Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation: News in English, 00-02-21

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

CONTENTS

MONDAY 21 FEBRUARY 2000

[01] HEADLINES

[02] SPOKESMAN COOK

[03] SOCIAL-DEMOCRATS

[04] SOCIAL DEMOCRAT REACTION

[05] WORLD IN BRIEF

[06] FOREIGNER VISITS

[07] NORWEGIAN

[08] HOUSE VAT

[09] CSE

[10] TAILER

[11] WEATHER

[01] HEADLINES

Cyprus' Social-Democrat Movement takes form, albeit in a heated atmosphere;

An overview of the major News stories from around the world;

Foreign dignitaries hold meetings in both the government-controlled and the Turkish-occupied areas of the island;

The House Finance Committee discusses tax increases and new levies;

Cyprus' Stock Exchange experiences a start-of-the-week slump;

and...

US jargon is slowly but steadily creeping into British English;

[02] SPOKESMAN COOK

Expanding on the matter, Mr Papapetrou said that free movement is an inalienable human right and should be viewed as such, irrespective of the accession of any country to the European Union.

Asked if the Cyprus Republic intends to lodge a demarche with Britain, Government Spokesman Papapetrou said that the immutable positions of the Greek-Cypriot side are expressed at every possible opportunity.

[03] SOCIAL-DEMOCRATS

The decision was taken following a heated discussion which came to a head with Vassos Lyssarides accusing Socialist EDEK functionaries of small-time politics and pettiness for demanding that he set a specific date for stepping down from the nominated post.

Specifically, Dr Lyssarides openly wondered over the motives of those who stipulated the demand, given earlier statements on his part which make his position perfectly clear. He went on to say that the demand constituted an affront to his dignity, while he also charged those opposed to his assuming the post of chairman of serving the interests of others who seek his marginalisation during what he described as "these critical times for the Cyprus Issue". The veteran Cypriot politician also stated explicitly that the dissenters could even be aspiring towards receiving sizeable sums of money for adopting such as position.

With Dr Vassos Lyssarides at the helm, however, it was also decided that the Social-Democrats electoral congress be held no later than June 10th.

[04] SOCIAL DEMOCRAT REACTION

Andreas Sismanis, an EDEK Secretariat and Central Committee member, today handed in his resignation from the newly-established Social-Democrat movement, describing what happened during the founding congress as "totally unacceptable". Another EDEK Central Committee official, and also a party political bureau member, Andreas Frydas, confined himself to expressing disappointment at what he described as "the degradation of his party", achieved by certain wheelers-dealers demolishing a temple to ideological ideals, strife and visions in order to build a neighbourhood kiosk selling a hodgepodge of ideas.

In a parallel development, MP Takis HjiDemetriou told our station that Vassos Lyssarides disclosed to close collaborators that he would be withdrawing from the ranks of the newly-established movement immediately after next year's parliamentary elections. Mr HjiDemetriou also conceded that Dr Lyssarides did overstep certain limits, but attributed this to emotional upheaval which even seasoned politicians, being only human, are subject to from time to time.

[05] WORLD IN BRIEF

Chinese and EU negotiators today began a new round of market-opening talks, to try to hammer out a deal that would remove the largest remaining obstacle to China's membership of the World Trade Organisation.

In Moscow, Defence Minister Igor Sergeyev announced last night that Russian forces are slowly tightening a noose around rebels holed up in Chechnya's southern mountains, while a military commander was quoted by Reuters as saying that the campaign will soon end.

Gulf states sources said that oil producers last night reached a consensus on the need to raise output and are busy discussing how many extra barrels to unleash on a hot market and when.

And... US Middle East envoy Dennis Ross is to try to break an impasse in the peace process between Israel and the Palestinians on his return to the region today.

[06] FOREIGNER VISITS

The Bulgarian politician, in Cyprus on the invitation of the left-wing AKEL party, was today also scheduled to meet with the Chairman of the Social-Democrat Movement, Dr Vassos Lyssarides, and AKEL Secretary-General Demetris Christofias. No statements were made after the Presidential Palace meeting.

Meanwhile, a delegation comprising members of Slovenia's Parliamentary Foreign Affairs Committee, headed by committee chairman Jelko Katsin, was received this morning by the Cyprus House of Representatives Acting President and Democratic Rally Chairman Nikos Anastassiades.

During the meeting, Mr Anastassiades briefed the Slovenian parliamentarians on the latest Cyprus developments, and also discussed prospects of co-operation as regards the two countries' EU-accession courses. The visiting delegation is today also scheduled to meet with the chief of Cyprus' EU-negotiating team Goewrge Vassiliou, as well as with Finance Minister and Acting Foreign Minister Takis Klirides

[07] NORWEGIAN

Norwegian Labour Party member and Chairman of the country's parliamentary foreign affairs committee Haakon Blankenborg, on a private visit to Cyprus, was today scheduled to meet with the chairman of the Communal Liberation Party Mustafa Akinci, while he has also made plans to attend a working luncheon hosted by Turkish-Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash.

Tomorrow, the Norwegian parliamentarian is scheduled to meet with the leaders of the National Unity, Democratic and Turkish Republican parties.

[08] HOUSE VAT

Within the scope of the debate, Finance Minister Takis Klirides was today scheduled to enter specific details concerning the government's proposals on VAT, road tax levy increases in the order of 35%, and the abolition of import duty waivers for semi-governmental organisations.

[09] CSE

The total volume of trading also experienced a decrease, reaching approximately 19-and-a-half million pounds in comparison to last week's end volume of around 30 million.

The only part-index which managed to show a rise in today's trading was that of the insurance organisation sector.

[10] TAILER

The Oxford Dictionary also lists a number of neologisms, including "helicopter view" (taking an overview of a problem), "talking off line" (continuing a discussion after a formal meeting) and running a "sanity check" (asking someone if they're alright). Another favourite in the office world is Romping (or "Random Office Mobility Programme") which means that members of staff can sit wherever they want to.

In closing, Cooper forecasts that "low-hanging fruit" meaning (easy targets), "360-degree branding" (taking an inclusive approach) and "disintermediation" (cutting out the middleman), will soon be joined by other equally-complicated phrases.

And on that note, an intimation of the meteorological conditions which await us during the rest of the day and on the morrow...

[11] WEATHER

Similar conditions are forecast for tonight, with temperatures dropping to 5C inland, 7C in the east, 9C in the south and west, and 0C on the higher reaches of the Troodos mountains.

Tomorrow's forecast once again includes partly cloudy skies, bringing rain throughout the island and snow on the higher mountain peaks.

The depth of snow on Mount Olympus is 40cm, and 35cm in Troodos Square.

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