Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 96-10-30

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CONTENTS

[01] 1997 is a year of opportunity, says Portillo

[02] Pseudostate is Turkey's fabrication, Russian official says

[03] Cyprus Stock Exchange

[04] Arrest warrants issued against Turks

1140:CYPPRESS:01

[01] 1997 is a year of opportunity, says Portillo

Portillo, who was speaking at the opening of a photographic exhibition on the demarcation line of Greek Cypriot Doros Partasides, in the House of Commons, described the 180-kilometre long line dividing Cyprus since the 1974 Turkish invasion, as a ''living disgrace, for all of us as Europeans.''

British Defence Secretary said ''we can see very poignant and very striking images of an island that was once united and happy, an island which has been divided by an obscenity, this terrible inadvertently named green line.''

He noted that the island wishes to be part of Europe and said may be in that ''we can see the possibility of movement forward.''

However, Portillo added, ''how easier it would be for that island to enter the European Union if it were united and how difficult that will be if it is divided.''

The British official pointed out that ''we see the coming year as the year of opportunity'' for Cyprus and noted that during this year ''all have to try very hard indeed to bring about the unification of the island.''

Portillo called upon everybody of goodwill, on the island and abroad, to join together so as to see whether in 1997 ''we can bring this obscenity and these bleak images to a final end,'' he said.

The Defence Secretary and more than 80 British MPs attended a dinner yesterday, given by the National Cypriot Brotherhood in Britain, on the occasion of Cyprus' Independence Day.

Guest speaker, Foreign Minister Alecos Michaelides, stressed the need to increase efforts for a comprehensive Cyprus solution to the maximum.

''We now have some unique opportunities that open up prospects for Cyprus,'' he added and referred to the prospect of Cyprus joining the EU and the present active engagement of ''those that can effectively help to find a solution to the Cyprus problem.''

Michaelides reiterated that direct negotiations on Cyprus would start when common ground on key issues is found, in order to have a chance for success, and said the interim time until accession negotiations start, ''provides a unique opportunity.''

He referred to the four murders, since June, of unarmed Greek Cypriots by Turkish occupation troops and extremists and noted that Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash's message was clear.

''He was trying to give the message that the Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots hate each other and therefore they can not live together,'' the Minister said, noting that their ''real problem is not living with us, but with settlers from Anatolia.''

CNA KT/AP/GP/1996

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1240:CYPPRESS:02

[02] Pseudostate is Turkey's fabrication, Russian official says

Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman Mikhail Demurin stated that the Russian Federation strictly complies with the UN Security Council resolutions, which recognise only the Republic of Cyprus.

Demurin drew the attention of all federal bodies and other institutions in Russia that they ''strictly implement the country's international commitments not to recognise the illegal and secessionist fabrication in Cyprus' occupied part.''

The Russian official called on all state and federal bodies to avoid having any relations with the illegal ''state'', noting that this is contrary with the spirit and the letter of the UN Security Council resolutions on Cyprus.

Demurin recalled that Turkey is the only UN member-state that recognises the pseudostate.

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

A resolution adopted by the Russian Duma on October 24 calls for the withdrawal of all foreign troops from the island and urges all parties, involved in the process for a Cyprus solution, to insist on a political settlement within the UN framework, based on all relevant resolutions on the problem.

CNA AP/GP/1996

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1635:CYPPRESS:03

[03] Cyprus Stock Exchange

CSE All Share Index                    85.17 (+1.13)

Sectural Indices

Banks                                  95.06 (+1.64)
Approved Investment Companies          79.32 (+3.46)
Insurance Companies                    61.93 (+1.91)
Industrial Companies                   79.35 (-0.19)
Tourist Industries                     72.37 (-0.52)
Commercial Companies                   66.51 (+0.23)
Other Companies                        77.67 (-1.33)

Trading Volume                        CYP 1009159.234

CNA MM/1996

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1805:CYPPRESS:04

[04] Arrest warrants issued against Turks

The announcement was made by Attorney General Alecos Markides at a press conference here today who said the warrants will be communicated to Interpol asking the international police force to help in the arrest of the five suspects.

All five are believed to be involved in the murder of Solomos Solomou, shot and killed on August 14 when climbing a flagpole to lower the Turkish flag.

''The arrest warrants were issued in connection with the pre-meditated murder of Solomos Solomou. There are other suspects but no available evidence about their identity,'' Markides said.

The five were identified as: Kenan Akin, self-styled minister of the illegal Turkish Cypriot regime in Turkish occupied Cyprus, Erdal Emanet, commander of the so-called security forces in the occupied areas, Mehmet Karli, commander of the 29th division of the Turkish army, Hasan Kontaxi, former commander of the Turkish occupation troops in Cyprus, and Attila Sab, so-called chief of police of the illegal regime, who is believed to be a Turkish Cypriot.

''The portraits of all five suspects will be sent to Interpol. There is reasonable suspicion that they are involved in Solomou's murder,'' he said.

Referring to the case of a second Greek Cypriot, Tasos Isaac, also brutally murdered by the Turks during demonstrations in the buffer zone, Markides said evidence has surfaced in the past few days which may lead to the issue of arrest warrants of murder suspects.

''There are nine suspects in this murder case,'' he added.

Replying to questions, the Attorney General repeated that police investigations into the two cases were hampered by restricted freedom of movement because the legal authorities of the Republic are prevented from entering the Turkish occupied areas of Cyprus from the occupation troops.

CNA MM/EC/1996

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

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