Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation: News in English, 99-09-15

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

CONTENTS

WEDNESDAY 15 SEPTEMBER 1999

[01] HEADLINES

[02] KRANIDIOTIS KILLED

[03] CYPRUS KRANIDIOTIS

[04] US AMBASSADOR MINISTER

[05] KRANIDIOTIS CEM

[06] CYPRUS MOURNING BOOK

[07] KRANI CONFERENCE POSTP INTERN

[08] KRANIDIOTIS CV

[09] MIAMI HURRICANE

[10] TIMOR DEVELOP

[11] QUAKE BOLIVIA

[12] TURKEY KURDS

[13] CYBC PRESSER

[14] WEATHER

[01] HEADLINES

-- Cyprus was in shock today at the death of Greece's alternate foreign minister, who was born in Cyprus.

-- The Cyprus government has declared a three day state of mourning over the loss of Kranidiotis.

-- Monster Hurricane Floyd, one of the strongest storms ever tracked in the Atlantic, churned toward the southeastern United States, sparking an unprecedented evacuation of more than two million people.

And,

-- The U.N. Security Council today authorised a multinational force to restore order in East Timor where thousands have died this month.

[02] KRANIDIOTIS KILLED

The seven others aboard the French-made Falcon aircraft were injured in the incident for which officials said they could find no ready explanation. Two were in serious condition.

Kranidiotis, born in Cyprus and a rising star in Greek politics, had been due to attend a Balkan cooperation meeting. Greek officials said his son and bodyguard had also died along with two journalists of the Greek Television ET, including CyBC correspondent in Athens, and the flight engineer.

Government Spokesman Nikos Athanasakis said the plane went down like a nosedive before the pilots managed to level it.

Gabriel Dumitrescu, a senior civil aviation official, said the plane had gone into a steep plunge about 20 minutes before landing. But it later touched down safely at Bucharest's Otopeni airport and had no apparent external damage.

Mr Dumitrescue told a news conference that the crew had reported an improper functioning of the flight equipment.

The airport's chief inspector, said he had found disarray when he opened the aircraft door. There was a lot of luggage and catering things strewn about and bodies lying on the ground.

Antena 1 private television quoted an injured survivor, Alfonsos Vitalis, as saying panic had broken out on the plane. Passengers without seat belts were hurled through the cabin.

Greek and Cypriot officials praised Kranidiotis, whose recent achievements included launching dialogue between Greece and Turkey and improving relations between the two arch-rivals.

"Yannos Kranidiotis fought for Greek national interests throughout the world," Greek Prime Minister Costas Simitis said in Athens. Foriegn Minister, George Papandreou expressed shock at the loss of a friend and close associate.

A plane carrying Greek officials and relatives of the dead was due to arrive later in Bucharest.

[03] CYPRUS KRANIDIOTIS

President Glafcos Clerides in a statement issued from London said Kranidiotis " was a good friend, a brilliant diplomat. His death is a national loss,"

Socialist EDEK leader, Vassos Lyssarides said he had known Kranidiotis since he was born and he was like his own child.

Mr Lyssarides was the person who had to break the news to Kranidiotis's elderly mother in Nicosia in the early hours.

The son of a former Cypriot ambassador to Athens, Kranidiotis was well respected at home as being one of the few Greek Cypriots who managed to go far in Greek politics.

It was widely rumoured two years ago that he would also run for the presidency of the island nation in elections in February 1998, but he never registered for the contest.

[04] US AMBASSADOR MINISTER

In statements after meeting Foreign Minister Ioannis Kasoulides, Mr Bandler said the loss is very great not only for Greece and Cyprus but also for the international community.

He said Kranidiotis was actively involved in efforts to solve the Cyprus problem and his loss surely creates great grief.

Regarding his meeting with Mr Kasoulides, Mr Bandler said that in view of President Glafcos Clerides' meetings in New York there were a number of things which he wanted to discuss with Mr Kasoulides.

[05] KRANIDIOTIS CEM

Official sources in Ankara said Mr Cem telephoned Mr Papandreou to offer his condolences.

[06] CYPRUS MOURNING BOOK

All flags at government offices will fly at half mast.

The Greek Embassy in Nicosia has opened a book of condolences, which will remain open until the funeral of the Cypriot born greek minister.

The embassy will be open from nine in the morning until midday, and from three until five in the afternoon.

[07] KRANI CONFERENCE POSTP INTERN

After his death was announced the meeting was postponed.

The European Parliament held a one minute silence today to mark the memory of Yannos Kranidiotis and send a telegram of condolences to the greek government.

The Parliament's chairman, Nicole Fontaine expressed Europe's appreciation for Kranidiotis and praised his character and knowledge on european issues.

Turkey's ambassador in Athens, Ali Touigan said he was shocked at the death of the Greek alternate foreign minister, adding that the Kranidiotis was distinguished for his personality.

[08] KRANIDIOTIS CV

He was one of the architects of a recently launched dialogue between Greece and Turkey aimed at improving relations between the two arch-rivals. A regular visitor to Cyprus, he maintained close ties with the island's political establishment and he was regarded as instrumental in efforts to further the island's bid to join the European Union.

[09] MIAMI HURRICANE

The storm ravaged the Bahamas yesterday. The islands of Eleuthera and Great Abaco took direct hits and were expected to report widespread flooding and damage to buildings and trees. Trees fell and power failed in the capital Nassau on New Providence Island.

U.S. President Bill Clinton declared Florida and Georgia federal disaster areas ahead of the U.S. landfall of Hurricane Floyd and cut short his trip to New Zealand because of the storm.

[10] TIMOR DEVELOP

In a unanimous vote, the council endorsed "all necessary measures" to halt the killing and destruction in the former Portuguese colony by pro-Jakarta and anti-independence militias.

U.N. and Australian officials in New York said advance units were expected in East Timor by the weekend.

Australia, at the request of the United Nations, has been organising the force, expected to total about 8,000 troops from several countries.

Australian Prime Minister John Howard said in Canberra that the aim is to have a peacekeeping force in East Timor as soon as possible, adding that the exact timing had still to be decided.

[11] QUAKE BOLIVIA

According to Strasbourg-based geophysical institute the quake, showing a magnitude of six to 6.4 on the Richter scale, was recorded in a mountainous region 250 km southwest of the town of Sucre.

Sucre lies on the edge of the Andes mountain range, about 450 km southwest of landlocked Bolivia's capital, La Paz.

The last quake to strike Bolivia was on May 22, 1998, in the rural region of Aiquile, in the centre of the country. That one, with a magnitude of 6.8 on the Richter scale, killed hundreds of people and destroyed about 2,000 homes.

[12] TURKEY KURDS

The clashes took place despite a Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) pledge to stop fighting and withdraw from Turkey.

The rebels say they have the right to defend themselves against attacks by Turkish forces.

[13] CYBC PRESSER

The press conference will take place on Tuesday, 21 September, at 7.30pm at the new CyBC studio.

[14] WEATHER

Tonight the weather will be mainly clear with easterly north-westerly to north-easterly winds, two to three beaufort and the sea slight. Temperatures will fall to 20 C inland and on the west coast, 22 C on the south coast and 15 C over the mountains.

The fire hazard remains extremely high in all forest areas.

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