CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY, 96-05-30

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From: Panayiotis Zaphiris <pzaphiri@glue.umd.edu>

CONTENTS

[01] FORMER CYPRUS PRESIDENT BIDS FOR HOUSE PRESIDENCY

[02] BRITAIN'S DEFENCE SECRETARY VISITS BASES

[03] WORLD CHURCH LEADERS DENOUNCE CHURCH SALE IN OCCUPIED CYPRUS

[04] SPORT: APOEL WIN FOOTBALL DOUBLE

[05] BRITISH DEFENCE SECRETARY VISITS U.N. HEADQUARTERS

[06] "ELEFTHEROTYPIA" SUSPENDS PUBLICATION

[07] TURKEY'S VIOLATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS CONTINUES, SAYS GREEN

[08] BARINER:CYPRUS FULLY PREPARED TO JOIN EU

[09] KYPRIANOY TO RUN FOR HOUSE PRESIDENCY

1030:CYPPRESS:01

[01] FORMER CYPRUS PRESIDENT BIDS FOR HOUSE PRESIDENCY

KYPRIANOU'S DECISION REVERSES HIS PREVIOUS STATEMENT TO THE PRESS ON MONDAY, AFTER HIS RE-ELECTION TO THE HOUSE, THAT HE WILL NOT CONTEST THE HOUSE PRESIDENCY.

THE CHANGE OF HEART WAS REVEALED BY OUTGOING HOUSE PRESIDENT AND DIKO VICE PRESIDENT ALEXIS GALANOS IN A RADIO INTERVIEW. HE SAID KYPRIANOU HAD INFORMED HIM OF HIS DECISION WEDNESDAY EVENING.

GALANOS WELCOMED KYPRIANOU'S DECISION AND SAID HE WOULD BACK HIS BID FOR THE HOUSE PRESIDENCY.

ANOTHER HOUSE PRESIDENTIAL HOPEFUL IS SOCIALIST EDEK PARTY LEADER VASSOS LYSSARIDES, WHO HAS SERVED IN THIS POST IN THE PAST.

FOLLOWING SUNDAY'S PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS, THE ELECTION OF THE NEW HOUSE PRESIDENT HAS BECOME THE PIVOTAL ISSUE AMONG DEPUTIES.

YESTERDAY THERE WAS A FLURRY OF ACTIVITY AMONG PARTY LEADERS AND OPPOSITION LEFTWING AKEL PARTY ANNOUNCED ITS SUPPORT FOR LYSSARIDES CANDIDATURE FOR THE POST.

THE RULING COALITION OF RIGHT-WING DEMOCRATIC RALLY PARTY (DISY) AND DIKO HAVE A MAJORITY IN THE NEW 56-SEAT HOUSE WITH 30 SEATS

AKEL AND EDEK HAVE 24 SEATS, THE REMAINING TWO BELONG TO THE FREE DEMOCRATS PARTY OF FORMER CYPRUS PRESIDENT GEORGE VASSILIOU, WHO IS ALSO EXPECTED TO SUPPORT LYSSARIDES' CANDIDATURE.

CNA MM/GP/1996

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1035:CYPPRESS:02

[02] BRITAIN'S DEFENCE SECRETARY VISITS BASES

TODAY PORTILLO, WHO ARRIVED AT RAF (ROYAL AIR FORCE) BASE AT AKROTIRI, IS VISITING EPISKOPI GARRISON AND LATER ON DHEKELIA, ON THE EAST.

LATER IN THE DAY, HE WILL FLY TO NICOSIA INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, WHERE THE U.N. PEACE-KEEPING FORCE HAS ITS HEADQUARTERS, TO VISIT THE BRITISH CONTINGENT SERVING WITH THE FORCE.

HE WILL ALSO SEE U.N. RESIDENT REPRESENTATIVE GUSTAVE FEISSEL.

ON FRIDAY, THE BRITISH DEFENCE SECRETARY WILL VISIT RAF AKROTIRI BASE BEFORE LEAVING.

A SPOKESMAN FOR THE BASES HAS DESCRIBED THE VISIT AS ''DOMESTIC'' AND SAID IT WOULD GIVE PORTILLO THE OPPORTUNITY TO ''FAMILIARISE HIMSELF WITH THE BASES AND SEE THE TROOPS ON THE GROUND.''

CNA MM/GP/1996

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1455:CYPPRESS:03

[03] WORLD CHURCH LEADERS DENOUNCE CHURCH SALE IN OCCUPIED CYPRUS

THE GENERAL SECRETARY OF THE WORLD COUNCIL OF CHURCHES KONRAD RAISER AND THE GENERAL SECRETARY OF THE CONFERENCE OF EUROPEAN CHURCHES JEAN FISCHER SENT SEPARATE LETTERS TO THE COE SECRETARY-GENERAL DANIEL TARSCHYS ASKING HIM TO PUT A HALT TO SUCH MOVES BY THE TURKISH CYPRIOT REGIME.

THE 12TH CENTURY CHURCH OF PANAYIA CHRYSOTRIMITHIOTISSA, IN THE TURKISH-OCCUPIED VILLAGE OF TRIMITHI, IN KYRENIA DISTRICT, WAS ADVERTISED FOR SALE IN THE TURKISH CYPRIOT PRESS THROUGH AN ESTATE AGENT.

RAISER DESCRIBED THIS CASE AS ''AN ACT OF SYMBOLIC VIOLENCE BY ALL CONCERNED ABOUT RELIGIOUS AND CULTURAL VALUES.''

''ACTS PERPETRATED IN THE OCCUPIED PORTION OF CYPRUS AGAINST RELIGIOUS, CULTURAL AND NATIONAL HERITAGE, HAVE BEEN STEADILY ESCALATING. THE APPROPRIATE EUROPEAN AND INTERNATIONAL BODIES HAVE THUS FAR FAILED TO TAKE ACTION TO DISCOURAGE THESE REPREHENSIBLE ACTS,'' RAISER SAID.

THE LETTER NOTES THAT ''THE TURKISH OCCUPATION OF NORTHERN CYPRUS IS ILLEGAL. IT HAS NO RECOGNISED RIGHT TO DISPOSE OF PROPERTY THERE, NO RIGHT TO MAKE DECISIONS ABOUT THIS CHURCH, SYMBOLIC OF THE BELIEF OF A WHOLE COMMUNITY.''

''WE URGE YOU (TARSCHYS) TO TAKE ALL MEASURES WITHIN YOUR POWER TO HALT THIS TRANSACTION AND PROTECT THIS SACRED HISTORICAL SITE,'' THE LETTER CONCLUDED.

IN HIS LETTER, FISCHER SAID ''THIS (THE ADVERTISED SALE) REPRESENTS A CLEAR ESCALATION IN THE ATTACKS AGAINST THE ORTHODOX CHURCH OF CYPRUS IN THE TURKISH OCCUPIED PART OF THE ISLAND.''

FISCHER ASKS TARSCHYS TO INTERVENE IN THIS SITUATION ''TO USE ALL HIS INFLUENCE AND THAT OF THE COUNCIL TO CEASE AND REVERSE THE INTOLERANT AND PROVOCATIVE BEHAVIOUR OF THE AUTHORITIES IN CHARGE IN THE TURKISH PART OF CYPRUS.''

CYPRUS HAS BEEN DIVIDED SINCE 1974 WHEN TURKISH TROOPS INVADED AND OCCUPIED 37 PER CENT OF ITS TERRITORY.

THE CYPRUS GOVERNMENT AND THE CYPRUS CHURCH HAVE REPEATEDLY PROTESTED TO THE UNITED NATIONS, UNESCO, THE WORLD COUNCIL OF CHURCHES AND OTHER INTERNATIONAL AND REGIONAL ORGANISATIONS ABOUT THE SYSTEMATIC DESTRUCTION AND LOOTING OF THE 9.000-YEAR-OLD GREEK CIVILISATION IN THE TURKISH-OCCUPIED PART OF THIS EAST MEDITERRANEAN ISLAND.

CNA MM/GP/1996

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

[04] SPORT: APOEL WIN FOOTBALL DOUBLE

AFTER THE CYPRUS LEAGUE TITLE, APOEL WON LAST NIGHT THE CYPRUS CUP, BEATING 2-0 AEK OF LARNACA, AFTER A 30-MINUTE EXTRA TIME.

THIS IS THE 15TH CUP TITLE WON BY APOEL IN THE CLUB'S 70-YEAR HISTORY, AND THE CLUB'S FOURTH DOUBLE.

THE 90-MINUTE MATCH ENDED IN A GOALLESS DRAW. APOEL OPENED THE SCORE IN THE 92ND MINUTE AND DOUBLED IT IN THE 114TH MINUTE.

AFTER THE END OF THE MATCH AT THE NEUTRAL TSIRION STADIUM IN LIMASSOL HOOLIGANS OF THE TWO TEAMS CLASHED.

FIVE POLICEMEN WERE INJURED IN THEIR EFFORT TO DISPERSE THE CROWD. POLICE DETAINED TEN PEOPLE.

CNA GP/1996

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1820:CYPPRESS:05

[05] BRITISH DEFENCE SECRETARY VISITS U.N. HEADQUARTERS

THE MEETING TOOK PLACE AT THE U.N. HEADQUARTERS, IN THE BUFFER ZONE, NEAR THE NOW DEFUNCT NICOSIA INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, WEST OF NICOSIA, THE ONLY DIVIDED CAPITAL IN THE WORLD.

PORTILLO HAS BEEN VISITING, SINCE LAST NIGHT, THE TWO BRITISH SOVEREIGN MILITARY BASES ON THE ISLAND'S SOUTHERN COAST, RETAINED BY BRITAIN UNDER THE 1960 TREATY OF ESTABLISHMENT OF THE CYPRUS REPUBLIC.

HE PLANS NO MEETINGS OR CONTACTS WITH CYPRIOT OFFICIALS DURING HIS TWO-DAY STAY ON THIS STRATEGIC EAST MEDITERRANEAN ISLAND, A BRITISH COLONY FROM 1878 TO 1960.

PRESENT AT THE MEETING WITH FEISSEL WAS THE COMMANDER OF THE U.N. PEACE-KEEPING FORCE IN CYPRUS (UNFICYP), FINNISH BRIGADIER GENERAL AHTI TOIMI PAAVALE VARTIAINEN.

PORTILLO INSPECTED A GUARD OF HONOUR AT THE UNFICYP HEADQUARTERS AND VISITED THE BRITISH CONTINGENT, ONE OF THE LARGEST SERVING WITH THE U.N. FORCE.

THE BRITISH DEFENCE SECRETARY TOURED THE NICOSIA BUFFER ZONE, CONTROLLED BY U.N. MEN AND SEPARATING THE GOVERNMENT-CONTROLLED SOUTHERN PART OF THE CAPITAL AND THE TURKISH-OCCUPIED NORTHERN PART.

ABOUT 1200 U.N. MEN PATROL THE 180-KILOMETRE BUFFER ZONE ACROSS THE ISLAND.

TURKISH TROOPS HAVE BEEN OCCUPYING 37 PER CENT OF CYPRUS TERRITORY SINCE 1974, IN VIOLATION OF REPEATED U.N. RESOLUTIONS CALLING FOR THEIR WITHDRAWAL.

PORTILLO IS USING A RAF (ROYAL AIR FORCE) HELICOPTER FOR HIS VISITS TO VARIOUS PLACES ON THE ISLAND, USING CERTAIN AIR CORRIDORS, WHICH ARE PART OF THE FACILITIES PROVIDED TO THE BRITONS UNDER THE 1960 TREATY.

THE DEFENCE SECRETARY ALSO VISITED THE EPISKOPI AND DHEKELIA GARRISONS.

TOMORROW, HE WILL VISIT RAF AKROTIRI BASE BEFORE LEAVING THE ISLAND.

CNA MM/GP/1996

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1915:CYPPRESS:06

[06] ''ELEFTHEROTYPIA'' SUSPENDS PUBLICATION

THIRTY-FIVE PEOPLE, JOURNALISTS AND OTHER EMPLOYEES ARE TO LOSE THEIR JOBS AS A RESULT OF THIS DECISION, WHICH, AS THE MANAGEMENT HAS EXPLAINED, WAS REACHED BECAUSE OF FINANCIAL DIFFICULTIES THE NEWSPAPER WAS FACING.

MEANWHILE, THE EMPLOYEES ANNOUNCED, AFTER A MEETING THIS EVENING, THEIR DECISION TO PROCEED WITH THE PUBLICATION OF TOMORROW'S ISSUE. ''ELEFTHEROTYPIA'' WAS FIRST PUBLISHED 15 YEARS AGO.

THE ANNOUNCEMENT COMES ONLY FOUR DAYS AFTER THE PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS AT WHICH DIKO RECEIVED 16,43 PER CENT OF THE VOTE, GAINING TEN SEATS IN THE HOUSE.

ALTHOUGH DIKO HAS RETAINED ITS POSITION AS THE THIRD BIGGEST PARTY IN PARLIAMENT ITS PERCENTAGE HAS BEEN DECREASED BY 3,12 PER CENT COMPARED TO THE 1991 PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS.

CNA MCH/GP/1996

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

2000:CYPPRESS:07

[07] TURKEY'S VIOLATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS CONTINUES, SAYS GREEN

ACCORDING TO BRITISH DAILY ''THE GUARDIAN'', THE BRITISH LABOUR EURO-MP, WHO HEADED A FACT-FINDING MISSION OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT SOCIALIST GROUP IN TURKEY, SAID SHE WAS DISCOURAGED BY HER TRIP.

''PLEDGES BY THE (TURKISH) GOVERNMENT TO LIFT A STATE OF EMERGENCY IN THE SOUTH-EAST, WHERE THE SECURITY FORCES ARE FIGHTING KURDISH SEPARATIST GUERILLAS, ONLY MEANT THIS WOULD BE REPLACED BY DRACONIAN POWERS GIVEN TO PROVINCIAL GOVERNORS'', THE NEWSPAPER QUOTES GREEN AS SAYING.

THE PAPER NOTES THAT ''THE REFORM OF ARTICLE 8 OF THE PENAL CODE, LIMITING FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION HAD LED TO THE USE OF ANOTHER SECTION OF THE LAW WHICH WAS EQUALLY EFFECTIVE AT JAILING WRITERS AND ACADEMICS, WHO DISCUSSED THE KURDISH ISSUE.''

GREEN STRESSED THAT ''TURKEY SHOULD NOT HOLD OUT HOPE OF FULL MEMBERSHIP OF THE EUROPEAN UNION WHILE ABUSES CONTINUED.''

THE BRITISH EURO-MP POINTED OUT THAT THE ANKARA GOVERNMENT WOULD HAVE TO IMPROVE ITS RECORD BEFORE THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT WOULD APPROVE ITS SLICE OF 3 BILLION-POUND IN AID FOR 12 COUNTRIES.

CNA KT/MCH/GP/1996

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

2020:CYPPRESS:08

[08] BARNIER: CYPRUS FULLY PREPARED TO JOIN EU

THE FRENCH'S MINISTER'S POSITION WAS SET OUT AT A MEETING IN PARIS TODAY WITH CYPRUS FOREIGN MINISTER ALECOS MICHAELIDES.

ACCORDING TO AN OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE ISSUED HERE TODAY, MICHAELIDES TOLD THE FRENCH MINISTER THAT CYPRUS' COURSE TOWARDS THE EU PROCEEDS SMOOTHLY.

THE TWO MINISTERS REVIEWED THE ISLAND'S EU ACCESSION COURSE, THE STRUCTURED DIALOGUE BETWEEN CYPRUS AND THE UNION AND THE EU -CYPRUS RELATIONS IN GENERAL.

THEY ALSO DISCUSSED DEVELOPMENTS IN THE UNION IN THE LIGHT OF THE DELIBERATIONS OF THE INTERGOVERNMENTAL CONFERENCE (IGC).

MICHAELIDES UNDERLINED THE WORK DONE SO FAR BY CYPRUS CONCERNING ITS HARMONISATION WITH THE ACQUIS COMMUNAUTAIRE.

THE TWO MEN ALSO EXCHANGED VIEWS ON WAYS THE EU COULD HELP TOWARDS A SOLUTION TO THE CYPRUS PROBLEM.

THIS ISSUE WAS TO BE DISCUSSED AT A MEETING LATER TODAY BETWEEN MICHAELIDES AND HIS FRENCH COUNTERPART HEVRE DE CHARETTE.

BARNIER ACCEPTED AN INVITATION TO VISIT CYPRUS. THE DATE WILL BE FIXED LATER.

EARLIER TODAY, MICHAELIDES HAD SEPARATE MEETINGS WITH FRENCH DEPUTY PIERRE LEQUILLER AND THE ACTING GENERAL SECRETARY AT THE FRENCH FOREIGN MINISTRY, CLAUDE MARTIN.

CNA KPK/GP/1996

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

2045:CYPPRESS:09

[09] KYPRIANOU TO RUN FOR HOUSE PRESIDENCY

SPEAKING AFTER THE PARTY MEETING, KYPRIANOU SAID HE PLANS, IF ELECTED, ''TO REMAIN IN THE POST OF THE HOUSE PRESIDENT FOR A CERTAIN TIME AND THEN RESIGN, AND SOMEBODY ELSE TO TAKE OVER.''

AT THE SAME TIME, KYPRIANOU NOTED THAT DIKO WILL CONTEST FOR THE PRESIDENCY OF THE REPUBLIC IN THE 1998 ELECTIONS. KYPRIANOU SERVED AS PRESIDENT OF THE CYPRUS REPUBLIC FROM 1977 TO 1988.

DIKO RE-ELECTED MP TASSOS PAPADOPOULOS AS ITS PARLIAMENTARY SPOKESMAN, WHILE KYPRIANOU' YOUNGER SON, MP MARKOS KYPRIANOU, WAS ELECTED TO THE POST OF THE ACTING PARLIAMENTARY SPOKESMAN.

THE RIGHTWING DEMOCRATIC RALLY PARTY (DISY) HAS DECIDED TO SUPPORT KYPRIANOU'S CANDIDACY FOR THE HOUSE PRESIDENCY.

DISY AND DIKO, WHO FORMED A COALITION GOVERNMENT IN FEBRUARY 1993, HAVE 30 SEATS IN THE 56-MEMBER HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. (DISY HAS 20 AND DIKO HAS TEN).

MEANWHILE, THE OPPOSITION LEFTWING AKEL PARTY HAS ANNOUNCED ITS DECISION TO SUPPORT THE CANDIDACY OF SOCIALIST EDEK PARTY LEADER VASSOS LYSSARIDES. AKEL AND EDEK HAVE 24 SEATS IN THE HOUSE (AKEL HAS 19 AND EDEK HAS 5).

THE REMAINING TWO SEATS BELONG TO THE NEWCOMER FREE DEMOCRATS MOVEMENT OF FORMER CYPRUS PRESIDENT GEORGE VASSILIOU, WHOSE POLITICAL COUNCIL WAS MEETING THIS EVENING TO DISCUSS THE ISSUE.

CNA MCH/GP/1996

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

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