Cyprus News Agency: News in English (PM), 97-03-20

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

CONTENTS

[01] Kurdish parliamentarians in exile in Cyprus

[02] Thalassaemic mother gives birth to triplets

[03] Cyprus and Lebanon sign protocol on transfer of convicts

[04] Yugoslavia supports Cyprus' unity

[05] Hannay says British role "supportive"

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[01] Kurdish parliamentarians in exile in Cyprus

Representatives of the Kurdish parliament in exile, George Ario and Ali Sacik, told a press conference today "the Kurds are not in love with guns but no struggle can be won through political means alone."

Visiting Cyprus to attend commemorations for the third anniversary of the assassination of Theophilos Georgiades, former president of the Cyprus- Kurdistan Solidarity Committee, the two MPs in exile praised his contribution to the promotion of Kurdish human rights, savagely violated by the Turkish state.

Speaking through an interpreter, Ario said thousands of Kurdish villages have been forcibly evacuated and thousands of Kurdish civilians have been killed by the Turkish army during its 13 year "dirty war" against the Kurdish people.

Asked to comment on the fact that the US and certain European countries describe the Kurdish Workers Party (PKK) and its leader Abdullah Ocalan as "terrorists", Ario said this was exactly the way Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat and South African President Nelson Mandela had been described in the past.

"When Arafat was at the White House for the signing of the peace agreement leaders were queuing to take a picture with him," he added.

He also pointed out that three of the six meetings of the Kurdish Parliament in exile, which take place in European countries, were hosted in Parliament buildings.

"This is a sign," he noted, "that the Kurdish Parliament in exile will gain international recognition in the near future."

On his part, representative of Kurdistan National Freedom Front (ERNK), Adar Serket, said Turkey does not allow the Kurds an alternative to armed struggle, pointing out that PKK leader, had declared an armistice which lasted for nine months without, however, a change in the Turkish stance.

He added, however, that certain Turkish human rights organisations and Turkish intellectuals do express support to the Kurdish cause.

During their stay in Cyprus the Kurdish MPs met with political party representatives, whom they briefed on the work of their Parliament in exile and discussed ways of cooperation.

The Kurdish Parliament was set up in exile two years ago, and it's based in Brussels, Belgium. It is made up of 69 members, four of them Assyrians who have also been persecuted by Turkey since 1915. CNA MA/MCH/AP 1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

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[02] Thalassaemic mother gives birth to triplets

"This is the first time worldwide, that a thalassaemic mother gives birth to triplets", Director of the Obstetrics and Gynaecology Department at Archbishop Makarios Hospital Gabriel Kalakoutis, told CNA.

Xenia Nicolaou-Ioannou, was transferred urgently from Limassol to Makarios Hospital with a severe form of pro-eclampsia, also known as toxinaemia of pregnancy.

Due to the severity of her condition, it was decided that a Caesarean section was urgently needed.

Xenia gave birth at 29 weeks to two girls and a boy, weighing just 1000 grams and 700 grams respectively. All three babies carry the stigma but are not thalassaemic.

The father of the triplets, Yiannos Ioannou, who is not a thalassaemia stigma carrier, told CNA, that both him and his wife are overwhelmed and very happy with the result and hope that everything will work out well.

CNA AZK/MCH/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1735:CYPPRESS:03

[03] Cyprus and Lebanon sign protocol on transfer of convicts

Cyprus' Justice and Public Order Minister, Alecos Evangelou, currently on an official visit to Lebanon, and his Lebanese counterpart Rabige Tabbarah signed the protocol, which will be effective in 30 days, as from today.

The agreement for the transfer of convicts was signed between Cyprus and Lebanon in Nicosia, on October 21, 1994, and was voted into a law by the House of Representatives in 1996.

It provides for the transfer of convicts following an agreement between the two neighbouring countries and the consent of the convicts. It also provides for procedure to be followed for such transfers.

Lebanese Justice Minister reaffirmed his Cypriot counterpart of his country's support to the struggle of the people of Cyprus for freedom and justice, and Evangelou thanked him for this firm and steady support.

The two Ministers assured the bilateral agreement for the transfer of convicts will initiate a broader cooperation in legal matters between Cyprus and Lebanon.

It must be noted that 33 percent of the convicts in the prisons of Cyprus are foreigners.

CNA AP/MCH/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

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[04] Yugoslavia supports Cyprus' unity

The Yugoslav position was set out here today by the country's new ambassador to Cyprus Ivan M. Mrkic, who presented his credentials to President Glafcos Clerides.

President Clerides told the Yugoslav diplomat the solution of the protracted Cyprus problem should be based on the relevant UN resolutions.

He said "the tragic developments in Yugoslavia have deeply touched the people of Cyprus, who have stood firmly by the side of the long-suffering people of Yugoslavia."

President Clerides noted Cyprus itself "has first hand agonies of war" and referred to the "division imposed by force by the 1974 Turkish invasion and continued occupation of 37 per cent of its territory."

The Cypriot President said "Turkey's actions are a glaring example of the flagrant violation of all human rights norms and the non-implementation of the mandatory resolutions of the United Nations on Cyprus, on which the solution to our long-standing problem must be based."

The ambassador of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia expressed his country's "deepest gratitude to the people of Cyprus for the support and countless humanitarian assistance provided to my people in the years of need."

Mrkic expressed Yugoslavia's "strong support for the sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity of the Republic of Cyprus."

He said "we sincerely hope that the long standing and just demands of the Cypriot people will be finally acknowledged and fulfilled."

The Yugoslav ambassador referred to the strong bonds and friendship between the two countries and the common causes they supported within the UN, the NON-Aligned Movement and other international and European fora.

CNA AP/GP/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

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[05] Hannay says British role "supportive"

Sir David had a two-hour working lunch today with the House of Representatives' President, Spyros Kyprianou, during which they exchanged views on various aspects of the Cyprus problem.

Kyprianou described his meeting with the British envoy as "useful".

Asked about the role of Britain, the US and the European Union (EU), at this stage of the ongoing UN-sponsored proximity talks between the two sides in Cyprus, Sir David said "we are all trying to help the UN, we are trying to help the process of intensive preparation underway now and I hope this will lead on to face-to-face talks."

He added "we will also be able to play a supportive role there" and stressed "it is, I a supportive role, it is not a kind of alternative role or of an alternative approach."

The British envoy noted "it is the UN that is in the lead" and said "they are (the UN) now engaged in very intensive talks."

Sir David said at this stage "the most important thing is that everyone will open their minds to other people and we really move towards the next phase, in the attempt to solve the problem in a serious and determined way."

He also referred to his recent Brussels talks on Cyprus, describing them as "useful".

Sir David stressed that what is most important is "to ensure that this concerted effort by the international community to get a solution, which in the end will come down to the two leaders of the two communities in Cyprus, and ensure that there is the best chance they possibly have."

Later today Kyprianou had a meeting with Shadow Foreign Secretary, Labour MP Robin Cook.

CNA KT/AP/MCH/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

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