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Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation: News in English, 00-02-22Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation at <http://www.cybc.com.cy/>CONTENTS
TUESDAY 22 FEBRUARY 2000 [01] HEADLINESBritain will continue to pursue the same policy on the Cyprus Issue as it has since the island's problem began;Foreign Minister Kasoulides meets with Moldavian, Russian and Ukrainian officials; Cyprus is on a very good path as regards its EU-accession negotiations; We have an overview of the leading news stories from around the world; The newly-established Social-Democrat Movement continues to be fraught by disappointment and dissent; The Cyprus Stock Exhange is marked by another slow day of trading; Cyprus' best athletes are to be awarded this evening; and... Japan's women are attempting to enter the sumo ring. [02] BRITAIN MOVEMENTBritain is standing fast in its policy on the Cyprus Issue and is not willing to change it.The statement was made by a Foreign Office Spokesperson when asked by our London correspondent to comment on Foreign Secretary Robin Cook's conviction that free movement in Cyprus can only be implemented through the simultaneous accession of Turkey to the European Union. At the same time however, the Spokesperson stressed that a political settlement of the Cyprus Issue does not constitute a prerequisite for the island's accession to the Union. While avoiding a direct answer to the question, the Foreign Office Spokesperson said that the British Government expects the ongoing Cyprus Issue talks to lead to a serious examination of the limitations existing over free movement on the island. [03] KAS DJIZOFCyprus' Foreign Minister Ioannis Kasoulides, last night held a previously-unannounced meeting with the Russian Federation's Special Representative for the Cyprus Issue, Vladimir Djizof.The meeting was realised during a Moscow stopover for Mr Kasoulides, en route from Moldavia to the Ukraine, where he is currently on a two-day official visit for talks with the country's House Speaker and the Chamber of Commerce Chairman. In Moldavia, Foreign Minister Kasoulides met with his counterpart Nikolae Tapakaru and discussed the two countries' political problems, concurring that these should be resolved on the basis of territorial integrity, sovereignty, and in line with UN principles and the EU Helsinki summit decisions. The two ministers also discussed their countries' European orientation and bilateral relations. Mr Kasoulides was also received by Moldavia's President, Petru Lushinski, as well as the country's Prime Minister and its House Speaker. [04] RODOUSAKIS CONTACTSGreek Ambassador to Cyprus Kyriakos Rodousakis has begun a series of contacts aimed at establishing an even better co-ordination of joint efforts undertaken by Athens and Nicosia, in view of the third round of proximity talks, to be held in New York at the end of May.This morning, Ambassador Rodousakis was received by President of the Republic Glafkos Clerides, but no significant statements were made after the meeting. Earlier today, the Greek Ambassador met with Democratic Rally Chairman Nikos Anastassiades, and said afterwards that the two discussed, in great detail, the given facts as well as the expected visits to Cyprus of foreign intermediaries. On his part, Mr Anastassiades said that Greece remains stalwart in its support to Cyprus, as well as in efforts to achieve a just and viable solution to the island's long-standing problem. Ambassador Rodousakis is scheduled to meet with the Democratic Party's leadership this afternoon, while further meetings with other parties have been set for tomorrow. [05] ROTE CYPRUSCyprus is on a very good path as regards its EU-accession negotiations, but the more they proceed, the more difficult things will become.The message was conveyed by Mehtilde Rote, co-Chairperson of the EU-Cyprus Joint Parliamentary Committee, who also noted that preparations for the next committee meeting, scheduled for April, are at an advanced stage. Mrs Rote further stressed the need to brief all Europarliamentarians on Cyprus' EU-accession course. The EU-official was speaking after a meeting with Cyprus' chief EU-negotiator, George Vassiliou. [06] WORLD IN BRIEFOver now to a brief overview of the major News stories from around the world...While Western peacekeepers are striving to control rioters in the flashpoint Kosovo town of Mitrovica, NATO leaders are blaming Yugoslavia and warning it against touching off a new ethnic conflict beyond the province's borders. According to the latest Reuters report, the situation on both sides of a bridge linking the Albanian- and Serb-dominated parts of the town was described as "calm". Israel, voicing confidence at the start of a fresh Middle East peace mission by US Presidential envoy Dennis Ross, has announced the advancement of new proposals in order to end the deadlock in talks with the Palestinians. Chinese and European Union trade officials entered a second day of market-opening talks today, in a bid to surmount the biggest remaining obstacle to China's membership in the World Trade Organisation. And Arizona Senator John McCain, a dark horse in the US Republican presidential nomination race, openly accused rival George W. Bush of "character assassination" on the eve of Michigan's crucial primary, where a poll shows the two just about even in voters' preference. [07] SOCIAL DEMOCRATSCyprus' newly-founded Social-Democrat Movement, which held its inaugural congress over the weekend in a climate laden with tension, continues to be plagued by problems just two days later.Following leading Socialist EDEK members Andreas Frydas and Andreas Sismanis, who yesterday expressed strong criticism over the procedures observed, a third EDEK founding member, Efstathios Efstathiou has also disassociated himself from the Movement. Elaborating on his decision, Mr Efstathiou said that he did not attend the inaugural congress because he could not bring himself to celebrate what he described as "a non-achievement", adding that the attempt to establish a strong political centre on the island, which would act as a buffer between right-wing DISY and left-wing AKEL has failed, leading to a mere renaming of the Socialist EDEK party. Commenting on the expressed criticisms, EDEK press spokesman Marinos Sizopoulos said that they are totally unfounded and lead to an abandonment of social visions and efforts towards a justification of the Cyprus cause, with some even stemming from personal bitterness and gripes. [08] CSEThe Cyprus Stock Exchange today experienced another slow day of trading, with the General Price Index closing at 603 points, down by just under 2.5% to yesterday's 617.A parallel decrease was also observed in today's volume of trading, which closed at around 18-and-a-half million pounds, a drop of approximately one million compared to yesterday. Reflecting the overall slump, all part-indices bar none showed a drop today. [09] CYBC TRANSMISSIONCyBC's Second Television Channel will tonight carry a live broadcast of the Cypriot Best Athletes of 1999 Awards Ceremony, as nominated and voted on by the Sportswriters Association of Cyprus.The Men's Award has been given to footballer Yiotis Engomitis, the Women's to swimmer Natalia Roumbina, and the recipient of the Athletics Club of the Year Award is Anorthosis. In addition to the 1999 awards, tonight's event will also honour the top athletes of the century, a tribute paid to veteran track athlete Stavros Tziortzis and veteran footballer Sotiris Kaiafas. The ceremony, to be held at Nicosia's Eleftheria Sports Hall, is scheduled to begin at seven o'clock. [10] TAILERToday's tailer takes us to Japan where, in spite of the country being among the eight most-industrialised nations in the world and a font of high-technology, the general attitude towards women leaves a lot to be desired.Coming to break the mould is Fusae Ota who, apart from becoming the first female governor in Japan, recently decided to take on yet another bastion of male privilege: the sumo ring. Ota, who on February 6th was elected governor of the western metropolis of Osaka, said that she intends to ask the Japan Sumo Association to let her enter the ring to present a trophy to the winner of a tournament next month. The Sumo Association appears unlikely to be swayed by feminist arguments, insisting that tradition bans women from what is described as "the sacred ring", further claiming that women would pollute it through their allegedly unclean presence. It's also however the custom for prizes to be presented by local governors, so sumo's "gentle giants" are now faced with a quandary, the outcome of which remains to be seen. [11] WEATHERGenerally unsettled conditions are forecast for the rest of the day, with rainy spells and isolated thunderstorms expected throughout the island, as well as snowfall over the mountains. Winds will be moderate to strong southwesterlies, 5-6BF, on moderate to rough seas, while temperatures are not expected to exceed 16C inland, 17C along the coasts and 5C at higher altitudes.Generally unsettled conditions are also forecast for this evening and tonight, with partly overcast skies once again leading to rain throughout the island and snow over the mountains. Winds will abate to moderate southwesterlies, 4BF, while seas will remain moderate to rough, particularly off the west coast, and temperatures will drop to 5C inland and 9C in coastal regions, and 0C on the higher reaches of the Troodos mountains. With the depth of snow on Mount Olympus standing at 40cm and that in Troodos Square at 35, police would like to announce that the Prodromos-Troodos road is open only to vehicles equipped with snow-chains. All other roads leading to Troodos Square are open but slippery, with patches of fog also descending in areas. Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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