Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 96-08-30

Cyprus News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

From: "HR-Net News Distribution Manager" <dist@hri.org>

CONTENTS

[01] Australian leader urges US to take initiative on Cyprus

[02] Evidence of Denktash's presence at Dherynia atrocities

[03] Clerides receives parliamentarians of Greek origin

[04] Protest against Denktash's presence in Dherynia atrocities

[05] Cyprus Stock Exchange

[06] Government representations against Turkish atrocities

1000:CYPPRESS:01

[01] Australian leader urges US to take initiative on Cyprus

The Labour Party Leader's position is included in a submission to all 100 US Senators, sent also to US Secretary of State Warren Christopher, the Presidential Emissary for Cyprus Richard Beattie, and to the Democrat Congressional Leader Richard Gephart.

Rann, who is visiting Washington, said the US nervousness about a ''castward lurch'' by Turkey must not lead to a weakening of the United State's position on Cyprus or on human rights abuses by Turkey.

''When I visited Cyprus last year all the political leaders I met were united in agreeing that the United States could play a critical role in breaking the deadlock and proceeding to the unification of the island,'' Rann said.

He indicated that the US should now play a major and proactive role both in the United Nations, and as a direct mediator.

Following the killing of Greek Cypriot demonstrators by Turkish troops in Cyprus earlier this month it is now timely for the United States to take a tougher line with Turkey, he said.

The Australian politician said the most recent atrocities, involving a brutal and senseless over-reaction to the demonstrators in the UN buffer zone, were televised around the world and have seriously weakened Turkey's credibility. It is now time to act with resolve, Rann emphasised.

Rann called on the United States to start efforts on Cyprus before the November elections.

''A United States election approaches. 1996 was designated by the United States as the 'Year of Cyprus'. The Clinton Administration could demonstrate its sincerity by moving to convene direct talks between the different sides in the Cyprus dispute before the November elections,'' he said.

The Australian leader said ''Like the Berlin Wall, the barbed wire and concrete that divides Cyprus is a scar of shame. The US, with the support of allies including Australia, must now take the lead in securing the future for a free united Cyprus.''

Turkish troops have been occupying 37 per cent of Cyprus territory since 1974, in violation of repeated UN resolutions calling for their withdrawal.

CNA DA/GP/1996

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1140:CYPPRESS:02

[02] Evidence of Denktash's presence at Dherynia atrocities

Foreign Minister Alecos Michaelides was due to meet later today the Ambassadors of the five Permanent Members of the UN Security Council, and UN Resident Representative Gustave Feissel.

Michaelides is expected to present files with pictures, statements and other information on the issue, revealing that Ankara and Denktash have been directly involved in the atrocities.

The government campaign to denounce Turkish actions will also be directed at the European Union (EU) and the Council of Europe, where Cyprus is expected to lodge a formal recourse.

In footages from both sides of the divide, shown last night from local TV stations, Denktash appears to be present during the Turkish atrocities in the Dherynia buffer zone. He is shown taking pictures of the incidents or watching them through binoculars, from the balcony of a nearby house in the occupied area.

Government Spokesman Yiannakis Cassoulides said yesterday there was now indisputable evidence of Denktash's presence when the Turkish barbarity was taking place.

Greek Cypriot press publishes today pictures reproduced from the Turkish Cypriot newspapers in which Denktash is caught in his beloved hobby, taking photographs of the incidents.

Denktash yesterday critisised Turkish newspapers for publishing news about the arrival in the Turkish-occupied part of members of the ultranationalist ''Grey Wolves'' organisation from Turkey.

Although, he also admitted that some 150 - and not 3000 as it was reported - ''Grey Wolves'' went there from Turkey, he said the Turkish press gave the opportunity to the Greek Cypriots to ''make capital out of these reports'' and try to put people in the dock for the two killings.

At the same time, Denktash admitted that the Turkish extremists' visit to the occupied north was funded by Ankara, at the suggestion of Foreign Minister Tansu Ciller.

The Cyprus government has now evidence clearly showing that some of the Turks who brutally beat to death Tasos Isaac, on August 11, were members of the Islamic group ''Grey Wolves''.

There is also evidence that one of four Turks who fired at Solomos Solomou, killing him as he climbed the Turkish flagpole on August 14, was a Turkish Cypriot officer of the so-called special forces, called ''Cevik'', while the gunman in civilian clothes who fired first from a nearby balcony was a member of the Turkish intelligence service, MIT.

Minister Michaelides said Cyprus would seek to establish that Turkey was ''exporting terrorism'' to the island.

When the investigation is completed, warrants will be issued for the arrest of the killers, while in the case of those remaining unidentified, notices will be published in the international media offering a reward for information leading to their arrest and prosecution.

Evidence, in the form of pictures and tapes showing that Denktash was present at the scene, will form part of the file on ''Turkish atrocities in Dherynia'' and will be handled appropriately, the Government Spokesman said.

He dismissed suggestions that Denktash should be declared a war criminal or that he should be shunned as a negotiator. ''This is another issue'', he explained.

CNA AP/GP/1996

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1430:CYPPRESS:03

[03] Clerides receives parliamentarians of Greek origin

Deputy leader of the opposition in the Victoria legislative council, in Australia, Demetris Dollis described the meeting of the eleven-member delegation with President Clerides as ''constructive.''

He reaffirmed Australia's support to the struggle of the Cyprus people for a just solution, and the ''very serious role'' that can play, especially now that this country tries to become a member of the UN Security Council.

Dollis said ''all political parties in the Australian Parliament have repeatedly expressed their support to the struggle of Cyprus and have identified their stance with that of the Cyprus government.''

Dollis expressed the belief that the message given to the international community by the two young Greek Cypriot protestors, brutally killed by Turkish troops and extremists earlier this month during the Dherynia peaceful anti-occupation demonstrations, ''will be heard so that the just solution Hellenism worldwide seeks for many years can be reached.''

The eleven-member delegation comprising Australian state and federal parliamentarians arrived yesterday for a three-day visit, at the invitation of the Cyprus House of Representatives.

The delegation is made up of Theo Theophanous, Demetris Dollis, Alex Andrianopoulos, John Pantazopoulos, James Samios, Jim Fouras, Nick Dontas, Peter Morris, Alan Morris, Paul Zammit and Michael Photios.

The Greek origin Australian parliamentarians handed President Clerides two signed posters to show the support of Australia's Cypriot and Greek communities to the just cause of the Cyprus people.

President Clerides received another parliamentarian of Greek origin, Takis Christodoulou, of South Africa's National Party at Gauteng district, who arrived on Tuesday for a seven-day visit.

Christodoulou said after the meeting that he had talks with President Clerides about ''matters related to the Greek Cypriot community within South Africa'' and ways to build up closer ties and communication with the Cyprus government.

Asked about the Dherynia incidents, Christodoulou expressed his community's concern over the political problem and said ''our support lies with the Greek Cypriots in Cyprus.''

''I think that within South Africa the Greek community has a very strong political lobby and we can pressure on the South African government to support the Greek Cypriots' cause'', he added. Christodoulou had also a meeting with Foreign Minister Alecos Michaelides.

CNA AP/GP/1996

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1530:CYPPRESS:04

[04] Protest against Denktash's presence in Dherynia atrocities

Speaking to the press Government Spokesman Yiannakis Cassoulides said that the government has acquired the films showing Denktash at Dherynia from Greek television networks.

He did however note that the government cannot proceed with taking any other measures until its is determined whether Denktash was coordinating events or was ''simply taking pictures''.

Cassoulides also said that the government wishes for the continuation of international efforts for a solution to the Cyprus problem.

''We are not the side that tries to prove that Greek and Turkish Cypriots cannot live together'', Cassoulides said stressing that ''we are the side that wishes to encourage all those interested in a solution to the Cyprus problem to continue with their efforts.''

Pictures, reproduced by the Turkish Cypriot press, showing Denktash taking photographs of events at Dherynia have been published by the Greek Cypriot press.

As Cassoulides told the press yesterday, evidence in the form of pictures and tapes showing Denktash present at the scene, will form part of the file on ''Turkish atrocities in Dherynia''.

CNA MCH/KN/1996

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1710:CYPPRESS:05

[05] Cyprus Stock Exchange

CSE All Share Index                    87.87 (+0.25)
Sectural Indices
Banks                                  93.49 (+0.12)
Approved Investment Companies          79.94 (-0.15)
Insurance Companies                    66.76 (+0.53)
Industrial Companies                   87.98 (-0.58)
Tourist Industries                     82.31 (+2.43)
Commercial Companies                   75.06 (+1.15)
Other Companies                        89.28 [0]
Trading Volume                         CYP 603072.173

* The difference in brackets represents the percentage increase (+) or decrease (-) of the index from the previous stock exchange meeting.

CNA MCH/1996

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

2050:CYPPRESS:06

[06] Government representations against Turkish atrocities

Speaking after a meeting, this evening, with representatives of the UN Security Council in Cyprus and the UN Chief's Resident Representative, Gustave Feissel, Foreign Minister Alecos Michaelides said, two documents have been prepared concerning Dherynia events and the presence of thousands of members of the ultra nationalist Islamic group ''Grey Wolves'', financed by the Turkish government.

The first document, Michaelides said is an evaluation of events at Dherynia and includes statements made in their aftermath as well as Turkish and Turkish Cypriot press reports and statements made by Turkish officials and the Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash.

''The events were not a reaction of the Turkish Cypriot side to the demonstration but an organised attack with political implications'', Michaelides said, adding that this is not a ''Greek Cypriot claim but a conclusion reached by foreign reports as well as the Turkish Cypriot press.''

Michaelides also noted that, by claiming the right to shoot at anyone who enters the UN controlled buffer zone, Denktash questions its status.

There are no ''borders'' between the free and occupied areas as Denktash claims, he added and stressed that the UN only recognises a cease-fire line.

''Denktash wants to send the message that Greek and Turkish Cypriots cannot live together, that Turkish occupation troops are necessary for the safety of Turkish Cypriots and that there can be no solution to the Cyprus problem based on a federation'', Michaelides said.

Noting that Denktash's position is contrary to high level agreements between the Greek and Turkish Cypriot sides and to UN resolutions on Cyprus, Michaelides wondered why Denktash keeps calling President Glafcos Clerides to negotiations.

The Foreign Minister also said that Denktash wants to send the European Union the message that it should have second thoughts about Cyprus' accession to the Union.

''This is why we believe recent events stress even more the need for a solution to the protracted Cyprus problem'', he added.

Michaelides also made special reference to the recent assassination in the occupied part of Nicosia of Turkish Cypriot journalist Kutlu Adali, a fervent a critic of Denktash. He noted the fact that the matter has yet not been investigated.

''Adali's crime was that he wrote what he believed, and he believed that there should be a solution to the Cyprus problem allowing for co-existance of Greek and Turkish Cypriots, and he opposed the influx of Turkish settlers in the occupied areas'', the Foreign Minister noted.

''Terrorism should always be denounced confronted decisively'', he added.

Finally Michaelides called upon all those who are interested in assisting towards a solution of the Cyprus problem to intensify their efforts.

The Cyprus government expects the UN Security Council to face its responsibilities in the case of Cyprus as described in the positions it has adopted in its resolutions.

CNA MCH/KN/1996

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

Cyprus News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article