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Cyprus PIO: News Update in English, 97-08-04
From: The Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office Server at <http://www.pio.gov.cy/>
News Update
Monday, 04/08/97
CONTENTS
- [01] President Clerides pays tribute to Archbishop Makarios
- [02] Government Spokesman: Fate of every single missing person will be
determined
- [03] Completion of excavation campaign near Alassa
[01] President Clerides pays tribute to Archbishop Makarios
In a memorial service yesterday on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of
the death of the first President of the Republic of Cyprus Archbishop
Makarios III, President Clerides paid tribute to the great "national,
religious and spiritual" contribution of Makarios.
Moreover Mr Clerides expressed the government's determination to hold a
positive stance in international efforts to achieve a solution to the
Cyprus problem but he stressed that the government will not accept a
compromise that threatens the independence and territorial integrity of
Cyprus.
[02] Government Spokesman: Fate of every single missing person will be
determined
The aim of Thursday's (31.7.97) agreement between President Glafcos
Clerides and Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash "is to determine the fate
of every single missing person in the most convincing manner", said
Government Spokesman, Manolis Christofides on Friday 1.8.97.
Christofides stressed that the government is willing "to secure the most
modern scientific means to determine the identity of each missing person".
DNA testing of the relatives of the missing will be completed by the end of
the year, said Christofides during today's press briefing.
The Government Spokesman made clear last Friday that in those cases of
missing persons where there is evidence that they are alive "investigations
will continue until their fate is determined".
Meanwhile, Fred Echard, Spokesman for the UN Secretary-General, said that
the Secretary-General is very pleased with the unexpectedly positive
outcome of the talks, held in Nicosia between the two Cypriot leaders.
[03] Completion of excavation campaign near Alassa
The Ministry of Communications and Works (Department of Antiquities)
announced on 1.8.97 the completion of the seventh excavation campaign at
the Late Bronze Age Settlement near the village of Alassa. The excavations
conducted between May 26th and July 4th, focused at the locality of
Paliotaverna and the complete exposure of Building II which is of palatial
character covering an area of 1410 sq.m. Its architecture is unique and it
is perhaps the only edifice on the island built entirely with ashlars. The
inner courtyard of Building II covers an area of 388 sq.m. The future
extension of the excavation will show whether the inner courtyard is
connected with a street or with a public square.
The excavations will continue next year.
From the Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office (PIO) Server at http://www.pio.gov.cy/
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