Cyprus PIO: News Update in English, 98-10-30

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

News Update

Friday, 30/10/98

CONTENTS

• [01] Cyprus EU accession talks enter a new phase
• [02] Excavations at the site of Kissonerga, Paphos
• [03] Presentation of credentials
• [04] Britain supports UN process of bicommunal contacts
• [05] Violations of Cyprus airspace by Turkish military aircraft

[01] Cyprus EU accession talks enter a new phase

The French change of heart to disassociate the Cyprus problem from the island's EU accession course came after a German initiative at the meeting of the 15 Permanent Representatives of the European Union yesterday.

Earlier Greece had reacted to the French demand expressing its own reservations for the other five candidate countries and warning that that it would block the enlargement process.

The German intervention however, overcame the obstacles and the 15 EU Permanent Representatives were able to agree on a joint negotiating stand.

This positive development effectively clears the way for the scheduled meetings with the chief negotiators of the six candidate countries and opens the way for substantial accession talks at Foreign Ministers level on 10 November.

[02] Excavations at the site of Kissonerga, Paphos

The dentition and the bones from bodies in tombs found after excavations at the site of Kissonerga, carried out under the direction of Prof. Edgar Peltenburg of the University of Edinburgh, were given to separate researchers who investigated the remains "blind", that is in ignorance of each other's work.

Dr. Dorothy Lunt, an acknowledged expert on ancient Cypriot dentitions, noticed a prevalence of a peculiar condition in the Kissonerga assemblage, known as shovel-shaped second incisors and concluded that it was a dental characteristic of beta thalassaemia major. An independent study by an American osteologist Melodie Domurad, came to the same conclusion.

More research on a larger sample is required to substantiate these preliminary findings of thalassaemia, but Kissonerga, the longest - lived Cypriot settlement, from about 6.000 to 2.000 BC, is proving to yield an exceptionally varied harvest of discoveries.

[03] Presentation of credentials

Presenting their letters of credence both diplomats expressed their countries' support for a peaceful and just settlement of the Cyprus problem through negotiations based on UN resolutions. They also pledged to strengthen relations and enhance co-operation between their respective countries and Cyprus.

[04] Britain supports UN process of bicommunal contacts

This was stated by the British Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office Mrs Joyce Quin in a written answer to a question submitted by the Liberal MP Bob Russell in the House of Commons on 27 October.

Replying to another question on the withdrawal of Turkish troops from the occupied areas of Cyprus, Mrs Quin said that Britain recognises the eventual demilitarisation of the island as an important objective in the context of a an overall political settlement.

Answering a question on the forthcoming European Union enlargement during a discussion held in the House of Commons, Mrs Quin stressed that Britain regards Cyprus' accession process as an important factor in applying pressure for a settlement of the Cyprus problem and in uniting the island.

[05] Violations of Cyprus airspace by Turkish military aircraft

In his letters dated 23 and 26 October 1998 addressed to the United Nations Secretary General, the Cyprus Ambassador stressed that these provocative Turkish acts constitute an offensive disregard of international law, the UN Charter and the relevant UN decisions on Cyprus and at the same time increase tension on the island and undermine efforts towards achieving a final settlement.

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

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