Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation: News in English, 99-11-08

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

CONTENTS

MONDAY 8 NOVEMBER 1999

[01] HEADLINES

[02] Missing education

[03] Cleri compliment

[04] Papandreou Paris

[05] Simitis Paris

[06] Athens Clinton

[07] Solana Turkey

[08] Israeli talks

[09] Jihad responsibility

[10] Occupied french

[11] Larnaca exercises

[12] Engineers turkey

[13] Weather

[01] HEADLINES

But Father Christophoros believes this revelation to pay him a complement,

France thinks Greece should be rewarded for holding a positive stance on European-Turkish relations,

Turkey is expected to strengthen its military relations with Europe,

French tourists in the occupied area get a rough ride from so-called police,

and local civil engineers oppose the planned construction of the Akkuyu nuclear plant.

[02] Missing education

Former Education Minister Cleri Angelidou has revealed that it was Father Christophoros who postponed the announcement of the names of the 126 missing persons for whom there was evidence that they were dead.

Speaking on CyBC television last night, Mrs. Angelidou said in 1995, President Clerides, on the recommendation of the Missing Relatives' Committee, assigned her the difficult task of announcing the names of the 126 persons to their families.

Mrs. Angelidou said however, that later during the same year, Father Christophoros called on the relatives of the missing at a Paralimni rally to allow neither Mrs. Angelidou nor anyone else in their homes to tell them their relatives were dead, except if this was proven by DNA analysis.

Mrs. Angelidou mentioned this the President Clerides who then backed off from his decision.

The government finally decided to postpone the announcement, resulting in the families of the 126 not being told, despite the fact that the Missing Relatives' Committee had signed the dossiers confirming theid death.

[03] Cleri compliment

Speaking on CyBC radio this morning, the former chairman of the National Committee on the Missing said he insisted that the relatives of the missing should not accept that their loved ones had died, except if this was proven through scientific means, as in the Zinonas Zinonos case.

Father Christophoros said he was the only one who held his ground and did not sweep the issue under the rug by declaring the missing as "hypothetically dead".

He also said that facts contained in the dossiers of the 126 suggest that they may be dead.

But a final conclusion cannot be reached before scientific examinations are conducted.

[04] Papandreou Paris

It also supports the Greek demand that the European Union make clear that the Cyprus issue does not constitute a condition on the island's EU accession.

According to the Athens News Agency, the French position was conveyed by European Affairs Minister Pierre Moscovichy during a working lunch yesterday with Greek Foreign Minister George Papandreou.

Athens News agency sources within the French administration also say that the French side assertains taht Greece has followed a courageous policy line and believes that Greece must be rewarded for this during the Helsinki summit.

As far as Turkey's EU candidacy is concerned, the French side agrees that references on the need to resolve the Cyprus issue should be made at the summit, as well as keeping good neighbourly relations and avoiding resorting to issuing threats of violence.

Greek-French talks will continue today.

[05] Simitis Paris

The Greek prime minister's contacts began on the sidelines of the International Socialists' conference in Paris.

Mr. Simitis met yesterday with his Dutch counterpart, Vim Koch.

In a brief statement after the meeting, Mr. Simitis said Greece wants to secure all the conditions for EU expansion which will guarantee the region's peaceful course.

He said the Greek government's diplomatic imperative is to ensure continued peace and cooperation in the Balkan region.

The Greek prime minister will address the conference today, where he will propose a new socialist manifesto.

Mr. Simitis will meet separately tomorrow with French President Jacques Chirac and Prime Minister Lionel Jospin.

[06] Athens Clinton

According to the same sources, the Americans have nothing to offer on the Cyprus issue, while they are asking for flexibility on the part of the Greek government with respect to promoting Greek-Turkish relations.

At the same time, they are asking that Greece support US policy in the Balkans, even if this raises real concerns in Athens over the alteration of existing borders.

AS far as the terrorism issue is concerned, the Americans insist on pushing the protocol which officially binds American security actions with the Greek Public Order Ministry.

Greece objects to this, while wishing to sign a bilateral agreement which will be approved by the Greek Parliament.

[07] Solana Turkey

This from EU Common Foreign Policy and Security commissioner, Havier Solana during round-table discussions organized by the French Foreign Relations Institute in Paris.

Mr. Solana said the EU must be transformed into a major player on the international scene with the autonomy to act on the political, economic and military sectors, particularly in using its military clout to prevent or forestall crises.

Mr. Solana also said he is willing to submit specific proposals at the Helsinki Summit, so that these proposals are realized.

[08] Israeli talks

A statement issued by Prime Minister Ehud Barak's office confirmed that those seeking to torpedo the peace process will not succeed in their endeavor.

[09] Jihad responsibility

The terrorist organization opposes the Israeli-Palestinian Oslo peace agreement, starting an offensive against Israeli Israeli positions in 1994.

The bombing attack in Netania took place 24 hours before today's start of Israeli-Palestinian peace talks in Ramala.

Police have been set on full alert in all Israeli cities, while there are fears more attacks will take place.

[10] Occupied french

According to the Turkish Cypriot press, French tourists visited the monastery, but because of a lack of appropriate lighting, they could not see anything. They demanded their money back.

The guards not only refused to do so, but pointed their rifles towards the tourists and called occupation authorities.

Shocked, the tourists boarded a rental car and left.

Occupation authorities later arrested the tourists in the Famagusta area and held them until they were released later that night.

[11] Larnaca exercises

In a statement, the movement accuses the government of being insensitive to the environment and the quality of life in Larnaca.

It also notes that Larnaca must begin a campaign of improvement by making the most of its territory.

[12] Engineers turkey

The association also calls upon other civil engineers groups to act so that the construction plans are averted.

In a letter, the association stresses that the location of the proposed power plant is seismically active and warns that the consequences from a powerful earthquake would be catastrophic for Turkey and the entire region.

[13] Weather

The winds will be westerly to southwesterly moderate, 3 to 4 beaufort. The sea will be slight.

Tonight will be mainly fine. The winds will be northwesterly light, 2 to 3 beaufort, and the sea slight.

The temperature will drop to 11 degrees inland, 13 on the coasts and 6 over the mountainous regions.

The fire hazard is extremely high in all forest areas.

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