Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 96-09-09

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

CONTENTS

[01] Government: No Greek Cypriot is involved in killing

[02] Cyprus Stock Exchange

[03] Parties appeal for calm and restraint

[04] Britain stresses need for Cyprus settlement

[05] NAM reiterates support on Cyprus

[06] Australian politician calls for UNFICYP strengthening

1740:CYPPRESS:01

[01] Government: No Greek Cypriot is involved in killing

Speaking at his daily press briefing, Government Spokesman Yiannakis Cassoulides said thorough investigations by the National Guard and the Cyprus Police had proved that neither the National Guard nor any Greek Cypriot citizen had in any way been involved in yesterday's shooting that left one Turkish soldier dead and another wounded.

At the same time, the Spokesman said the Cypriot authorities were still waiting for the outcome of the investigations being carried out by the authorities of the British bases.

The British bases said yesterday that the shooting took place north of the Turkish forces cease-fire line. Cartridge cases were found on the stairs of the Turkish observation post.

Although the Turks had said the one Turkish soldier had received ten bullets and the second one twelve bullets, only a couple of blood stains were found in the area.

After the incident both the Cypriot and the Greek government referred to a ''pre-planned provocative act'' instigated by the Turks to mislead world public opinion, following the brutal murders of two Greek Cypriot youths during peaceful anti-occupation demonstrations, last month, in the UN-controlled buffer zone, in Dherynia.

Since the territory opposite the Turkish positions belongs to the British sovereign bases, the nearest National Guard post is 700 metre away.

''We should not be led away from the goal of a political solution of the Cyprus problem'' by last month's tragic incidents in Dherynia and yesterday's incident, Cassoulides said.

The Spokesman expressed regret that Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash was quick to accuse the Greek Cypriot side for the incident, before even investigating it.

Asked whether the Cyprus government considers necessary a meeting between President Glafcos Clerides and Denktash, in order to defuse tension, Cassoulides said ''a meeting is imperative to be held, but to discuss the substance of the Cyprus problem.

''If the political will exists, there is no reason to delay such a meeting'', he pointed out and expressing the view that a meeting on the substance of the issue would contribute to the reduction of tension.

The Government Spokesman said the best way to reduce current tension is to properly prepare the ground for a dialogue that would lead to the settlement of the protracted Cyprus problem.

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

Cyprus President Glafcos Clerides and Rauf Denktash held their last meeting in October 1994 but since then there is an impasse.

Commenting on Denktash's alleged desire that he wants a solution to the Cyprus problem, Cassoulides pointed out ''the policies of all those who are sincerely interested in a Cyprus solution should be aiming at this direction.''

Asked to comment on yesterday's statements by Greek Prime Minister Costas Simitis and Greek Defence Minister Gerasimos Arsenis, who described the incident as a provocative act, aimed to draw Greece into a dialogue with Turkey and whether this dialogue would include Cyprus, Cassoulides said ''Turkish actions raise questions and concerns.''

The Government Spokesman assured that Greece and Cyprus were coordinating action.

CNA AP/GP/1996

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1760:CYPPRESS:02

[02] Cyprus Stock Exchange

CSE All Share Index                    86.60 (-1.59)
Sectural Indices
Banks                                  93.06 (-1.80)
Approved Investment Companies          78.83 (-0.81)
Insurance Companies                    65.51 (-2.31)
Industrial Companies                   86.05 (-0.92)
Tourist Industries                     78.93 (-0.73)
Commercial Companies                   71.99 (-1.99)
Other Companies                        86.08 (-0.65)
Trading Volume                         CYP 788899.630

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

CNA GP/1996

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1920:CYPPRESS:03

[03] Parties appeal for calm and restraint

Ruling rightwing Democratic Rally party Acting President Nicos Anastasiades said initial indications have confirmed information about the Turkish provocative actions.

He said Cyprus' security forces informed last week the National Council, the top advisory body to the President on the handling of Cyprus problem, that following last month's brutal murders of two Greek Cypriot young demonstrators by Turkish troops and extremists in the UN buffer zone, in Dherynia, Turkish provocative actions were expected.

Anastasiades said ''those who provoke and cause tension between the two communities never wished for a peaceful solution and Cyprus' reunification based on UN resolutions.''

He appealed for ''vigilance, calm and restraint so as to prevent similar incidents from our side and avoid being dragged into a dialogue''.

Opposition leftwing AKEL party Parliamentary Spokesman Andreas Christou said evidence collected by the Cyprus Police show that the incident was caused by the Turkish occupation forces.

Christou recalled similar acts by Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash in the past once he wanted to prepare the ground for his secessionist actions.

The AKEL MP appealed for calm and trust to the political parties.

Government partner centre-right Democratic Party leader and former Cyprus President Spyros Kyprianou said the Turkish side often causes incidents and provocative acts.

He added the Turkish side's target is evident and aims at showing that Greek and Turkish Cypriots can not coexist again and maintain the division line across the island and colonist settlers.

EDEK socialist party President Vassos Lyssarides noted that the Greek Cypriot side had received information on Turkish Intelligence Services (MIT) acts so as to relieve pressure imposed by the Turkish atrocities in Dherynia.

Lyssarides said yesterday's incident was exactly what Turkey needed to turn international attention elsewhere and mislead world public opinion about Turkey's responsibility.

President of Free Democrats (KED) and ex Cyprus President George Vassiliou noted ''certainly we are in a difficult position as yesterday's incident increases tension.''

He appealed for calm and restraint and stressed the need for government initiatives to defuse tension.

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

CNA AP/GP/1996

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1945:CYPPRESS:04

[04] Britain stresses need for Cyprus settlement

The British position was expressed by a Foreign Office Spokesman today after yesterday's shooting incident in the Turkish-occupied part of Cyprus, near the demarcation line, that left one Turkish soldier dead and a second wounded.

The FO Spokesman said ''we strongly condemn the killing of the Turkish Cypriot soldier and the wounding of the second. We also condemn the planting of the explosive device''.

He said ''once again we call both communities to refrain from violence and exercise restraint on the public statement''.

The FO Spokesman said ''we remain concerned on the level of tension on the island. The latest shooting emphasised how fragile is the status quo and the urgent need to find a settlement''.

The FO press release followed a statement earlier today by Turkish Foreign Minister Tansu Ciller, who attacked the Cyprus government, claiming that National Guard soldiers killed the Turkish soldier and wounded the other.

Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash described the killing a ''cold-blooded murder''. Ciller is expected to attend tomorrow the funeral of the soldier in the Turkish-occupied northern part of the island.

The Cypriot and Greek government have turned down the Turkish allegations and fired back that the incident was a ''pre-planned provocative act'' instigated by the Turks to mislead world public opinion, following the brutal murders of two unarmed Greek Cypriot youths during peaceful anti-occupation demonstrations, in the UN-controlled buffer zone, in Dherynia, last month.

Cyprus Government Spokesman Yiannakis Cassoulides repeated today that no Greek Cypriot was involved in the killing, which took place close to the British sovereign base area of Ayios Nicolaos.

He said thorough investigations by the National Guard and the Cyprus Police had proved that neither the National Guard nor any Greek Cypriot citizen had in any way been involved the shooting.

Turkish troops have been occupied 37 per cent of this east Mediterranean island republic since 1974, in violation of numerous United Nations resolutions calling for their withdrawal.

CNA DP/EC/GP/1996

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

2030:CYPPRESS:05

[05] NAM reiterates support on Cyprus

In a declaration issued by the fifth Conference of NAM Information Ministers, which ended in Abuja, Nigeria, the Non-aligned countries called once again for the withdrawal of foreign troops and settlers from Cyprus.

The NAM declaration reaffirmed its support and solidarity with the government and people of Cyprus and fully backed the sovereignty, territorial integrity and unity of the island.

The Head of the Cyprus delegation at the NAM Conference, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Interior, George Charalambides, was elected as one of the Conference's vice-presidents.

Addressing the Conference, Charalambides expressed Cyprus' support in the Movement's efforts for global media equality and thanked NAM countries for their support towards a just and viable solution of the Cyprus problem.

The NAM Information Ministers Conference was attended by some 50 member-state delegations.

They reviewed the international situation on mass media, the development of a new world information and communication order, the use of new technology in NAM countries and cooperation between news egencies and broadcasting services as well as the establishment of international information centres.

They proposed concrete measures to achieve NAM's main goal, which is the elimination of global imbalance in the field of communication.

CNA AP/GP/1996

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

2040:CYPPRESS:07

[06] Australian politician calls for UNFICYP strengthening

Speaking in Salonica, Greece, Rann said the force ''should be strengthened and better resourced... before the next major round of difficult talks begins on breaking the impasse on the 22-year-old Cyprus dispute... and the demilitarisation process starts''.

He said in the 1970's, UNFICYP numbered 7.400 but now there are just 1.200 troops policing a long and troublesome buffer zone.

Rann, a leading Australian campaigner on behalf of Cyprus, noted that the soldiers and police, including a contingent of Australian police, are seriously under resourced, lightly armed with personal weapons and carry only a small amount of ammunition and not armed for riot control.

He said the UN troops ''deserve the highest commendation for their work but they are indeed a ''thin blue line'' separating two strong and well armed forces along a 112 mile 'no go' zone''.

The Australian politician said ''progress on the Cyprus problem can only begin if local security can be guaranteed''.

Last month, during a visit to Washington, Rann called on the US to convene talks with Turkish leaders on the Cyprus problem before November's presidential elections there.

He had also said the US nervousness about a ''castward lurch'' by Turkey must not lead to a weakening of the US position on Cyprus or on human rights abuses by Turkey''.

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

CNA EC/GP/1996

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

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