Cyprus News Agency: News in English (AM), 97-07-24

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

CONTENTS

[01] Cypriot football teams firmly on track to advance

[02] Kasoulides says visit to Syria successful

[03] Increase in arrivals in Cyprus

[04] National Council continues debate

[05] Health Minister salutes 1000th heart surgery in Cyprus

0950:CYPPRESS:01

[01] Cypriot football teams firmly on track to advance

The good news spilled over to the UEFA Cup qualifying round as Apollonas of Limassol secured a hard-fought 1 - 1 away draw with Mypa-47 Anjalankoski of Finland with the Cypriot side now needing only a goalless draw at home to advance to the next round.

Anorthosis had an easy go of it with Kareda as the Lithuanian side visibly suffered in the suffocating afternoon heat, while the score could easily have been greater had it not been for the spectacular play of the Lithuanian goalkeeper.

The Cypriot club champions are now favoured to advance to the preliminary round of the European Championship Cup to face Belgium's Lierse SK.

Anorthosis attacked fast and hard turning the screws early on the Kareda defence which did not have an answer to the Cypriot side's potent offensive duo of Okkas and Slobodan Krismarevic.

The first goal came in the 20th minute as Okkas fed Krismarevic a through ball which the Yugoslav forward comfortably slipped by the Lithuanian goalkeeper.

Anorthosis were awarded a penalty kick two minutes before halftime. Bambis Andreou executed the penalty kick only to see his shot superbly saved by the sprawling Lithuanian goalkeeper.

Okkas scored his first and his club's second goal in the 50th minute as he forced the ball through in a goalmouth scramble.

Ten minutes before the final whistle, Okkas got his second goal as Krismarevic fed him a perfect cross which he one-timed past the befuddled Lithuanian goalkeeper.

Anorthosis will travel to Lithuania next Wednesday for the second leg secure in the knowledge that they have the upper hand over the local champions.

Meanwhile, Apollonas struggled in the first half of their match, but a 0 - 1 deficit at the start of the second half did not dampen their tenacity.

A revived Apollonas side in the second half produced a slew of chances to equalise and were rewarded for their efforts four minutes from time when striker Angelos Tsolakis stroked the ball past the Finnish netminder from two yards out.

CNA MH/GP/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1000:CYPPRESS:02

[02] Kasoulides says visit to Syria successful

Speaking on his return this morning, Kasoulides said his visit to Syria aimed at "the further development of cordial relations with all countries in the region".

Noting Syria's steady support in all international fora to Cyprus' cause for justice, Kasoulides told the press he has invited his Syrian counterpart, Farouk Al Shara to visit Cyprus. The date will be fixed at a later stage.

The Cypriot Minister stressed that economic cooperation, especially in the private sector, is one of the best ways for developing closer relations with neighbouring countries.

During his three-day official visit to Syria, Kasoulides was received by Syrian President Hafez Al Assad and had talks with his Syrian counterpart Faruk Al Sharaa. CNA MAN/EC/MCH/GP/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1020:CYPPRESS:03

[03] Increase in arrivals in Cyprus

The same month's departures reached 256.143, having increased by 6,3 per cent, in comparison with those of June 1996.

According to official figures released by the Department of Statistics and Research, 84 per cent of total travellers came from the whole of Europe, while 65 per cent of them came from the 15 European Union member-states alone.

Most of the travellers came from the UK (34,5 per cent), Greece (8,3 per cent), Israel (8,1 per cent), Russia (7,7 per cent), and Germany (5,9 per cent).

The number of same-day visitors, including transit passengers, in June 1997 reached 8.352, compared to 6.256 in the corresponding month last year.

CNA GG/GP/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1400:CYPPRESS:04

[04] National Council continues debate

President Glafcos Clerides chaired a four-hour long meeting today of his top advisory body on the handling of the Cyprus problem, attended by political party leaders and top advisors.

A new meeting of the National Council will take place next week after a visit to Athens, beginning tomorrow, of Foreign Minister Ioannis Kasoulides and Attorney General Alecos Markides.

President Clerides' top aides are expected to hold talks in Athens with Greece's Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos and other senior officials.

Government Spokesman, Manolis Christofides, said after the National Council session that "no objections have been raised so far concerning participation in the second round of negotiations, between President Glafcos Clerides and Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash," scheduled to take place in Switzerland, August 11-16.

Christofides said all party leaders expressed their views on the revised document, noting, however, that they will take a stand on specific issues at the final meeting of the National Council, expected to take place next week.

Special Advisor to the UN Secretary-General on the Cyprus problem, Diego Cordovez, presented the leaders of the two communities with the revised document dealing with procedural matters as well as substantial issues, during the first round of talks, in Troutbeck, July 9-12. CNA/MCH/GP/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1430:CYPPRESS:05

[05] Health Minister salutes 1000th heart surgery in Cyprus

"Our aim remains that all heart operations are conducted in Cyprus," the Minister said in a ceremony marking the completion of the 1000th heart surgery in Cyprus at Nicosia General Hospital's Angio-Thorasic Cardio Unit.

Heart operations have been conducted on a permanent basis since 1990 by the Unit's Director, Dr. Nicos Angelides. A total of five surgeries a week are conducted at the Unit.

"Up to 1997, over 1000 surgical operations have been conducted with excellent results which are comparable to results at large centres abroad," Solomis said.

The Health Minister pointed out however, that not all heart-related situations are dealt with in Cyprus and that a significant number of heart patients are still referred to abroad.

He noted that these needs will be met by the two-fold approach of increasing the number of operations at the expanded and upgraded Angio- Thorasic Cardio Unit from five to eight per week and the construction of the New Nicosia Hospital, where all operations will be conducted.

The Minister further congratulated all the doctors, surgeons and anesthesiologists for the team spirit they have displayed in efforts to treat heart patients.

"I would also like to assure that the Health Minister and I personally will continue to support efforts to relieve heart patients and overcoming the need for them to be operated on outside Cyprus," Solomis pledged.

CNA MH/GP/1996

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

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