Cyprus News Agency: News in English (AM), 97-06-30

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

CONTENTS

[01] New Auditor General named

[02] President Clerides leaves for Athens

[03] President Clerides arrives in Athens

[04] Paphos Church celebrates 1951 years since its founding

[05] Scientists keen on Cyprus oncology centre

1110:CYPPRESS:01

[01] New Auditor General named

Spyros Christou, who was until today Deputy Auditor General, takes over as Auditor General as from tomorrow. The new Deputy Auditor General is Andreas Skordis, who has also been working at the Audit Service for many years.

Speaking to the press, Christou pledged to safeguard the independence of the Audit Service and to be "objective and professional".

President Clerides also announced today the new Chairman and members of the Public Service Commission, that has the responsibility of recruiting civil servants, who will also take over tomorrow.

The new Chairman of the Commission is Andreas Karagiorgis, a former educationalist, and members Sotos Demetriou and Andreas Anastasiou, both former judges, Theofilos Theofilou, until today the Republic's Auditor General, and Dimitrakis Stylianou, elementary education director until a year ago.

During a brief ceremony at the Presidential Palace, President Clerides called on the new members of the Commission to be "independent" in their decisions.

On his part Karagiorgis assured the President that the Commission will "work within the framework of the Constitution, the law and meritocracy".

CNA MA/GP/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1200:CYPPRESS:02

[02] President Clerides leaves for Athens

Speaking on departure, President Clerides categorically dismissed press reports he would be taking to Athens any documents on the basic aspects the Greek Cypriot side will negotiate a Cyprus solution at the July direct talks near New York as well as on good will measures regarding the military dialogue.

The Cypriot President said he had asked to be briefed by National Guard Commander, Lieutenant General Nikolaos Vorvolakos, on his views about the ongoing "military dialogue", between the National Guard and the Turkish occupation army, under UN auspices, "and not on the Cyprus solution or confidence building measures."

He also said he does not think an agreement on the military dialogue is possible before his face-to-face talks with Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash, beginning July 9, near New York. The UN proposals, put forward to the two sides, envisage the extension of the unmanning agreement along the ceasefire lines, the removal of loaded weapons where the two sides are in close proximity and the definition of a code of conduct for soldiers serving in the area.

Asked to comment on press reports that an agreement on Cyprus could be reached before the February 1998 presidential elections in Cyprus, President Clerides refrained to comment.

"At this moment, there is no indication on the existence of any prerequisites leading to a Cyprus solution through these (direct) talks," he said.

President Clerides noted he had to visit Athens in order to coordinate and discuss with the Greek government issues "on the strategy of handling the Cyprus question, given the fact that Greece will be in the wings of the talks".

The Cypriot President will meet later today in Athens with his Greek counterpart Constantinos Stefanopoulos, while tomorrow he will meet with Premier Costas Simitis.

Before returning to Cyprus Wednesday, President Clerides will also have separate meetings with former Greek Prime Minister Constantinos Mitsotakis and leader of New Democracy party Constantinos Karamanlis. However, he said he will meet with any other party leaders at their request.

He made it clear that during the Athens talks "we will not discuss any changes of our positions," agreed between the two governments in the past both in Nicosia and Athens.

The President reiterated his belief that a document to be presented by UN chief's special representative for Cyprus, Diego Cordovez, at the start of the talks would refer to procedural issues rather than matters of substance on the Cyprus question.

President Clerides said his information on the role of the US during the talks is that "it has the appropriate leverage to press for a Cyprus solution, but it's up to the US to decide when the time is right."

Asked to comment on Greek TV reports that he will have daily private talks with Denktash, in a bid to reach an agreement without any mediation, the Cypriot President said he has not such information from the UN.

CNA MAN/AP/GP/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1230:CYPPRESS:03

[03] President Clerides arrives in Athens

Greece's Deputy Finance Minister, Nicos Christodoulakis, met the Cypriot President at the Athens international airport. No statements were made.

At 1300 local time (1000 GMT) President Clerides was scheduled to have a meeting with Greek President Constantinos Stefanopoulos.

Speaking to the press on departure, President Clerides noted he had to visit Athens in order to coordinate and discuss with the Greek government issues "on the strategy of handling the Cyprus question, given the fact that Greece will be in the wings of the talks."

He made it clear that during the Athens talks "we will not discuss any changes of our positions," agreed between the two governments in the past.

Clerides and Simitis will hold talks tomorrow. The two men and high- ranking officials from the two countries will attend later a lunch given by the Greek Premier.

President Clerides is accompanied to Athens by Foreign Minister Ioannis Kasoulides, Government Spokesman Manolis Christofides, Under Secretary to the President Pantelis Kouros and Attorney General Alecos Markides.

Before returning to Cyprus Wednesday, President Clerides will also have separate meetings with former Greek Prime Minister Constantinos Mitsotakis and leader of New Democracy party Constantinos Karamanlis.

CNA EC/AP/GP/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1250:CYPPRESS:04

[04] Paphos Church celebrates 1951 years since its founding

Celebrations peaked last night with a vespers service and a procession of the icon of St. Paul and St. Barnabas, around the pillar where Paul is believed to have been lashed by the then Roman governor of Cyprus Paulus Sergius. St. Barnabas, a native of Salamis, is considered to be the founder of the Church of Cyprus.

Celebrations kicked off yesterday morning with a service at the Church of the Apostle Paul conducted by the Bishop of Paphos Chrysostomos.

Christianity was introduced in Cyprus in 46 AD by St. Paul and St. Barnabas, when Cyprus was under the Roman Empire.

This year's celebrations come one year after the Pan-Orthodox Assembly of Paphos in celebration of the 1950 years since the Church's founding.

The Primates from the Orthodox churches of Europe, Asia and Africa, as well as representatives of the Ecumenical Patriarch and the Pope attended last year's week-long celebrations.

CNA MH/GP/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1400:CYPPRESS:05

[05] Scientists keen on Cyprus oncology centre

Personal interviews with interested scientists were conducted last week for the position of Director of the Centre's Oncology and Radiotherapy Department.

According to Bank of Cyprus official, Yiannis Kypris, a total of ten interviews were conducted with scientists and the Centre's International Advisory Committee which is made up of five foreign oncology professors.

The Centre's equipment, costing over six million US dollars, are expected to arrive at the Centre before the end of the year.

Specialised cancer therapy equipment have been purchased by the Centre which, up until now, were not found in Cyprus due to their high cost and the specialised expertise required to operate them.

The Centre, the first of its kind in Cyprus, will begin operating in the first three months of 1998 and is expected to cost over 12 million US dollars.

The treatment of cancer and other tumour-related illnesses are expected to be covered once the Centre officially opens.

It is also expected that the Centre's opening will stem the flow of Cypriots with illnesses such as cancer, seeking sophisticated treatment abroad.

CNA MH/GP/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

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