Cyprus News Agency: News in English (PM), 99-06-22

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

CONTENTS

[01] Clerides - Kyprianou - Brill

[02] Foreign Minister - G8

[03] Belgrade Zoo - Campaign

[04] Cyprus - European Patent Exhibition

[05] Chinese nationals - Imprisonment

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[01] Clerides - Kyprianou - Brill

The statement was made by President of the House of Representatives Spyros Kyprianou after a meeting today with President Clerides who informed him on his meeting with Brill yesterday.

Earlier this month Brill had refused to meet Kyprianou, who was at the time acting President of the Republic as President Clerides was on a state visit to China, prompting strong reaction from some parties.

The US Embassy had also issued a statement last week saying that party members of left-wing AKEL and centre-right Democratic Party, which Kyprianou leads, had not accepted invitations to embassy sponsored events in recent weeks but went to the embassy to demonstrate against NATO's air raids in Yugoslavia.

The two political parties had expressed their dissatisfaction. Kyprianou also said Brill told President Clerides that it was not his intention to offend the institutions, the acting President or Kyprianou personally.

Kyprianou said his impression is that Brill's decision to act in the way he did was taken in Nicosia and not in Washington and this is why no representation was made.

The House President said the issue will end when he will inform party leaders on his meeting with Clerides.

Kyprianou also said the two discussed the statement adopted on Cyprus by the Group of the Seven most industrialised nations plus Russia (G8), adding that this issue will also be raised during tomorrow's meeting of the National Council, the top advisory body to the President on the Cyprus problem.

CNA FZ/EC/MA/1999

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1820:CYPPRESS:02

[02] Foreign Minister - G8

He also warned that if the Turkish side does not respond to an invitation for Cyprus peace talks the international community will have to undertake its responsibilities.

Kasoulides was speaking on his arrival from Luxembourg, where he attended the European Union (EU) accession conference with Cyprus at the Council of the European (General Affairs).

Before going to Luxembourg Kasoulides had represented Cyprus in South Africa at the inauguration ceremony for the country's new President Thabo Mbeki. Earlier he had accompanied President Glafcos Clerides on his state visit to China.

In his statements Kasoulides referred to Turkish reaction to the G8 statement on Cyprus which urges the UN Secretary-General to invite the leaders of the two communities in Cyprus for talks in the fall of 1999.

"We cannot prejudge their response," the minister said, adding that this is something which the government will anticipate.

"If they (the Turks) do not respond, then it will be a situation which will have to be handled by the international community and the EU and everyone should take up their responsibilities," the minister added.

He pointed out that for the first time the "eight richest, more powerful countries of the world, offer the Secretary-General this kind of continued support," something which Kofi Annan had asked for in his first report on Cyprus back in 1994.

Kasoulides said the Security Council will approve two resolutions on Cyprus at the end of this week or beginning of next week that are expected to echo the position of the G8.

Invited to comment on the G8 leaders' call for the two leaders to commit themselves to negotiations without preconditions, something which might allow the Turkish Cypriot leader to raise his unacceptable demand for a confederal solution in Cyprus, Kasoulides said that many times in the past Rauf Denktash had raised issues which were outside the framework of the UN Security Council resolutions.

"This does not stop us from presenting our views," Kasoulides added. UN Security Council resolutions on Cyprus have repeatedly called for a bizonal, bicommunal federation with a single international identity.

A confederal solution, demanded by Denktash, has been rejected by the UN and the Cyprus government.

Invited to comment on statements made by French President Jacques Chirac that he is gravely concerned about the situation in Cyprus and that the EU does not wish to import unresolved disputes into its ranks, the FM said he does not consider the French President's position as negative.

Elaborating his view he said that in substance, Chirac had said that they must work for a Cyprus settlement.

CNA MAN/EC/MA/1999

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

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[03] Belgrade Zoo - Campaign

The five municipalities, the Limassol Zoo administration, the Veterinary Association and the Cyprus-Yugoslavia Friendship Association are responding to an appeal for help from the Belgrade Zoo as the animals have little food and medicine.

At a press conference today, the campaign organisers said they will collect money and medical supplies.

Yermasogia Mayor Panikos Louroutziatis said that one pound (about two US dollars) vouchers have been issued, while an event to collect money will take place in the Limassol Zoo on Sunday, June 27th.

Lambros Lambrou, a vet at the Limassol Zoo, said that medicines, surgical instruments and blankets are among the necessities.

A number of birds, reptiles and mammals like elephants, bears, zebras and giraffes live in the Belgrade Zoo, situated in the historical center of town. It has not been hit by NATO bombing.

CNA FZ/MA/1999

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1920:CYPPRESS:04

[04] Cyprus - European Patent Exhibition

Opening the Travelling Exhibition of European Patents, Clerides said that with its membership to the European Patent Convention the government "shows its commitment to the United European Market, to protect creativity and innovation throughout Europe for a strong economy."

He also said the "aim is to encourage research and development in industry in the fields of high technology, in pharmaceuticals or new materials."

During the ceremony the President donated to the European Patent Office a symbolic present which is an exact replica from the Cyprus Museum. It comprises three terracotta figurines of the 7th century B.C. found in a temple at St. Erini village along with many other offerings to an ancient unknown god with medicinal properties.

"The Cyprus gift is a tribute to those known or unknown inventors in the medicinal field that have eased human pain, offered new cures and have saved lives," Clerides added.

On his part, Commerce, Industry and Tourism Minister, Nicos Rolandis said it is the policy of the government to promote patent awareness in the business community, to encourage industry to use the patent system and to use the technical knowledge stored in the patents by promoting joint ventures or licenses with European partners for the transfer of technology through the patent system.

He said the patent system keeps the industrialist informed at all times about the latest developments.

"Inventions have improved and protected life and have upgraded our standard of living," said Rolandis adding that his ministry is "committed to encourage and assist research and development to upgrade industry."

The exhibition, which is held at the Famagusta Gate in Nicosia, will remain open until July 10.

CNA FZ/EC/MA/1999

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

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[05] Chinese nationals - Imprisonment

Students Hua Cheng Bu and Wang Yang admitted killing Lou Jinhui and his companion Jian Mingxia, both 23, on December 2, 1998. The motive was theft.

The dead couple, also students, were brutally murdered and their bodies dumped in a ravine, in the central Troodos mountain plains.

President of the Assize Court Michalakis Fotiou described the crime as one of the most brutal ever committed in Cyprus.

He said that the accused mutilated and strangled their victims without being provoked just to steal the small amount of money they had in their Limassol apartment.

The two Chinese nationals admitted killing the couple. They were sentenced to 25 years each, for each murder, but the sentences will run concurrently.

CNA SC/EC/MA/1999

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

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