[01] Denktash meets US Ambassador.

[02] Ecchinococus is spreading in the occupied area.

NEWS ITEMS

[01] Denktash meets US Ambassador

According to illegal Bayrak radio (11:30 hours, 5.2.96) Rauf Denktash met with US Ambassador Richard Boucher yesterday. They discussed general issues on the eve of the planned visit by US Assistant Secretary of State Richard Holbrooke. Also present at the meeting were Deputy Chief of Mission Alex Wolff, John Lister, second secretary at the US Embassy responsible for Cyprus affairs, Necati Munir Ertekun and Ergun Olgun, aides to Denktash; and Mustafa Evran, the "presidential political affairs director."

In a statement following the meeting, Boucher said preliminary work was conducted with Denktash on the eve of Holbrooke's visit. Boucher said he briefed Denktash on his contacts in Washington, adding that they discussed general issues and not any specific issue. He reiterated that if there is a will, an agreement can be reached. He pointed out that the two sides must come together and announce what they want. He said that in anticipation of Holbrooke's visit, he reviewed with Denktash, the latest situation and what can and cannot be done.

[02] Ecchinococus is spreading in the occupied area

According to KIBRIS (6.2.96) ecchinococus is spreading in the occupied area in an alarming manner and attempts to contain or eradicate it have produced no results.

KIBRIS reports that the so-called Famagusta Municipality has published the results of a survey carried out between 1 January 1994 and 31 December 1995 at the occupied Famagusta abattoir.

According to the findings, during the period mentioned above: 750 cattle and 18010 sheep were found carrying the disease.

During the said period 1456 cattle were slaughtered, 750 of which were infected with the disease.

In the same report, it is mentioned that 24667 sheep, goats and lamb were slaughtered during the same period, 18010 of which were found infected with the disease.

KIBRIS further said that in 1994 seventeen people were operated up on because they were carriers of the disease. (MY