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Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation: News in English, 02-01-24
From: The Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation at <http://www.cybc.com.cy/>
CONTENTS
[01] Headlines
[02] Clerides Denktash
[03] Denktash talks
[04] Papa Pique
[05] US dinner
[06] Florakis theft
[07] Michos Florakis
[08] Mideast wrap
[09] Bush defence
[10] Napa Bombs
[11] Meat Spinach
[12] Tailer
[13] Weather
THURSDAY 24 JANUARY 2002
[01] Headlines
President Clerides yesterday held a ninety minute meeting with
Turkish-cypriot leader Rauf Denktash, within the framework of direct
settlement talks,
Denktash stated that he will sign an agreement for the solution of the
Cyprus problem if it is based on equality between the two communities,
The Cyprus government has made representations to the American embassy
in Nicosia, over a reception it organised in the occupied territories,
A bomb killed Elie Hobeika, a former Lebanese minister and leader of a
pro-Israeli militia involved in the 1982 massacre of Palestinian
refugees in Lebanon,
and
A British traveller was so fed up when the train buffet ran out of
food that he used his mobile phone to get a "curry in a hurry"
delivered to his carriage.
[02] Clerides Denktash
President Clerides yesterday held a ninety minute meeting with
Turkish-cypriot leader Rauf Denktash, within the framework of direct
settlement talks that started on the 16th January. The issue of
authority was at the centre of discussions. According to our stations'
sources, the Greek-cypriot side stands firm in its position of
discussing ways of developing and organising the Cyprus republic into a
bizonal bicommunal federal state. The same sources say that the
Turkish side insists on the creation of the so-called new partnership
and two states, on a confederal states. Greek strategy seems to aim at
securing the possibility of discussing all aspects of the Cyprus
problem, but without giving Rauf Denktash the possibility of maintaing
a fruitless dialogue for a long time. Following yesterday's talks,
President Clerides, foreign minister Ioannis Casoulides and government
officials held a meeting at the presidential palace to evaluate the
results of the talks so far. Greek ambassador in Nicosia, Christos
Panagopoulos also attended. This morning, president Clerides began
briefing political leaders on the talks, starting with AKEL General
Secretary Dimitris Christofias.
[03] Denktash talks
Rauf Denktash stated that he will sign an agreement for the solution of
the Cyprus problem if it is based on equality between the two
communities. The turkish-cypriot leader said that he will reject any
proposal that would make Turkish-cypriots a minority. Denktash was
speaking in occupied Nicosia, following yesterday's meeting with
President Clerides. Commenting on reports regarding the creation of a
United States of Cyprus, he said that there were mere rumours.
[04] Papa Pique
Greek foreign minister Yiorgos Papandreou held talks yesterday in
Athens with his Spanish counterpart Hose Pique, whose country holds the
presidency of the European Union. At the top of the agenda was the
Cyprus problem and Common European and defence policy. In statements,
following the meeting, Yiorgos Papandreou said that he had briefed Mr
Pique on the direct settlement talks being held and both expressed the
hope that they will bear fruit.
[05] US dinner
The Cyprus government has made representations to the American embassy
in Nicosia, over a reception it organised in the occupied territories.
According to reports in the turkish-cypriot press, American ambassador
Donald Bandler held a reception in occupied Nicosia on Tuesday, on the
occasion of inaugurating a new embassy building in the occupied
territories. Rauf Denktash, the so-called Turkish ambassador in the
occupied territories Hayiati Giuven and Turkish military officials,
were among the guests. In a statement yesterday afternoon, the
American embassy said that it has maintained offices in north cyprus,
as it refers to the occupied territories, for a long time. The
reception, it is stated, was merely on the occassion of inaugurating
the new offices.
[06] Florakis theft
In ten days, all commanding officers at the Linou area, where National
Guard weapons were stolen last week, will have been replaced. National
Guard Commander Evangelos Florakis said that strict instructions have
been given to increase security in all outposts, with the use of high
tech equipment. However, he added, not all outposts can be equipped
accordingly, due to heavy cost.
[07] Michos Florakis
Meanwhile, government spokesman Michalis Papapetrou stated that there
was never an issue of Florakis resigning over last week's incident.
Papapetrou said that the Commander of the National Guard enjoys the
full support and confidence of President Clerides and defence minister
Socratis Hasikos. According to some reports, lieutenant-general
Florakis, had made his resignation available to Hasikos, following the
Linou incident.
[08] Mideast wrap
Israel today voiced new fears that a regional conflict could flare in
the Middle East after the first cross-border attacks in more than
three months by Lebanese Hizbollah guerrillas backed by Syria and
Iran. In a separate incident that could inflame tempers, a blast
killed Elie Hobeika, leader of a pro-Israeli militia involved in the
1982 massacre of Palestinian refugees in Lebanon's Sabra and Shatila
camps. At least three other people were also killed and another three
wounded in the blast as the former Lebanese minister was leaving his
Beirut home. Among the dead were two of Hobeika's bodyguards. Hobeika
commanded the Christian Lebanese Forces militia, which carried out the
massacre of Palestinian refugees at the Sabra and Shatila camps after
Israel's 1982 invasion of Lebanon. Meanwhile, after Hizbollah fired
rockets and mortar bombs at Israeli military positions for the first
time since October, Israel sent warplanes on raids into southern
Lebanon last night. Israeli security forces have been on high alert
since a Palestinian gunman killed two Israeli women and wounded 14
other people in a shooting spree in Jerusalem on Tuesday.
[09] Bush defence
President Bush outlined plans for the biggest rise in U.S. military
spending in two decades to fund a protracted campaign to wipe out
global terrorism, as captured American al Qaeda fighter John Walker
Lindh arrived home to face justice. But tribal rivalries threatened to
complicate the daunting development task as the country struggles to
emerge from decades of conflict. Visiting the southern city of
Kandahar, FBI Director Robert Mueller told CNN that data gleaned from
prisoners and from documents had prevented attacks on U.S.
facilities. As the United States expanded its war on terrorism beyond
Afghanistan, Bush said he would propose a 48 billion dollar boost in
military spending for the 2003 financial year, the biggest rise in two
decades.
[10] Napa Bombs
Ayia Napa police are investigating a case of illegal possession of
smoke bombs. Two such bombs were found in a car owned by Mavrikios
Zouvani Mavroudis, 28, from Paralimni. Around three thirty in the
morning, Mavroudis was stopped by police, who searced his car. He was
arrested and put in custody.
[11] Meat Spinach
Meat lovers may one day worry a little bit less about their fat intake
thanks to Japanese scientists who say they have produced healthier
pork by breeding pigs implanted with spinach genes. Akira Iritani,
the research team leader, professor of genetic engineering at Kinki
University in western Japan said that this is the world's first success
in breeding mammals with plant genes. Iritani said his group had put
spinach genes into the fertilised egg of a pig and planted it in the
mother. Iritani said their meat would be "more healthy" than normal
pork although it was too early to say whether it could be considered
as healthy as spinach.
A British traveller was so fed up when the train buffet ran out of
food that he used his mobile phone to get a "curry in a hurry"
delivered to his carriage. Deke Primo had a brainwave on the
Edinburgh-to-London express after he had queued in vain for a meal.
He phoned ahead for a takeaway to be delivered at the next stop.
Primo told the Sun it was like a military operation. The Al-Fazal
diner in the central town of Peterborough rose to the challenge and
delivered a piping hot tikka masala. Primo and his daughter enjoyed a
feast -- much to the envy of their fellow travellers. He said that
there were dozens of hungry people all around and the smell of curry
was torture to them.
It will be mainly clear this afternoon, with patchy cloud expected to
bring rain, mainly on the mountains. Winds will be light
northeasterly, three beaufort, over moderate seas on the north and
eastern windward areas. Temperatures will reach 16 degrees inlandand
18 on the coast. Tonight it will remain mainly clear. Winds ill be
light northeasterly three beaufort, over moderate seas on the north and
eastern windward areas. Temperatures will fall to three degrees
inland, seven on the coast and zero on the mountains. The depth of
snow on Mount Olympus is 50 centimetres, with 30 in Troodos square.
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