Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation: News in English, 01-01-23

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

CONTENTS

[01] HEADLINES

[02] CLERIDES AMERICANS

[03] DJAGOURMAS

[04] TURK T/C

[05] MIDEAST

[06] TURKEY FRANCE

[07] RUSSIAN INJURY

[08] CSE

[09] TAILER

[10] WEATHER TUESDAY 23 JANUARY 2001

[01] HEADLINES

The Dhekeleia Police Chief states that Greek-Cypriot Panikos Djagourmas was without a doubt abducted from within Sovereign Base Territory;

A statement by a Turkish businessman causes a furore in the occupied areas of the Republic;

Cyprus leads Europe in rubbish production;

Mideast talks continue in the Egyptian Red Sea resort of Taba, even though hopes of progress are slim;

Turkey cancels a multi-million dollar contract with a French telecom company;

Mystery surrounds multiple fractures sustained by a Russian man in Limassol yesterday;

The Cyprus Stock Exchange experiences negative growth today;

and...

Today's tailer comes to us from nowhere else but home!

[02] CLERIDES AMERICANS

The assurance was given by US Ambassador to Cyprus Donald Bandler and the head of the European Desk at the State Department, Ann Corky, who is on an official visit to the island.

The two US officials were today received by President of the Republic Glafkos Clerides, and in statements after the meeting, Ambassador Bandler said that what was discussed focused on the talks process and how to get it back on track.

Ambassador Bandler however avoided commenting on recent statements made by the Turkish-Cypriot leader, in which Rauf Denktash said that the US intermediaries had promised him that any future talks would not include any mention of UN resolutions, and that they later retracted their statement.

The US Ambassador did note however, that what is of prime interest is the future of the talks and not the past.

On her part, Ann Corky mentioned that Washington will continue to support a just solution to the Cyprus Issue, in addition to further bolstering the already strong bonds between the United States and Cyprus.

[03] DJAGOURMAS

Called upon to comment on statements made by Britain's High Commissioner to Nicosia Edward Clay, in which doubts were allegedly cast over the available evidence, the Dhekeleia Police Chief said that he was not aware of such statements, adding however that High Commissioner Clay is anxious to see Djagourmas returning to his family.

[04] TURK T/C

Turkish-Cypriot parties, associations and newspapers unleashed attacks against the Turkish mogul, while Rauf Denktash ran to his defence, saying that the statements were totally misinterpreted.

Specifically, Mr Denktash maintained that what the Turkish businessman meant was that in the eventuality of the Cyprus Republic gaining entry to the European Union, all Turkish-Cypriots will rush to what he termed "the Greek part" to obtain EU passports.

[05] MIDEAST

Negotiators began a second full day of talks at Taba soon after 10 a.m. or 0800 GMT this morning, following yesterday's meetings in the Egyptian Red Sea resort and dinner in the nearby Israeli resort of Eilat.

Commenting on possible progress, Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erakat told reporters before today's meeting that the two sides are having serious, in-depth negotiations, adding that they are exerting the maximum of effort, but that gaps are still present.

Later today, and during a break in the talks, Israeli foreign minister and senior negotiator Shlomo Ben-Ami said that chances are slim of reaching a peace deal with the Palestinians at present.

[06] TURKEY FRANCE

The announcement follows warnings that Turkey would take measures in retaliation for the French parliament's vote last week to recognise claims that Ottoman Turks systematically killed more than a million Armenians in 1915.

At the same time, and in the footsteps of the French parliament's decision, the Worldwide Armenian Consumers' Association called on all its members to boycott Turkish products.

Turkey denies charges of genocide, saying that all sides suffered losses during partisan fighting as the Ottoman empire collapsed, and describes the then restive Armenian minority in the country as traitors manipulated by Russia.

[07] RUSSIAN INJURY

Sasha Zjekvo, who due to the seriousness of his condition was immediately transferred to Nicosia General where he was promptly operated upon, bears multiple fractures on the head and legs.

The injuries resulted from an as yet inexplicable fall from an under-construction three-storey building in Limassol.

Police has issued an announcement asking any-one with relevant information to contact the nearest station.

[08] CSE

At the same time, the FTSE-20 index posted lossed amounting to 3%, closing at 959.46.

The overall volume of trading meanwhile reached 11.2 million pounds, some 2 million more than yesterday.

Analysts assess that today's negative climate was contributed to in part by yesterday's findings by the Shares and Capitals Commission, which noted a possible infringement of regulations in the buying-out of the Kyknos Investment Company by the Sharelink and Hera companies.

[09] TAILER

According to the "Phileleftheros" newspaper, Foreign Minister Ioannis Cassoulides had to go on a hasty shopping spree in Madrid yesterday, after his luggage was switched. Specifically, Mr Cassoulides, on an official visit to Spain, had to dash out to the shops to find a presentable suit to wear for a banquet last night with Spanish King Juan Carlos, after discovering that the clothes in the suitcase forwarded to him were a bit too short and tight.

The culprit responsible for the mix-up still remains to be found, but similarly, parliamentary speaker Spyros Kyprianou, visiting Russia, was himself none too impressed when he opened his suitcase to find the foreign minister's clothes instead of his own!

[10] WEATHER

Partly cloudy conditions are also forecast for this evening, with scattered showers once again expected throughout the island. Winds will abate to light northeasterlies, 2-3BF, on slight seas, and temperatures will drop to 5C inland, 8C in coastal regions and 1C on the higher reaches of the TRoodos mountains.

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