Cyprus News Agency: News in English (PM), 97-04-22

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

CONTENTS

[01] Cyprus Stock Exchange

[02] Nicosia's Venetian walls renovated

[03] Government announces change in military manoeuvres

[04] Respite in UN talks

[05] Britain welcomes steps to reduce military tensions

[06] No disturbance in cooperation between Cyprus and Greece

[07] Baby girl born to infertile couple in Cyprus

[08] Greece and Cyprus to boost business in the Balkans

1515:CYPPRESS:01

[01] Cyprus Stock Exchange

CSE All Share Index                    80.14 (+0.18)

Highest: 82.46 (2/1/97)
Lowest : 73.90 (30/1/97)

Sectural Indices

Banks                                  89.46 (+0.18)
Approved Investment Companies          70.17 (+0.85)
Insurance Companies                    60.79 (+0.86)
Industrial Companies                   87.56 (-0.36)
Tourist Industries                     63.64 (+1.16)
Commercial Companies                   51.91 (-0.88)
Other Companies                        56.97 (+0.23)

Trading Volume                         CYP 626366.470

CNA MCH/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1530:CYPPRESS:02

[02] Nicosia's Venetian walls renovated

The Antiquities Department, with funding from the UN is continuing its restoration of the stone walls surrounding the capital originally built by the Venetians in 1570.

The walls were constructed to defend against Ottoman invaders when Venice was a powerful city-state and Cyprus was one of their important possessions. These fortifications are built in a circular plan with a circumference of 4.8 kilometres.

As Antiquities Department official, Sofocles Hadjisavvas, told CNA, the walls' restoration was always a priority for the Department, but lacked the necessary funds to complete the work.

The Antiquities Department, in conjunction with Nicosia Municipality, began the restoration work in 1995 at a cost of 80 thousand Cyprus pounds (160,000 US dollars).

Work had to stop when the money ran out, but after the UN High Commission for Refugees agreed to inject the sum of 380 thousand Cyprus pounds in restoration efforts, work recommenced on the walls in both the occupied and free parts of Nicosia.

Hadjisavvas told CNA the UN will make the necessary arrangements with the Turkish Cypriot side for work to continue in the occupied areas.

Approximately half the wall surrounding the old part of the city is situated in Turkish-occupied areas. Turkey invaded Cyprus in 1974 and has occupied 37 per cent of the Republic's territory.

Hadjisavvas stressed that if the Antiquities Department is prevented from supervising restoration work in the Turkish-occupied part of Nicosia, the Department will ask international organisations to supervise the work.

Supervision of the restoration work is estimated to cost approximately 1.5 million Cyprus pounds and is expected to be paid for by the UN High Commission for Refugees.

Hadjisavvas added that restatorion work will be completed in five years.

CNA RM/MH/MCH/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1605:CYPPRESS:03

[03] Government announces change in military manoeuvres

Government Spokesman Manolis Christofides said Greek fighters will not fly within Cyprus' air space during the talks and stressed this decision was not taken under pressure but is an indication of the government's determination to proceed with the proximity talks.

"Following a proposal by President Glafcos Clerides and after consultations between the governments of Greece and Cyprus, it was said that part of a military exercise "Vergina", dealing with the interception of hostile aircraft can also take place outside Cyprus' air space," Christofides said after a cabinet meeting.

He also noted that manoeuvres to counter an offensive by enemy planes attacking land targets in Cyprus "is to be postponed at present."

Christofides said the army exercises, "Toxotis", with the participation of the Greek military, "will take place in close proximity to Cyprus but not within its territorial waters."

At the end of these exercises, he said, and with the consent of the Cyprus government, Greek navy vessels will visit Cyprus in an official capacity.

"President Clerides and (Greek) Premier Costas Simitis share the belief that during the proximity talks, it would be good not to have Greek fighter planes flying in Cyprus' air space," Christofides said.

He said Foreign Minister Yiannakis Cassoulides has already informed the UN and other interested countries about the government's decision.

Replying to questions, the Spokesman said "nobody has imposed this decision on us". This is an "ad hoc decision" relating to a specific army manoeuvres."

"These are our decisions, self-imposed, and they indicate our disposition, our good faith and our determination to go ahead with the proximity talks in the best manner," Christofides added.

He reiterated the government's conviction that given the current phase of the proximity talks, "we believe we should take such decisions and we have."

The ongoing UN-led dialogue, the letter of the UN Secretary-General to the President in late January, the appointment of a new Cyprus envoy, the six-month procedure of proximity talks are "sufficient elements which offer you the chance to think and make your own gesture."

"At this stage, this is our gesture. Each side sits its own exams in this process and expects to get its own grades," he added.

The idea of a ban of overflights by Greek and Turkish aircraft over Cyprus was initially proposed by US Secretary of State, Madeleine Albright (then US ambassador to the UN). Later on a proposal for a dialogue between the command of the National Guard and the Turkish occupation troops took off the ground.

The government of Cyprus has maintained that flights by the Greek military are legal whereas flights of Turkish military aircraft are illegal, as they violate the Republic's sovereignty.

CNA KK/MM/MCH/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1610:CYPPRESS:04

[04] Respite in UN talks

"The focus will now be in New York," he said and explained that "it is not envisaged that Feissel's assistant, senior advisor, Peter Schimtz, will conduct the talks in Feissel's absence."

Rokoszewski, however, pointed out that if there is a need "addresses will be made to the respective sides."

CNA MM/MCH/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1725:CYPPRESS:05

[05] Britain welcomes steps to reduce military tensions

Piers Cazalet was commenting on the government's announcement of changes in military exercises it intended to conduct with the Greek military, as a good will gesture in a bid to assist the climate of the on- going UN-led proximity talks.

"We welcome any steps which will help to reduce military tension on the island", Cazalet said noting that "this is one such step."

Asked whether he would expect the Turkish Cypriot side to announce similar steps, the British diplomat said, "the message we have goes to both sides, so this applies to both."

He added however that he did not know whether this was a "unilateral step" on the side of the Cyprus government or whether "this is something UN Resident Representative, Gustave Feisel was working on", as part of good- will measures in the proximity talks.

"It would be nice to see the Turkish Cypriots respond in kind", he said, noting that "there have been various positive elements recently."

Making special reference to visits of Turkish Cypriots to the government-controlled areas of the Republic and visits of Greek Cypriots to the Turkish-occupied areas, Cazalet said that together with "the reduction in the amount of rhetoric", they have been "positive" and expressed the hope "this will lead to something more positive."

Cazalet said it is "too early" to make any predictions about direct talks and referred to a statement by British Special Representative for Cyprus Sir David Hannay, noting that the UN Secretary General will "issue invitations sometime in the summer but the exact timing will have to be left to the UN Secretary-General."

He also said Foreign Minister Yiannakis Cassoulides and British High Commissioner, David Madden, discussed good-will measures within the framework of proximity talks "in general terms" yesterday.

CNA MM/MCH/EC/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1745:CYPPRESS:06

[06] No disturbance in cooperation between Cyprus and Greece

Christofides made the statement following repeated questions by journalists on whether it is necessary for a meeting in Athens between Greek and Cypriot political leaders or a meeting of the National Council (top advisory body to the President on the Cyprus problem) with the Greek government in Athens.

Christofides said "the representatives of the governments reassure that there is perfect cooperation (between the two) and what has been agreed is being followed".

The Spokesman noted that President Glafcos Clerides will hear the views of the parties comprising the National Council during its meeting tomorrow morning.

If the issue is raised and a unanimous decision is taken the President will be bound by it, the Spokesman said. He added, however, that if this is not the case the President will decide what should happen.

Christofides stressed that there must be a serious reason for either a meeting between the Greek and Cypriot parties to be held or the National Council to convene in Athens.

CNA KK/EC/MCH/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1840:CYPPRESS:07

[07] Baby girl born to infertile couple in Cyprus

Endocrinologist, Krinos Trokoudis, told CNA it is the first time ever, to his knowledge, that a baby was born through this fertilisation method, while a similar birth took place at the same time in Athens.

Trokoudis said the method was first used in Belgium and pointed out that it is only recently that medical science has been able to achieve external fertilisation through the surgical extraction of immature sperm from the human male testes.

The immature sperm were surgically removed from the father's testis after an analysis found that sperm were not present in the ejaculate. Eggs were simultaneously removed from the mother.

One sperm was later injected into each extracted egg with the use of a special microscope and a microneedle.

This fertilisation method known as ICSI, was completed at Nicosia's Pediaeos External Fertilisation Centre. The fertilised eggs were transferred successfully to the mother's uterus two days after fertilisation.

Two infertile couples are expected to give birth soon, after undergoing the same fertilisation process. It is worthy to note that in one case, the sperm were kept frozen for six months before being used for fertilisation.

CNA MK/MH/MCH/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1940:CYPPRESS:08

[08] Cyprus to organise economic seminars

Speaking at the Jubilee ECE Session, in Geneva, Shembos stressed that despite the consequences of Turkish invasion and occupation Cyprus "has emerged as a successful study in development", and noted the Republic's active participation in ECE's "Mediterranean Mandate" which aims to see Mediterranean countries cooperating towards economic integration and social development.

Cyprus, he said has been active in organising economic seminars on the island in which European countries and countries from the Middle East, the Balkans and Northern Africa have participated.

He added that Cyprus is currently preparing a follow-up seminar to a previous one organised in Nicosia four years ago by the Cyprus Organisation for Standards and Control of Quality, in cooperation with the ECE, which focused on quality assurance and metrology.

CNA MH/MCH/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

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