Compact version |
|
Monday, 14 October 2024 | ||
|
Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation: News in English, 99-09-29Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation at <http://www.cybc.com.cy/>CONTENTS
WEDNESDAY 29 SEPTEMBER 1999 [01] HEADLINESUS President Bill Clinton tries but fails to persuade Ecevit to accept a proposal for peace talksGovernment Spokesman speaks of shift in US position on Cyprus Further Stock exchange developments A fresh quake rocks Constantinople Manchester United live tonight on CyBC's first telesision channel [02] CLINT-ECEVThe Cyprus News Agency (CNA) reported late last night that during yesterday's two-hour meeting between US President Bill Clinton and Turkish Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit, the US president urged but did not pressure Prime Minister Ecevit to accept the G8 proposal for the commencement of UN-sponsored direct talks on the Cyprus Issue with no preconditions.The report goes on to say that Turkey's Prime Minister maintained his intransigence and, according to US officials, repeated the Turkish side's demands for the recognition of the Denktash pseudostate and the acknowledgment of two separate political entities on the island. What was agreed upon however, is the realisation of a visit by US Presidential Amissary Alfred Moses to the Nicosia-Athens-Ankara triangle the soonest, possibly as early as next week. At the same time, Turkey's Prime Minister appeared willing to accept the holding of proximity talks as a first step, provided the European Union is willing to upgrade his country's status to that of a candidate-state at the EU Helsinki summit in December. President Clinton and Prime Minister Ecevit further concurred that no Cyprus solution can be reached along the same parameters as those existing before 1974, and that all Cypriot citizens should be guaranteed of their safety and security. As regards the proposed Moses visit, US officials told the CNA that its purpose is to investigate ways in which the reaching of a Cyprus solution may be advanced. [03] DIPS ANALYSISCypriot and Greek diplomats stationed in Washington have given their initial assessments of yesterday's Clinton-Ecevit meeting.According to reliable sources quoted by our correspondent, the announced visit to the Athens-Nicosia-Ankara triangle by US Presidential Emissary Alfred Moses could well be part of a US endeavour to redouble efforts, given the ascertained intransigence of Turkish Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit. Another assessment is that the US Government, in collaboration with Ankara and certain European countries, is attempting to hold the talks as close as possible to December's EU-summit in order to ensure, on certain provisions, the upgrading of Turkey's status to that of an EU-candidate state. Diplomats are also considering the possibility that the Moses visit was requested by Prime Minister Ecevit himself, in order for him to delay his acceptance of the holding of direct talks in an effort to save face. [04] KAS MOSESThe White House has promised to issue a announcement clarifying recent official and unofficial statements on the Cyprus issue by US officials.According to CyBC sources, Foreign Minister Ioannis Kassoulides has extracted a relevant promise from the US government. In telephone contacts with Alfred Moses and other US officials, Cyprus's Foreign Minister was also briefed on the Clinton-Ecevit talks. Kassoulides is expecting to hear more on the Clinton-Ecevit meeting and the upcoming Moses tour of the Nicosia, Athens, Ankara triangle. [05] SPOKESMANGovernment Spokesman Michalis Papapetrou, summing up President Clerides' visit to New York, stated that the Greek-Cypriot side has received indications from the US and other countries of a shift in their respective positions.Describing President Clerides' visit as important, Cyprus' Government Spokesman further said that the Greek-Cypriot side is not satisfied with mere assurances, but seeks the conforming of the Turkish side with the G8 call and UN Security Council Resolution 12-50 on the holding of unconditional talks this autumn. In closing, Mr Papapetrou noted the increased interest exhibited by the US and other countries towards a Cyprus solution, adding however that what is important is not the intention of the parties involved but the results, stressing that the US has both the power and the means to ensure a bending of Turkey's intransigence. [06] TITINA POST'TThe expected Council of Europe ratification of the resolution calling on Turkey to implement its decision in the Titina Loizides case has been postponed.Cyprus' Ambassador at the Council, Thalia Petrides, told our station that while all preparations seemed to be in order, procedural technicalities led to the resolution not being tabled for ratification. Ambassador Petrides further said that the procedural rules on the definition of an absolute majority appear to have been arbitrarily changed, but also expressed the assessment that the resolution will be ratified next week. [07] ROLANDIS CSEMinister of Commerce, Industry and Tourism Nikos Rolandis today described the confrontation between the Cyprus Stock Exchange Board and the Brokers' Association as "an undesirable complication".In statements to our station, Minister Rolandis clarified that the proposed fines would be imposed by the Director of the Exchange, and any differences should be appealed at the Exchange's Board. He added that the Brokers' Association recourse with the Supreme Court can only be justified if the decision was taken by the Board itself, and not the bourse's director. [08] MONEY INFRINGEIn the latest stock market scandal, an employee at a Famagusta District bank has been sacked for drawing on customers' funds to invest on the exchange.CyBC television revealed last night that similar irregularities have been uncovered at bank branches in almost all towns. The axed employee apparently embezzled a considerable sum of the bank's money, making a hefty profit buying and selling shares. Meanwhile, it was revealed today that a Cooperative Credit society employee arrested on similar charges had infact used the money to bet on horses. Epaminondas Epaminonda is suspected of pocketing the half a million pounds missing from the Engomi Coop. [09] TURKEY QUAKEA terrified woman leapt to her death from her balcony in Istanbul early today when another earthquake shook Turkey's biggest city before dawn.The state-run Anatolian news agency said the quake, measuring 4.8 on the Richter scale, was centred on the seaside town of Yalova, across the Marmara Sea from Istanbul. Fear of earthquakes has been rife in Turkey since a catastrophic quake last month that killed more than 15,600 people and injurrd tens of thousands in the coutry's northwest. [10] FOOTBALLCyBC's First Television Channel will link up with Manchester's Old Trafford stadium at 9:45 tonight for a live transmission of the European Football Champions' League match between home team Manchester United and Marseille.Following the match, which is scheduled to kick off at 9:45, videotaped highlights of the other seven games in today's fixtures will be shown. That's tonight, at 9:45, on CyBC's First Television Channel. [11] WEATHERThe weather will be generally fair this afternoon, with temperatures slightly higher than the seasonal average, reaching 37C inland, 33C in the south, 31C in the west and 25C at higher altitudes. Winds will be moderate northeast-to-northwesterlies, with occasional sea-breezes of 3-4BF along the south and east coasts, on slight seas.Generally fair conditions are also forecast for tonight, with winds abating to light northeast-to-northwesterlies, 2-3BF, on slight seas, and temperatures dropping to 19C inland and in coastal regions, and 17C on the higher reaches of the Troodos mountains. The fire hazard remains extremely high in all forest areas. Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |