Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation: News in English, 99-11-29

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

CONTENTS

MONDAY 29 NOVEMBER 1999

[01] HEADLINES

[02] NATCON

[03] NON NATCON

[04] KASOULIDES LONDON

[05] FAMAGUSTA DENKTASH

[06] GROZNY

[07] ELGIN SAGA

[08] OCCUPIED MONUMENTS

[09] HOOLIGANISM FOOTBALL

[10] CYPRUS STOCK EXCHANGE [011 TAILER

[12] WEATHER

[01] HEADLINES

Foreign Minister Ioannis Kasoulides is leaving for London this afternoon;

The Turkish-Cypriot leader refutes all reports concerning a return of the occupied city of Famagusta to Greek-Cypriot administration;

Russian forces continue their pounding of major urban centres in Chechnya;

Unprecedented acts of football hooliganism for Cyprus were carried out last night;

The Cyprus Stock Exchange began a new week today, with the re-entry of the island's two leading banks;

and...

The Welsh, known for their love of music, go ahead and prove it.

[02] NATCON

According to reliable sources, President Clerides briefed those present on the preparations being undertaken by the Greek-Cypriot side, and was also expected to hear the represented parties' positions on the four subjects to be tabled for discussion by UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan: these are the issues of territory, security, distribution of powers and the constitution.

The Democratic Party (DIKO) is being represented by Deputy Chairman Nikos Kleanthous and Parliamentary Spokesman Tassos Papadopoulos, given Party Chairman Kyprianou's continued hospitalisation in the Nicosia General Hospital Intensive Care Unit.

[03] NON NATCON

The announcement prompted an adverse response from the New Horizons Party, which stated that it steadfastly refuses to attend any such briefings until such time as objective criteria are set concerning party participation in the National Council.

A refusal to attend the briefing was also expressed by the Ecologists-Environmentalists Movement, which mentioned such briefing meetings are not in the least helpful, since the matters are not discussed in depth and the information provided is found lacking.

[04] KASOULIDES LONDON

A significant number of British parliamentarians have accepted invitations to the event, while Foreign Minister Kasoulides is also expected to meet with Britain's Special Representative for Cyprus, Sir David Hannay.

On Wednesday, Cyprus Foreign Minister is scheduled to fly to New York for the December 3rd commencement of the UN-sponsored proximity talks. While the talks will hopefully be in progress, he will leave New York and go first to Brussels for the EU General Affairs Council meeting and from there to Helsinki for the EU-summit.

[05] FAMAGUSTA DENKTASH

Currently in the Turkish capital of Ankara for contacts prior to the New York meeting, Mr Denktash described all reports concerning the possible return of Famagusta to the Greek-Cypriots as falling within the realm of fantasy. In a parallel development, the occupation regime's spokesperson in New York stated that the occupied city is part of what he termed the "TRNC", adding that the Greek-Cypriots are seriously misled if they expect its return prior to the Helsinki EU-summit.

As regards the island's long-standing problem in its entirety, Turkish Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit was quoted by the pseudostate's House Speaker as saying that the Cyprus Issue is already solved.

[06] GROZNY

Commenting on the situation, the Mayor of Grozny stated that some 260 residents of the city have been killed over the last few days, while those who have not fled the capital are seeking refuge in underground shelters.

The Athens News Agency also reported that the Chechen administration has requested the holding of a dialogue with Moscow in order to find a political solution to the problem. The decision to approach Moscow was reached during an extra-ordinary session of the region's parliament yesterday, and was today approved by Chechen President Aslan Mashkadov.

[07] ELGIN SAGA

According to the "Daily Telegraph" newspaper, a conference of British historians is today expected to adopt a memorandum openly accusing the Museum's directorate of conspiracy, bribery and cover-up of damage caused to the ancient artefacts while in the British establishment's supposed safekeeping.

In a parallel development, London's "Sunday Times" yesterday reported that the heir to the British throne, Prince Charles, supports the return of the Parthenon sculptures to Greece.

[08] OCCUPIED MONUMENTS

"Yeni Duzen" makes special mention of Karavas church, saying that it now stands without any doors or windows, while the churchyard itself is overgrown with weeds and wild vegetation. The newspaper also carries a photograph substantiating its report.

[09] HOOLIGANISM FOOTBALL

Storming the Paralimni stadium, the Omonoia followers set fire to installations and shattered windows and stadium seats, as well as causing extensive damage to a number of vehicles parked outside the premises. In the clashes which ensued, seven policemen were lightly injured. Not content with the havoc they wrought in Paralimni, the Omonoia fans also made a stop in the village of Xylophagou, where they smashed window fronts, causing damage to public buildings and installations. In an attempt to justify the acts of hooliganism, Omonoia's Chairman said that local residents had taunted and pelted stones at the team's fans during their passage through Xylophagou.

The Xylophagou Community Authority and the Paralimni Municipality have both stated that they intend to take legal action against those responsible and demand compensation for all damages.

[10] CYPRUS STOCK EXCHANGE

The volume of trading, following 4 thousand transactions, also showed an increase, reaching 33 million 600 pounds to Friday's 22 million.

As expected, today's re-entry of the Bank of Cyprus and the Popular Bank gave a new impetus to trading, despite a total of 21 companies remaining closed to trading and one brokerage firm barred from the floor.

[011 TAILER

Today's tailer comes to us from the Welsh coastal town of Swansea, where local music-lovers took pity on Russia's touring National Philharmonic Orchestra which was forced to play Brahms for alms outside a fast food restaurant after running out of funds.

Astonishing as it may sound, the venerable orchestra (which was founded in 1879) had to resort to busking outside a McDonald's restaurant after sales failed to take off on their British tour. The 86 musicians were forced to subsist on bread and cheese while sleeping 10-to-a-room in hostels.

Their plight struck a chord with donors, who jumped in to pay the travel bills for the remainder of the tour: among the donors were a major telecommunications supplier to Russia, which offered 10,000 pounds, a local travel firm and a catering company. The orchestra's conductor, Boguslav Davidoff, said: "We are very grateful for all the help we have received."

Still, music is music, no matter the venue!

[12] WEATHER

Generally fair conditions are also forecast for tonight, with winds abating to light northeast-to-northwesterlies, 3BF, on slight seas. Temperatures are expected to drop to 5C inland and in the west, 7C along the south coast, and 0C on the higher reaches of the Troodos mountains.

The fire hazard remains extremely high in all forest areas.

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