatriot David Coulthard in a McLaren to secure only the second victory of his grand prix career.

The win moved Eddie Irvine into second position in the championship with 42 points, just two behind world champion Mika Hakkinen who finished today's race in third place.

[11] WEATHER

The sea will be slight to moderate in windward areas. Temperatures will reach 38 C inland, 34 C on the south coast, 31 C on the west and 28 C over the mountains.

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