Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation: News in English, 99-04-28

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From: The Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation at <http://www.cybc.com.cy/>

CONTENTS

[01] HEADLINES 28 APRIL EVENING

[02] YUGOSLAVIA DEVELOPMENTS

[03] SPOKESMAN STATEMENTS

[04] GREECE BLAST

[05] PLO DECISION

[06] PIGS DEMONSTRATION

[07] ANOMERITIS CLERIDES

[08] NEW ZEALAND CLERIDES

[09] DEMIREL CYPRUS

[10] CYTA MEETING

[11] UNIVERSITY

[12] WEATHER

[01] HEADLINES 28 APRIL EVENING

And, -- Government Spokesman, Costas Serezis said the new initiative on the Cyprus problem depends on fundamental difficulties which might arise.

[02] YUGOSLAVIA DEVELOPMENTS

Officials in Surdulica said they had pulled 20 bodies, mainly children and old people, from the ruins of houses flattened yesterday by a NATO raid.

NATO said a laser-guided bomb had gone astray and hit a residential area during an attack on an army training centre.

A NATO spokesman pledged that NATO has never, and will never, target civilians."

Britain said it regretted civilian casualties but it was not possible for NATO to eliminate such risks.

Yugoslavia says about 1,000 civilians, including many children, have been killed since NATO launched its air attacks on March 24.

Yugoslav Information Minister Milan Komnenic said the attack on Surdulica was a crime aimed at undermining efforts to bring about a peaceful solution involving the United Nations, something he said NATO opposed.

Meanwhile, diplomatic efforts gathered pace, centred chiefly on Moscow, as NATO entered the sixth week of ferocious aerial bombardment aimed at halting repression of ethnic Albanians in Serbia's Kosovo province.

UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan said the search for a political solution is a long, complex, drawn-out process.

Germany's defence minister and Greece's foreign minister led a procession of international leaders to Russia, a traditional Yugoslav ally, to engage Moscow more deeply in efforts to end the conflict. Mr Annan was flying there later.

[03] SPOKESMAN STATEMENTS

Mr Serezis said such difficulties might be the non-existence of a turkish government and the possibility of unacceptable preconditions by the Turkish side.

The Spokesman avoided commenting on statements made by Turkish President Suleiman Demirel, noting that the views of the Cyprus government are firm and will not change according to the whims of Turkish officials. In Athens, Greek Government Spokesman, Demetris Reppas accused Mr Demirel for not respecting the decisions of the UN.

[04] GREECE BLAST

The victims were attending an economic conference at the Intercontinental Hotel on Syngrou Avenue near the city centre when an anonymous caller warned of the attack 15 minutes before the blast.

The hotel was being evacuated when the time bomb exploded at a side entrance, shattering windows and causing substantial damage to the ground floor. The anonymous caller said he was from the leftist urban guerrilla group Revolutionary Nucleus, which has bombed state buildings and foreign banks since emerging in 1996.

[05] PLO DECISION

Nabil Amr, a Palestinian Authority official and a member of the Palestine Central Council (PCC), said the Council had decided to continue its discussions in "permanent session".

[06] PIGS DEMONSTRATION

Representatives of the pig breeders and agricultural organisations met today with Finance ministry officials. However, the organisation representatives said nothing was said during the meeting that would change their decision therefore they will continue tomorrow with their demonstration.

Pig breeders are demanding a drastic cut in pork supplies on the market. It is estimated that there is a surplus of 25 thousand pigs.

[07] ANOMERITIS CLERIDES

In statements after he was received by President Glafcos Clerides, Mr Anomeritis expressed hope that the island's accession course to the EU will help agricultural issues and improve the farmers' income.

Mr Anomeritis also met with agricultural organisation representatives and assured that the Cyprus - Greece cooperation in the agricultural field is continued.

[08] NEW ZEALAND CLERIDES

Mr McKinnon, who is visiting Cyprus, also discussed bilateral relations, Commonwealth issues and the Yugoslav issue with President Glafcos Clerides. The New Zealand minister said the Kosovo issue has a significant impact in this part of the world.

He later held talks with Foreign minister, Ioannis Kasoulides.

Mr McKinnon announced to Mr kasoulides his candidacy for the post of Secretary-General of the Commonwealth.

The Cypriot minister said Mr McKinnon fulfills all the necessary criteria to do a very successful job if elected.

[09] DEMIREL CYPRUS

The Turkish president, who was speaking at the Institute on Near East Policy in Washington, further claimed that the presence of the turkish army in Cyprus since 1974 has averted the loss of lives of many people.

He accused the Greek side for allegedly being the first to implement a policy of ethnic cleansing in Cyprus during the 60s.

Mr Demirel said that when raising the Cyprus issue with the americans he describes it as a "thorn" in the US - Turkish relations and said that Washington - Ankara relations are much more important than Cyprus.

[10] CYTA MEETING

The meeting was attended by Chief Negotiator in Cyprus' talks for accession to the EU, George Vasiliou, Communications and Works Minister Leondios Ierodiakonou and Attorney General Alecos Markides.

Mr Vasiliou said that views were exchanged on the issue without any decisions or conclusions.

The goal, he added, is to keep CYTA making profit, protect and guarantee the status of the staff, but also maintain Cyprus on the accession course.

The government has already resolved to float CYTA company shares.

[11] UNIVERSITY

Education Minister, Ouranios Ioannides said President Clerides will discuss the issue with the Council of Ministers which will convene soon to decide on the matter.

[12] WEATHER

The sea will be slight to moderate on the west and south coasts. Temperatures will each 29 C inland, 24 on the south coast, 22 C on the west coast and 18 over the mountains.

Join us again tomorrow for more news in English,

GOODNIGHT

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