Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation: News in English, 99-10-05

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

CONTENTS

TUESDAY 5 OCTOBER 1999

[01] HEADLINES

[02] NIKIPHOROS

[03] CLER NIKIPHOROS

[04] TURK VIOLS

[05] ANKARA NIKIPHOROS

[06] RUBIN

[07] DENK RESIGN?

[08] TURK GEN

[09] BRITAIN TRAINS

[10] SALAMIS EXC'NS

[11] CSE

[12] WEATHER

[01] HEADLINES

Turkish fighter planes violate the Athens and Nicosia Flight Information Regions;

The US State Department reiterates its desire for the holding of direct talks over Cyprus;

Turkish-Cypriot leader Denktash threatens to resign if pressured;

Two trains collide near London's Paddington station;

and...

Money may give some people a high... in more ways than one!

[02] NIKIPHOROS

Today's focus of operations was the sea area off Limassol, where two Hellenic Airforce F-16 fighters and two A-7 Corsair bombers carried out attacks against mock naval targets with 500-pound bombs. The scenario provided for the repulsion of an enemy landing force and the elimination of a bridgehead, as well as the prevention of any air support efforts. In its successful counterattack to reclaim the area, the National Guard employed battle tanks, armoured personnel carriers and helicopter gunships, while Greek paratroopers performed a drop from a C-130 transport plane.

The Hellenic Navy was actively present with the frigate "Hydra", the torpedo-boats "Xenos" and "Laskos" and the submarine "Poseidon", while at some distance off the coast, the frigates "Limnos" and "Aegean" were patrolling the waters.

[03] CLER NIKIPHOROS

In statements following the conclusion of today's manoeuvres, President Clerides expressed his full satisfaction, saying that what he saw was an excellently combined static defence and active offence. Commenting on the observed co-operation between the General Staffs of Greece and Cyprus, the President said that that, as well as the excellent performance of the National Guard, give a very good indication of the state of Cyprus' defence. He refrained however from commenting on when Cyprus will acquire its own air wing.

As regards Turkey's claims that the annual exercise leads to a destabilisation in the region, Cyprus' President confined himself to saying that the occupying power seems to be troubled by the presence of Hellenic Airforce planes. President Clerides also avoided any comment, when asked, on the possibility of a diplomatic crisis brewing between Cyprus and Britain.

[04] TURK VIOLS

According to the Athens News Agency, the Turkish planes withdrew from the international airspace between Crete and Cyprus before Greek fighter planes arrived on the scene to intercept them. The report also mentions that the Turkish planes did not enter Greek sovereign airspace, and neither did they come into contact with Hellenic airforce planes.

[05] ANKARA NIKIPHOROS

In the relevant announcement, the Ankara government did not hesitate in issuing a veiled threat, stating that it will take all measures deemed necessary in order to deal with the situation created by the annual exercise.

[06] RUBIN

Commenting on the visit to Turkey by Greek Foreign Minister George Papandreou and Mr Papandreou's meeting with his Turkish counterpart Ismail Cem, James Rubin said that such actions cannot but lend a encouraging note to current efforts, assisting US endeavours towards the resumption of substantive talks over Cyprus, to be held without preconditions and under the auspices of the United Nations as provided for by UN Security Council resolutions and the G8 statement on the issue.

[07] DENK RESIGN?

In an article carried in today's edition, the Turkish-Cypriot newspaper "Avrupa" reports that Mr Denktash is not willing to participate in any meetings which would not be to the benefit of what the newspaper described as "his community", further stating that in order to alleviate any intense pressure he would have no option but to resign.

[08] TURK GEN

While rejecting any assistance under the said conditions, General Senoglu also described Turkey as the "loneliest country in the world" which, he went on to say, has many enemies, both from outside as well as from within.

[09] BRITAIN TRAINS

A Reuters journalist who was on one of the trains reported that a Great Western Trains service from Didcot Parkway, west of London, had been in a collision with another train about 4 km west of the busy central London station. The other train was believed to be headed in the opposite direction, towards Wales.

A Transport police spokesman said: "We believe there are numerous casualties but we don't know how many", adding that he could not give any more details from the scene at the moment.

[10] SALAMIS EXC'NS

The occupation regime's so-called director of museums and archaeological studies Ali Kanli, mentions in an announcement that even though two years have elapsed since the extending of the invitation, the French University has still not responded. He further claims that his department is within the law in carrying out the said excavations, which, he alleges, conform to international standards and procedures, and levels accusations against the Cyprus Government for what he describes as an attempt to politically exploit the issue on an international level.

The University of Lyon Salamis excavations were suspended in 1974, immediately after the Turkish Invasion of the island.

[11] CSE

Today's volume of trading meanwhile reached 14 million 579 thousand pounds, over than double yesterday's volume of 6 million 868 thousand.

Just prior to the suspension of trading on September 3rd and the subsequent re-opening of the bourse yesterday, the trading volume stood at approximately 54 million pounds.

[12] WEATHER

Generally fair conditions are also forecast for tonight, but mist and low cloud is forecast for many areas. Winds will turn to light northeast-to-northwesterlies, 2-3BF, on slight seas. Temperatures are expected to drop to 19C inland and in coastal regions, and 14C on the higher reaches of the Troodos mountains.

The fire hazard remains extremely high in all forest areas.

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