Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation: News in English, 02-01-04

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

CONTENTS

[01] HEADLINES

[02] power1

[03] georgiades

[04] panayiotou

[05] banks

[06] dinner

[07] crisis

[08] afghans

[09] weather FRIDAY 4 JANUARY 2002

[01] HEADLINES

EAC chairman George Georgiades did not discount the possibility of further arrests in the case, while government spokesman michalis Papapetrou said cabinet was unanimous in releasing a register of company names allegedly implicated in the scam,

Stormy weather with low temperatures, rain snow and gusty winds will be with us until Sunday,

The government has launched an investigation into reports that a global banking giant will open for business in the occupied areas

AND reports out of Afghanistan suggest that Taliban Supreme Leader Mullah Mohammed Omar is finally cornered.

[02] power1

Papapetrou called on Akel MP Kikis Yiangou to provide police or make public whatever evidence he has in his possession regarding the case.

Yiangou had said that a former government minister is implicated in the scam, while prominent businessmen had pressured the government into not releasing the register.

Papapetrou said the aim of the investigation is to get to the bottom of the debacle and not to play what he called hide and seek.

Referring to the Cabinet's decision to release the register, Papapetrou said in the end, there were no disagreements between ministers to do so.

[03] georgiades

Georgiades revealed that one company, which in a letter expressed its willingness to pay off what it owes is the Symeonides company.

He added however, that the utility is not concerned that it will collect the over one hundred thousand pounds which it has lost as a result of the meter tampering.

Georgiades said whether or not a company expresses its willingness to pay what it owes, the utility will recover all its losses.

He noted that the EAC will act in the the same manner in all cases where meter tampering has been detected.

Georgiades said the utility is also keen on bringing the guilty parties to justice and is cooperating fully with police.

[04] panayiotou

He did not discount the chance of further arrests.

Panayiotou added that the investigation is difficult and time consuming because there are many companies implicated in the scam in several towns.

[05] banks

Central Bank Governor Afxentis Afxentiou said he has already begun making inquiries into the matter, while government spokesman Michalis Papapetrou said that direct or indirect recognition of the occupation regime is not an issue in this case.

The report said that HSBC bought out three branches in the occupied areas from a Turkish bank which had declared bankruptcy.

A problem arises from the fact that HSBC plans to operate the branches under its official name while being regulated by an unrecognised regime.

[06] dinner

Commenting on remarks by the Turkish Cypriot leader in which he did not exclude the possibility of a new meeting to further discuss the issue of the missing before the official start of direct talks on January 16, Papapetrou said President Clerides will not attend a bicommunal political party meeting this Sunday.

He added that the President has no plans for another social meeting with Rauf Denktash.

Reports suggest that a new meeting is not out of the question if certain gestures are made by the Turkish Cypriot side which President Clerides is expecting.

[07] crisis

In remarks to the Turkish Cypriot press, Joshar said 2001 was the worst year since imports and exports dropped significantly while inflation peaked at 80 percent.

The crisis has also affected the private sector, while small and medium size businesses are closing down one after the other.

[08] afghans

Afghan officials said they will know within hours whether Mullah Omar is in their hands.

Afghanistan's Minister for Reconstruction said on Germany's ARD television yesterday he believed Omar had been captured, and Australia's ABC television said today it had heard the same from a senior official of the Northern Alliance.

But U.S. officials said they had no knowledge of it as U.S. forces in the area conducted house-to-house searches for the Taliban supreme leader around Baghran in southern Helmand province.

[09] weather

Temperatures will be five to six degrees below normal for this time of year.

A police announcement said snow continues to fall in the Troodos mountain range, while the temperature has dropped to minus two degrees.

Drivers are urged to be extra cautious, while tyre chains are mandatory for motorists travelling to the mountains.

The bad weather and the low pressure system affecting the region is expected to bring snow to lower altitudes as well.

Weather conditions on Monday will be fine, but cold with unseasonably low temperatures.

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