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Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation: News in English, 99-10-18Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation at <http://www.cybc.com.cy/>CONTENTS
MONDAY 18 OCTOBER 1999 [01] HEADLINESUS Presidential Emissary Moses today concludes his visit to Athens, and is expected in Nicosia later today;Turkish-Cypriot leader Denktash once again states his intention to resign if pressured to accept a Cyprus settlement; CyBC and other stations report of a stepping-up of British intelligence-gathering operations in Cyprus; Pakistan's military ruler pledges to bring what he described as "real democracy" to the country; Cyprus purchases a significant interest in a Black Sea joint venture; and... A computer system breakdown led to the cancellation of Cyprus Stock Exchange operations this morning. [02] MOSES - ATHENSThe US Government has no specific plan for a resolution of the Cyprus Issue.The statement was made by US Presidential Emissary Al Moses, following a meeting held today with Greek Foreign Minister George Papandreou in Athens. Also attending the meeting was the US State Department's Special Co-ordinator for Cyprus, Thomas Weston. Speaking to reporters afterwards, Mr Moses said that the US has no desire to impose any settlement but considers the current situation in Cyprus "unacceptable", adding that the two communities on the island should co-operate, given the mutual benefit to be gained by both. On his part, Mr Papandreou stressed that substantive and UN-sponsored negotiations on the Cyprus Issue should begin the soonest and aim at what he described as "an opportune end". The Greek Foreign MInister further expressed the hope that the G8 initiative, UN Security Council resolutions and US efforts will lead to substantial steps towards a resolution of the long-standing problem. US Presidential Emissary Al Moses is arriving in Cyprus this evening, for separate meetings with President of the Republic Glafkos Clerides and Turkish-Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash. [03] DENKTAS-MILLIYETTurkish-Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash once again repeated his intention to resign if forced to agree to a Cyprus settlement which does not satisfy him.In an interview with CNN carried by the Turkish newspaper "Milliyet", the leader of the occupation regime reiterated his demand for a confederal solution and flatly rejected the holding of direct talks, saying in a direct quote that he is not willing to enter negotiations aimed at "stripping the shirt off his back", and conceding that he is the subject of US and European pressures. The Turkish-Cypriot leader is returning to Cyprus from Constantinople tonight, and is scheduled to meet with US Presidential Emissary Al Moses in occupied Nicosia at six o'clock tomorrow evening. [04] BR- SPYINGBritain has recently upgraded and escalated its intelligence-gathering operations in Cyprus.According to CyBC information released late last night, the Ayios Nikolaos (or Ay-Nic) installations, operating on a round-the-clock basis on the island for a many years now, have been upgraded and are now used to tap telephone, wireless and satellite communications originating in Cyprus itself, as well as in Greece, Turkey, the Middle East and the Balkans. In addition, the BBC's relay station at Zygi, equipped with the most powerful transceivers in the Eastern Mediterranean, can, at any time, be used to jam Cypriot communications, both civil and military. CyBC's report further mentioned that British intelligence had also closely monitored this month's "Nikiphoros-Toxotis" military exercise, having brought over to the island specialized personnel with a fluent knowledge of the Greek language. [05] BR-U2Meanwhile, it was also disclosed today that at least two U2 recognizance aircraft are stationed at the Akrotiri airbase, from where they regularly patrol the skies over Cyprus at altitudes of 60-70 thousand feet, enabling them to maintain radio silence as regards the island's Civil Aviation Authority.The U2's are equipped with high-resolution cameras and high-tech monitoring devices, while any information gleaned is transmitted, in scrambled form, to earthbound British bases. [06] HADJIDEMETRIOU-DEFENCEReacting to the disclosures, House Defence Committee Chairman Takis HjiDemetriou today asked the Cyprus Government for a full briefing on British intelligence operations in Cyprus.Speaking on CyBC's Third Radio Channel this morning, the EDEK deputy also referred to the presence of the Russian-made TOR-M1 missiles during the National Guard's recent military parade, and said that certain aspects of the force's weapons systems should be kept secret. Mr HjiDemetriou requested that the official briefing on the part of the Government be held by Thursday at the latest. [07] PAKISTANPakistan's new military ruler, General Pervez Musharraf, last night pledged to bring "real democracy" to the country, without however saying when.General Musharraf, in power since a bloodless coup last Tuesday, noted in a broadcast that the armed forces have no intention of staying in charge any longer than absolutely necessary. The 56-year-old career soldier also said that special bodies will be set up to steer Pakistan out of what he called "darkness and despondency with no light visible anywhere around". He said that a cabinet and think-tank, comprising intellectuals and technocrats selected by the military, would function under a National Security Council headed by himself and including legal and political "experts", adding that military rule is temporary and that the country's constitution has been suspended, not scrapped. [07] NOVOROSISKThe Cyprus Development Bank and Cypriot businessmen are participating in a joint venture in purchasing the rights to one-seventh of the Russian port of Novorosisk, the country's largest commercial port on the Black Sea.The report was issued by the Cyprus News Agency, which also metioned that the initial capital outlay is ten million dollars, with a sizeable Cypriot involvement. The purchased interest focuses on lumber trading from Russia's Krasnodar region and other areas of the country, with destinations in the entire Mediterranean Sea as well as in the Middle East. According to reliable figures, the joint venture currently employs one thousand 800 people. [08] CSEToday's trading at the Cyprus Stock Exchange was called off, following a technical problem in the bourse's central computer system.Informed sources told our station that the glitch may well have occured due to an overloading of the system caused by brokers' attempts to log on. Despite repeated efforts to restore normal operation, the endeavour was abandoned after two hours. The Cyprus Stock Exchange Board is holding a meeting with Public Company reperesentatives this afternoon in order to discuss matters pertaining to pending documents as well as more general problems facing the bourse. [09] WEATHERSkies will be marked by some passing cloud this afternoon, with the possibility of isolated showers. Winds will be westerly moderate, 4BF, on generally slight seas, rising to moderate in windward areas, while temperatures are not expected to exceed 27C inland and along the coasts, and 17C at higher altitudes.Tonight's forecast includes generally fair conditions, with winds turning to light northwesterlies, 2-3BF, on slight seas. Temperatures will drop to 15C inland, 18C in coastal regions and 10C on the higher reaches of the Troodos mountains. The fire hazard remains extremely high in all forest areas. Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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