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Cyprus PIO: News Update in English, 99-01-15Cyprus Press and Information Office: News Updates in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office Server at <http://www.pio.gov.cy/>Friday, 15 January 1999CONTENTS[01] Hercus meets with CookThe UN Secretary-General's Deputy Special Representative in Cyprus, Dame Ann Hercus, had a 50-minute long meeting in London yesterday with the British Foreign Secretary, Robin Cook, during which they "reviewed the situation in Cyprus".According to a Foreign Office announcement, "The Foreign Secretary heard her views on the shuttle talks on the island and expressed the UK's support for the process as well as the UN effort in general". "The Foreign Secretary," the announcement adds, "hoped that progress could now be made on both tracks, i.e. reduction in tension and a settlement." "The UK will do what it can to encourage the fullest possible co-operation from both sides", it concludes. Hercus leaves for New York today, where she will meet with the UN Secretary General Kofi Annan. [02] Latest demographic figures for CyprusThe population in the free areas was estimated at 657,900 at the end of 1997, a rise of 0.9 per cent over the previous year, according to the latest figures released by the Department of Statistics and Research yesterday.The report also estimated that 68.9 per cent of the population now lives in urban areas. The birth rate in the free areas has fallen by about 0.7 per cent. In 1997, while mortality rates also continued to fall, with the crude death rate estimated at 7.9 deaths per thousand population. The infant mortality rate for the year was eight infant deaths per thousand live births. Life expectancy in Cyprus compares favourably with that of more developed countries. For men it stands at 75 years, while women can expect to live five years more. The main causes of death in 1997 were diseases of the circulatory system and diseases of the respiratory system. The demographic report also showed that about 16 per cent (164 out of every 1,000) of marriages in Cyprus in 1997 ended in divorce. In 1980, the figure stood at just 42 per 1,000 marriages. A continuing rise in the age of first marriage was also noted. The mean age for men increased from 25.7 in the period 1974 to 1977, reaching 27.9 in the period from 1994 to 1997. The figures for women rose from 22.9 to 25.4 over the same periods. [03] First Slovak ambassador presents credentialsSlovakia's first ambassador to Cyprus, Dusan Rozbora, yesterday presented his credentials to President Clerides, expressing the wish for "expanding and solidifying even further our closer ties in particular against the backdrop of our efforts to integrate fully in the European family of nations".President Clerides on his part welcomed the decision of the Slovak government to upgrade its representation in Cyprus, pointing out it would further strengthen bilateral relations and constructive co-operation. He also expressed gratitude for the Slovak position on the Cyprus problem and for "efforts of the Head of their Diplomatic Mission to Cyprus to contribute in a tangible way in the rapprochement between the two communities and in this way to facilitate understanding and co-operation and a peaceful solution of the Cyprus problem". The Slovak embassy has taken the initiative of organising bi-communal meetings between Greek and Turkish Cypriot political party leaders. [04] Cyprus and China sign agreement on healthCyprus and China yesterday signed an agreement for co-operation in the fields of public health and medical science.The agreement was signed in Nicosia by Cyprus' Health Minister Christos Solomis and China's Deputy Health Minister, Dr Londge Wang, who is visiting the island. From the Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office (PIO) Server at http://www.pio.gov.cy/Cyprus Press and Information Office: News Updates in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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