Cyprus News Agency: News in English (PM), 99-03-09

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

CONTENTS

[01] Cyprus - Armenia - Parliamentary cooperation

[02] Cyprus Stock Exchange

[03] Spokesman - German envoy

[04] Youth organisations - Kurds - March

[05] Armenian FM - Cyprus Chamber of Commerce and Industry

[06] Cyprus - Preimplantation diagnosis of thalassemia

[07] Cypriot MPs - Meeting - Mediterranean

[08] House President - Return from Majorca meeting

1535:CYPPRESS:01

[01] Cyprus - Armenia - Parliamentary cooperation

The issue was discussed today at a meeting between Armenian Foreign Minister, Vartan Oskanian, and Deputy House President Nicos Anastasiades.

The two also discussed the Cyprus problem, the situation in Armenia and bilateral relations.

"The focus was on our bilateral relations and the prospects of their development," Oskanian said, adding that "we also contemplated the idea of forming a parliamentary friendship group between Cyprus and Armenia."

He said he will refer the issue to parliamentarians in his country and expressed the hope the group will be formed after parliamentary elections in Armenia, scheduled for May 30.

The Armenian minister said this group "could be a good impetus for further developing the relations between Armenia and Cyprus."

He agreed that both Cyprus and Armenia face problems with their common neighbour, Turkey, referring to the Cyprus problem and Turkey's attitude in regard to Nagorno Karabagh.

"All these developments are matters of concern and need to be addressed because the ultimate goal is to have peace and stability in all regions," he said, stressing that Armenia's "efforts will be directed towards achieving that goal".

On his part Anastasiades expressed certainty that "Cyprus can help Armenia's efforts to become a full member of the Council of Europe."

He also praised the Armenian community's contribution for progress in Cyprus and the close relations between the 2500 Armenians living here and Greek Cypriots.

CNA FZ/MA/EC/1999

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1500:CYPPRESS:02

[02] Cyprus Stock Exchange

      CSE General Index                         117.94 (-0.82)

      Traded Value            CYP 4,035,719

      Sectural Indices

      Banks                   CYP 2,357,953     145.79 (-0.74)
      Approved Investment
      Companies               CYP   215,297      73.33 (-1.39)
      Insurance Companies     CYP   102,641      77.59 (-0.86)
      Manufacturing Companies CYP   131,389     105.19 (-0.27)
      Tourism Companies       CYP   229,428      80.98 (-1.32)
      Trading Companies       CYP   134,600      50.63 (-1.69)
      Other Companies         CYP   164,005      88.95 (-1.47)

CNA MA/1999

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1800:CYPPRESS:03

[03] Spokesman - German envoy

It also reiterated that Cyprus' course to become a member of the EU will act as a catalyst in efforts for a settlement on the island, divided since Turkey invaded and occupied 37 per cent of its territory in 1974.

Government Spokesman Christos Stylianides told his daily briefing that the EU role in efforts to solve the Cyprus problem is "welcomed" since the government considers that "at some point our accession course will act as a catalyst in a Cyprus settlement."

Asked how the EU would be involved, Stylianides said "there is nothing specific at present" but expressed the hope that with the help of Greece the EU's institutions will give the Union a relevant role.

Regarding the German official's talks on the island Stylianides said "there was an exchange of views with Rantzau on Cyprus' accession course; the talks were very constructive."

He also noted that the Republic's accession course is on an even better course.

The spokesman said the Cyprus question also came up in meetings with the German envoy, but refrained from elaborating.

The government of Cyprus submitted an application for EU membership in July 1990 and the accession process was launched in Brussels on March 30, 1998.

CNA MM/EC/MA/1999

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1810:CYPPRESS:04

[04] Youth organisations - Kurds - March

Speaking here Tuesday on behalf of the youth political organisations, Stephanos Stephanou said they condemn the "approach of the US, Israel and Turkey who, as part of the new imperialist order, had jointly acted in the kidnapping of Kurdish leader Abdullah Ocalan by Turkey".

He also criticised the "apathy, hypocrisy and neutral stance of the European Union and a number of European countries who treated Ocalan as a common terrorist and denied him political asylum, in violation of international law principles and the respect of human rights".

Stephanou said the event will serve to demand freedom for Ocalan, held in Turkey since his kidnap from Kenya last month.

It will start with a march from Eleftheria (Freedom) Square, in central Nicosia, to the US Embassy, followed by a concert.

The organisations will approve a resolution which will be sent to the European Parliament, the UN Secretary General and the five embassies in Cyprus of the permanent members of the UN Security Council.

CNA DG/EC/MA/1999

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

2000:CYPPRESS:05

[05] Armenian FM - Cyprus Chamber of Commerce and Industry

In a meeting with the Foreign Minister, Rologis said KEVE is willing to offer Armenia all possible aid so that it can consolidate its free market economy.

According to a KEVE press release, an action programme for the promotion of cooperation was discussed at the meeting.

On his part, Oskanian said he will promote closer relations between KEVE and the Armenian union of business persons and industrialists, aiming at the signing of a cooperation agreement between them in the near future.

Arrangements will also be made so that Armenian specialists visit the island to inform local business persons on trade and investment opportunities in their country.

Oskanian arrived on Sunday for a four-day official visit and is leaving tomorrow.

CNA RM/MA/1999

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

2020:CYPPRESS:06

[06] Cyprus - Preimplantation diagnosis of thalassemia

The Centre, which operates since 1997, is the first and only center in the world that applies preimplantation or pre-pregnancy diagnosis, a new approach for the avoidance of congenital disease through detection and selection of unaffected oocytes or embryos before implantation.

This provides an option for genetically disadvantaged couples to avoid the birth of an unaffected child without the need for abortion.

The Centre began operating after a joint effort by the Health Ministry and the Reproductive Genetic Institute of Chicago and can offer reproduction services for thalassemia and any other genetic and chromosomal disease.

Some of the components of the preimplantation diagnosis work is performed by visiting scientists from the USA and Europe, who also train their colleagues here.

So far more than 30 clinical cycles have been performed from which the five children were born. The eldest of them, Alexandros, is today 11 months old, Eleftheria is seven and triplets Andreas, Kyriaki and Irene, are five months old.

The five children, their parents and individuals who contributed to the application of the preimplantation diagnosis technology met today at the Centre.

A Center press release says it is also open to people from other Mediterranean Countries, where thalassemia exists and prenatal diagnosis and termination of pregnancy is not generally acceptable for religion or social reasons.

Ten years ago Cyprus became the first country in the world to achieve a virtually complete eradication of the birth of new cases of thalassemia, achieving at the same time the best treatment of the existing patients.

CNA MK/MA/1999

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

2030:CYPPRESS:07

[07] Cypriot MPs - Meeting - Mediterranean

The meeting will take place March 12 and 13 in the Slovenian capital, Ljubljana, and will tackle issues such as the reduction of armaments and the prevention of conflicts in the Mediterranean.

CNA MK/MA/1999

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

2310:CYPPRESS:08

[08] House President - Return from Majorca meeting

Speaking today on his return from Majorca, Spain, where he attended a meeting of the Mediterranean Parliamentary Speakers, Spyros Kyprianou said Gurkan gave him the assurances during a private discussion and repeated them at the meeting.

The Cyprus government and ecological organisations here as well as international environmental organisations such as Greenpeace opposed the construction of the plant in Akkuyu, only 125 kilometeres from Cyprus' capital Nicosia, as it is a seismic area.

Kyprianou said he had a private talk with his Turkish colleague over an official dinner during which he outlined his views regarding the Cyprus issue and Turkey's future.

The House President described the climate during this discussion as "good".

He also said that the explanation given by the Turkish official for his country's decision not to construct the plant was that "there was reaction to it" even within Turkey itself.

Kyprianou said that an article was handed out regarding "the dangers of the possible construction of such a nuclear power plant for the region."

Referring to his address at the meeting, the House President said he "focused on the Cyprus question and the need for everyone to adopt positions based on internationally accepted principles."

He added that efforts to issue a joint declaration regarding the fate of Kurdish rebel leader, Abdullah Ocalan, kidnapped by Turkey from Nairobi last month, failed.

Kyprianou said he also referred to the issue of terrorism, underlining that "it is not a simple issue" and that "the leaders of most countries which gained their independence after a struggle for freedom had been described as terrorist."

A number of countries, including the USA, consider the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), lead by Ocalan, as a terrorist organisation.

CNA MAN/MA/AA/1999

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

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