Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation: News in English, 00-01-12

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

CONTENTS

WEDNESDAY 12 JANUARY 2000

[01] HEADLINES

[02] PAPANDREOU LEAVES

[03] PAPANDREOU CLERIDES

[04] SPOKESMAN CY

[05] MIDEAST PEACE

[06] T/C MENINGITIS

[07] KARPASIANA SHUTDOWN

[08] CSE

[09] WORST DRESSED

[10] WEATHER

[01] HEADLINES

The Cyprus Government is not, in principle, against meetings between the Turkish-Cypriot leader and foreign officials;

Israel's Prime Minister talks about a possible peace between his country and Israel within 2-3 months;

Three cases of meningitis have been reported in the occupied areas of Cyprus;

A Larnaka seafront hotel shuts its doors indefinitely;

and...

California fashion pundit Mr Blackwell publishes his annual "worst-dressed women" list.

[02] PAPANDREOU LEAVES

During his visit, Mr Papandreou held a series of official contacts, including meetings with his Cypriot counterpart Ioannis Kasoulides and President of the Republic Glafkos Clerides. He also met with all political party leaders and the prelate of the Cyprus Church, Archbishop Chrysostomos, as well as with the island's leading businesspeople.

According to reliable sources, the Greek Foreign Minister's meetings with the island's political party leaders were marked by a particularly constructive attitude. The same sources mentioned that the main subject discussed at the meetings was ways in which the EU Helsinki summit decision on Cyprus can be best utilised in order to bring about the desired results. Archbishop Chrysostomos however, during his meeting with Mr Papandreou, raised the issue of the full restitution of human rights on the island, and flatly rejected either a confederal or a federal solution. Responding, Foreign Minister Papandreou described the issue as extremely significant, adding that both the Greek and the Cypriot governments have every right to demand the total implementation, in Cyprus, of the UN Charter on human rights.

On leaving, the Greek Foreign Minister also described his meetings on the island as having been held in a positive and constructive climate, and reiterated that his country will always stand fast by the side of Cyprus.

[03] PAPANDREOU CLERIDES

Following his meeting with President Clerides, Mr Papandreou stressed that despite recent statements made by Turkish-Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash concerning the realisation of meetings with EU-officials, there is no danger of the pseudostate being recognised, given the European Union's expressed ways of dealing with Cyprus' numerical minority, and also referred to President Clerides' proposal regarding Turkish-Cypriot participation in the island's EU-negotiating team.

In closing, the Greek Foreign Minister also noted that the European Union plans to support and reinforce what he described as "citizens' diplomacy", thus emphasising the need for increased contact between Cyprus' two communities at all levels.

[04] SPOKESMAN CY

Commenting on newspaper articles concerning a possible meeting between Mr Denktash and German Foreign Minister Joshka Fischer, Mr Papapetrou said that there is no evidence to indicate that Germany aims at anything other than providing assistance towards a Cyprus settlement. The Government Spokesman did stress however that while certain parties act in a sincere spirit of goodwill, they give the impression of encouraging Mr Denktash in his efforts towards being recognised as a head of state, thus making the reaching of a Cyprus settlement even more difficult.

Referring to yesterday's incident during which all the Turkish-Cypriot journalists who arrived to cover the joint press conference given by the Cypriot and Greek Foreign Ministers left before the conference began, Government Spokesman Papapetrou said that the Republic of Cyprus has a long-standing and irrevocable policy of not accepting any logos or emblems signifying the illegally-operating Bayrak Radio and Television station and the Denktash pseudostate.

[05] MIDEAST PEACE

In an interview with CNN television, Prime Minister Barak also predicted that a deal with Syria would win landslide support in an Israeli referendum he has pledged to hold, despite a groundswell of opposition to a withdrawal from the occupied Golan Heights. He declined however to be drawn on Syrian statements that a second round of peace talks that ended in Shepherdstown, West Virginia, on Monday had been inconclusive because of his intransigence on the issue of the extent of a pullout.

Negotiations between the Israeli Prime Minister and Syrian Foreign Minister Farouk al-Shara are scheduled to resume in the Washington area on Wednesday, January 19th.

[06] T/C MENINGITIS

According to the Turkish-Cypriot daily "Kibris", two of the three individuals hospitalised have been placed in quarantine. The newspaper also quoted doctors in the occupied areas as saying that there is no danger of an epidemic.

Meanwhile, the Cyprus Health Ministry has not been officially informed on the situation or its extent, but Ministry officials stated today that there is no danger of the possibly fatal disease spreading to the government-controlled areas of the Republic, since it's transmitted only by direct contact

[07] KARPASIANA SHUTDOWN

The hotel was leased in May of last year by a company comprising two Cypriot shareholders, reportedly backed by a Ukranian businessman who claimed that he had an agreement with his country's social services providing for workers' holidays in Cyprus.

Eight months later however, the financial difficulties which plagued the hotel's operation proved overwhelming, with the result that the staff is currently owed two-months' pay, while the rent is outstanding by the amount of 80 thousand pounds.

On Monday, the Cyprus Telecommunications Authority discontinued the provision of services to the hotel due to unpaid bills, and today the Cyprus Electricity Authority disconnected the hotel's power supply for the same reason.

Commenting on the situation, a staff spokesperson said that legal and other steps to be taken will be discussed at a meeting scheduled for Friday.

[08] CSE

Following a discussion of the matter at today's Cabinet meeting, Government Spokesman Michalis Papapetrou said that the state will, in the near future, announce measures aimed at safeguarding investments and minimising risks to the current way of operation.

As regards today's activity, the General Price Index closed at just over 615 units, while the total volume of trading stood at around 26 million pounds, as compared to yesterday's 30 million.

[09] WORST DRESSED

Cher, who enjoyed a huge renaissance in her singing and acting career last year, took first place as "the ultimate fashion fiasco," with Blackwell mocking her penchant for "a million beads and one over-exposed derriere."

Celine Dion, Blackwell said, desperately needs a sense of direction. "In her backward tuxedo, there's no way of knowing whether Diva Dion is coming or going," and he further added the quip "profusion of confusion."

Queen Elizabeth's star-spangled makeover put her high in the ranks of the world's worst-dressed women, with Blackwell asking whether she was the "palace Christmas tree or just a royal clown." The 73-year-old British monarch earned third place on the fashion gadfly's list.

Among other women to be awarded the dubious honour were teen pop star and "belly-baring songbird" Britney Spears, "Friends" television star Jennifer Aniston, who was deemed a "fashion bore and snore," and film star Cameron Diaz for falling prey to a "freaky fashion curse."

And a word to the wise... The never-married Blackwell began his list over 40 years ago.

[10] WEATHER

Tomorrow's forecast includes intermittent cloud cover, while winds will strengthen to moderate northeasterlies, 3-4BF, on slight seas. Temperatures are not expected to exceed 13C inland, 15C in coastal regions and 4C on the higher reaches of the Troodos mountains.

Today's max and min temps were:

Nicosia 12 - 2

Limassol 16 - 7

Larnaka 14 - 3

Paphos 16 - 6 and

Prodromos 2 - minus 2.

The depth of snow is 15cm on Mount Olympus, and 10cm in Troodos Square.

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