Cyprus News Agency: News in English (AM), 97-05-03

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

CONTENTS

[01] Cyprus Institute of Neurology and Genetics Annals

[02] Cyprus - Greece: No invitation extended by Annan for talks

[03] Russian deputies visit the pseudostate in private

[04] Communists meeting underway

0930:CYPPRESS:01

[01] Cyprus Institute of Neurology and Genetics Annals

This was stressed Friday by the Honorary Patron of the Board of Directors of the Cyprus Foundation for Muscular Dystrophy, First Lady Lila Irene Clerides, addressing a meeting to present the Institute's first annals.

The CING has published its annals containing all the work of its scientists and doctors over the last five years.

The First Lady noted CING constitutes a source of "pride" for the people and the government of Cyprus. She also said the publication was a monumental moment for the history of the Institute.

President Glafcos Clerides, Health Minister, Christos Solomis, the US Ambassador to Cyprus, Kenneth Brill, the British High Commissioner, David Madden, and the European Union Ambassador, Gilles Annouil also attended the ceremony.

The Chairman and the Members of the Scientific Council of the Institute gave brief presentations of their work.

The head of the Institute, Lefcos Middleton, said the annals, which are English-written, consist of a number of biomedical and neurological research articles relevant to the Institute's work published during the last five years, along with a detailed description of its departments and services.

Stressing the Institute's achievements, since its 1990 foundation, Middleton said "five years ago, the whole project was only down on paper," noting "we started in a small room at the Nicosia Archbishop Makarios Hospital, in 1990."

CING had been established as a bi-communal centre through the generous funding of the US government and the UNHCR.

The Institute offers medical treatment, support and other related services to some 12.000 people yearly, while prior to its foundation 99 per cent of Cypriots with complicated medical problems were seeking treatment and services abroad.

It specialises in diseases such as thalassaemia, mental retardation, muscular dystrophy, multiple sclerosis, dementia, epilepsy, and other neurological and degenerative disorders.

Over 70 young Cypriot doctors and scientists have been repatriated to Cyprus to work on research at the Institute.

In he five years of its existence, the Institute has managed to become a referral centre for the wider Mediterranean region and was internationally recognised for its publications in important scientific journals.

However, Middleton noted that, like most research centres, the CING was going through a difficult financial period and relied heavily on donations and other funding.

At the ceremony it was announced that the Hellenic Bank and its affiliate KEO company, have donated the amount of 35.000 Cyprus pounds (around 70.000 US dollars) to the Institute, in view of the forthcoming "TELETHON '97" fund-raising campaign, to be held on June 7 to 9, in cooperation with CyBC and the local Lions Club.

Other benefactors, Middleton added, are the EU and the US Muscular Dystrophy Foundation, set up by American comedian Jerry Lewis who has a son with muscular dystrophy, that has donated 400.000 US dollars to the Institute for research into the disease last year.

CNA GG/AP/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1200:CYPPRESS:02

[02] Cyprus - Greece: No invitation extended by Annan for talks

Speaking to reporters this morning, President Clerides said he has not received such an invitation and that he does not expect an invitation at the present stage.

An Athens News Agency report yesterday said that Greek Deputy Foreign Minister, Yiannos Kranidiotis, informing a government committee on the latest developments on Cyprus, said the UN Chief had extended an invitation to President Clerides to attend face-to-face talks with Denktash, once the proximity talks end.

However, from Kranidiotis' office it was announced today that the Greek Deputy Foreign Minister did not mention there is an invitation by the Secretary-General to both parties to attend such a meeting.

Cyprus has been divided since 1974 when Turkish troops invaded and occupied 37 per cent of the island's territory.

The UN is currently holding proximity talks between the Greek and Turkish Cypriot sides on the island, in an effort to bring the leaders of the two communities in a direct meeting, in June.

CNA EC/AP/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1335:CYPPRESS:03

[03] Russian deputies visit the pseudostate in private

The Russian official was asked to comment on Turkish Cypriot press reports that an eight-member delegation of the Russian Duma along with two scientists are currently in the Turkish-occupied areas where they held meetings with the illegal regime's self-styled "officials" to brief them on the Turkish Cypriot views on the protracted Cyprus question.

The Russian embassy official told CNA these people are there as "private persons and not as any kind of official delegation."

As a result, he pointed out, "they haven't informed the embassy about any kind of private or official visit."

He emphatically noted that "they haven't received any permission from the embassy," noting they are in the occupied areas "only according to their private initiative."

Asked about the Russian deputies' contacts in the pseudostate, which is recognised only by Turkey, the embassy official said "I can assure you that there is no official delegation in the north of Cyprus."

He also noted these individuals, who are on a private visit, "did this without any permission of the embassy and without even informing the embassy."

The Russian official said he had no information about their meetings in the Turkish-occupied areas of Cyprus.

Turkish troops have been occupying 37 per cent of Cyprus' territory since 1974, in violation of repeated UN resolutions calling for their withdrawal.

In November, 1983, Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash proclaimed the occupied areas as an "independent state", a move deplored by UN Security Council resolution 541, which noted that it considered the declaration as "legally invalid" and called upon all states not to recognise any Cypriot state other than the Republic of Cyprus. The puppet "state" is only recognised by Ankara.

CNA AZK/AP/EC/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1425:CYPPRESS:04

[04] Communists meeting underway

The two-day international meeting on the "Leftist movement's contemporary stance and the need to combat new-liberalism in the new world order" is organised by the main opposition left-wing AKEL party, on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the Cyprus Communist Party (CCP) and AKEL.

AKEL General Secretary, Demetris Christofias, told the press that during this "big gathering of communist, socialist and leftist parties from all over the planet", there will be an exchange of views to coordinate leftists action against the new imperialistic order.

Delegates, he added, will also exchange views on the Cyprus problem and a resolution extending their solidarity to Cyprus is expected to be approved.

Christofias said the resolution will condemn the Turkish occupation of 37 per cent of the island's territory, demand the withdrawal of all foreign troops and call for the demilitarisation of Cyprus and an implementation of UN resolutions.

Delegates were earlier received by President Glafcos Clerides who informed them about the latest Cyprus developments, noting that the Turkish intransigence is an obstacle to a settlement.

He pointed out that as a result of the "artificial wall" built to keep the younger generations apart, Greek and Turkish Cypriots grow up as strangers between them.

However, he described as an "encouraging indication" the fact that recently many young people from both sides meet in Cyprus and abroad.

Participants include high ranking officials from European, American, Asiatic and African parties, including 21 communist parties from Russia, Cuba, France, Portugal, Greece, Sudan and Vietnam and other left-wing parties.

CNA MAN/EC/AP/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

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