Cyprus PIO: News Update in English, 97-04-24

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From: The Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office Server at <http://www.pio.gov.cy/>

News Update

Thursday, 24/04/97

CONTENTS

• [01] President Clerides chairs meeting of National Council
• [02] Foreign Embassies welcome government move on military overflights
• [03] Cypriot geneticists make important discovery

[01] President Clerides chairs meeting of National Council

After the meeting President Clerides said that on the table of the proximity talks is the letter of the UN Secretary-General which says that the talks are to be held on the basis of the Security Council resolutions, the high level agreements, the Ghali Ideas and other ideas that have been explored so far.

He said the Ghali Ideas have not yet been discussed as talks have for the moment concentrated on certain basic aspects of the Cyprus problem not contained in the Ghali document. He noted, however, that there are substantive differences between the two sides. The talks began with discussion of measures to improve relations between the two communities and certain other issues such as the question of sovereignty but no common ground has been established so far, he said.

He said the National Council decided at the meeting that the proximity talks should continue and that their outcome would be examined by the National Council.

President Clerides noted that right from the start of the proximity talks the Turkish Cypriot leader, Mr Denktash, has taken a hard stand. He said that at the talks he wished to establish whether the Turkish Cypriot side has any intention of moving to some degree from its present positions on the basic aspects of the Cyprus problem. If that should happen, the National Council will consider whether this shift in positions is enough to lead to direct talks.

If there is no change and the Turkish Cypriot positions remain the same, we shall then have to consider once again how we shall handle the issue, he said.

President Clerides said further that the American initiative will not depend on the proximity talks alone. He believed it would depend on other matters as well such as their assessment of Turkish intentions.

He said the military air exercises which were planned to be held will be postponed. He clarified at the same time that this was a voluntary action on the part of the Cyprus Government and could not be considered as a moratorium on overflights of military aircraft.

[02] Foreign Embassies welcome government move on military overflights

The cancellation of the flights was decided by President Clerides as a good will gesture while preparatory talks on the Cyprus problem are going on.

A spokesperson for the US embassy in Nicosia told the Cyprus News Agency (CNA) on Wednesday 23.4.97 that the US government welcomes "any steps to reduce military tensions on and around Cyprus" and "to create an atmosphere conducive to settlement efforts".

"we regard the reported decision to forego military overflights as a constructive step", the embassy spokesperson added.

A British High Commission spokesman stated that Britain "welcomes any steps which help to reduce military tension on the island".

French ambassador to Cyprus Henry Jacolin told CNA: "Any measure or decision aiming at creating confidence between the two communities is welcome", while a Chinese embassy spokesman echoed the French ambassador's statement.

Russian embassy Press Officer Vladimir Maistrenko, was more reserved with his comments, saying only that "this is a matter concerning Cyprus and Greece" and that the Russian government has no comment on the issue.

[03] Cypriot geneticists make important discovery

A team of scientists have reported at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Neurology in Boston that they have mapped the gene responsible for causing the disease, thus paving the way for its eventual treatment.

Families of Myasthenia patients were referred to the Cyprus Institute of Neurology and Genetics from the Universities of Rome, Istanbul, Amman and Salonica, in Greece.

The Cypriot presentation at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Neurology was one of the five "late breaking news" among 1200 scientific presentations.

The results of the Cypriot scientists' research are published in the April issue of the international scientific journal, "Human Molecular Genetics".

The research was funded entirely by the US Muscular Dystrophy Association.

From the Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office (PIO) Server at http://www.pio.gov.cy/

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