Compact version |
|
Monday, 2 December 2024 | ||
|
Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation: News in English, 99-09-02Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation at <http://www.cybc.com.cy/>CONTENTS
THURSDAY 2 SEPTEMBER 1999 [01] HEADLINES-- A post mortem on the body of Greek Cypriot enclave Stelios Harpas, who was killed on Monday night by Turkish settlers, was carried out today in Turkish occupied Famagusta.-- New US State Department Coordinator for Cyprus, Thomas Weston is holding contacts in Moscow on the Cyprus problem. -- Moscow appears reserved concerning the resumption of the Cyprus peace talks before the OSCE summit in Constantinople in November. --Prospects for the signing of a new Israeli-Palestinian peace deal today hung by a thread while each side waited for the other to make the first move to end an impasse over the emotive issue of Palestinian prisoners. And -- Rescue teams admitted defeat today after digging for more than 10 hours for a possible survivor trapped under rubble 15 days after a huge earthquake devastated large swathes of north western Turkey. [02] HARPAS POST MORTEMA post mortem on the body of Greek Cypriot enclaved Stelios Harpas, who was killed on Monday night, was carried out today in Turkish occupied Famagusta.His body is expected to be transported to the free areas this afternoon. In statements to CyBC, Humanitarian Affairs Commissioner, Takis Christopoulos said a doctor of the United Nations Peacekeeping Forces in Cyprus was supposed to be present at the post mortem. The force is also preparing a report which it will present to the government when it is ready. He also said he is expected to hold a meeting with Harpas' children today. [03] WESTONNew US State Department Coordinator for Cyprus, Thomas Weston is holding contacts in Moscow on the Cyprus problem.He has already travelled to Paris and Brussels. Mr Weston is expected in Cyprus on Saturday for talks with President Glafcos Clerides and Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash. He will also hold talks in Athens and Ankara. [04] MOSCOW CYPRUSMoscow appears reserved concerning the resumption of the Cyprus peace talks before the OSCE summit in Constantinople in November.However, it said that when a new initiative starts it is certain that it will not fail. In statements to a delegation of the Cyprus News Agency which is visiting Moscow, Russian Foreign Ministry Special Representative on Cyprus, Vladimir Tsizov said that during the OSCE meeting there will be a discussion on the Cyprus problem by heads of states. He also said Moscow is advising the Secretary General that his next steps on Cyprus should be carefully planned, based on UN decisions and to make use of the political influence of the permanent members of the UN Security Council. [05] PEACE TCTwenty-two organisations in the occupied areas, in a letter called on President Glafcos Clerides and Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash to begin talks and take bold steps in achieving peace in Cyprus.According to the Turkish Cypriot press, representatives of organisations visited the Ledra Palace checkpoint yesterday on the occasion of the World Peace Day and handed a letter to a UN representative, calling on UNFICYP to convey it to President Clerides and UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan. The letter supports a federal solution that would recognise the equality and interests of both communities. [06] MIDEASTProspects for the signing of a new Israeli-Palestinian peace deal today hung by a thread while each side waited for the other to make the first move to end an impasse over the emotive issue of Palestinian prisoners.It was unclear whether an accord could be clinched in time for Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak to join Palestinian President Yasser Arafat for a signing ceremony in Alexandria, Egypt, later in the day with U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright. Asked if the showcase event was still possible in the coming hours, Israeli cabinet minister Haim Ramon told Army Radio "certainly, if the Palestinians pick up the phone." Senior Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat accused Israel of playing a game of brinkmanship after a spokesman for Barak said it was now up to the Palestinians to say "yes" or "no" to Israeli proposals for a deal. [07] KOSOVO BLOCKAround a dozen Serbs continued to block a main road through the Kosovo town of Gracanica today in protest at the alleged kidnapping of a local resident.The protesters parked a truck across the road and set up a barricade of tyres and pieces of wood to prevent traffic from passing. Gracanica, around 15 km south of the provincial capital Pristina and home to one of Serbia's best known Orthodox monasteries, is one of the few towns in Kosovo where Serbs make up the majority. Locals have accused ethnic Albanians of kidnapping several members of their community over the past few weeks. Ethnic Albanians, meanwhile, kept up their roadblock protest around the south-western town of Orahovac to stop Russian troops taking over from Dutch soldiers who have patrolled there since the KFOR peacekeeping force entered Kosovo in June. The Albanians, who began the blockade on Monday of last week, say Russian mercenaries fought alongside Serb forces who committed atrocities in the area. [08] TURKEY QUAKERescue teams admitted defeat today after digging for more than 10 hours for a possible survivor trapped under rubble 15 days after a huge earthquake devastated large swathes of north western Turkey.The volunteers earlier said they had detected possible signs of life on the basement floor of a five-storey building in the seaside town of Golcuk. However after hours of digging deep into the ruins, the operation was called off. The town was one of the hardest hit by the 7.4 strength quake which killed at least 14,000 people when it levelled thousands of apartment blocks in towns and cities in the early hours of August 17. Weary Turkish and U.S. rescue teams began leaving the site. The last survivor, a toddler, was pulled out alive from the earthquake wreckage on August 23. [09] TURKEY QUAKE TURPASTurkey's state oil refiner Tupras said it would import 1.5 million tonnes of petroleum products to meet demand after a fire triggered by a strong quake forced a shutdown at its biggest refinery two weeks ago.In a statement to the stock exchange, the company said its provisional losses due to the fire and quake were 115 million dollars with a plus or minus 15 percent margin of error. It was not clear whether the figure included loss on profits. The loss was originally estimated at around 200 million dollars including profit losses. [10] QUANTAS DAMAGEDA Qantas Airways Ltd Boeing 747-22 was damaged today when one of its engines scraped the runway as it landed at Perth airport in high winds.A Qantas spokeswoman said none of the 339 passengers or 17 crew were hurt. Flight QF23 was making a stopover in Perth en route from Sydney to Harare in Zimbabwe and Johannesburg in South Africa. The spokeswoman said the aircraft landed "during strong wind gusts". Both Qantas and Australian air safety authorities were investigating the incident. [11] ELDIK MINISTERDefence Minister, Socrates Hasikos said the Greek forces in Cyprus are ready to handle any eventuality in case of danger.He was speaking after a meeting with the commander of ELDIK, Colonel Aristides Tsoumanis at the Greek Forces' headquarters. [12] DISY ANASTASIADESDemocratic Rally President, Nicos Anastasiades, said he was fully satisfied with the conclusion of the party's political bureau with President Glafcos Clerides today.He said President Clerides informed the Political Bureau about current developments on the national problem and reiterated his views on a Cyprus settlement which remain unchanged. [13] WEATHERThis afternoon, it will be clear in most areas but some local cloud will develop with isolated storms inland.Winds will be westerly moderate, four to five beaufort and the sea slight to moderate. Tonight, the weather will remain clear. Winds will become north-westerly light, two to three beaufort and the sea slight. Temperatures will fall to 19 C inland, 21 C on the coasts and 16 over the mountains. The fire hazard remains extremely high in all forest areas. Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |