Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 96-08-04

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CONTENTS

[01] Bikers set off from Hungary

[02] Hopes for detailed discussions by 1998

[03] Bikers set off from Hungary - Corrected Version

1215:CYPPRESS:01

[01] Bikers set off from Hungary

Gyor, Aug 4 (CNA) -- Some 120 motorcyclists, riding from Berlin to the Turkish occupied town of Kyrenia, leave Hungary for Yugoslavia later today in the fourth leg of their ten-day ride, scheduled to finish in Cyprus on 11 August.

The bikers will enter Serbia through the town of Nis and tomorrow they will head for Salonica, in northern Greece.

The anti-occupation ride is taking place amid growing fears that the illegal Turkish Cypriot regime might attempt to cause trouble along the 180-kilometre long ceasefire line, which cuts Cyprus into two, on 11 August to prevent the bikers from reaching Kyrenisy

The government and the UN have appealed to bikers to demonstrate their indignation about the continuing Turkish occupation in a peaceful manner and avoid confrontation in the UN controlled buffer zone.

Cyprus Motorcycle Federation President George Hadjicostas has often stressed the peaceful nature of the Federation's protest against Turkish aggression.

The trip through former Yugoslavia was facilitated by Novisat Metropolitan, Erineos Bulovic, whose intervention helped to cancel an entry toll the Belgrade government wanted to impose on the bikers, who have been travelling for the past three days.

The ride, seen as a symbolic gesture against the continuing Turkish occupation of Cyprus' northern areas, got off to a flying start with a warm welcome from the various towns it traversed.

In Prague, the Czech police escorted the bikers when they entered the country and the local motorcycle federation ''Motoraj'' laid on a welcoming party for them.

Cyprus' ambassador to the Czech republic, Christos Psilogenis, greeted the bikers and wished them well on their endeavour.

The journey from Prague to the Austrian capital, Vienna, met with weather difficulties as torrential rain drenched the bikers, who were nonetheless undeterred in their objective.

''Morale is high and we are keeping to schedule'' the only Cypriot woman biker taking part in the Berlin-Kyrenia ride, Rebekah Gregoriades, told CNA today from Gyor.

Petros Michaelides, Cyprus ambassador in Vienna, met with the Cypriot bikers and also wished them good luck in their trip.

While in Vienna, the bikers handed a resolution to the UN offices there demanding an ''immediate end'' to the division of Cyprus, the respect of human rights and fundamental freedoms and the implementation of UN resolutions on Cyprus.

''Reunification of Cyprus and adoption of European principles and ideals constitute the best guarantee for a peaceful and free Cyprus for all Cypriots,'' the resolution, representing members of the Federation of European Motorcyclists, said.

CNA RG/MM/KN/1996

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1545:CYPPRESS:02

[02] Hopes for detailed discussions by 1998

In a telephone interview, the Labour MP said high ranking British diplomats here have suggested to him, at a meeting earlier this week, that they hoped ''we will be in very detailed discussions on a whole range of things by 1998.''

The same diplomats, Cox told CNA today, said that by that time ''agendas would have been developed and approved by both sides so that when they meet they would have an agreed agenda to discuss.''

Cox has also said he and other British MPs would request the British government representative for Cyprus Sir David Hannay to ''visit Famagusta to see for himself the situation.''

''We will also ask Sir David at our forthcoming meeting with him, probably in September, to have a meeting with Famagusta Municipal Council and discuss with them the situation as he sees it,'' Cox said.

''It is only by people making visits and seeing with their own eyes that they fully understand the tragedy,'' he pointed out.

Cox has also stressed the need to tell Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash that his recent demands for equal rights in any form of government and his threats on Cyprus' prospects for membership of the European Union are ''totally outrageous and unacceptable.''

''It is essential that major leaders such as US President Bill Clinton, our PM John Major, and the UN Secretary General Boutros Boutros-Ghali make it very clear to Denktash that the demands he is now seeking (discussion on sovereignty, equal rights in any form of government, threats on EU entry) are totally outrageous and unacceptable,'' he said.

Cox maintains that Denktash must also be told that if he is genuine in his desire to settle the Cyprus question, he should sit down and ''discuss realistically with President Glafcos Clerides the basis of a settlement.''

Referring to his meeting on Saturday with President Clerides, he said the President had asked him ''to pursue and promote the proposal for the demilitarisation of Cyprus.''

CNA MM/KN/1996

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1710:CYPPRESS:04

[03] Bikers set off from Hungary

Nicosia, Aug 4 (CNA) -- Motorcyclists from Cyprus and Europe, taking part in an anti-occupation ride from Berlin to Kyrenia, in Turkish occupied Cyprus, have arrived in Budapest, Hungary.

After a brief respite in the Hungarian capital, the 120 bikers will move on to Szeged, on the Hungarian-Serbian border before setting off on the way to Belgrade Monday morning.

CNA MM/1996

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

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