Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation: News in English, 01-04-03

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

CONTENTS

[01] HEADLINES

[02] president press synopsis

[03] nhp devel's

[04] gips

[05] cy madcow

[06] milo court

[07] china us

[08] athinis assizes

[09] n'sia parking

[10] weather TUESDAY 3 APRIL 2001

[01] HEADLINES

Even though a general strike called for tomorrow and Thursday has been postponed, the all-clear is still to be given;

The Government is proceeding with specific measures to deal with the recent influx of individuals fleeing the occupied areas;

Cyprus' Agriculture Minister dismisses speculation of mad cow disease appearing on the island as "purely theoretical";

Former Balkans strongman Slobodan Milosevic may face the death sentence;

The China-US crisis over a mid-air collision deepens;

A fugitive from Cypriot justice is returned to the island;

and...

Municipal parking lot rates in Nicosia have doubled.

[02] president press synopsis

The position was expressed during last night's televised Presidential Palace press conference.

Elaborating on his statement, President Clerides noted that a solution would be to the benefit of both Greek- and Turkish-Cypriots, contributing, as it inevitably will, to stability and security in Cyprus and the eastern Mediterranean, as well as to co-operation among all countries in the region.

The President of the Republic also stressed that the solution sought after should also safeguard the human rights of all people of the island and uphold the principles of international law, as these are implemented in EU member-states.

He further noted that despite the candid, open and constructive efforts undertaken by the legitimate government of Cyprus, the Turkish side, even when gracing the negotiating table with its presence, essentially refused to discuss issues within the parameters set by the United Nations.

[03] nhp devel's

On the government side, the Ministers of Health and Interior, along with the Director-General of the Ministry of Finance, today agreed on additional amendments and clarifications in order to allay union concerns, in the hope that the bill would be ready for voting by Thursday.

Commenting on the situation, Health Minister Frixos Savvides stated that he is both ready and willing to meet with the leadership of the Civil Servants Union, even though a meeting scheduled for today was cancelled, and not through his own fault.

Health Minister Savvides also applauded a compromise proposal made by Democratic Party Chairman Nikos Anastassiades that the Plan be passed this Thursday but not come into effect until the beginning of next year, so that an actuarian study, in line with the Democratic Party's proposal, can also be carried out.

Speaking on behalf of the Civil Servants, PASYDY President Andreas Papapolyviou did not exclude the possibility of the current negotiations not being concluded by this Thursday, and voting on the bill being postponed for two weeks.

[04] gips

During a broad-based meeting realised at the Presidential Palace this morning, President of the Republic Glafkos Clerides issued directives providing for the setting-up, within the next 48 hours, of a particular area within the Nicosia district in order to temporarily house another 30 gipsies who crossed over today, pending the completion of a more permanent site within a month.

Speaking after the meeting, Interior Minister Christodoulos Christodoulou noted that among the measures to be taken is also the establishment of whether or not the gipsies are Cypriot citizens. If, the Minister continued, it is ascertained that they are not, then they will be faced with three alternatives: Return to the occupied areas, be deported, or be prosecuted for entering the Republic of Cyprus illegally. Minister Christodoulou did note, however, that the entire process will take time.

Meanwhile, during today's press briefing, Government Spokesman Michalis Papapetrou stated categorically that available evidence to date does not in any way suggest the presence of spies or secret agents among the asylum-seekers.

A total of 195 gipsy individuals currently live in the government-controlled areas of the Republic, with 137 of them having crossed over last month alone.

[05] cy madcow

The list names nine non-EU countries which had traded in beef with EU member-states affected by the disease. It's noted however, that the possibility of livestock in any of the nine countries having been affected has not been proven, except in the case of Switzerland.

In statements to our station, Agriculture Minister Costas Themistokleous said that Cyprus was included in the list after the Government itself informed EU authorities of the importation to the island, some 20 years ago, of animal feed today considered dangerous.

At the same time, the Cyprus Government is asking for an EU subsidy to cover all or part of the 1.5 million pounds spent on preventative measures in connection with Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy, BSE, or, in lay terms, mad-cow disease.

[06] milo court

The former Yugoslav president, arrested by special police forces on Sunday, currently faces up to 15 years in prison on charges of corruption and abuse of power. In statements made today however, Serbia's Interior Minister, Dusan Mikhailovich, said that there is evidence of Milosevic being involved in more serious crimes which could entail the death penalty.

In his depositions so far, Slobodan Milosevic has steadfastly denied any involvement in financial misdealings, but HAS admitted to secretly funding Serb paramilitary movements in Bosnia and Croatia.

Following his arrest, a search of his estate in Belgrade's Denice suburb uncovered an arsenal including, among other items, 27 Kalashnikov rifles, a stash of hand- and rifle-grenades, and large quantities of ammunition, reported to have been intended for use in a revolt planned for this month.

[07] china us

Chinese President Jiang Zemin, speaking after a meeting with the Prime Minister of Qatar, stated categorically that the American plane was in direct violation of international regulations and that it purposely rammed the Chinese fighter which was merely trying to intercept it.

In addition, President Zemin openly wondered why the US insists on sending aircraft on reconnaissance missions in areas neighbouring his country.

On a more conciliatory note, Beijing announced that it would allow US diplomats to visit the 24-member crew if the reconnaissance plane, which after the collission made a forced landing on China's Hainan island.

At the same time however, the US ambassador to Beijing voiced the certainty that Chinese experts have already carried out a thorough examination of the aircraft, its intelligence systems and all classified documents on board.

[08] athinis assizes

The two, Iacovos Iacovou and fugitive Sotiris Athinis, were arraigned before the Nicosia Assizes today, and were charged with conspiracy to commit a crime, attempted destruction of property, and illegal possession of explosives.

The charges concern a planned bomb attack against Limassol resident Stelios Constantinou on February 11th of this year. The device however was located and defused, after which forensic investigations and DNA analysis of the evidence incriminated the two accused.

Athinis' return to Cyprus from Poland, where he had fled, was effected through Interpol.

[09] n'sia parking

Speaking to our reporter, many Nicosi-ites described the hikes as excessive, and said that they would stop using municipal parking lots.

The minimum charge for two hours now stands at 50 cents as opposed to 25, while the rates for up to seven hours parking have also been doubled.

Commenting on the hikes, Nicosia Mayor Lellos Demetriades described them as timely and reasonable, saying that a rate readjustment is required every four years or so, stressing that this is necessary for the Municipality to survive given its ever-increasing expenses.

[10] weather

Generally fair conditions are also forecast for tomorrow, even though cloudy patches could develop by the afternoon, leading to scattered showers, mainly over the mountains. Winds will be moderate southwesterlies, 4BF, on slight to moderate seas, while temperatures are not expected to exceed 23C inland, 21C in coastal regions and 16C on the higher reaches of the Troodos mountains.

Today's max and min temps were:

Nicosia 25 - 12

Limassol 24 - 15

Larnaka 23 - 14

Paphos 21 - 9 and

Prodromos 17 - 8.

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