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Thursday, 21 November 2024
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Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation: News in English, 01-01-22Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation at <http://www.cybc.com.cy/>CONTENTS
[01] HEADLINESPresident Clerides announced that water will now flow freely year-round from the taps of each and every household,British High Commissioner Edward Clay has cast doubt over British pronouncements that Panicos Tsiakkourmas was abducted from SBA territory, The Health Minister sees a way out of the state doctors' wages dispute, while adopting a more conciliatory tone to parties' opposing the National Health Scheme, Greek police are investigating the possibility that the shadowy November 17 terrorist group was behind yesterday's bomb attack in Athens that injured a New Democracy party MP, And a telephone bomb threat made by a Greek speaking man at the offices of the British Council this morning turned out to be a hoax. [02] WATERPresident Clerides rung the death knell for water cuts at a press conference this morning.He said from now on, each and every household on the island will have an uninterrupted water supply, 24 hours a day, all year round. The President said the solution to the water supply problem was made possible as a result of government water management policy and specifically the desalination programme. He said the new desalination plant next to Larnaca airport, which is the island's largest ever water project, together with the Dhekelia plant, will produce a total of 33 million cubic metres of water every year. This quantity, along with the 36 million cubic metres of water contained in the island's dams are enough to warrant a lifting of the water supply restrictions. President Clerides noted at the same time that once the Limassol and Famagusta desalination plants are completed in 2002, Cyprus will have solved its water problem for many years to come. The government is also assessing the feasability of a number of ideas, including construction of desalination plants to service the agricultural sector, recycling waste water and tapping into all surface and underground water sources. The President stressed that water supplied by government water works is absolutely safe because it's treatment follows strict European and World Health Organisation guidelines. He noted that although uninterrupted water supply improves the quality of potable water, the President urged the public to use water sensibly and not to waste the precious commodity. [03] WATER2Meanwhile, Agriculture, Environment and Natural Resources Minister Kostas Themistocleous reassured that there are no thoughts of increasing the price of water.He added that the government plans have taken into consideration all factors that could impact water consumption including tourist developement and environmental protection. Explaining the reasons that desalinasation was the government's chosen solution to the water shortage problem, Mr. Themistocleous said rainfall in recent years has been reduced significantly on a global scale. Mr. Themistocleous added that a proposal to the Turkish Cypriots to work together on water management is still valid. He added that the government favours the creation of bicommunal works, but clarified that the reason no progress has been made is because the Turkish Cypriot side is encumbering these matters with politics. [04] TSIAKKOURMASBritish High Commissioner Edward Clay is casting doubt over evidence British Bases authorities have revealed, as welll as diplomatic assurances given until now that Panicos Tsiakkourmas was abducted from SBA territory.The British High Commissioner said that Tsiakkourmas's abduction will be re-enacted at the spot where his truck was left running with the doors open on SBA soil, in order to determine the exact conditions the contractor was taken. Mr. Clay rebutted reporters' questions that British authorities have been talking about an abduction all this time by saying that the press had used the term and not he. Speaking at the Presidential Palace following a ceremony awarding helicopter rescue crews with a medal for their bravery in rescuing last month the shipwrecked sailors of the Royal Princes cruiseship, Mr. CLay said that the occupation regime's legal - as he called them - procedures will re-start on January 30. [05] TSIAKKOURMASForeign Minister Ioannis Kassoulides said the issue of Tsiakkourmas' abduction had been persistently raised to the British House of Commons and the Council of Europe last week.Mr. Cassoulides said European delegations expressed their concern over the occupation regime's position on Tsiakkourmas's abduction. He also expressed the hope that in the end, reason will reign on the Turkish side which will release Tsiakkourmas. [06] HEALTHHealth Minister Frixos Savvides said the govenrment has put forth a complete package of proposals to finally bring to an end the dispute with state doctors.The package was presented by Mr. Savvides himself this morning at a meeting with the Pancyprian State Doctors' Union Pasypi. Speaking after the meeting, Mr. Savvides said the content of the package will be alternately discussed by doctors and Health Ministry officials. He said that first indications to emerge from the morning meeting on the package were positive and expressed the hope that a deal will be struck soon. [07] HEALTH 2Meanwhile, the Health Minister said the government is taking into consideration party opposition to the National Health Scheme proposal which will be used to offer solutions to the impasse.Mr. Savvides added that submission of the relevant bill to the plenum of the House may be delayed by a few days or weeks so that enough time is given to intensive consultations out of which consensus will hopefully emerge. Mr. Savvides rejected charges by civil servant Union Pasidy that the Scheme is, for all intents and purposes, a sell-out to public interests. [08] BOMBA telephone bomb threat spread panic in the offices of the British Council this morning.The threat, which turned out to be a hoax, was not taken lightly by police which evacuated the offices and used police dogs to sniff out any bomb. The call was made at 9:30 by a Greek speaking man. [09] GREECEA Greek conservative parliamentarian was injured by a remote-controlled bomb yesterday in an attack police said could be the work of the deadly November 17 urban guerrilla group.Vasilis Mihaloliakos, 48, a member of the main opposition New Democracy party, was treated in hospital for injuries to his legs and abdomen, but officials said he was not seriously hurt. He was entering his home in Piraeus port with his daughter and brother when the bomb exploded. His daughter was unhurt, while his brother suffered minor grazes from broken glass. Several passers-by hit by flying glass also received hospital treatment. There was no claim of responsibility, but police said they were investigating whether November 17, which has killed 23 Greeks and foreigners since 1975, was behind the attack. They said the group had used the same method several times in the past. Police said the careful planning also pointed to November 17, which killed Britain's military attache to Athens as he drove to work last June 8, and not the numerous self-proclaimed anarchist groups which regularly fire-bomb cars in the Greek capital. Mihaloliakos, who is a vocal right-wing fringe deputy, moved to Piraeus only about a month ago. It was not clear why he would be targeted by the group. [10] WEATHERScattered clouds this afternoon will produce some isolated showers with snow falling over Troodos.Winds will be northeasterly to southeasterly moderate, 3 to 4 beaufort, with slight to moderate seas. More isolated showers and snow in Troodos is expected tonight. Winds will be northeasterly light, 2 to 3 beaufort with slight seas. The temperature will drop to 5 degrees inland, 7 on the coasts, and 1 in the mountains. Frost will expected in the mountains. Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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