CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY, 96-06-03

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

CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY, 96-06-03

CONTENTS

[01] Turks kill Greek Cypriot soldier

[02] Cyprus protests to UN over soldier's murder

1245:CYPPRESS:01

[01] Turks kill Greek Cypriot soldier

He is Stelios Panagi Kalli, 19, a refugee from the Turkish-occupied village of Kythrea, and resident of Yeri village.

According to a press release issued by the island's Defence Ministry, the National Guardsman entered unarmed the UN-controlled buffer zone at Ayios Andreas area of Nicosia before 0700 local hours (0400 GMT).

The Turkish soldiers, who manned the Turkish posts on the demarcation line shot and killed the Greek Cypriot soldier.

The UN peacekeepers took the seriously wounded soldier to the Nicosia General Hospital but the doctors there verified his death.

President Glafcos Clerides went to hospital, expressing his sympathy to the soldier's parents.

According to eyewitnesses, the Guardsman entered unarmed the buffer zone, for unknown reasons, and approached the Turkish observation post. Another Guardsman repeatedly asked him to return.

He was talking to a Turkish soldier when a second Turkish soldier from a nearby post shot and killed him.

State coroner made an autopsy. Later on, she will conduct a post mortem examination.

Defence Minister Costas Eliades and National Guard Commander, Lieutenant General Nicolaos Vorvolakos rushed to the area and gave instructions for additional security measures along the demarcation line.

The Minister ordered an investigation into the circumstances under which the incident took place.

CNA GP/1996

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1350:CYPPRESS:02

[02] Cyprus protests to UN over soldier's murder

Foreign Minister Alecos Michaelides gave instructions to the Permanent Mission of the Cyprus Republic to the UN to strongly protest to the UN Secretariat and the five permanent members of the Security Council.

Guardsman Stelios Panagi Kalli, 19, of the Turkish-occupied village of Kythrea, and resident of Yeri village, entered unarmed the UN-controlled buffer zone at Ayios Andreas area in Nicosia, and while he was talking to a Turkish soldier, another Turkish soldier from a nearby post shot and killed him.

Acting on Michaelides' instructions, Ambassador Alecos Shambos, the Foreign Ministry Permanent Secretary, summoned UN officials in Nicosia and made strong representations about the incident.

All Cyprus diplomatic missions abroad have been instructed to make similar representations to the governments and international organisations they are accredited to.

Cyprus has been divided since 1974 when Turkish troops invaded and occupied 37 per cent of its territory.

The 1.200-strong UN peace-keeping force (UNFICYP) patrols the 180-kilometre long buffer zone across this East Mediterranean island.

CNA GP/1996

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

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