Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation: News in English, 99-12-03

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

CONTENTS

FRIDAY 3 DECEMBER 1999

[01] HEADLINES

[02] PROXIMITY BEGIN

[03] TALKS BEGIN

[04] SECURITY COUNCIL

[05] CLINTON TALKS

[06] DENKTASH TALKS

[07] TERRITORY TALKS

[08] TURKISH CYPRIOTS

[09] SIMITIS VETO

[10] LIPONEN TALKS

[11] EXCHANGE CLOSED

[12] EXCHANGE TODAY

[13] HOUSE COMMUNITIES

[14] WEATHER

[01] HEADLINES

UN negotiator Alvaro De Soto said he is confident the proximity talks will set the solution process on the right path,

The UN Security Council welcomed the start of proximity talks, while President Clinton sent a personal message to the UN Secretary General on the talks,

Rauf Denktash is not giving the slightest hint he will budge on his entrenched positions,

Reports from New York say the US officials are determined to move the talks beyond mere superficialities,

Turkish Cypriot Trade Unions express their wish that the proximity talks will lead to a federal solution,

Greece will not back Turkey's EU candidacy if it's views on Cyprus are not taken into consideration,

And 27 million pounds have been earmarked by the Interior minister for construction works along the demarcation line.

[02] PROXIMITY BEGIN

UN Secretary General Kofi Annan will hold separate meetings with President Clerides and Mr. Denktash.

Mr. Annan will meet with President Clerides at five o'clock local time, and with Rauf Denktash at 6:45 local time.

[03] TALKS BEGIN

He also said that UN Secretary General Kofi Annan has called on the two sides to remain in New York until the 15th of December.

Mr. De Soto added that proximity talks are not only procedural, but that they will deal with issues of substance and admonished the stream of statements made by Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash.

The UN official said that Mr. Annan expects all governments which expressed an interest in the Cyprus issue to help either with advice, or any other diplomatic measure.

[04] SECURITY COUNCIL

In a written statement, Council Chairman Sir Jamie Greenstock notes the body's interest in the Cyprus problem and underscores the fact that the Security Council had called for such talks last June to be held in the autumn without any conditions and based on United Nations resolutions.

[05] CLINTON TALKS

Diplomatic sources within the United Nations describe President Clinton's message as defining for the outcome of the talks and consider that it will add impetus to plans for direct talks next January or February.

[06] DENKTASH TALKS

He said he is not contravening the moratorium on statements, but rather that he is referring to the past and is explaining the problem, which, as he said, President Clinton does not know.

Rauf Denktash added that he would submit proposals on confederation at the talks and that he would challenge President Clerides' internationally recognized standing as President of the Republic of Cyprus, representing the entire island.

Attempting to justify his refusal to meet face-to-face with President Clerides, Mr. Denktash said the President is his good friend, but that such meetings give the wrong impression - when others see the two laugh at an anecdote, they get the idea that a solution is at hand.

[07] TERRITORY TALKS

Of particular note is the issue of territory, where they say restitution for lost property is of major significance.

According to the report, a restitution account upwards of 1 BILLION dollars is already on the negotiating table.

Regarding the constitutional aspects of the problem, the US officials say that they will pursue a set of principles that will govern the constitution and that a panel of constitutional experts will be formed under the leadership of a mutually acceptable personality.

[08] TURKISH CYPRIOTS

The Turkish Cypriot newspaper Yeni Duzen reports that the trade unions have called on both sides to pursue a peace that the two communities on the island long for.

The Trade Union Forum also condemned the occupation regime for impeding bicommunal contacts.

[09] SIMITIS VETO

This was made clear by Greek Prime Minister Costas Simitis in a meeting yesterday with European Council President and Finnish Prime Minister Pavo Lipponen.

Mr. Simitis said Greece demands clear posititions and does not want to come up against any foot dragging over Cyprus' EU accession course.

The Greek prime minister added that his government does not want to engage in retaliatory acts with other European Union member countries over these issues.

[10] LIPONEN TALKS

He said everyone agrees that Cyprus' accession course is a matter between Cyprus and the European Union.

He did note however, that a solution to the Cyprus problem would help expedite the accession process.

With regard to Turkey, Mr. Liponen said a historic opportunity is now at hand to settle the issue of the country's accession candidacy.

He added that Greek concerns are completely grounded in fact and that they deserve acknowledgement.

[11] EXCHANGE CLOSED

In a marathon meeting yesterday, the exchange's board of directors decided to shut the exchange down from Monday to Wednesday of next week, due to the installation of a new transaction system.

[12] EXCHANGE TODAY

Volume surpassed 33 million pounds, while the index closed at 837 points, compared to 833 points posted yesterday.

Five thousand transactions took place, while only one brokerage firm was left off the floor.

[13] HOUSE COMMUNITIES

Speaking today before the House Committee for the Revitalization of the Green Line, Mr. Christodoulou said that 14 million pounds will be reserved for infrastructure projects, a second sum will go for housing construction and a third for boosting industry.

The minister assured committee members that he would personally oversee construction, so that the timetable is strictly adhered to.

He also asked that he report to the committee in six months' time on the plan's progress.

[14] WEATHER

This afternoon will be mainly fine with some cloudy periods mainly in the upper atmosphere.

Winds will be mainly northwesterly to southwesterly light, 3 beaufort, and at times 4 beaufort.

The sea will be slight to moderate in windward areas.

Tomorrow will be mainly fine with some high cloud.

Winds will be northerly light, 2 to 3 beaufort with slight seas.

The temperature will drop to 8 degrees inland and the eastern coast, 10 degrees on the western coast and 4 degrees over the mountainous areas.

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