Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation: News in English, 00-04-14

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

CONTENTS

FRIDAY 14 APRIL 2000

[01] HEADLINES

[02] COUNCIL

[03] COOK

[04] TURKEY

[05] KOSHIS

[06] TITINA

[07] REFINERY

[08] PORTS

[09] VAT

[10] AIRLINE

[11] EXCHANGE

[12] FRENAROS

[13] SOCCER

[14] WEATHER

[01] HEADLINES

The British foreign Minister said his government is committed to end the division of the island and to help in accession efforts,

Turkey's relationship with the EU is linked directly to Ankara's position on Cyprus,

A DISY MP is calling on the Justice Minister and the police chief to end their feud,

And Cyprus Airways will do all it can to deal with deregulation.

[02] COUNCIL

The President of the Republic held meetings at UN headquarters with the General Secretary's Special Adviser Alvaro De Soto, US Presidential Emissary Alfred Moses and US State Department Special Coordinator Thomas Weston.

President Clerides had also met with British Prime Minister Tony Blair in London.

According to President Clerides, everyone agreed that talks on the Cyprus issue must be taken to the next level and that the core aspects of the issue must be discussed.

President Clerides briefed House President Spyros Kyprianou on his contacts yesterday.

This because doctors did not give Mr. Kyprianou permission to attend today's National Council meeting.

[03] COOK

This from British Foreign Minister Robin Cook after a meeting in London with Commonwealth Secretary General Don Mcinnon.

Mr. Cook also stressed that Britain will make even greater efforts at the third round or proximity talks to ensure that this time, progress is achieved in the Cyprus issue.

Mr. McKinnon said the Commonwealth is always willing to aid in solution efforts, essentially supporting the United Nations process.

He also said that the significant messages emerging from the meetings between the Greek and Turkish Foreign Ministers will finally help solution efforts.

[04] TURKEY

This from Portuguese Minister for European Affairs Francisco Seihas Da Costa, who added that the situation in Turkey is monitored under the Copenhagen criteria which he said are absolutely clear.

Mr. Da Costa said that abiding by the criteria is mandatory for pre-accession negotiations to start with Turkey.

The Portuguese Minister was responding to questions by Greek Euro-MPs regarding Turkey's position on democratic government and human rights issues.

[05] KOSHIS

Speaking on CyBC radio, Mr. Pourgourides said the feud serves no other purpose than to undermine the Police's work and to tarnishes the government's image.

He also called on the Justice Minister and the Police chief to refrain from making statements and counterstatements, adding that individuals in the public trust should have to will to avoid microphones if they have nothing to say.

Meanwhile Mr. Pourgourides denied reports of an assassination plot against the Justice Minister.

[06] TITINA

He said the case is not one of an individual pitted against a state, but has developed, or is poised to develop into a clash between a Council of Europe member state and the Council's legal principles.

Addressing the Second International Academic-Student Conference organised by Cyprus College, Mr. Markides noted that the foundation of the Council of Europe is respect for and obedience to the decisions of the European Court of Human Rights.

[07] REFINERY

Union representative Andreas Irodotou said that the 130 employees are satisfied with the decision to suspend the importation of upgraded petrol, until a final decision is made on the refinery.

Mr. Irodotou said such fuels were imported by just one company, solely to impress the public.

He repeated the workers' position that the refinery should be upgraded immediately, and warned of strike action if a final decision isn't taken by the end of April.

[08] PORTS

A Union announcement also said the workers will strike if all oustanding positions aren't settled by June.

[09] VAT

Party Vice President Yiorgos Christofides said the way in which the decision was made may generate impressions in favor of the Democratic Party which had submitted a package of measures on how to counterbalance the VAT increase.

Speaking on CyBC radio, Mr. Christofides said all parties had submitted similar packages and accused the Finance Minister of not handing the issue well.

Mr. Christofides suggested a new round of consultations in the House to reach a collective decision on the matter.

[10] AIRLINE

Speaking after a meeting this morning with Under Secretary to the President Pantelis Kouros, Mr. Loizides said the national air carrier does not have any differences with the Communications Ministry, despite the fact that the airline is opposed to the decision to move deregulation up a year.

He also said that ways of boosting the airline are under negotiation, adding that a license has already been issued to Cyprus Airways to operate a duty free shop at Paphos Airport.

[11] EXCHANGE

Volume shot up to almost 46 million pounds, the highest its been in the last four months.

The Index rose slightly to a quarter of a percent, closing at almost 543 points, 11 points higher than yesterday's close.

A total of 11 thousand transactions took place.

[12] FRENAROS

Ioakim lost consciouness yesterday at an Athletics centre while undergoing physiotherapy on his knee using a special machine.

The Centre's director tried in vain to revive him. Ioakim was taken to Paralimni hospital where, despite doctors' efforts, did not regain consciousness.

[13] SOCCER

The decision was made after the tragic stabbing deaths of two British Leeds fans by Turkish Galatasary supporters in Constantinople before the first leg match.

The second leg match will take place on April 20 in Britain.

[14] WEATHER

Winds will be southwesterly to northwesterly moderate, 4 beaufort, and at times fresh, 5 beaufort, with moderate seas.

Tonight will be mainly fine with light fog forming in some areas.

Winds will be mainly northwesterly light, 2 to 3 beaufort, with moderate seas.

The temperature will drop to 10 degrees inland, 12 on the coasts and 6 over the highest mountains.

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