Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation: News in English, 99-10-06

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

CONTENTS

WEDNESDAY 5 OCTOBER 1999

[01] HEADLINES

[02] NIKIPHOROS

[03] CLERIDES NIKIPHOROS

[04] APOSTOLAKIS CLERIDES

[05] NIOTIS CY

[06] CNN APOLOGY

[07] BRITRAIN CRASH

[08] BASES FATALITY

[09] PETROL HIKE?

[10] CSE

[11] WEATHER

[01] HEADLINES

Greek Undersecretary of State for Foreign Affairs estimates that UN invitations for the holding of direct talks on the Cyprus Issue will be sent out early next month;

CNN apologises for an erroneous caption during an exclusive interview with the President of the Cyprus Republic;

Britain's worst rail disaster in a decade has so far claimed 26 lives;

The names of the four British tourists killed in a car crash along the Dhekeleia-Famagusta road yesterday are released;

and...

Trading continues to pick up at the Cyprus Stock Exchange.

[02] NIKIPHOROS

Held near the Larnaka district village of Kalo Khorio, today's manoeuvres were carried out using live ammunition and with the active participation of two Hellenic Airforce A-7 Corsair bombers and two F-16 fighters, all of which scored direct hits against their intended targets.

The scenario for today's final operational phase included an attack and the retaking of lands captured by enemy forces. Supporting the successful infantry efforts were T-80 battle tanks, helicopter gunships and artillery units.

The annual exercise ends tomorrow, with a military parade in Larnaka.

[03] CLERIDES NIKIPHOROS

Cyprus' President made special reference to the fact that Hellenic Airforce planes, taking off from Greek territory, arrived over the island promptly in order to provide air support and deliver decisive strikes. He further mentioned that the success of this year's exercise indicates that the United Defence Dogma signed between Cyprus and Greece is fully functional and implemented daily for the protection of the island.

Asked about statements made by National Guard Chief Demetris Demou concerning the purchase of new helicopters for the island's defence force, the President of the Republic said that one does not need to go into such matters at present.

[04] APOSTOLAKIS CLERIDES

Following the Presidential Palace meeting, Mr Apostolakis was called upon to comment on possible Turkish reactions in the eventuality of Hellenic Airforce planes landing at the Andreas Papandreou base in Paphos. Noting that that the scenario for the current "Nikiphoros-Toxotis" military exercise, held in tandem by Cyprus' National Guard and the Greek Armed Forces, was drawn up months in advance, he emphasised that as such, it is not subject to any alterations. Undersecretary Apostolakis did mention however, that Turkey's moves are being constantly monitored and responses are judged accordingly.

[05] NIOTIS CY

Mr Niotis' assessment came after a meeting with US Presidential Emissary Alfred Moses, whose announced visit to the Nicosia-Athens-Ankara triangle, originally scheduled for this week, was later postponed because of a reported parallel visit to Moscow by Turkey's Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit.

The Greek Undersecretary of State also met with US Assistant National Security Advisor James Steinberg, with whom he discussed the Cyprus Issue as well as matters pertaining to President Clinton's visit to Athens, Ankara and Constantinople next month.

[06] CNN APOLOGY

The CNN Chairman further concurs that the political faux-pas was not just in writing, but was also made by the station's reporter, who used the same erroneous title when addressing Cyprus' President. As regards the caption itself, Chris Kramer said that the mistake was made by one of the networks Washington editors, who was only trying to remind viewers that the island is still divided. In closing, Mr Kramer notes that CNN guidelines dictate that there is only one internationally recognised government in Cyprus, that of the Cyprus Republic, and that he has already brought to the attention of all network editors and producers the vital importance of using the correct terminology when handling news on Cyprus.

[07] BRITRAIN CRASH

British Transport Police dismissed as "pure speculation" media reports that the final toll could be as high as 90, but said more bodies could be found when firefighters cut their way into a badly damaged and burnt carriage, which was so mangled in the rush-hour crash between two busy commuter trains about 4 km west of Paddington Station, that rescuers decided to wait until safety precautions were taken overnight before attempting to enter it. Some reports said as many as 60 people may have been packed into the carriage in question. The death toll so far makes it Britain's worst rail disaster in a decade.

Television pictures of the crash, which also injured more than 160 people (26 seriously) horrified British politicians and the public, prompting widespread calls for a shakeup of the railway system to make it safer.

[08] BASES FATALITY

The names of the deceased were officially released this morning, following notification of their relatives in Britain. They are Michael and Gladys Salisbury, both 55 years of age, and John-Stanley and Bertha-Ann Tucker, both 66.

According to British Bases Spokesman Rob Need, evidence collected to date seems to indicate that the accident occured when the tourists' rental car, heading east along the new Dhekeleia-Famagusta road, for reasons unknown veered into the oncoming traffic lane and collided with two cars coming from the opposite direction.

[09] PETROL HIKE?

Speaking to our station this morning, Minister of Commerce, Industry and Tourism Nikos Rolandis said that the hike is inevitable given the current selling prices of crude oil on international markets, adding that he will meet with petrol company managers today, and table the issue before the National Council meeting on Friday.

Mr Rolandis avoided mentioning by how much the Government is thinking of raising the price, but reliable sources place the hike at about two cents per litre.

[10] CSE

A parallel upswing was observed in the general price index, which rose by eight percentage points to reach 488 units, while the lion's share of today's increased trading was taken up by banking organisation titles.

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

[11] WEATHER

Generally fair conditions are also forecast for tonight, with the possibility of light mist forming in many areas in the early hours of tomorrow morning. Winds will be northwesterly light, 2-3BF, on slight seas, and temperatures will drop to 20C inland and in coastal regions, and 13C on the higher reaches of the Troodos mountains.

The fire hazard remains extremely high in all forest areas.

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