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Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 96-09-06Cyprus News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: "HR-Net News Distribution Manager" <dist@hri.org>CONTENTS
1000:CYPPRESS:01[01] Congressmen urge Clinton to take action against murdersWashington, Sep 6 (CNA) -- Thirty members of the US House of Representatives have urged US President Bill Clinton to take action about the brutal murders of two unarmed Greek Cypriot youths by Turkish troops and extremists, during peaceful anti-occupation demonstrations in the UN-controlled buffer zone, in Dherynia, last month.They urged President Clinton to insist that those responsible for the murders be brought to justice, in accordance with international law. According to Congressional sources the Representatives sent a letter yesterday to President Clinton, suggesting that the Turkish atrocities should not go unchallenged. ''The recent barbaric acts of Turkish troops in Cyprus, which resulted in the deaths of two unarmed civilians, cannot go unchallenged,'' they said in their letter. The House members criticized Turkey's Foreign Minister Tansu Ciller for her actions and comments regarding the murders. ''Moreover, the comments of Foreign Minister Ciller defending the murders and proclaiming the northern part of the Republic of Cyprus, which Turkey has illegally occupied since 1974, as Turkish territory are unacceptable.'' The US Congressmen recalled a statement by State Department Spokesman Nicholas Burns that the United States should ''demand that the criminals responsible for the murders of August 11 and 14 be brought to justice in accordance with international law''. They said ''while we understand that Turkey has been a US ally, the United States cannot blindly look the other way as Turkey acts with impunity by violating US law, killing citizens of American allies and ignoring international norms.'' The members of the House asked for President Clinton to insist that the criminals be brought to justice. ''We also urge you to insist that those responsible for the recent murders of unarmed Greek Cypriots in the United Nations buffer zone be brought to justice, in accordance with international law.'' Turkish extremists savagely beat to death Tasos Isaac, 24, during an anti-occupation demonstration, on August 11. Three days later, Turkish troops shot dead Solomos Solomou, 26, during a peaceful protest. More than 50 other people, including two British UN peacekeepers, were injured by the Turks. Turkish troops have been occupying 37 per cent of Cyprus territory, in violation of repeated UN resolutions calling for their withdrawal. CNA DA/GP/1996ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY1210:CYPPRESS:02[02] Events for peace across barbed wireNicosia, Sep 6 (CNA) -- Greek and Turkish Cypriots will tonight demonstrate their desire for peace and re-unification of their island in two parallel, but separated by barbed wire, music and poetry evenings on either side of the Nicosia buffer zone.The initiative for a Peace Festival under the title ''Peace or War'' belongs to 48 Turkish Cypriot organisations in the Turkish-occupied northern part of the island, on the occasion of Peace Day, on September 1. Most of the events organised were dedicated to the memory of Turkish Cypriot journalist Kutlu Adali, a fervent critic of the occupation regime's policies of division and settlement, who was assassinated in occupied Nicosia in July. Responding to the Turkish Cypriot initiative, more than 20 Greek Cypriot organisations have come together to organise a music and poetry evening to take place tonight at Chrysaliniotissa gardens, in the government-controlled southern part of Nicosia, the world's last divided capital. The peace-events come almost a month after tragic events at Dherynia buffer zone when two unarmed Greek Cypriot demonstrators were brutally murdered by members of the Turkish occupation army and the Turkish Islamic ultra-nationalist group ''Grey Wolves''. In a joint declaration the 48 Turkish Cypriot organisations have expressed concern ''over the clouds of war gathering over Cyprus and the climate of enmity and division being cultivated.'' Wondering whether not enough blood has been shed and lives lost, the Turkish Cypriot organisations stress in their declaration the need to defend peace and brotherhood. On their part, the Greek Cypriot organisations have stressed that such messages as those expressed in the Turkish Cypriot declaration ''cross the barbed wire and the buffer zone and echo the feelings and concerns of every single Cypriot, who feels the need to fight against the cultivation of a climate of war, against chauvinism and efforts to keep the country and the people divided.'' Turkish troops have been occupying 37 per cent of Cyprus territory since 1974, in violation of repeated UN resolutions calling for their withdrawal. CNA MCH/GP/1996ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY1400:CYPPRESS:04[03] Overseas Cypriots call for implementation of UN resolutionsNicosia, Sep 6 (CNA) -- Overseas Cypriots, who ended their biennial meeting here, have called on UN Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali to ''ensure implementation of all UN resolutions on Cyprus'' to help bring about a settlement of the protracted Cyprus question.The meeting urged the five permanent members of the Security Council to intensify their efforts towards a solution in Cyprus. Members of the Executive Council of the World Federation of Overseas Cypriots (POMAK) and the International Coordinating Committee-Justice for Cyprus (PSEKA) have also reiterated their determination to continue working for a just and viable settlement in Cyprus. In separate resolutions, adopted at the end of their deliberations Thursday, the Councils express ''deep regret that no substantive efforts have been made by the UN for the implementation of its resolutions on Cyprus.'' Noting ''apathy'' on the part of many countries which can facilitate a settlement, they consider the continuing division and partial occupation of Cyprus as the primary cause of the death of two young Greek Cypriot demonstrators, killed by Turkish troops and extremists during last month's protests in the UN buffer zone. The resolution to the UN Chief deplores the continuing occupation of the island and the total disregard on the part of Turkey to respect for human rights. The two Councils assured President Glafcos Clerides of their support for his policy of closer cooperation with Greece, through a joint defence pact with the Greek government, and his efforts to find a just and lasting settlement in Cyprus. In a separate resolution to British Premier John Major, overseas Cypriots express appreciation for his efforts to find a Cyprus solution but also remark that he had not ''exerted substantial pressure on Turkey to comply with UN resolutions.'' To the Primate of the Church of Cyprus, Archbishop Chrysostomos, the Executive Councils stress that the church will continue to be the corner stone of the struggle for justice and freedom. In another message to Turkish Cypriots, POMAK and PSEKA Councils urge them to join ''a common struggle for a just and viable solution under a federal, independent, sovereign and territorially integral Cyprus which would safeguard the prosperity of all its lawful citizens.'' ''Through our bad and good experiences together, we have learned a lot. We can live together in peace and prosperity and secure a better future for our children within a united Europe,'' the message says. Overseas Cypriots addressed themselves to Greek Premier Costas Simitis, expressing their appreciation for the support he shows to the struggle of the people of Cyprus for freedom. They also applaud Greek support for the joint defence pact with Cyprus and common cultural programmes for closer cooperation between the two countries. CNA MM/GP/1996ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY1525 :CYPPRESS:04[04] Cyprus would welcome US initiative after Greek electionsNicosia, Sep 6 (CNA) -- Cyprus would welcome a US initiative to help break the current impasse in efforts to settle the protracted Cyprus question, but it would rather see it taking shape immediately after the elections in Greece.Government Spokesman Yiannakis Cassoulides told the press today ''the government hopes that US intentions to undertake an initiative on Cyprus are genuine and not an electoral ploy.'' ''We would welcome a US initiative as soon as possible but we would prefer to see this initiative launched immediately after the Greek elections, scheduled for 22 September,'' Cassoulides said. He said the government had sought the US initiative and added ''we have pointed out to the Americans that they must be decisive when undertaking an initiative because we believe there are risks if such a move fails.'' The Spokesman said yesterday's message by US presidential senior advisor George Stephanopoulos to a meeting of overseas Cypriots ''explains the delay in the launch of a US initiative.'' Stephanopoulos had said it would be ''difficult to expect something before the elections (in Greece and the US)'' and noted that ''he (Clinton) is determined to push forward after the election.'' ''We have no reason to believe that the need to settle the Cyprus problem is not in the priorities of US policy,'' Cassoulides said. He noted that various events have worked against an effective US initiative in the past year or so, such as the political instability and elections in Turkey, the resignation of US Assistant Secretary of State Richard Holbrooke, parliamentary elections in Cyprus and now Greek and US elections. CNA MM/EC/1996ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY1530:CYPPRESS:05[05] Iraqi crisis affects Cyprus, says governmentNicosia, Sep 6 (CNA) -- Government Spokesman Yiannakis Cassoulides believes that the current crisis in Iraq affects the Cyprus issue, in that the problem is linked to developments in the region.''The recent crisis in Iraq affects the situation in Cyprus, just as various other events do, as the Cyprus problem is linked to events in the region,'' Cassoulides told his daily press briefing. Asked to outline the government's position on the US raids against Iraq, Cassoulides replied ''our position has always been clear. We advocate respect for human rights and international law and we condemn acts of violence against civilians.'' Cyprus, he said, also backs respect of the sovereignty and borders of every state. CNA MM/EC/1996ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY1740:CYPPRESS:06[06] Cyprus Stock ExchangeNicosia, Sep 6 (CNA) -- The Cyprus Stock Exchange (CSE) All Share Index closed at today's stock exchange meeting as follows:
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