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Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation: News in English, 99-09-30Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation at <http://www.cybc.com.cy/>CONTENTS
THURSDAY 30 SEPTEMBER 1999 [01] HEADLINESPresident of the Republic returned to Cyprus this morning, and will address the people of the island tonight;Government Spokesman Papapetrou states that Nicosia remains adamant in seeking direct talks under UN auspices; Turkish-Cypriot leader Denktash appears satisfied over Tuesday's Clinton-Ecevit meeting; The US remains committed to a bizonal and bicommunal Cyprus settlement; Turkey's Prime Minister repeats demands for the recognition of two states in Cyprus; and... A light seismic tremor occurred in the Limassol district in the early hours of this morning. [02] CLER HOMEPresident of the Republic Glafkos Clerides returned to Cyprus early this morning, but refrained from making any statements either at Larnaka airport or later.Accompanying him was Foreign Minister Ioannis Kasoulides, who told reporters that the Cyprus Government is waiting to be officially briefed on the results of Tuesday's Clinton-Ecevit meeting before making any statements on the issue. On the occasion of tomorrow's anniversary of the establishment of the Cyprus Republic, President Clerides will tonight address the people of the island. The address will be broadcast right after the 7 o'clock news on CyBC's First and Third Radio Channels, and immediately after the 8 o'clock newscast on CyBC's First Television Channel. [03] SPOKESMANGovernment Spokesman Michalis Papapetrou, in a telephone interview from London, said that Nicosia remains adamant in its position that the UN Secretary-General implements the G8 call for direct talks aimed at a resolution of the Cyprus Issue, as well as UN Security Council resolution 12-50.Also commenting on statements made by Turkish Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit following Tuesday's meeting with US President Bill Clinton, Mr Papapetrou expressed the assessment that it is still to early to conclude that all efforts have collapsed and that the political backdrop has changed. He did concede, however, that developments are not exactly what the Greek-Cypriot side aspired to. Referring to next week's planned visit to the Nicosia-Athens-Ankara triangle by US Presidential Emissary Alfred Moses, Cyprus' Government Spokesman said that the Greek-Cypriot side will seek a full implementation of UN Security Council resolution 12-50 and the realisation of substantive talks under UN auspices for a comprehensive solution of the Cyprus Issue, adding that the government of the island is not willing to discuss anything even remotely related to the unacceptable terms set by Mr Denktash. In closing, Mr Papapetrou said that the island's National Council will convene within the next few days in order to assess the situation as this has now been transformed. [04] DENK MOSESTurkish-Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash, in an initial reaction to the Clinton-Ecevit meeting, expressed satisfaction over the announced visit to the region of US Presidential Emissary Alfred Moses, describing it as "a positive development".The occupation leader added that he had warned the US official during their meeting in New York that the formulation of any recipe towards a settlement before a visit to the island and a hands-on assessment of the problems between the two communities would be premature. [05] US CYThe United States is attempting to convince the two sides directly involved in the Cyprus Issue to attend negotiations without preconditions under UN auspices.This was disclosed last night by US State Department Spokesman Jim Foley, after being asked if proximity talks between President of the Republic Glafkos Clerides and Turkish-Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash satisfy the terms set by the G8. Mr Foley went on to say that he has heard nothing concerning proximity talks, and reiterated that his country remains committed to a Cyprus solution based on a bizonal and bicommunal federation. [06] TSOHA VISITGreek National Defence Minister Akis Tsohadzopoulos is arriving in Cyprus tonight on an official visit.During his stay, Mr Tsohadzopoulos will be received by the President of the Republic and will also take the salute at tomorrow's military parade marking the anniversary of the independence of the Cyprus Republic. Mr Tsohadzopoulos will also meet with House President Kyprianou, Defence Minister Hasikos, political party leaders and Archbishop Chrysostomos before returning to Greece on October 3rd. [07] ECEVIT ADDRESSTurkish Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit, in an address to the Washington-based National Press Club, stated that the improvement of the political climate between his country and Greece could possibly open the way for the resolution of problems related to the Aegean Sea.Prime Minister Ecevit also referred to the Cyprus Issue, but once again in a negative tone, repeating demands for the recognition of an independent Turkish-Cypriot state prior to the commencement of any negotiations, ading that the international community should, at long last, accept the existence of two distinct and separate states on the island. [08] TURKEY PRESSThe Turkish press considers the Clinton-Ecevit meeting as the start of a new course in US-Turkey relations, within the scope of which the Cyprus Issue will also be discussed.As reported from New York by the majority of Turkish correspondents sent to cover the meeting, the US was not particularly pressing as regards the commencement of direct and unconditional talks on the Cyprus Issue, with the focus being rather on resuming negotiations through the efforts of US Presidential Emissary Alfred Moses. On the issue, the daily "Milliyet" newspaper reports that the US implicitly referred to the holding of indirect talks, adding that the Clinton assurances of not returning to the pre-1974 situation greatly relieved Turkey's Prime Minister. "Hurriyet" however, in its editorial, expresses the assessment that President Clinton made no concessions as regards the Cyprus Issue, but rather insisted on a solution based on the G8 decision. [09] L'SSOL ROCKS!A light seismic tremor, measuring 4.2 on the Richter scale, occurred in the Limassol district at 3:17 this morning.According to the Cyprus Seismology Department, the tremor came as an aftershock to the August 11th quake which hit the region, with the epicentre once again being in the Yerasa area. Limassol town meanwhile would have been rocked in a different way last night, if Police hadn't succeeded in defusing an explosive device placed by the wall encircling the Limassol District Office. Preliminary investigations have determined that the bomb, makeshift in design, contained half a pound of TNT, and would have been set off with a primer connected to a slow-burning fuse. [10] LOTTO/JOKERThe six winning numbers in last night's Lotto draw were:1 4 14 15 44 and 49. The jackpot of 1 million, 160 thousand pounds has already been claimed by one person in Greece. A five-number match earns 450 pounds and a four-number match 7. There were no winners in last night's Proto draw, and a sum of over 700 thousand pounds is being carried over to Saturday's draw. The winning number was 62 06 553. The grand prize in last night's Lotto, draw, amounting to 242 thousand pounds, was also claimed by a resident of Greece, for the combination 17 24 26 35 and 38, with number 3 as the Joker. [11] WEATHERThe weather this afternoon will be generally fair, with temperatures slightly higher than the seasonal average, reaching 38C inland, 34C in the south and east, 32C in the west and 30C at higher altitudes. Winds will be northeasterly to southeasterly light to moderate, 3-4BF, on slight seas, rising to moderate in windward areas.Generally fair conditions are also forecast for tonight. Variable winds, predominantly northwesterly light, 3BF, will give rise to slight seas, while temperatures will drop to 21C along the south coast and to 19C in all other regions. The fire hazard remains extremely high in all forest areas. 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