Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 96-12-19

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

CONTENTS

[01] Cypriot woman pregnant with 11 embryos

[02] Ghali's interest in Cyprus praised by Cassoulides

[03] Cyprus Stock Exchange

[04] Boutros-Ghali warns Cyprus sides

[05] Rifkind's ten-point proposal aims to promote Cyprus solution

[06] President receives Greek and Turkish Cypriot students

[07] European Court ruling dedicated to Greek Cypriot refugees

[08] British MP criticises Rifkind's ten-point proposal

1240:CYPPRESS:01

[01] Cypriot woman pregnant with 11 embryos

Nicosia, Dec 19 (CNA) -- A selective abortion process will begin today at the Nicosia Makarios Hospital to remove seven embryos out of eleven a Paphos pregnant housewife is pregnant with, after receiving a fertility treatment at a Paphos' private clinic.

Zoe Efstathiou, 23, and her 27-year-old husband Demetris, an accountant, have decided to reduce to four the number of the 11 nine-weeks-old embryos, her gynaecologist doctor Andreas Patsalides said, in an effort to save four of the babies.

''It's the first time in my career I came across such a case, not only in Cyprus but worldwide,'' Patsalides told CNA Thursday.

The doctor said Zoe has ''insufficient ovarian function'' and following a course of hormonal fertility treatment she successfully conceived and had a baby-girl in 1994.

The couple, he added, decided this August to have a second child and same treatment was followed. He clarified that was a hormonal treatment and had nothing to do with an In-Vitro Fertilisation (IVF).

However, the doctor said, this time her ovaries overreacted and as a result, out of a total of 33 ovarian follicles, eleven were fertilised thus leaving Zoe pregnant with eleven embryos.

Patsalides revealed it was only by chance he discovered so early in her pregnancy that Zoe was carrying eleven babies.

After complaining of ascites, an abdominal fluids syndrome, an ultra- sound by Patsalides showed she was carrying six embryos. She was then sent to Makarios Hospital, in Nicosia, which specialises in pediatrics and maternity cases. There, to the doctors' astonishment, a total of 11 heartbeats and fetuses were discovered.

The doctor said Zoe ''cannot develop a normal pregnancy'' because at a stage, the womb will react and reject all 11 babies, so ''we have to reduce the number of embryos.'' After discussions with the couple it was decided that they should try to save four of the babies.

A selective procedure, starting today, will remove at each session two or three embryos, until a number of four are left. There is still a 15-25 per cent chance that Zoe could miscarry with just four embryos, Patsalides noted.

Doctor Yiannis Kallikas of the Department of Prenatal Diagnosis and Fetal Medicine, at the Makarios Hospital, told CNA he will start the sessions to remove embryos this afternoon and said there are ''very good chances'' for the four to survive.

The procedure will be completed by the eleventh week of pregnancy, he added, and that only 5-10 per cent are the chances for Zoe to miscarry, when just four fetuses are left.

Cyprus Gynaecological Association President Antonis Vassiliou told CNA it seems there was ''overstimulation of the ovaries due to overdose of hormones which was more the patient needed for the case.'' He said the matter concerns no ''medical mistake'' and no ''responsibilities'' on her doctor's part.

However, he clarified this ''cannot be considered a scientific achievement for which we should be proud of.''

CNA AP/GP/1996

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1440:CYPPRESS:02

[02] Ghali's interest in Cyprus praised by Cassoulides

Speaking to the press, Cassoulides noted Ghali's ''special interest in Cyprus during his term in office'', while he pointed out that Boutros-Ghali ''did not hesitate to denounce the lack of political will displayed by the Turkish Cypriot side.''

Cassoulides expressed the conviction, however, that Ghali's work towards a settlement of the Cyprus problem would be continued by his successor, Kofi Annan.

Annan's previous post as head of UN peace-keeping operations gives him a good knowledge of the situation in Cyprus, where a UN peacekeeping force (UNFICYP) has been stationed for a long period of time, the Spokesman noted.

During a press conference at UN headquarters, yesterday, the new UN Secretary-General described the Cyprus problem as ''a long drawn out situation'' and expressed the hope for a breakthrough.

Noting that ''Cyprus has not been a failure in the sense that the UN succeeded on the peacekeeping side'', Annan said the ''search for a political settlement continues'', pointing out US and British involvement towards this direction.

''We hope that in the first half of the next year we might be able to get them (President Glafcos Clerides and Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash) to have talks on a settlement'', Annan, concluded.

Turkish troops have been occupying 37 per cent of Cyprus territory since 1974, in violation of repeated UN resolutions calling for their withdrawal.

CNA MA/MCH/GP/1996

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1500 CYPPRESS:03

[03] Cyprus Stock Exchange

CSE All Share Index                    81.62 (+0.67)

Sectural Indices

Banks                                  91.08 (+0.92)
Approved Investment Companies          73.42 (-0.74)
Insurance Companies                    55.71 (+0.29)
Industrial Companies                   83.84 (+0.68)
Tourist Industries                     71.06 (+0.31)
Commercial Companies                   60.03 (-0.27)
Other Companies                        67.54 (+0.03)

Trading Volume                         CYP 694956.046

CNA MCH/1996

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1815:CYPPRESS:04

[04] Boutros-Ghali warns Cyprus sides

In his final report of his mission of good offices in Cyprus to the Security Council, Boutros-Ghali warns that unless the ''political leadership on both sides manifests the necessary determination to negotiate an overall settlement and this process is fully supported by Greece and Turkey, the present situation will persist and even lead to greater dangers''.

He explains that the developments of recent months and the military build up in Cyprus ''have underscored...that the status quo in Cyprus is most unstable and is not tenable''.

Furthermore, ''the apparent calm that has prevailed for some years has lulled political leaders and the people of both communities into a false sense of stability'', Boutros-Ghali notes.

Going a step further, the outgoing UN chief says ''beneath the surface, the situation in Cyprus is changing, in terms both of the demographic composition of the island and of the relationship of the two communities with each other and to the outside world''.

In an appeal, unprecedented in the Secretary-General's reports, Boutros- Ghali says ''either the two communities will take control of their destiny by reaching an overall settlement on the basis that has already been agreed, or forces beyond their control will fundamentally change the situation on the island''.

He calls on both President Glafcos Clerides and Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash to ''give tangible indications that they are seeking an overall settlement on the basis of one country''.

Both leaders, he remarks, should ''shift away from polemics and mutual accusations and towards their future relationship in a federal Cyprus''.

Referring to what he considers as next steps, Boutros-Ghali says ''an overall settlement can best be reached through mutual concessions in a comprehensive negotiating session which will continue as long as necessary to reach agreement.''

He refers to the Cyprus government's efforts to join the European Union (EU), noting that accession negotiations ''is an important new development that should facilitate an overall settlement''.

Boutros-Ghali says ''an urgent effort is accordingly required in 1997 to bring about early direct talks between the two leaders... and to facilitate this objective, preparations for direct negotiations are being intensified by the Secretariat''.

He adds ''more intensive contacts with the leaders of the two communities and with Greece and Turkey are planned for the new year'' and stresses that he relies on the continued support by interested governments.

Additionally, Boutros-Ghali calls upon Greece and Turkey ''to become active in support of the Secretary-General's good offices mission''.

Boutros-Ghali proposes that ''both sides also implement goodwill measures that give tangible indications of their good intentions and held create an atmosphere of confidence''.

He stresses that is ''important that the UNFICYP proposals for further unmanning, the prohibition of loaded weapons and a military code of conduct along the ceasefire lines be agreed to and implemented without delay''.

Commenting on the report, Cyprus Government Spokesman Yiannakis Cassoulides said Boutros-Ghali refers to the points which coincide with the views expressed by the Greek Cypriot side.

He pointed out that Boutros-Ghali notes that his envoys have made intensive efforts over the last six months ''to break the impasse and to create conditions for successful direct negotiations'' between the leaders of the two communities.

Cassoulides said Boutros-Ghali concludes that ''direct talks would not at that time yield positive results''.

''Therefore he agrees that there is a need for well preparation and to find common ground because otherwise the (negotiations) will be counter- productive'', the Cypriot Spokesman added.

Cyprus has been divided since 1974 when Turkish troops invaded and occupied 37 per cent of its territory.

CNA EC/GP/1996

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1840:CYPPRESS:05

[05] Rifkind's ten-point proposal aims to promote Cyprus solution

Speaking after a brief call on President Glafcos Clerides, Madden said Britain hopes that in 1997 ''there will be an intensification of the UN-led process, with a more rapid rhythm of preparatory talks''.

He explained that the ten points, presented by Rifkind at a news conference earlier this week in Nicosia, are ''intended to be helpful in that context''.

Madden avoided commenting on the reaction which the ten-point proposal has raised, noting that he ''would not necessarily characterise any reactions particularly negative''.

''The purpose was to give our assessment of the points which seem to us, we hope, commonly accepted by both sides and to work on that basis'', he said.

Asked why both sides were not informed of the ten points in advance, Madden said ''we made it very clear that these were British views, that this was not a document that was negotiated with anyone. These were the ten points put forward by the Foreign Secretary at the conclusion of his talks. So it was not a negotiated document''.

Cyprus Government Spokesman Yiannakis Cassoulides said today the only one of the ten points which for the first time has become known is that the existence and powers of the federation will derive from separate referenda in the two communities.

However, he said he does not wish to analyse this element, noting that it will be examined by the state's legal experts.

At the same time, he said the government supports that sovereignty should derive from the Republic of Cyprus.

Asked if the government considers the ten points a document, Cassoulides repeated that these elements derive from the high level agreements, the Ghali Set of Ideas and other documents, discussions or statements.

The Spokesman added none of the two sides had been asked to comment on the Rifkind elements.

Meanwhile, the British High Commissioner refused to comment on yesterday's ruling of the European Court of Human Rights which found Turkey accountable for violation of human rights in the Turkish-occupied part of the island.

Asked if the ruling will affect efforts for a Cyprus settlement, Madden referred journalists to the UN efforts, which his country supports, and the work on the basis of high level agreements, Security Council resolutions, ''to try to get a settlement of the Cyprus problem'', he added.

Cyprus has been divided since 1974 when Turkish troops invaded and occupied 37 per cent of the island's territory.

CNA EC/GP/1996

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1925:CYPPRESS:06

[06] President receives Greek and Turkish Cypriot students

''The youth express the concerns of both communities on the island and reaffirm the need for frequent meetings between Greek and Turkish Cypriots'', President Clerides told the press after receiving 24 Greek Cypriot and 18 Turkish Cypriot students.

He remarked ''young people are less concerned about the past... and more concerned about the future, and this is very healthy''.

The meeting between the Cyprus President and the students from both sides of the divide took place within the framework of the working groups organised by the Fulbright Scholarships' Committee.

The students had a meeting with Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash on Tuesday.

Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkish troops invaded and occupied 37 per cent of its territory.

CNA MCH/GP/1996

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1840:CYPPRESS:07

[07] European Court ruling dedicated to Greek Cypriot refugees

This was stated here today by Titina Loizidou, the Greek Cypriot refugee who took Turkey to European Court for violating her right of access and to peacefully enjoy her property in the Turkish-occupied northern coastal town of Kyrenia.

Returning from Strasbourg, where she had gone for the announcement of the ruling, Loizidou said she dedicates the Court ruling ''to all Greek Cypriot refugees and especially the ones from Kyrenia, who have since 1974 been denied their right to return to their homes.''

Kyrenia means much more to its legitimate residents than just a piece of property, Loizidou told the press.

''It is our life, our joys and sorrows,'' she said, noting that this was the main reason why she decided to take Turkey to court.

''The road is now open for other refugees to claim their right to use and enjoy their property'', Loizidou, added.

The governments of Cyprus and Greece welcomed the Court's ruling, describing it as ''historic''.

The Turkish government and the occupation regime said the decision was based on political rather than legal motives.

CNA TA/MCH/GP/1996

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

2010:CYPPRESS:08

[08] British MP criticises Rifkind's ten-point proposal

In a statement in the British Parliament, Cox said ''unfortunately'' Rifkind ''did not include the important issue of the role of Turkey'', which he described as ''a key factor in any negotiations.''

Noting Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash's continuous contacts with Turkey and British envoy Sir David Hannay's regular visits to Ankara, Cox said Turkey is expected ''to play a major role in negotiations.''

The British MP reminded his audience that Turkey had signed a customs union with the European Union and pointed out that ''there are trade offs in politics.''

''A country that achieves a desirable aim, then, should be helpful on issues on which it has influence, as does Turkey on Cyprus'', he added.

Cox stressed, however, that Turkey will have no veto ''on a settlement or on the issue of Cyprus' membership of the European Union.''

Referring to Cyprus's demilitarisation, a proposal put forward by President Glafcos Clerides, Cox said, this was ''another issue not mentioned in the Foreign Secretary's statement''.

He added it would be interesting to know Rifkind's view and that of the British government on the issue.

Rifkind presented his ten-point proposal, on which a Cyprus settlement could be based, during a news conference last Monday in Cyprus.

Turkish troops have been occupying 37 per cent of Cyprus territory since 1974, in violation of repeated UN resolutions calling for their withdrawal.

CNA KT/MCH/GP/1996

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

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