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Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation: News in English, 00-03-21Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation at <http://www.cybc.com.cy/>CONTENTS
TUESDAY 21 MARCH 2000 [01] HEADLINESVolunteers willing to donate their bone marrow to save little Andreas Vassilou continue to flood hospitals,Israel handed over more West Bank land to the Palestinians today, President Clerides will conduct a three-day official visit to Israel next week, President Clinton urged India and Pakistan to open a dialogue over Kashmir, The CSE experienced another dive in the index and volume, And police pick up more illegal foreigners in Limassol. [02] TRANSPLANT 1The stream of people undergoing a blood test in search of a bone marrow donor to save the life of six year old Andreas Vassiliou continues unabated.Blood tests are being conducted in all hospitals, at the Karaiskakion medical foundation, the Paraskevaidion transplantation centre, and other private clinics. A special lab crew will conduct blood tests today in Ayia Napa and tomorrow in Dherynia. Finance Minister Takis Klerides will meet with the Health Minister and Karaiskakion directors later today to discuss the foundation's budget. [03] TRANSPLANT 2Karaiskakion medical foundation chairman Efstathios Efstathiou praised the massive public response to the call to save little Andreas and said the island is now the leading country worldwide in the percentage of bone marrow donation volunteers.Speaking on CyBC this morning, Mr. Efstathiou was confident that a life-saving donor would eventually be found. He also said that by the end of this year, the number of volunteers willing to donate their bone marrow will surpass 35 thousand. Mr. Efstathiou said this number will cover the needs of not only all Cypriots currently residing on the island, but for overseas Cypriots as well. [04] ISRAELIsrael handed over more West Bank land to the Palestinians today, while vowing not to let violence sidetrack renewed progress in peace efforts.Palestinian security officials shook hands to seal the transfer of 6.1 percent more of the West Bank as part of revived peace moves. However, bloodshed overshadowed the withdrawal ahead of Pope John Paul's arrival in Israel and the Palestinian territories later today for the first papal pilgrimage to the Holy Land in 36 years. Gunmen wounded three Israelis late yesterday in an apparent Palestinian militant attack in another part of the West Bank. Israeli forces then opened fire on a car they said ran a nearby roadblock, killing a Palestinian woman and wounding her husband. The handover of villages near Ramallah, Bethlehem, Hebron, Jericho and Jenin gives the Palestinians full control over more of the West Bank, where along with Gaza the Palestinians hope to establish an independent state this year. [05] TRIPPresident Clerides will conduct a three-day official visit to Israel, where he will hold meetings with Prime Minister Ehud Barak and President Ezer Weisman.President Clerides, who departs next Tuesday, will meet later with Palestinian leader Yiassir Arafat in Ramalla during a one-day visit to the West Bank. President Clerides will be accompanied by Foreign Minister Ioannis Cassoulides, government spokesman Michalis Papapetrou and Undersecretary to the President, Pantelis Kouros. Mr. Cassoulides will meet with his Israeli counterpart David Levy, while former Prime Minister Shimon Peres will attend a dinner in honour of President Clerides. [06] CLERIDESPresident Clerides held separate meetings this morning with ruling Disy party president Nicos Anastasiades and United Democrats president George Vassiliou.The meetings are part of a round of separate meetings President Clerides will hold with party leaders to brief them on his most recent contacts over the Cyprus issue. President Clerides will meet with Democratic Party leader Spyros Kyprianou at his home later this afternoon. [07] BOATThe Greek patrol boat Knossos was officially handed over to Cypriot authorities in a ceremony at the Salamina naval station today.Defence Minister Socratis Hasikos received the patrol boat from his Greek counterpart Akis Tsohatzopoulos. The boat will be renamed Kyrenia. [08] CHRISTOFIASAkel General Secretary Dimitris Christofias led a delegation to the occupied areas this morning, to meet with the leadership of the Turkish Cypriot Patriotic Unity Movement.A statement issued by Akel states that the meeting is being held as part of rapprochement efforts and to strengthen ties between the two parties. [09] INDIAU.S. President Bill Clinton urged India and Pakistan today to open a dialogue over Kashmir after 35 Sikhs were massacred there in what India's prime minister called a "premeditated act of barbarism".Kashmir and the nuclear competition between India and Pakistan dominated talks between Clinton and Vajpayee on the first visit by a U.S. president to India in 22 years. Clinton, who will stop briefly in Pakistan on Saturday for talks with ruling military leaders, condemned the Kashmir attack on the Sikhs and said it was time for respect of the Line of Control which divides the territory of Kashmir. The United States and India signed today a "vision statement" laying out a foundation for closer ties between the world's two largest democracies after the strains of the Cold War. But U.S. officials made clear there were limits to how close the United States could be to India unless it agreed to restrain its nuclear programme by signing the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty and taking other steps. [10] MARKETThe CSE continued its downward trend today, with the index closing at just under 503 points, a percentage drop of 1.20 from yesterday's close.Volume also dropped to 17.5 million pounds, two million lower than yesterday's close. The index even dipped below the 500 mark for an extended period of time, but later bounced back. Meanwhile, broker Louis Klappas told CyBC television that a CSE comeback is only a matter of days away. He also said that a Social Security investment should be studied, because this would give a significant boost to the CSE. [11] DEMETRAThe company Demetra will raise its share capital from 25 to 50 million pounds.Speaking on CyBC television this morning, company spokesman Andreas Irakleous said the move is geared for the company to meet its many obligations and activities. Mr. Irakleous said the rise in share capital will bolster the coop movement's Venture Capital subsidiary, which will start operations very soon. Regarding Demetra trading on the exchange, Mr. Irakleous said he's hopeful that the CSE will give the green light to the company by next Thursday. [12] FOREIGNERSTwenty-two more foreigners were arrested in Limassol today for illegal residency and will be extradicted.14 Iranians, 2 Jordanians, 3 Bulgarians, an Egyptian man, a Syrian man and a Philipino woman were all taken into custody. They were tracked down this morning around Limassol where they were awaiting employment by Cypriots. Three foreigners, an Iranian man and an Egyptian man, as well as a Russian woman, are expected to be extradicted today after their arrest yesterday for the same reason. Seven more foreigners, from Russia and Bangladesh will also be extradicted after their arrest last week. [13] CAR FIREAn early morning fire engulfed a car belonging to Avgorou resident Maria Thouli that was parked in front of her house.The car was completely destroyed, while police ascertain that the fire was set deliberately. Sources say that George Stylianou, now in police custody in connection with a forgery and share fraud case, was staying at the house a few days earlier. [14] NEUROZThe Kurdistan National Liberation Front in conjunction with the Cyprus Solidarity Committee in Kurdistan are organizing a celebration at the Institute for the Blind tonight in light of Kurdish new year festivities.The alternate President of Kurdistan's National Assembly, Mustafa Hocheria, who is currently on a visit to Cyprus, will attend the celebration. [15] WEATHERThis afternoon will be mainly fine with some high cloud.Winds will be northwesterly to westerly moderate, 3 to 4 beaufort on slight to moderate seas. Tonight will remain fine with cloudy periods. Winds will be northwesterly light, 3 beaufort on slight seas. The temperature will drop to 6 degrees inland, 8 along the coasts and one degree over the highest mountains. Snow depth on Mount Olympus is 20 centimetres and on Troodos Square, 10 centimetres. Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |