Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation: News in English, 00-04-11

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

CONTENTS

WEDNESDAY 12 APRIL 2000

[01] HEADLINES

[02] MOSES ANKARA

[03] T/C IDEAS

[04] ECEVIT SIMITIS

[05] PAPANDREOU

[06] VERHEUGEN TURKEY

[07] WORLD IN BRIEF

[08] CLERIDES/FINNS

[09] CSE

[10] FATALITIES

[11] WEATHER

[01] HEADLINES

An official of the Turkish-Cypriot pseudostate comes out strongly in favour of Rauf Denktash in relation to this Saturday's so-called elections in the occupied areas;

Turkey's Prime Minister congratulates his Greek counterpart on his re-election, while Greece's Foreign Minister voices his country's wish to continue a policy of rapprochement with its neighbour and traditional rival;

The European Union's Commissioner on Expansion notes that Turkey is still found lacking in satisfying the political criteria required for accession;

President of the Republic Glafkos Clerides receives a visiting parliamentary delegation from Finland;

and...

Stability is the order of the day at the Cyprus Stock Exchange.

[02] MOSES ANKARA

Expected in Ankara later this month is the US State Department's Special Co-ordinator for Cyprus, Thomas Weston, who will also realise a parallel visit to Athens, while the UN Secretary-General's Special Representative on the Cyprus Issue, Alvaro de Soto, is expected in Nicosia next month.

Speaking to reporters in Washington, Thomas Weston stated that Cyprus' EU-accession course, greco-turkish rapprochement and the intense and joint US and international community's support of UN efforts, are all factors lending themselves to the formulation of the best possible conditions for a resolution of the Cyprus Issue. He went on to express optimism over next month's proximity talks, adding that his country will continue to work hard in order to make sure that the resumption of the talks will lead the Greek- and Turkish-Cypriots towards a just and viable solution allaying the fears and satisfying the concerns of both sides.

[03] T/C IDEAS

Without going into details over the content of the suggestions, and in a blatant effort to bolster the chances of Rauf Denktash being re-elected as the so-called president of the pseudostate this Sunday, Ergun Olgun said that the Turkish-Cypriot side would enjoy a huge advantage if its interlocutor were to be someone with a thorough knowledge of the history of the Cyprus Issue.

In closing, Ergun Olgun also mentioned that a possible change in the pseudostate's leadership would inevitable lead to a tremendous waste of time in the Cyprus Issue talks.

[04] ECEVIT SIMITIS

In a direct excerpt quoted by Reuters, prime minister Ecevit said "I want to confirm that the Turkish government is ready to take further steps through joint efforts in order to put relations between our countries on a better level."

Turkey's outgoing President Suleyman Demirel also sent a similar message to the re-elected Greek Prime Minister.

[04] PAPANDREOU

Speaking at a news conference in Luxembourg, where he attended yesterday's EU-Turkey Association Council meeting, Foreign Minister Papandreou said that he saw his party's election victory on Sunday as confirmation of the foreign policy followed over the last term, and made special reference to what he described as the important success seen in the change in relations between the EU and Turkey.

Foreign Minister Papandreou did note however that while relations between the two countries have thawed, Greece remains concerned about the resolution of territorial disputes with Turkey, and noted that finding a solution for Cyprus would be made easier by rapprochement, Turkey's promotion as a candidate for EU membership and the fact that Cyprus is on the way to joining the EU. He also appealed to Cyprus' breakaway Turkish community to take up what he called "a historic opportunity" to join the Greek-Cypriot side in membership negotiations.

[06] VERHEUGEN TURKEY

He did mention, however, that four months after Turkey's upgrading to a candidate-state, the overall political climate has definitely improved, and further expressed the hope that current policies will enable the country to achieve its goal.

Gunther Verheugen was responding to concerns over Turkey's human rights record as expressed by members of the European Parliament, who stressed the need for immediate changes in the candidate-state's internal policies and legislation so that democratic values may be safeguarded.

[07] WORLD IN BRIEF

US President Bill Clinton met Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak late last night, with both leaders voicing hope for swift progress towards Israeli peace with the Palestinians ahead of a May 13th deadline. Despite fading prospects for an Israeli breakthrough with Syria, President Clinton said that the door remains open.

Russia appears to be edging towards renewed political dialogue with Chechen leader Aslan Maskhadov to try to end the war which has devastated the rebel region and has elicited Western condemnation.

Chinese President Jiang Zemin has begun a historic visit to Israel, with his sights set on buying advanced Israeli radar which Washington fears could upset the delicate balance in the Taiwan strait.

Britain's Queen Elizabeth is today visiting Northern Ireland amid tight security to honour the Royal Ulster Constabulary, which has been repeatedly plagued by wrangling through Catholic mistrust over its links with Britain.

And China has tentatively agreed to loan the US National Zoo a pair of rare giant pandas for 10 million dollars, replacing the beloved pandas donated by China during the Nixon era.

[08] CLERIDES/FINNS

Also present at the meeting were Minister of Finance and Acting Foreign Minister Takis Kliridis, and Undersecretary to the President Pantelis Kouros.

The Finnish Parliamentarians this morning visited various points along the demarkation line in Nicosia, while this afternoon they're scheduled to visit Dherynia, where Famagusta Mayor Andreas Pouyiouros will brief them on the state of affairs as regards his occupied city.

[09] CSE

The overall volume of trading however experienced a significant but non-indicative drop, closing at just over 24 million pounds to yesterday's 37 million.

[10] FATALITIES

The accident involving 19-year-old Savvas Nioulikos from Dhali took place shortly after ten along the Dhali - Pera Chorio road, when a car cut him off. The youth was immediately transferred to Nicosia General Hospital where, despite doctors' efforts, he died one hour later.

The second fatal accident occurred on Ayios Dhometios' Dimokratia Avenue, when 20-year-old Constantinos Trantas collided with a car coming onto the main road from a side street and then also struck other cars parked along the sides of the road.

[11] WEATHER

Specifically, skies this afternoon will continue to be marked by high cloud, while light showers are also forecast for many areas of the island, bringing the dust down with them. Winds will be light southeasterlies, 3BF, on slight seas, and temperatures are not expected to exceed 24C inland and along tha coasts, and 17C at higher altitudes.

Skies will gradually clear up by late this evening, while winds will increase to moderate northeasterlies, 3-4BF, on slight to moderate seas, with temperatures dropping to 13C inland, 15C in coastal regions and 12C on the higher reaches of the Troodos mountains.

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