Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation: News in English, 01-07-26

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

CONTENTS

[01] HEADLINES

[02] Denktash worries

[03] Casoulides

[04] Anasta Denktash

[05] Talat Solution

[06] Accident hotelier

[07] Akrotiri Americans

[08] Kinnis Arrest

[09] Quake Greece

[10] Mayon Eruption

[11] Mideast wrap

[12] Pigs Eaten

[13] Weather THURSDAY 26 JULY 2001

[01] HEADLINES

Foreign Minister Ioannis Casoulides stated that the Cyprus government has no knowledge of a discussion between Turkish and American officials over the substance of the Cyprus problem,

An official of the British Defence Ministry confirmed reports by the "Sunday Express", that American officials are at the British Bases in Akrotiri,

A strong earthquake today shook central Greece, rattling the Aegean island of Skyros and

Three genetically modified pigs were turned into sausages after being stolen from a U.S. university.

[02] Denktash worries

As disclosedby turkish daily "Turkish Daily News", Denktash has sent two official protest letters to the turkish government, complaining, because the pre-conditions which had been set for the resumption of talks, were abandonded.

The last letter was sent on the 18th of July, two days before prime minister Bulent Ecevit announced that the turkish-cypriot leader was to meet with the United Nations Secretary General Kofi Anan.

Rauf Dentkash had warned that any meeting with Kofi Anan, could lead to a stalemate, creating problems for Ankara.

Denktash' first letter was sent last May, and it included complaints regarding the activitied of Turkish diplomats, who, in co-operation with American co-ordinator for the Cyprus problem, Thomas Weston prepared a resumption of talks, without the turkish-cypriot leader present.

"Turkish Daily news", reports that certain members of the military, taking part in the all powerful Turkish National Security Council, are beginning to seek ways of disengaging from a hardline stance adopted last November for abandonding talks, if the pseudo-state in the occupied part of Cyprus, is not internationally recognised.

[03] Casoulides

Mr Casoulides said that the two sides had discussed issues pertaining to procedural matters regarding the resumption of proximity talks, and particularly ways of persuading turkish-cypriot leader Rauf Denktash to attend.

The foreign minister said that Turkish Daily News reports over Denktash' criticisms to the turkish leadership in Ankara, are being investigated.

He did not rule out the possibility, that the Turkish Cypriot leader, will meet State Department officials in Washington, but assured that as far as the government is aware, their discussions, only involve procedural matters.

Mr Casoulides said that as long as these contacts don't have any repercussions on the parameters being discussed regarding a solution of the Cyprus problem, they don't pose a problem for a return o talks by the Greek-Cypriot problem.

[04] Anasta Denktash

Speaking after a meeting with the vice-president of the Irish Christian-Democrat party, Anastasiades said that there are no reports of a particular formula for resumption of talks that was processed by American and Turkish diplomats in Brussels or even the possibility that Rauf Denktash will meet with State Department officials, when he visits the United States.

However, Nikos Anastasiades expressed the conviction that if there are any such reports, President of the Republic Glafkos Clerides will inform the National Council, which is expected to convene in a few days time.

He added that as president of the Parliamentary Committee of Foreign Affairs, he is planning a series of contacts with corresponding committees abroad.

Next September, the members of the committee, will visit the representatives of the French parliament in Paris.

[05] Talat Solution

However, Talat stressed that what matters is not the resumption of talks, but the final result.

The Cyprus problem, he added, must be solved and Cyprus must join the European Union, rid of its political problem.

The turkish cypriot politician also expressed support for the turkish-cypriot side taking part in negotiations for Cyprus accession to the European Union.

[06] Accident hotelier

Nikolas Panagides, father of three, was killed while inspecting the building, which belongs to his company.

Panagides was sought by his two brothers, because he had been away too long.

He was found seriously injured around six o clock yesterday injured.

He succumbed while being carried to the hospital.

According to police reports, Panayides fell to the basement of the building.

[07] Akrotiri Americans

Replying to a question posed by our stations' correspondent in London, the official said that the visit is related with future use of the Base by American fighter jets.

However, he refrained from disclosing exactly how many Americans are at the base, what they are working on, what type will the jets be and when will they start using the base.

In its report, "The Sunday Express" reminded that American U2 spy planes have used the Akrotiri base for many years.

[08] Kinnis Arrest

The man is reported to be involved in kidnapping, forgery, circulation of false documents and receiving money on false representations.

[09] Quake Greece

The quake was measured at 5.7 on the Richter scale,and there were several aftershocks with the biggest being 5.3.

The epicentre was in the sea, north of the island of Skyros.

Other seismological institutes were cited by Greek media as registering the magnitude of the quake at 6.1 on the Richter scale.

Officials on the island said the tremor had damaged the main water pipe and the supply to residents had been temporarily cut off.

There were no reports of injuries.

Today's quake was the second measuring over 5.0 on the Richter scale to hit the island in the past five days.

The quake was also felt hundreds of kilometres to the north in Thessaloniki and to the south on the Peloponnese peninsula.

Residents of Athens were shaken from their sleep and rushed out of their houses, as the tremor awakened memories of a 1999 earthquake that killed 143 people.

[10] Mayon Eruption

No casualties were reported, but residents of the provincial capital Legazpi, seven miles from Mayon's crater, rushed out of their homes in panic as ash showers -- known as "black rain" -- fell on the city of 130 thousand people.

About 25 thousand people have sought refuge in school houses and other government buildings around Legazpi.

Flaming rocks and gases with temperatures of about 900 degrees Centigrade, hot enough to raze everything in their path, tumbled down the slopes of the volcano at speeds of 60 miles per hour.

[11] Mideast wrap

The roster was handed over during U.S.-sponsored talks in Tel Aviv late last night between Israeli and Palestinian security chiefs, a meeting described by both sides as a total failure.

Last week, gunmen who Israeli police said were Jewish vigilantes attacked a Palestinian car near the West Bank town of Nablus, killing three Palestinians, including a three-month-old boy. No arrests have been made.

Israel has said Palestinian President Yasser Arafat has ignored lists it has submitted of dozens of Palestinian militants it wants his security forces to arrest.

[12] Pigs Eaten

According to New Scientist Magazine, the pigs, which had been modified to carry a copy of a gene involved in eye function, had already been killed and were meant to be destroyed.

But they were stolen by an employee at the University of Florida and turned into sausages by an unsuspecting butcher.

None of the nine people who ate the meat has reported health problems, but officials are still taking precautions to make sure it does not happen again.

According to the magazine, Florida prosecutors have launched an investigation into the incident and all genetically modified animals at the university were to be spray-painted after being killed to make sure they are not eaten.

[13] Weather

Winds will be light westerly, three to four beaufort and strong southwesterly, five to six beaufort on the south coast, over moderate to rough seas on the south coast.

Tonight it will also be mainly clear, with fog and low cloud forming in some areas.

Winds will light, westerly to northwesterly, three to four beaufort, over moderate seas in some areas.

Temperatures will fall to 22 degrees inland, on the west coast and on the mountains, and 24 elsewhere.

The fire hazard is extremely high in all forest areas.

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