Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 96-09-14

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CONTENTS

[01] Cyprus reveals information about new Turkish provocative acts

[02] UN envoy welcomes Clerides' statement

[03] Serious dangers if Cyprus deadlock continues, says Clerides

1245:CYPPRESS:01

[01] Cyprus reveals information about new Turkish provocative acts

The island's Foreign Minister Alecos Michaelides summoned yesterday the ambassadors of the big ''5'' in Nicosia and informed them about those ''rumours'', as were described today by the Greek-language press.

According to the pro-government daily ''Alithia'', the five ambassadors told the Cypriot Minister that they had no such information.

Two leading newspapers, ''Philelephtheros'' and ''Simerini'', said Michaelides' move was part of the government's policy to prevent any ''heated incidents'' by the Turkish occupation troops.

The above two papers and a third local daily ''Agon'' reported that because of those information, President Clerides has cancelled his trip to Zimbabwe, where he would attend an international conference. Cyprus will be represented by its Foreign Minister.

According to the press, the government has information that the Turks had mobilised or would mobilise certain military units along the demarcation line and that this was part of Turkey's plans to maintain tension on the island.

UN Resident Representative Gustave Feissel, when asked today by reporters if the UN peace-keeping force in Cyprus (UNFICYP) has any information about any movements by the Turkish troops, he said ''we haven't seen anything like that''.

However, he said ''we have, of course, been on alert along the buffer zone and the two ceasefire lines'', adding ''we have not seen things going on.''

In statements today, Michaelides said the government was studying all information about movements by the Turkish occupation troops and the Turkish efforts to create tension. ''We follow developments closely,'' he said.

He said although the above information had not been confirmed, however the Cyprus government considered it necessary to make representations to the ambassadors of the permanent members of the Security Council.

Michaelides did not rule out that the Turks, by spreading those information, aimed to create a climate of tension, as part of efforts by Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash to give the impression that ''there is tension and lack of confidence between the two communities and, consequently, the two communities cannot co-exist within the framework of a peaceful solution to the Cyprus problem''.

Michaelides said the victims of Denktash's policy are not only the Greek Cypriots but also the Turkish Cypriots themselves, who emigrate in great numbers.

Thousands of native Turkish Cypriots have sought better life abroad, especially in Britain, Turkey and Australia, because of the unbearable conditions created in the Turkish-occupied part of Cyprus by Denktash's oppressive policy and the presence of 35.000 Turkish troops and some 80.000 colonist settlers brought it in from Turkey, as part of Ankara's designs to change the island's demographic character.

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

CNA GP/1996

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1420:CYPPRESS:03

[02] UN envoy welcomes Clerides' statement

Replying to questions, Feissel said ''I think it was a constructive statement. I think it sends a good message and I certainly hope that this kind of message is shared by everybody in both communities.''

Asked whether Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash would respond positively, Feissel replied ''we will have to wait and see, but I would expect that he would.''

In a written statement released yesterday, President Clerides reiterated his government's adherence to peaceful means in order to reach a Cyprus settlement.

President Clerides added ''we shall take all necessary measures to avert any further escalation of existing tension. This is why I appeal to Greek and Turkish Cypriots to do all they can to reduce tension for the sake of peace.''

Last month, Turkish troops and extremists brutally murdered two Greek Cypriot youths and injured more than 50 others, during peaceful anti-occupation demonstrations.

Earlier this month, a soldier of Kurdish origin of the Turkish occupation army was found dead and a second injured in their observation post on the demarcation line.

Commenting further on the Clerides statement, Feissel said ''obviously we must do everything we can to reduce those tensions and both leaders must send the right message which is one of reconciliation and the realisation that the only option is to find a peaceful settlement to the Cyprus problem along the lines of the high-level agreements and other documents and resolutions.''

The UN official stressed that ''it is important that both leaders make it very very clear that the only approach is the peaceful approach and also that these terrible incidents that we have seen in fact do not reflect the sentiments of the people of the two communities.''

Cyprus has been divided since 1974 when Turkish troops invaded and occupied 37 per cent of its territory, forcibly uprooting some 200.000 Greek Cypriots (one third of the island's population) from their homes.

CNA GP/1996

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1500:CYPPRESS:04

[03] Serious dangers if Cyprus deadlock continues, says Clerides

Addressing the opening of the 16th Meeting of the Standing Committee on European Affairs of the World Veterans' Federation, in Nicosia, President Clerides said this has become more clear by the recent tragic events in Cyprus, in which two young Greek Cypriots were murdered in cold blood in the most inhuman way because they simply wanted to send the message to the international community that the Turkish occupation army for 22 years now has prevented Cypriots from exercising their fundamental human rights, such as the freedom of movement, settlement and owing property.

''A solution of the Cyprus problem through peaceful means is the only way of consolidating real peace and stability in Cyprus and the wider area of southeastern Mediterranean,'' President Clerides added.

He pledged that ''our side will make every effort which will, effectively and permanently and not superficially and temporarily, defuse tension.''

The Cypriot President expressed the hope that the other side too will behave with the same prudence and responsibility in this question.

Himself a World War II veteran, President Clerides appealed to war veterans to help find a just and workable solution to the Cyprus problem.

''We are seeking the support of organisations such as yours, whose members have suffered and have fought for the same principles and values for which we here in Cyprus are still struggling for,'' he said.

The Cypriot President concluded, saying ''we are seeking the support and assistance of the international community for ending the nightmare created by the Turkish occupation...''

Addressing the participants, the President of the World Veterans Federation, General Bjorn Egge, referred to the division of Cyprus and its capital Nicosia.

''I am sure that I express the feelings of all those present and represented here today in assuring you that we will spare no effort to promote respect by all concerned for these principles, and for the implementation of the decisions of the United Nations Security Council concerning Cyprus, particularly in the light of the sad events which have occurred in your country recently,'' he said.

UN Resident Representative Gustave Feissel read a message to the meeting of the UN Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali, who said the holding of the meeting in Cyprus has a symbolic meaning and stresses the need for dialogue and reconciliation.

The meeting was also addressed by Andreas Christofi, President of the Cyprus Veterans' Association, and Jose Arruda, President of the Standing Committee on European Affairs of the World Veterans' Federation.

The meeting ends on Wednesday.

CNA GP/1996

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

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