Cyprus News Agency: News in English (AM), 98-08-08

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From: The Cyprus News Agency at <http://www.cyna.org.cy>

CONTENTS

[01] Cyprus - Heatwave

[02] Defence Minister - National Guard

[03] Cyprus - Firemen - Greece

[04] Cyprus - Terrorist attacks

[05] Turkish Cypriots - Kokkina enclave

1200:CYPPRESS:01

[01] Cyprus - Heatwave

Hospital officials told CNA that most of the admissions involved elderly people suffering from dehydration.

A spokesman from Limassol General Hospital said staff were working round the clock to handle increased emergencies.

Larnaca General Hospital described the situation as a "pandemonium", noting that hundreds of people went to the hospital with dizziness, headaches, heat stroke symptoms and dehydration.

In Nicosia, director of the First Aid Department, Dr. Costas Antoniades said there were 450 admissions in the last 24 hours but no cases of heat stroke were reported.

According to the Meteorological Service, the unprecedented heatwave is expected to subside by Wednesday.

Kratinos Charalambides told CNA that the same atmospheric conditions which retained temperatures high during July continue into August, with temperatures up to four degrees higher than normal.

He said temperatures are expected to remain in the 40s until Wednesday, when the air masses coming from central and northern India, that are affecting Cyprus, will gradually change direction.

Charalambides described as a "phenomenon" the prolonged high temperatures.

CNA EC/MA/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1315:CYPPRESS:02

[02] Defence Minister - National Guard

After the swearing-in ceremony of guardsmen at a Larnaca army camp, Omirou called on all countries concerned about security and stability in the region to exercise pressure on Turkey, over Cyprus.

"We are a power of peace, stability, security and cooperation in the region and those third parties who want to create the impression that we are part of a game of tension will be proved wrong," he said.

Omirou said the National Guard will safeguard peace, but "if we are provoked we will defend the rights of Cypriot Hellenism until the end".

Stressing that the government will not be part of the "game of tension", he called on all "who appear concerned about stability and security in the region to turn toward the source of this anomaly, which is Turkey and its destabalising role".

Asked about the government decision to deploy the Russian-made S300 later this year, Omirou said the positions of the government and political parties are well known.

"We will never operate under blackmail or pressure," he added. The government decided to buy the S300 in a bid to boost its air defence, in view of the 35 thousand strong Turkish army, occupying the island's northern third since Turkey's 1974 invasion.

The Defence Minister congratulated the National Guard for "the perfect work it carries out".

He added that the National Guard and military cooperation with Greece "offer the people of Cyprus a sense of security".

Swearing in ceremonies also took place today in four other army camps. Young Cypriot males join the National Guard as soon as they finish high school, to serve a compulsory two year service.

CNA MAN/MA/EC/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1320:CYPPRESS:03

[03] Cyprus - Firemen - Greece

According to an official announcement, the decision was taken during yesterday's Council of Ministers meeting after a proposal by Justice and Public Order Minister, Nicos Koshis.

Arrangements are being made for a team of 13 members of the Cyprus Fire Brigade, led by assistant chief, George Papageorgiou to leave this afternoon.

They will be at the disposal of the Greek Fire Brigade, which has already been informed about the decision.

Greek Justice and Public Order Minister, George Romeos has thanked the government for its practical help and interest.

CNA MA/EC/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1415:CYPPRESS:04

[04] Cyprus - Terrorist attacks

In a condolence telegram to US President Bill Clinton, President Glafcos Clerides condemned these terrorists acts and extended his sympathy to the victims' families.

Similar telegrams were sent by the Cyprus government to the presidents of Kenya and Tanzania.

Up to 80 people were killed and more than 1,200 injured when a bomb ripped through an office building next to the US embassy in Nairobi.

Six people were also killed and at least 58 injured in a car bomb attack on Friday against the US embassy in the Tanzanian capital.

CNA MA/EC/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1430:CYPPRESS:05

[05] Turkish Cypriots - Kokkina enclave

In 1964 the Turkish Air Force bombed Greek Cypriot targets around a Turkish Cypriot enclave in this region, in the most serious incident to occur since intercommunal strife broke out.

A convoy of 36 buses and an ambulance crossed from the Limnitis checkpoint and entered Kokkina through the Mansoura post, in the north- western coast.

Once in the free areas the Turkish Cypriots, who are expected to return later today, were accompanied by UN peacekeepers and Cyprus police patrols.

Turkish Cypriot leader, Rauf Denktash, was also expected to attend the ceremony after arriving in Kokkina by helicopter.

So called ministers of the illegal regime in the occupied areas of Cyprus, recognised only by Ankara, as well as Turkish Cypriot party leaders and the pseudo regime's military leadership were also expected to go to Kokkina by boat.

Kokkina is an enclave some three miles west of the areas occupied by Turkey since its troops invaded Cyprus in 1974, occupying 37 percent of the island's territory.

Turkish Cypriots have access to Kokkina by air or sea. However, today they travelled through the government controlled areas of the Republic after this was made possible through the cooperation of the UN peacekeeping force and the Cyprus government Office of Humanitarian Affairs.

CNA SS/EC/MA/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

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