Cyprus News Agency: News in English (AM), 99-01-25

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

CONTENTS

[01] Brazil - Cyprus cheese

[02] Cyprus - Demographic trends

[03] UN experts - Exhumations - Missing

1300:CYPPRESS:01

[01] Brazil - Cyprus cheese

Brazilian health and veterinary officials from the Ministry of Agriculture gave their permission for the importation of halloumi in December, after an on the spot visit to Cyprus earlier in the year.

The officials approved the Cypriot sanitary and manufacturing standards and gave the go ahead for the import.

"Brazil, the largest and most populous country in South America, was identified as a new market target because of its large Lebanese population which exceeds that of Lebanon itself," Droushiotis said.

He noted that Lebanon has traditionally been a strong export market for halloumi and therefore there was a good likelihood that the Arabic- speaking communities in cities like Sao Paolo would also prove profitable.

Halloumi sells well in the US, Canada and elsewhere. Other types of cheeses made in Cyprus, like feta, kashkaval, kefalotyri, anari and kefalograviera are also available in the US.

CNA MM/MA/1999

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1510:CYPPRESS:02

[02] Cyprus - Demographic trends

Fresh demographic data on Cyprus, which is exposed in the "1997 Demographic Report" released by the official Department of Statistics and Research, shows a crude birth rate of 14,2 per thousand in 1997, compared with 14,9 in 1996.

According to the report, Cyprus' total population is estimated at 746 thousand at the end of 1997, compared with 741 thousand at the end of the previous year.

Of these, 658 thousand live in the government-controlled area while 88 thousand live in the northern part of the island which is occupied by Turkish troops since 1974.

Settlers from Turkey, who number 114 thousand and live in the occupied part of the island, are not included in the total population of 746 thousand.

The estimated ethnic composition of the total population at the end of 1997 was 84,1 per cent Greek Cypriots, 11,8 per cent Turkish Cypriots, 0,6 per cent Maronites, 0,3 per cent Armenians, 0,1 per cent Latins and 3,1 per cent foreign residents, mainly British and Greek.

The proportion of children below 15 decreased to 24,2 per cent in 1997 from 25,0 per cent the previous year, while the elderly of 65 and over represented 11,2 per cent of the population compared to 10,8 per cent in 1996, indicating the aging process.

The total fertility rate which describes reproductive behaviour unaffected by changes in the age composition of the population, indicates a continuing declining fertility trend.

Specifically, the total fertility rate for 1997 was 2,00 compared to 2, 08 the previous year.

Expectation of life at birth is estimated at 75,0 years for males and 80,0 for females, while infant mortality fell to 8,0 deaths per 1000 live births.

CNA GG/GP/1999

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1515:CYPPRESS:03

[03] UN experts - Exhumations - Missing

Nicosia, Jan 25 (CNA) -- UN experts will lead exhumations in an effort to ascertain whether remains buried in graves marked as "unknown" in the government-controlled areas of the Republic are of persons missing since the 1974 Turkish invasion of the island.

Speaking to CNA, President of the Pancyprian Committee of Relatives of Missing Persons, Nicos Theodosiou, confirmed that UN experts visited Cyprus recently and pointed out that "things are moving towards the right direction".

The UN experts, Theodosiou said, carried out preliminary work and will put forward suggestions concerning the process of exhumation and identification of the remains.

DNA tests will be conducted by the Genetics Institute in Nicosia to ascertain whether the remains are those of persons listed as missing since the 1974 Turkish invasion.

Theodosiou explained that a Genetic Material Bank has been set up for this purpose, adding that some 70 per cent of the necessary material has already been completed.

"The Committee of Relatives of Missing Persons has for years called for exhumations of remains buried in the free areas of the Republic," Theodosiou said.

Presidential Commissioner for Humanitarian Issues, Takis Christopoulos told CNA that the Foreign Ministry is dealing with the case of UN experts.

In July 1997 President Glafcos Clerides and Turkish Cypriot leader, Rauf Denktash, reached an agreement, hailed as a "milestone" by the international community towards the resolution of the humanitarian problem of missing persons.

UN Secretary-General, Kofi Annan, pointed out in a 1998 report on the UN operation in Cyprus that "as a result of the position taken by the Turkish Cypriot side no progress has been made towards the implementation of the July 31 agreement".

A total of 1619 people were listed as missing persons soon after the Turkish invasion and occupation of 37 per cent of Cyprus territory.

CNA FZ/MCH/GP/1999

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

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