Cyprus News Agency: News in English (AM), 99-03-02

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

CONTENTS

[01] President Clerides - Ann Hercus

[02] German envoy - Cyprus visit

[03] Telemedicine - Paraskevaidion - Shriners

1020:CYPPRESS:01

[01] President Clerides - Ann Hercus

Following her policy, she made no public statements about the contents of her talks with President Clerides and Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash.

Dame Anne simply stated that the process is continuing. Shuttle talks aimed to achieve a breakthrough in the current stalemate began last October.

Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkish troops invaded and occupied 37 per cent of its territory.

CNA MCH/GP/1999

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1120:CYPPRESS:02

[02] German envoy - Cyprus visit

Outlining the purpose of the visit, Andreas Schroder, Counsellor at the German Embassy in Nicosia, told CNA Rantzau "will discuss recent developments after the decision not to deploy anti-aircraft missiles in Cyprus, and the events of the past three months."

He said "the accession process and the overall situation, the continuing effort by the UN and our possibility to give support to this process" will also be on the agenda.

Asked if, barring the latest developments in Greco-Turkish relations following the arrest of the PKK leader, things are better now, Schroder replied "unfortunately the Ocalan affair is not helpful but we have the hope that this problem will be solved in a certain way."

"We hope the Ocalan affair will not have negative effect on the Cyprus question and this very delicate process we are in," he added, expressing some hope "that things could develop in a positive way."

"We will try to contribute in our own way," he remarked. Rantzau, who arrives Sunday afternoon, will be received Monday morning by President Glafcos Clerides and have meetings with Foreign Minister Ioannis Kasoulides and Cyprus' chief negotiator with the EU George Vassiliou.

He will also meet senior diplomats residing in Cyprus, including UK High Commissioner David Madden and US ambassador Kenneth Brill.

During his five-day visit, he will see the leader of the main opposition party AKEL, Demetris Christofias, and UN Resident Representative Dame Ann Hercus.

On Wednesday, he will meet Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash and other Turkish Cypriot politicians in the Turkish-occupied part of the island.

Before leaving there will be an EU briefing. Rantzau's visit comes after his talks in Ankara in mid February with Faruk Logoglu, Deputy Undersecretary at the Turkish Foreign Ministry and a visit to Athens in January.

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

CNA MM/GP/1999

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1215:CYPPRESS:03

[03] Telemedicine - Paraskevaidion - Shriners

The link-up of Paraskevaidion Surgical and Transplant Centre with the Shriners Hospital in Springfield, Massachusetts, was officially inaugurated at a ceremony last night.

Speaking at the ceremony George Paraskevaides, Chairman of Paraskevaidion, described the link-up as "a historic medical event and an innovation" and stressed that "it will tremendously help the Cypriot children suffering from orthopaedic problems".

Through this system doctors will be able to communicate with live video and audio and images such as X-Rays and photographs will also be transmitted, therefore allowing better communication and follow-up care of patients by doctors at the other end.

Present at the ceremony was US Ambassador to Cyprus Kenneth Brill.

CNA MCH/GP/1999

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

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