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Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation: News in English, 99-11-18Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation at <http://www.cybc.com.cy/>CONTENTS
THURSDAY 18 NOVEMBER 1999 [01] HEADLINESThe two-day Constantinople OSCE summit opened this morning;Britain is reportedly intensifying its efforts aimed at achieving a Cyprus settlement; The UN Secretary-General's Representative in Cyprus defends the wording of the invitations sent out to the two sides involved in the island's long-standing problem; A Bank of Cyprus branch was the scene of an armed robbery this morning; and... We end our news bulletin with a look at Brussels annual Eureka exhibition and the latest action-packed international espionage film. [02] OSCE OPENINGThe two-day Constantinople summit of the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) opened officially this morning, with the keynote address delivered by host country Turkey's president, Suleyman Demirel, who openly expressed the hope that the year 2000 will ring in the dawn of a new and better era for humankind.In their opening addresses, UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan and the conference chairman, Norwegian Foreign Minister Knut Vollebaek, criticised Russia's use of force in Chechnya as excessive, and extended an appeal for a political solution to the problem. Russian President Boris Yeltsin and US President Bill Clinton, both attending the summit, are expected to hold direct talks on the issue following their addressing the conference. At the end of its two-day session, the OSCE summit is expected to adopt a Charter on European Safety and Security, outlining and determining the Organisation's roles and principles in the 21st Century. [03] CLERIDES OSCEPresident Glafcos Clerides arrives in Constantinople this afternoon, to participate in the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe Summit.On his arrival at Constantinople airport, the President will give a press conference. He will later on meet with the Ecumenical Patriarch and attend a cultural event, under the auspices of Turkish President, Suleiman Demirel. President Clerides will address the OSCE Meeting, which begins tomorrow, along with 53 other heads of state and government. [04] TURKEY FMMeanwhile, Turkey's Foreign Ministry Spokesman Sermet Atancali stated today that his country does not consider the Cyprus Issue a matter falling within greco-turkish differences, but rather as one which should be resolved between what he described as the two independent states on the island.Commenting on the announced proximity talks, Mr Atancali said that the two sides' decision to attend and a possible positive development will also have a positive bearing on greco-turkish relations. As regards his country's reported intent to accept an audience with the International Court in the Hague over the resolution of greco-turkish differences, the Turkish Foreign Ministry Spokesman said that such a recourse is only one of the methods available for the achievement of such a goal, adding that a one-to-one approach, without any intermediaries, is by far the best. [05] ETIQUETTE CLERIDESPresident of the Republic Glafkos Clerides, within the framework of his contacts on the sidelines of the Constantinople OSCE summit, was today scheduled to hold separate meetings with Greek Prime Minister Costas Simitis and German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder. He was also scheduled to attend a luncheon hosted by Turkish Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit as well as a dinner hosted by the country's president, Suleyman Demirel.As reported by the Cyprus News Agency and our correspondent on the scene, the Turkish authorities are showing proper etiquette procedures as regards President Clerides, treating him just like any other world leader. Yesterday, President Clerides was paid a visit in his hotel room by a Turkish Foreign Ministry official, who, in addressing him as "Mr President", presented him with a series of books on behalf of the Turkish Government bearing the inscription "To His Excellency Glafkos Clerides, President of the Republic of Cyprus". Cyprus' President will address the OSCE summit tomorrow. [06] BRITAIN CYBritain is reportedly intensifying its efforts on the Cyprus Issue, given the announced UN-sponsored proximity talks, called for the 3rd of next month.The report was filed by our correspondent at the OSCE summit, who added that the results of the efforts, concentrating on the consistutional aspect of the Cyprus Issue, can be expected in the very near future. Related to the intensification of current efforts was the meeting realised in Zurich between Britain's Special Representative for Cyprus Sir David Hannay and President of the Republic Glafkos Clerides, while the latter was en route from the Durban, South Africa, Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting to the Constantinople OSCE summit. [07] HOLGER CYThe UN Secretary-General's Acting Special Representative in Cyprus, James Holger, today stated categorically that the tabling of UN resolutions on the Cyprus Issue during the announced proximity talks needs no special mention, since it can be taken for granted.Mr Holger made the statement in response to a reporter's observation that Secretary-General Annan failed to mention the said resolutions in the text of his invitation to the two sides involved in the dispute. In closing, the Secretary-General's Representative noted that such an explanation was not deemed necessary, given that the UN Chief derives his mandate directly from UN resolutions. [08] ARMED ROBBERYThe Bank of Cyprus branch of the Paphos-district village of Peyia was the scene of an armed robbery this morning, when an unidentified man wearing a white crash helmet and a blue track suit entered the premises brandishing a gun.Gesturing to the bank's teller to hand over all the money (some 11 thousand pounds according to the branch manager) the robber made his getaway on a high-powered motorcycle. Police investigations to apprehend the perpetrator are continuing, and anyone with relevant information is requested to contact the nearest police station. [09] BRUSSELS INWENTSIn today's tailer, we take a short visit to the 48th Brussels Eureka exhibition, which opened last week with some 1,000 entrants promoting their latest inventions, some of which, while possibly practical, are definitely outre.Among those are Belgian pensioner Krie Ceelen's lawn mower, which, fitted with a car steering wheel, two sets of bicycle gears and a mechanical mower up front, might just fill a niche in Brussels, where on Sundays it's illegal to use a noisy petrol or electric mower. Another Belgian, Luc van Mulders, has crossed the napkin with the stick-on office note to create the "Serfix": a serviette that sticks to your tie or shirt while you eat, then pulls off without leaving a mark, since, as the inventor says, "It's so annoying to have to stuff your napkin down your collar or put it on your lap and have it fall on the floor." Kornel Varady has flown in from Hungary to display his own brainchild: waterproof rubber boots for dogs. "When people take their dog for a walk in the rain, they don't want it to run back inside with all the mud on its paws," he says. "Now they can take the dog boots off at the door." That, of course, provided you can control your dog! [10] TAILERIn today's tailer, a look at the world of cinema, with "The World is Not Enough," the 19th instalment in the Bond film series, opening tomorrow but not, alas, in Cyprus.That shouldn't stop us from having a sneak preview however... As always, the ever-youthful, eternally suave British agent with 007 for a nickname, saves the world, gets the girl, destroys cars, planes, hot-air balloons, submarines and hotel rooms and drowns, explodes, incinerates or shoots dead whole villages full of villains, while escaping speeding cars, buzzsaw-dragging helicopters, avalanches, nuclear weapons and other hazards. Some of these things even happen before the credits begin, like a hyper-speedboat chase on the River Thames that becomes a hot-air balloon battle that our hero easily escapes to fight another day by landing on top of London's new Millennium Dome. Director Michael Apted however says he did try to make a few changes, even though the martinis are (and you can be sure of this) are still shaken, not stirred. [11] WEATHERGenerally fair conditions are forecast for this afternoon, with skies being marked by some high cloud. Winds will be moderate south-to-southeasterlies, 4BF, on slight to moderate seas, while temperatures are not expected to exceed 25C inland and along the coasts, and 19C at higher altitudes.Generally fair conditions are also forecast for this evening, with skies once again being marked by some high cloud. Winds however will abate to light west-to-northwesterlies, 3BF, on slight seas, while temperatures will drop to 13C inland and in coastal regions, and 11C on the higher reaches of the Troodos mountains. Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |