Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation: News in English, 00-09-24

Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

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

CONTENTS

[01] Headlines

[02] Papandreou

[03] Archbishop

[04] Christofias

[05] Lyssarides

[06] Maurer

[07] Yugoslavia

[08] Akakios

[09] Funerals

[10] Meeting

[11] Immigrants

[12] Weather SUNDAY 24 SEPTEMBER 2000

[01] Headlines

--- Political party leaders, in New York following the UN-led proximity talks on the Cyprus problem, began returning to the island expressing their disappointment.

--- European Union chief negotiator for Cyprus, Leopold Maurer, said that a solution to the Cyprus problem must comply with the acquis communautaire, so that no problems arise in accession.

--- Yugoslavs voted today in crucial presidential and parliamentary elections with President Slobodan Milosevic facing the biggest challenge of his 13-year rule.

And

--- Greece's Akakios Kakiasvilis became the third weightlifter in Olympic history to take three successive gold medals when he won a tactical battle for the men's 94 kg contest today.

[02] Papandreou

In an interview with a Greek newspaper, Mr. Papandreou said that his country's interests would be met with a settlement providing for a united Cyprus, with a single federal identity, a single sovereignty and a single citizenship, based on UN resolutions.

He said Greece would settle for nothing less.

Mr. Papandreou also stressed that the Greek government has managed to place the Cyprus problem on a completely new basis for the first time in 24 years.

He explained that this new basis was Cyprus' European Union accession course, which he described as the new element in the whole issue.

[03] Archbishop

The primate of the Cyprus Church said that a federation would endanger the survival of Greek Cypriots on the island, as no-one would be able to prevent the influx of thousands of Turks, which would result in a Greek Cypriot minority.

Commenting on statements by the Greek Foreign Minister, who condemned all those opposing a federation solution, the Archbishop said Mr. Papandreou is not aware of the danger, because it is not his house and family being threatened.

[04] Christofias

Mr. Christofias said that if diversions continue on the Cyprus problem, then an inoperable solution would be reached.

Speaking at Larnaca Airport, Mr. Christofias said day-by-day things were getting worse, noting that the Greek Cypriot side was beginning to taste the bitter fruit diversion, which began with the G8 statement.

He said that since then things have been going downhill.

Mr. Christofias sent a message to all those pulling strings in the background that the Cyprus people had not yet said their last word.

He noted that the diversion had been masterminded by the British and the Americans, and stressed that its acceptance would burden the Cyprus government.

Mr. Christofias said that developments should be discussed in depth at the National Council, in cooperation with the Greek government.

[05] Lyssarides

Speaking at Larnaca Airport, Mr. Lyssarides said that the documents and verbal inquiries submitted at the talks were not satisfactory.

He added that the Greek Cypriot side must readjust its stance, become more demanding, and study developments.

Regarding criticism bombarded at the Greek Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Lyssarides said it appeared that no pressure had been exerted by Greece on the Cyprus government to continue with the talks.

He said Greek Cypriots are very good at blaming others, noting that it was the Greek Cypriot side's insufficiency that led the situation to the state it is in now.

Mr. Lyssarides said he would be going to Athens soon, in order to express his concerns and fears to the Greek Minister of Foreign Affairs.

[06] Maurer

Mr. Maurer, who visited the island last week, met in New York with President Glafcos Clerides.

His statements are especially significant due to the fact that the Cyprus problem is going through a critical stage.

Mr. Maurer urged all interested parties to be especially careful regarding the final form of a settlement.

He added that he had briefed President Clerides on his visit to Cyrpus and said they exchanged views on various documents on the negotiating table in New York.

The EU official said the bloc wanted a solution that would make Cyprus a good member.

[07] Yugoslavia

Voting was uneven around the country. Early polling was brisk in Belgrade, but majority ethnic Albanians in Kosovo totally ignored the elections, and authorities in Serbia's sister republic of Monenegro carried out their threat to boycott the elections.

Witnesses said only Milosevic supporters were voting in Montenegro.

In Belgrade, a local electoral monitoring organisation reported numerous voting irregularities and said its activists around the country were reporting that the polls were a "complete mess."

Milosevic and the main opposition candidate Vojislav Kostunica, candidate of the Democratic Opposition of Serbia bloc, both voted in Belgrade.

The run-up to the elections was marked by a fierce war of words between Western leaders, who accused Milosevic of planning to rig the poll to stay in power, and his government, which has countered that it is that West that plans to cheat.

As the voting got under way Prime Minister Momir Bulatovic repeated that Milosevic was obliged to remain in power until 2001, regardless of the election result.

More than 7.4 million Serbs, and some 400,000 Montenegrins, were eligible to vote.

It is not clear when official results will be announced.

[08] Akakios

Kakiasvilis emulated the feat of his compariot Pyrros Dimas, who won the 85 kg category yesterday to add to his titles from Barcelona and Atlanta.

He lifted a total of 405 kilos, that is 185 in the snatch section and 220 in the clean and jerk.

"Pocket Hercules" Naim Suleymanoglu is the only other lifter to have won three Olympic gold medals.

The tiny Turk triumphed in Seoul, Barcelona and Atlanta but failed in his bid to win an unprecedented fourth gold in Sydney.

Polish teenager Szymon Kolecki took silver in today's battle and Russia's defending champion Alexei Petrov got the bronze.

[09] Funerals

Two war dead from the 1974 Turkish invasion of the island were buried today, 26 years after their death.

Their identities where determined through the DNA method.

Nicholas Georgiou died on July 22, 1974, in the Vorios Polos-Kaimakli area, at the age of 20.

Andreas Antonis Kalogirou died on July 23, 1974, near the village of Yerolakkos. He was also 20 years old.

[10] Meeting

People who lived together before the 1974 Turkish invasion met for the first time after 26 years.

They shared memories and hoped for a solution to the Cyprus problem soon, so that they may return to their villages.

The gathering was organised by left-wing AKEL and the Patriotic Unity Movement, in the context of events for the reunification of the island.

[11] Immigrants

Minister of the Interior, Christodoulos Christodoulou, said that there were some positive indications that the issue would end well.

Mr. Christodoulou said he was in continuous contact with his Lebanese counterpart, who he said gave some positive indications.

He said that despite Lebanon's unwillingness to take back the illegal immigrants, the Lebanese authorities must meet provisions in a bilateral agreement.

It appears that the boat transporting the illegal immigrants set sail for Italy from a harbour in Lebanon on September 11, before sinking off the coast of Paphos on September 13.

The immigrants are being guarded on a cruise ship in Limassol Port.

The bilateral agreement provides for illegal immigrants to be returned to the country from which they departed.

[12] Weather

Winds will be westerly to northwesterly, light, three beaufort, over slight to moderate seas.

Temperatures will drop to 20 degrees inland and along the south coast, to 18 along the west coast, and to 16 over the mountains.

Tomorrow will be generally fine in the morning, with local clouds and showers in the afternoon on the mountains.

Winds will be southwesterly to westerly, light, three beaufort, in the morning, and moderate to strong, four to five beaufort, in the afternoon, over moderate seas.

Temperatures will reach 32 degrees inland, 30 along the south coast, 28 along the west coast, and 25 over the mountains.

The highest and lowest temperatures recorded today were, in Nicosia 35 and 21 degrees, Limassol 33 and 21, Larnaca 32 and 20, Paphos 30 and 18, and Prodromos 29 and 18 degrees.

The fire hazard is extremely high in all forest areas.

Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article