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Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 96-08-14Cyprus News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: "HR-Net News Distribution Manager" <dist@hri.org>CONTENTS
0815:CYPPRESS:01[01] UN Security Council condemns killing of Cypriot civilianUnited Nations, Aug 14 (CNA) -- The United Nations Security Council has condemned the killing of an unarmed Greek Cypriot civilian by Turkish extremists last Sunday, during a peaceful anti-occupation demonstration.At the same time, the Security Council ''deplored the clashes that took place in the buffer zone.'' So declared Tono Eitel, the German Permanent Representative and current Security Council President, following a briefing on the tragic events by a senior advisor to UN Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali, Under Secretary Chinmaya Gharekhan. Eitel said the Council ''called on both sides to renounce violence'' and ''stressed that both sides bear responsibility for the events leading to these clashes.'' The Germany ambassador noted that ''the events of last weekend underline the need for a political, peaceful and durable solution of the Cyprus problem.'' Meanwhile, UN spokesperson Sylvana Foa said she had been told by Gustave Feissel, the UN Resident Representative in Cyprus, that ''they were finalizing their report on what happened'' and that it was expected in a day or two. Foa's noon briefing to UN correspondents was perhaps more significant for what is omitted than for what was ostensibly said. She concentrated on the predicaments faced by the UN peacekeepers in trying to cope with a situation out of control and described the demonstrators as ''hundreds of young, unruly and very, very tough bikers.'' No mention was made of Turkish or Turkish Cypriot demonstrators or their part in the day's tragic turn of events. No was there any reference to charges made by the Cyprus government that members of the terrorist group ''Grey Wolves'' had come from Turkey, turning what was essentially a protest demonstration into a violent confrontation. Cyprus Foreign Minister Alecos Michaelides revealed at a press conference yesterday in Nicosia that intelligence reports had clear evidence that Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash brought into the Turkish-occupied northern part of Cyprus more than 3.000 members of the ''Grey Wolves'' terrorist group, who came to the occupied areas a few days before Sunday's demonstration. The Turkish Cypriot press produced a picture yesterday showing Denktash welcoming a group of those extremists, who said Denktash was one of them. The members of this group were seen on television holding their red and three wolves flags attacking unarmed Greek Cypriot civilians in the UN-controlled buffer zone, at Dherynia, brutally killing one of them and injuring more than 40 others. The ''Grey Wolves'' were recently implicated in the assassination on July 6 of the prominent Turkish Cypriot journalist Kutlu Adali. Adali was openly critical of the Denktash regime, deplored the influx of settlers, lamented the alienation of Greek and Turkish Cypriots and their shared common values. Turkish troops have been occupying 37 per cent of this east Mediterranean island since 1974, in violation of repeated UN resolutions calling for their withdrawal. CNA JD/GP/1996ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY1115:CYPPRESS:02[02] Thousands attend Isaac's funeralParalimni, Aug 14 (CNA) -- Thousands of people have gathered in this southeastern village to attend the funeral of Tasos Isaac, the 24-year-old Greek Cypriot demonstrator, who was brutally killed by Turkish extremists during a peaceful anti-occupation rally last Sunday.Cyprus President Glafcos Clerides, cabinet members and the island's political party leaders, are attending the funeral. Representatives of the Greek government and political parties are also present. The Primate of the Greek Orthodox Church of Cyprus, Archbishop Chrysostomos, is officiating the service at St George Church in Paralimni. Cyprus police have taken strict security measures in the area and especially in Dherynia area, where Isaac was murdered by Turkish extremists and so-called policemen of the Turkish occupation regime. The brutal killing was shown live on the Cyprus television. Isaac was one of hundreds of Greek Cypriots, who took part in a peaceful demonstration protesting against the continuing occupation of Cyprus northern third by Turkish troops, in violation of repeated UN resolutions calling for their withdrawal. Cyprus police units have taken positions in the area controlled by the Cyprus government, near the buffer zone, while UN peacekeepers were deployed in the no man's land to prevent entry into the buffer zone. The occupation regime has also mobilised military units in the northern area controlled by Turkish troops. CNA GP/1996ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY1210:CYPPRESS:03[03] Anti-occupation rally in LondonLondon, Aug 14 (CNA) -- Chanting ''Turkish troops out of Cyprus'', ''Justice for Cyprus'' and ''Murderers'' around two thousand Greek and Greek Cypriots demonstrated outside the Turkish Embassy in London last night to protest the savage killing of a Greek Cypriot by Turks during a peaceful demonstration in the buffer zone on Sunday.In what was described as one of the biggest demonstrations of overseas Greek Cypriots in Britain, adults and Cypriot children born in the UK, expressed their indignation over the brutal killing of Tasos Isaac. The 24-year-old Greek Cypriot was savagely beaten to death in the UN-controlled buffer zone by Turkish extremists, who confronted Greek Cypriot demonstrators on Sunday near Dherynia village, at the eastern end of the buffer zone. Heading a delegation, the President of the Cypriot National Federation of Great Britain, George Christofides, visited the Prime Minister's office at 10 Downing Street, where they handed a letter addressed to John Major. In the letter, the Greek Cypriots stress that the ''British government, as a guarantor power of Cyprus, should take the appropriate steps to bring Turkey to justice and make her answer for the murder''. A similar letter was handed to the Turkish Embassy calling for the immediate arrest and trial of the murderers. CNA KT/EC/GP/1996ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY1330 :CYPPRESS:04[04] Representations against Grey Wolves' arrivalNicosia, Aug 14 (CNA) -- Cyprus was making representations to the United Nations and foreign governments about the arrival in the Turkish-occupied part of Cyprus of more than 3.000 members of the ''Grey Wolves'' terrorist group from Turkey prior to an anti-occupation demonstration last Sunday.Members of this organisation were seen in the UN-controlled buffer zone, at Dherynia, holding their red flags with the three wolves, attacking unarmed Greek Cypriot demonstrators. The Cyprus television showed live the savage killing of 24-year-old Tasos Isaac, who was beaten to death in the no man's land by Turkish extremists and so-called policemen of the Turkish occupation regime. The funeral of the young demonstrator took place today at his home-town, Paralimni. President Glafcos Clerides, the political leadership and thousands of people attended the funeral at St George Church at Paralimni. Foreign Minister Alecos Michaelides has revealed that intelligence reports had clear evidence that Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash brought into occupied Cyprus more than 3.000 members of the ''Grey Wolves'', who landed in the Turkish-occupied port of Kyrenia a few days before Sunday's rally. During a press conference yesterday, Michaelides showed front-page reports in the Turkish Cypriot press showing Denktash receiving a group of those extremists. ''Denktash brought to Cyprus over 3.000 Grey Wolves terrorists especially for the demonstration. This is not our statement but in the Turkish Cypriot press'', the Minister said. Michaelides noted that it is the duty of the United Nations and the countries which are interested in finding a solution to the Cyprus problem to take a stand on the Grey Wolves' activities. In a statement to the Cypriot english-language daily ''Cyprus Mail'', Denktash admitted that some Grey Wolves had come to the island. The Turkish Cypriot daily ''Yeni Duzen'' reported yesterday under the banner headline ''Grey Wolf Denktash'' that a group of 150 extremists, who had arrived in occupied Cyprus from various parts of Turkey, visited Denktash in the occupied part of Nicosia. In front of Denktash's office, the paper added, the group started shouting racist and fascist slogans ''Grey Wolf Denktash'', ''Hands extended on Turks will be broken'', ''Cyprus is Turkish and will remain Turkish''. ''Yeni Duzen'' said this group had arrived in the occupied area using as a pretext the Greek Cypriot anti-occupation protest, adding that this group stirred up trouble and caused the escalation of the incidents. The Turkish Cypriot daily said Denktash received the extremists, who branded him ''Grey Wolf'' and shouted the above mentioned slogans. Denktash thanked them for their coming from Turkey and for extending their support. The Greek Cypriot press reproduced today the picture reported yesterday in the Turkish Cypriot press, showing Denktash receiving the Turkish extremists. The ''Grey Wolves'' had been accused of assassinating on July 6 the prominent Turkish Cypriot journalist-columnist Kutlu Adali, because of his criticism against the Denktash regime and Turkey's policy on Cyprus. Cyprus has been divided since 1974 when Turkish troops invaded and occupied 37 per cent of its territory. CNA GP/1996ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY1345:CYPPRESS:05[05] Buffer zone killing strengthens will for freedomParalimni, Aug 14 (CNA) -- As a brutally murdered Greek Cypriot was laid to rest, ordinary people and its leadership reiterate once more their staunch determination to continue their struggle for freedom and justice in Cyprus.''Your heroic death has already become a source of inspiration and a call for struggle to bring justice and freedom throughout this island,'' the Primate of the Church of Cyprus, Archbishop Chrysostomos, said as he bid farewell to the man whose death has come to symbolise Turkish barbarity in its most horrific face. Tasos Isaac, 24, was brutally murdered by Turkish extremists during a peaceful anti-occupation demonstration, on Sunday, in the UN-controlled buffer zone at Dherynia. The Archbishop said Isaac ''honoured his country and his family and gave an example to us all and to future generations, teaching us that freedom demands courage.'' ''Your sacrifice has brought us before our own responsibilities to demand freedom and justice to vindicate your untimely loss,'' the Mayor of this southeastern town, Nikos Vlittis, said in his obituary for Tasos Isaac, savagely beaten to death by Turks. Vlittis noted that Isaac died ''alone and helpless as a result of the barbarity of the Turkish occupation troops, which powerful nations maintain.'' ''Yesterday you were an ordinary young man. Today you have become a symbol for freedom,'' Vlittis said and vouched that all Cypriots should remember Isaac who represents the fighting spirit of the people of Cyprus, struggle to rid their country of the illegal Turkish occupation. ''The place of your death, a shrine to your courage, will always remind us of your sacrifice to freedom,'' he added. At the 40-minute funeral service, state and church, in Cyprus and Greece laid wreaths to honour Isaac's sacrifice. Thousands of people, including motorcyclists who took part in Sunday's protest ride, also laid wreaths in his memory. President Glafcos Clerides, Archbishop Chrysostomos, the charge d'affaires of the Greek embassy here, and party leaders, among others, stood silent in front of the coffin as they laid a wreath. Wreaths were laid by representatives of the Cyprus Motorcycle Federation, Mayors from Cyprus and Greece, the Kurdish Liberation Front, Greece's Defence Minister, the Commander of the National Guard and thousands of people attending Isaac's funeral. CNA MM/GP/1996ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY1420:CYPPRESS:06[06] Buffer zone unrestDherynia, Aug 14 (CNA) -- More than one hundred Greek Cypriots have entered the UN-controlled buffer zone here, having broken a police cordon and walked into the narrow strip of land separating the Greek Cypriots from the Turkish-occupied part of Cyprus.The Greek Cypriots, who had just attended the funeral of their compatriot who was brutally murdered on Sunday by the Turks, moved into the buffer zone with feelings of indignation and anger over Sunday's events. UN peace-keepers are lined up forming a cordon, in an attempt to seal access into the Turkish-occupied part of Cyprus. CNA MM/GP/1996ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY1430:CYPPRESS:07[07] Shots fired in buffer zoneDherynia, Aug 14 (CNA) -- Two people are reported to have been injured when shots were fired by Turkish troops in the UN-controlled buffer zone, near this eastern village.One of the injured is a Greek Cypriot and one is a UN peace-keeper. The automatic gunfire was heard when a Greek Cypriot tried to lower the flag of the self-styled Turkish Cypriot pseudostate from its pole. CNA MM/GP/1996ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY1525:CYPPRESS:08[08] Turks kill Greek Cypriot in buffer zoneDherynia, Aug 14 (CNA) -- Turkish troops have shot and killed a Greek Cypriot demonstrator when he tried to lower the flag of the illegal Turkish Cypriot regime, police confirmed.The man, whose name has not been released, is said to have died from serious injuries in the neck. Turkish troops fired indiscriminately at demonstrators and wounded fatally the Greek Cypriot. A woman demonstrator was also seriously wounded from shots and was taken to Larnaca hospital for treatment. The dead man was among a couple of hundred of Greek Cypriots who entered the buffer zone to protest the continuing Turkish occupation of part of Cyprus. Today's incident comes only three days after the Turks had beaten to death a Greek Cypriot demonstrator, 24-year-old Tasos Isaac, who was taking part in a peaceful rally against Turkish occupation. CNA MM/GP/1996ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCYCyprus News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |