Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation: News in English, 01-02-07

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

CONTENTS

[01] HEADLINES

[02] ISRAEL ELECTIONS

[03] TURKEY EU

[04] LYSSARIDES

[05] KASOULIDES TRIP

[06] POLICE INVESTIGATION

[07] G/C- T/C EDUCATION

[08] CSE

[09] TAILER

[10] WEATHER WEDNESDAY 7 FEBRUARY 2001

[01] HEADLINES

Turkey is reported to be facing increased pressure over the Cyprus Issue;

Veteran politician Vassos Lyssarides rejects any claims allegedly made by Britain over the oil deposits discovered off Cyprus' southern coast;

Foreign Minister Kasoulides is in Jordan on an official visit;

A suspect remanded for a shooting incident outside a Nicosia night spot last month escaped while in police custody last night;

Greek-Cypriot educators stand fast by their Turkish-Cypriot colleagues;

The CSE hit a new low today;

and...

Pickled squid may be a delicacy for some, but there are limits!

[02] ISRAEL ELECTIONS

In his victory speech, the 72-year-old former general called on the Palestinians to end their four-month-old uprising and negotiate for what he termed "a realistic peace", while also urging his centre-left foes to join him in forming a national unity government.

Conceding defeat Ehud Barak quit as Labour Party leader and said he would give up his seat in parliament, just 21 months after his own sweeping election triumph over Likud premier Benjamin Netanyahu.

Reacting to Sharon's triumph, an aide to Palestinian President Yasser Arafat, said that their side is willing to deal with any elected prime minister, but senior Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat voiced doubt that any meaningful negotiations with Sharon were possible.

Yasser Arafat himself meanwhile stated that he would respect the election outcome and hoped the peace process would continue, although Sharon has refused to shake his hand and has ruled out talks while violence goes on.

With 99.9% of votes counted, the tally showed 62.5% for Sharon to 37.4 for Barak. Final results must be out within a week, at which time Sharon will have 45 days to form a coalition.

Turnout was 62%, unusually low for a country where 80% is common, reflecting Israeli malaise and a boycott by Israeli Arab voters furious at Barak over the police killing of 13 of their brethren during pro-Palestinian protests in October.

[03] TURKEY EU

If ratified during the Europarliament's scheduled debate of the matter, the EU-Turkey partnership agreement will open the way for the candidate-state to submit its own EU-harmonisation programme.

Commenting on the situation, EU Commissioner for Enlargement Gunther Verheugen stated that while Turkey enjoys an equal status with all other candidate-states, it should be made clear that the Helsinki summit decisions make Cyprus' accession possible, and called on the Turkish leadership to co-operate so that talks on the Cyprus Issue may resume.

In a parallel development and on behalf of the EU-Presidency earlier this week, Swedish Foreign Minister Anna Lind said that Cyprus can and will accede to the Union, with or without a prior solution to the island's long-standing problem.

[04] LYSSARIDES

Following the meeting, Dr Lyssarides stated that he is fully satisfied with the steps being taken by the President of the Republic, but refrained from going into any details, other than noting what he termed "a great delay" in setting-out the planned zone of financial exploitation.

Commenting on information presenting Britain as claiming territorial waters off Cyprus by virtue of its bases on the island, Vassos Lyssarides said that this development is a direct result of the Cyprus Government's inaction, while at the same time stressing that the situation should be dealt with in a decisive manner. Elaborating, the veteran politician said that the British are citing agreements which are invalid according to the provisions of International Law, which should always supercede and prevail over any other agreements.

[05] KASOULIDES TRIP

Following his contacts in Jordan, Cyprus' Foreign Minister will be going to Athens, where on Friday he will meet with his Greek counterpart, Giorgos Papandreou. Among the matters to be discussed will also be the setting of a date for Mr Papandreou's expected visit to Cyprus.

Other items on the agenda include ways to better utilise the supra-national bodies of the European Union and the influence of individual member-states in efforts towards a resolution of the Cyprus Issue.

[06] POLICE INVESTIGATION

Commenting on last night's escape, Chief Angelides said that the suspect was being accompanied by five policemen and one police officer, and that he was also handcuffed. Describing the suspect's escape as totally unacceptable given the circumstances, Cyprus' Police Chief also disclosed that the suspect managed to escape right after one of the handcuffs was removed following his request.

Petros Patsalides is 1 m 83 cm or 6 ft tall, strongly built, and on his escape was wearing army fatigues trousers, a black jacket with orange highlights and a black t-shirt. He was also sporting a closely-trimmed beard, and his hair is short, while a pair of handcuffs could be dangling from one wrist.

Anyone with relevant information is asked to contact the nearest police station. Various reports have already come in, but all proved to be red-herrings.

[07] G/C- T/C EDUCATION

As mentioned in the relevant announcement, Turkish-Cypriot teachers of both primary and secondary education are being harassed and persecuted by the occupation regime following their union's written request that Turkey leave the Turkish-Cypriots alone, a move described by the so-called authorities as treason.

[08] CSE

The overall volume of trading remained roughly at the same levels as yesterday, reaching 8.2 million pounds.

Today's trading session was also marked by a bomb threat over the telephone which, however, proved to be a hoax.

[09] TAILER

Commenting on the find, Melbourne Museum scientist Mark Norman said that little is known about giant squid, which live at depths of up to 1,500 metres or 4,800 feet below the surface, and none had ever been seen alive.

Over the past five years, 40 of the tentacled behemoths have been caught dead in nets off Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. The latest was hauled aboard a trawler off southwest Australia last week.

Scientists conducted DNA tests on the specimen hoping to learn more, and cut open its stomach to see what it had been eating. Inside, they found the remains of fish and smaller squid.

On a lighter note, and during a live TV-interview this morning, Mark Norman couldn't refrain from the odd quip, saying jokingly... "You could of course get giant calamari rings the size of car tyres, but they'd taste like floor cleaner!"

[10] WEATHER

Generally fair conditions are also forecast for this evening, with winds remaining moderate northeasterlies, 3-4BF, on slight to moderate seas, and temperatures dropping to 4C inland, 7C in coastal regions and 2C on the higher reaches of the Troodos mountains.

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