Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation: News in English, 01-01-25

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

CONTENTS

[01] HEADLINES

[02] SOTO

[03] CLERIDES CLAY

[04] DENKTASH

[05] eu-cy / europarl-tur

[06] MIDEAST

[07] HOUSE COMMERCE

[08] CSE

[09] TAILER

[10] WEATHER THURSDAY 25 JANUARY 2001

[01] HEADLINES

Britain remains committed to a Cyprus settlement in line with UN resolutions and G-8 decisions;

The Turkish-Cypriot leader calls a press conference in Constantinople;

European Union officials support Cyprus' accession, while also casting doubts on Turkey's bid;

Mideast peace talks are scheduled to resume today, after being suspended for two days;

Cyprus' House Commerce Committee delves into the matter of intellectual property rights;

The CSE experiences a small rise;

and...

A group of Greek monks who last year came out with a platinum-sales CD are at it again!

[02] SOTO

He will be received by President Clerides tomorrow morning, while his meeting with Mr Denktash has been scheduled for Sunday.

Prior to his arrival in Cyprus this evening, Mr deSoto announced the holding of talks with Greek Foreign Minister George Papandreou in Athens, to be followed by a joint press conference.

The UN Secretary-General's Special Advisor for Cyprus will leave the island on Tuesday, at which time he will make his way to Ankara for talks with Turkey's Foreign Minister, Ismail Cem.

[03] CLERIDES CLAY

Speaking to reporters after a morning meeting with President Clerides, High Commissioner Clay refrained from commenting on the matter extensively, saying that he is awaiting the arrival to the island of the UN Secretary-General's Advisor for Cyprus, after which he will have more information at hand as regards any talks.

Asked if, in the eventuality of Rauf Denktash insisting on his expressed positions an alternative approach has been formulated, the British High Commissioner noted that one should "jump every fence as one comes to it".

High Commissioner Clay did note however that the current procedure has achieved much, and gave as an example the fact that both sides remain committed to it.

As regards the case of Panikos Djagourmas, Edward Clay said that evidence of the Greek-Cypriot building contractor being abducted is particularly strong, and added that the Bases Police is investigating what he termed "a very serious crime". Britain's High Commissioner also noted that he has personally presented all evidence to both President Clerides and Mr Denktash, who, as he said, did not refute it.

[04] DENKTASH

Diplomatic circles however evaluate that Mr Denktash's move is an attempt to ease criticism expressed through the Turkish press as regards his decision not to attend the sixth round of UN-sponsored proximity talks, as well as Turkey's announced plan to annex the occupied areas of Cyprus.

In a parallel development, and commenting on statements made by the Greek Foreign Minister that should Turkey desire a smooth transition to Europe it should first exhibit good will as regards efforts aimed at a Cyprus settlement, Mr Denktash was presented as saying that Turkey will never sacrifice her national interests for the sake of acceding to the European Union.

[05] eu-cy / europarl-tur

Gunther Verheugen made the statement during a meeting with high-ranking officials of the European Commission's briefing and information service, and noted that should Cyprus not be included in the 15-nation bloc's first wave of expnsion, the Greek Chamber of Deputies will unanimously reject the motion. Mr Verheugen firther stressed that any statements alluding to Cyprus being refused accession while its problem remains unresolved only serve to strengthen Turkish intransigence.

In a parallel development, the Europarliament's rapporteur for Turkey, Hannes Svoboda, called upon the Union to establish a working base with Turkey, so that the free part of the Cyprus Republic may join EU ranks in the first wave of expansion.

In statements made in Vienna, Mr Svoboda mentioned that should the commencement of accession negotiations with Turkey not prove possible within four to five years, the European Union should abandon efforts to incorporate the country as a fully-fledged member.

[06] MIDEAST

The negotiations are due to resume after the funerals of the two Israelis, with the Palestinians hopeful of progress on key issues such as control of Jerusalem and the fate of Palestinian refugees from the territory which is now Israel.

Palestinian negotiator Nabil Shaath was quoted by Reuters as saying that while there are still problems, these are now not impossible to solve, adding that should the talks continue moving with the same energy and seriousness and covering all of the areas, an agreement should be reached.

On the other hand, Israeli negotiators estimate that the talks will end on Tuesday, exactly a week before Israel's prime-ministerial elections, scheduled for February 6th. One Israeli source said the country's prime minister told his cabinet that "chances are slim" for reaching an agreement by then.

In parallel developments, US ambassadors in the Middle East have been in constant contact with the two sides, while EU envoy Miguel Moratinos is also in Taba to help the sides come to an understanding.

At least 312 Palestinians, 47 Israelis and 13 Israeli Arabs have been killed in violence since late September.

[07] HOUSE COMMERCE

The reason given for the proposed abolition is an alleged failure to prove in court that items of intellectual property, mainly CD's, have been illegally copied.

As stated by a police representative, in order for proof of illegal copying to stand up in court, the creator of the product should come from abroad and testify on the authenticity of the item, something extremely difficult given the small size of Cyprus' market.

As a compromise solution, Registrar of Companies Maria Kyriakou suggested the adoption of a practice employed by other countries, through which the responsibility for signifying the product lies with the creators, while the responsibility for proving the product's authenticity lies with the retailers.

[08] CSE

The overall volume of trading barely reached 6.3 million pounds, almost two million less than yesterday, for a total of 4 thousand 381 transactions

[09] TAILER

Released by the 15 monks of the Saints Augustin and Serafeim Sarof monastery high in the hills of central Greece, the CD was, in contrast to Byzantine chant, rock and roll accompanied by revolutionary lyrics that struck out at big power, globalisation, drugs, conformity and the new world order.

Even though the Greek church has warned them over "scandalous" behaviour, the young monks, none of whom is over the age of 30, are now doing it again. Their new CD is called "SOS-Save Our Souls".

"I am a little chip so small, that will drive you to slavery, buy whatever you desire in this world, as long as you live without God," goes the song. "The Internet and information has consumed you... along with your freedom you will lose your soul."

Despite their warnings against the evils of technology however, the monks are planning to design a web site at <www.freemonks.gr> where the lyrics of the songs will be written in English, and are even toying with the idea of opening their own Internet cafe.

And their efforts don't stop there. To create closer ties with young people they take part in rock climbing, canoeing, and football at the summer camp which they run.

[10] WEATHER

Skies will clear up by this evening however, leading to generally fair conditions throughout the island. Winds will turn to moderate northerlies, 3-4BF, on slight to moderate seas, and temperatures will drop to 5C inland, 7C in coastal regions and minus 2C on the higher reaches of the Troodos mountains.

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