Cyprus News Agency: News in English (AM), 97-04-23

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

CONTENTS

[01] Albright, EU Commissioner discuss Cyprus

[02] Cypriot scientists map new gene

[03] Reaction to moratorium on military overflights

[04] National Council meeting to be continued

1125:CYPPRESS:01

[01] Albright, EU Commissioner discuss Cyprus

Washington, Apr 23 (CNA) -- Cyprus was part of the discussion US Secretary of State, Madeleine Albright, had with, EU Commissioner on External Relations, Hans van den Broek, at the State Department on Monday afternoon.

Replying to a CNA question, State Department Spokesman Nicholas Burns said Albright and van den Broek "discussed the current status of the many issues in the Aegean. They agreed on the need to keep Turkey facing westward. They agreed on the need to make sure that Turkey feels that is part of the West; that it is invited to participate as a member of the West in various fora."

They also agreed that all the regional actors - Greece and Turkey, Cyprus - have shelf-interest and responsibility to try to make progress on these issues this year, he added.

Burns said that Secretary Albright "is very interested in this part of the world, in Turkey, in Cyprus, in Greece, in all these countries. She mentions if frequently in her private conversations. She pays great attention to this and she, of course, raises this issue with a lot of her European interlocutors."

Asked by CNA if Albright discussed, with van den Broek, the current EU initiatives on all these issues, Burns replied "Yes, they discussed our respective diplomatic efforts to try to make progress in Cyprus, and on issues between Greece and Turkey in the Aegean which are very important".

Invited to say if the US support EU efforts, Burns said "We support the effort by all countries in Europe and in North America to make progress, but the responsibility rests with Greece, Turkey and Cyprus and the others who are involved in this dispute, in these various disputes".

CNA DA/MM/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1200:CYPPRESS:02

[02] Cypriot scientists map new gene

Scientists from the Cyprus Institute of Neurology and Genetics reported last week to colleagues at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Neurology in Boston, that they have mapped the gene of the familial form of myasthenia to chromosome 17p.

Myasthenia is characterised by the progressive weakness and exhaustibility of voluntary muscles, such as those of the arms and legs.

"This is the first step to help in gene therapy," said geneticist Kyproulla Christodoulou, one of four research scientists who conducted the clinical and laboratory research.

"Now we can find out what this gene does and why it causes the disease, and from there we can suggest ways to treat it," Christodoulou added.

Families of myasthenia patients were referred to the Cyprus Institute of Neurology and Genetics from the Universities of Rome, Constantinople (Istanbul), Amman and Salonika, in Greece.

The Cypriot presentation at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Neurology was one of the five "late breaking news" among 1200 scientific presentations.

The results of the Cypriot scientists' research are published in the April issue of the international scientific journal, "Human Molecular Genetics".

The research was funded entirely by the US Muscular Dystrophy Association.

CNA MH/MM/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1330:CYPPRESS:03

[03] Reaction to moratorium on military overflights

"Any measure or decision aiming at creating confidence between the two communities is welcome," French Ambassador to Cyprus, Henry Jacolin, told CNA today.

First Secretary and Press officer at the Chinese embassy in Nicosia, Liang Hui, echoed the French Ambassador's words.

"We have noticed the position announced by the Cyprus government, and we welcome every action that can help in finding a just and reasonable solution of the Cyprus problem," Hui told CNA.

Russian Embassy Press Officer, Vladimir Maistrenko, was more reserved with his comments, saying only that "this is a matter concerning Cyprus and Greece" and that the Russian government "has no comment" on the issue.

Spokesman for the British High Commission to Cyprus, Piers Cazalet, also told CNA yesterday that Britain "welcomes any steps which help to reduce military tension on the island."

The Cyprus government yesterday announced a moratorium of military overflights during military exercises to be conducted in conjunction with the Greek government later this year, as a good will gesture to improve the climate for the continuing UN-led proximity talks with the two sides on the island. CNA MH/MM /1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1505:CYPPRESS:04

[04] National Council meeting to be continued

"The Council (top advisory body to the President on the Cyprus problem) was fully briefed by President Glafcos Clerides, while Foreign Minister, Yiannakis Cassoulides, briefed Council members on his recent visit to Athens," Christofides said.

All issues relating to the Cyprus question are on the agenda of the meeting, he added.

The Spokesman refrained from giving any details on the content of the discussion so far, but said President of the House of Representatives, and leader of centre-right Democratic Party (DIKO), Spyros Kyprianou, and socialist EDEK leader, Vassos Lyssarides have already expressed their views on the issues at hand.

The remaining three parliamentary party leaders, members of the Council, are expected to do so later today.

"There will be no evaluation at this stage of the positions expressed", Christofides added, expressing the hope the meeting will be concluded later today.

Today's Council meeting has been described as "crucial" mainly because of the recent furore caused by the disclosure that two informal notes were handed to the President during the ongoing proximity talks, and yesterday's announcement by the government to suspend overflights of Greek military aircraft during the talks, which has come under fire.

CNA KN/MCH/MM/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

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