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Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 96-11-07Cyprus News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: "HR-Net News Distribution Manager" <dist@hri.org>CONTENTS
1020:CYPPRESS: 01[01] US to play responsible role in CyprusWashington, Nov 7 (CNA) -- Following the re-election of US President Bill Clinton, the US State Department reiterates that Washington will play a responsible role in the efforts for a Cyprus settlement.State Department Spokesman Nicholas Burns told his press briefing that ''President Clinton and Secretary Christopher and Ambassador Albright and Ambassador Holbrooke, who used to be here, and Ambassador Kornblum have all dedicated themselves to have the United States play a responsible role here (Cyprus question)''. When asked if the United States will launch a new initiative on Cyprus, Burns said ''I'm not aware of any new initiatives from last night or this morning, but we're going to be continually involved as we have been, and we want to work with the government of Cyprus, the two communities on Cyprus, and the Greek and Turkish governments on this question''. Analysts in Washington say that there will be no major shift in the US policy, regarding Cyprus or the Greek-Turkish issues. One thing is certain, the basic features of the US foreign policy will remain the same. The only thing that will possibly change will be the people and the style, they said. 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 AGENCY1040:CYPPRESS:02[02] UN seeks clarifications from Turkish sideNicosia, Nov 7 (CNA) -- The UN peace-keeping force in Cyprus will seek clarifications from the Turkish Cypriot side concerning the closing of the Ledra Palace check-point in retaliation to Greek Cypriot attempts to dissuade tourists from visiting the northern Turkish-occupied areas of Cyprus, UN spokesman, Waldemar Rokoszewski, told CNA today.''We have asked the chief humanitarian officer to seek clarifications from the Turkish Cypriot side about any plans they intend to implement or are enforcing concerning movement through the Ledra Palace check-point,'' Rokoszewski said. The UN, he added, would protest attempts by the Turkish Cypriot side to bar movement through the check-point, the only gate-way to and from the occupied areas of the Republic. On Wednesday, the illegal Turkish Cypriot regime prevented two Greek Cypriot couples from returning to their homes in occupied Cyprus, citing a continuing protest by other Greek Cypriots, led by MP Marios Matsakis, informing tourists about the situation on the island. Most tourists turn back, others go ahead with their visit. The UN has already made representations to the Cyprus government about the protest. Government Spokesman Yiannakis Cassoulides said Wednesday the government does not encourage such type of protest and would rather see a different type of protest, such as the distribution of literature from a kiosk to those interested. The UN spokesman welcomed the government's attempts to persuade protest organisers to alter the shape of their protest and said any tension only several days before the anniversary of the Turkish Cypriot UDI (unilateral declaration of independence), on November 15, is unnecessary Turkish troops have been occupying 37 per cent of Cyprus territory since 1974, in violation of repeated UN resolutions calling for their withdrawal. CNA MM/GP/1996ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY1200:CYPPRESS:03[03] Greek Cypriots vow to intensify Ledra Palace protestNicosia, Nov 7 (CNA) -- A committee, coordinating protests against the continuing Turkish occupation of part of Cyprus, has decided to continue its protests on a daily basis, starting this weekend, despite of government and UN opposition to the protest, committee member MP Marios Matsakis has said.''We have informed the Ministers about the unanimous committee decision and told them we believe we must not give in to blackmail from the Turkish Cypriot side,'' Matsakis said here today after a 90-meeting long meeting with Foreign Minister Alecos Michaelides and Justice Minister Alecos Evangelou, in the presence of Police Chief Panicos Hadjiloizou. It would be wrong, he stressed, to yield to the demands of a Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash, whom he described as a ''chief murderer'' for his role in the recent killings of four unarmed Greek Cypriots by the Turkish troops over the past few months. Denktash has, if not condoned the murders, at least tolerated them, three of which took place in the UN-controlled buffer zone. The Cyprus police has issued arrest warrants for five Turks in connection with one of the murders. The MP, an outspoken critic of the methods applied by the illegal Turkish Cypriot regime, said the Ministers did not give him any ''particularly serious reasons as to why this protest should end.'' ''Perhaps there is a slight difference in the way we assess certain issues,'' he added. The MP underlined the need to continue ''the peaceful enlightenment campaign we are waging at the Ledra Palace check-point aimed at tourists in a bid to persuade them not to cross to the northern Turkish-occupied part of the island and boost the economy of the self-styled regime there.'' He said ''we shall continue our protest on a daily basis as from this weekend. We are not in confrontation with the Turkish Cypriots, and we wish to live with them in peace.'' Commenting on the Turkish Cypriot threats levelled against enclaved Greek Cypriots living in occupied Cyprus, Matsakis said the committee ''is tackling the issue in a very serious manner'' and noted that other committees dealing with the enclaved have fully backed the Ledra Palace protest. Yesterday, the occupation regime prevented two Greek Cypriot couples and a child from returning to their homes in the occupied territory. Another of the organisers, Aris Hadjipanayiotou, expressed the hope that Denktash will stop blocking free movement of the enclaved and warned against such a move with more protests. Turkish troops have been occupying 37 per cent of Cyprus territory since 1974, in violation of repeated UN resolutions calling for their withdrawal. CNA MM/GP/1996ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY1400:CYPPRESS:04[04] Ireland's ambassador arrives for talksNicosia, Nov 7 (CNA) -- Ireland's ambassador to Cyprus, Liam Rigney, arrives here from Athens later today to have contacts, believed to be associated with Cyprus' accession course to the European Union.Ambassador Rigney, whose country holds the six-monthly rotating EU presidency, will give a lunch on Friday, offered by each EU presidency as part of regular contacts. President Glafcos Clerides and Foreign Minister Alecos Michaelides will attend the lunch. Present at the lunch, hosted by Greece's ambassador Alexandros Sandis because Greece acts as Ireland's representative here in its capacity as EU member state, will be the ambassadors of Britain, France, Germany and Italy to Cyprus and the Head of the EU delegation Gilles Anouil. Cyprus' bid to join the EU is expected to be raised during talks at the lunch, which does not have an agenda as such. During his two-day stay, the Athens-based Ireland's ambassador will meet the Foreign Minister and Director of the Political Affairs Division, Christodoulos Pasiardis. Rigney's visit comes a couple of weeks ahead of a visit here by Ireland's representative for Cyprus, ambassador Kester Heaslip, before the Dublin EU summit, scheduled for 13-14 December. Rigney leaves on Saturday. Cyprus applied for full membership of the European Community in July 1990. It signed an association agreement in 1972 and a customs union in 1987. The EU Council of Ministers has given Cyprus a firm date for the start of membership talks, six months after the Intergovernmental Conference. CNA MM/GP/1996ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY1505:CYPPRESS:05[05] UN receives assurances from Turkish sideNicosia, Nov 7 (CNA) -- The UN has been given assurances by the Turkish Cypriot side that they would not obstruct any Greek Cypriots or Maronites from crossing into and from the occupied areas of the island.The assurances were given to a ''high ranking UNFICYP official'', UN spokesman Waldemar Rokoszewski told CNA today. ''Following an intervention at a meeting this morning, we have been informed there are no obstacles for Maronites or Greek Cypriots to cross in both directions,'' he said. He expressed the hope that the situation at the Ledra Palace check-point will not deteriorate, noting that ''this depends very much on both sides.'' A group of Greek Cypriots, led by MP Marios Matsakis, has been at the check-point over the past three weekends trying to dissuade tourists from visiting the occupied part of the island. Yesterday, the Turkish Cypriots barred entrance to Greek Cypriot enclaved from returning to their homes in retaliation. Earlier today Matsakis said the protest would continue on a daily basis from now on. The government has expressed its disagreement with the methods protesters use with tourists and suggested putting up a kiosk with printed material to inform them about the continuing violation of human rights by the Turkish occupation regime. Turkish troops have been occupying 37 per cent of Cyprus territory since 1974, in violation of repeated UN resolutions calling for their withdrawal. Some 200.000 Greek Cypriots were forcibly uprooted from their homes by the invasion troops. Immediately after the invasion, a total of 20.000 Greek Cypriots and Maronites were living as enclaved in the occupied territory. Because of oppressive measures taken by the occupation regime, in violation of the Third Vienna Agreement signed by the two sides in 1975, their number has dropped to about 500. CNA MM/GP/1996ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY1720:CYPPRESS:06[06] Cyprus Stock ExchangeNicosia, Nov 7 (CNA) -- The Cyprus Stock Exchange (CSE) All Share Index closed at today's stock exchange meeting as follows:CSE All Share Index 83.95 (-0.21) Sectural Indices Banks 92.90 (-0.08) Approved Investment Companies 76.64 (-0.17) Insurance Companies 60.78 (-0.33) Industrial Companies 82.61 (-0.36) Tourist Industries 72.64 (-1.06) Commercial Companies 64.99 (-0.58) Other Companies 74.87 (+0.01) Trading Volume CYP 519106.680* The difference in brackets represents the percentage increase (+) or decrease (-) of the index from the previous stock exchange meeting. CNA GP/1996ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY1730:CYPPRESS:07[07] USS Newport News to visit Limassol portNicosia, Nov 7 (CNA) -- A Los Angeles-class submarine assigned to the US Navy's Sixth Fleet will visit Cyprus' southern port of Limassol from November 8-14.USS Newport News (SSN 750), under the command of Commander S.V. Jones, is visiting Cyprus as part of the Sixth Fleet's programme of routine port calls in the Mediterranean. The purpose of the visit is to give the crew an opportunity for shore leave and relaxation, a US embassy press release said. On October 29, another US vessel, the guided missile destroyer USS Mitcher, arrived at Larnaca port for a seven-day visit. CNA MCH/GP/1996ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY1800:CYPPRESS:08[08] Violation of Cyprus' airspace by Turkish aircraftNicosia, Nov 7 (CNA) -- Four Turkish F16 fighters violated the Cyprus airspace twice today, flying over the Turkish-occupied northern range of Pentadactylos.According to the Ministry of Defence two pairs of F16 aircraft flew over the Turkish-occupied part of the island, the first at 13:00 local time (11:00 GMT) and the second at 14:30 (12:30 GMT). The warplanes flew in through Kormakitis, in the island's northwestern part, and then towards the cape of Apostolos Andreas, the northeastern tip of the island. The Turkish fighters launched ground mock attacks near the Turkish-occupied village of Kythrea. The first two warplanes flew back to Turkey while the second two landed at an illegal airport, near the occupied village of Lefkoniko. The planes were taking part in the Turkish military exercise code-named ''Toros 2/96'' (Taurus), which covers the northeastern Mediterranean and the Turkish-occupied northern part of Cyprus. Turkey invaded Cyprus in 1974 and continues to illegally occupy 37 per cent of its territory, ignoring numerous UN resolutions, demanding the withdrawal of the Turkish troops from the island. CNA MCH/GP/1996ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY1820:CYPPRESS:09[09] President Clerides receives Russian Justice MinisterNicosia, Nov 7 (CNA) -- President Glafcos Clerides received today Russian Justice Minister Valentin Kovalev, who is in Cyprus for the signing of a bilateral agreement between Cyprus and Russia on the transfer of convicts.Speaking to the press after the 40-minute meeting, Kovalev said President Clerides approved the preparatory work done at ministerial level towards the bilateral agreement that will allow convicts to serve their sentences in their country of origin. Expressing satisfaction with the outcome of his visit, Kovalev described the talks with his Cypriot counterpart Alecos Evangelou and Attorney General Alecos Markides as ''important''. The Russian Minister added that talks about a bilateral agreement for the provision of legal assistance are also underway. Referring to the increase in mixed marriages between Russians and Cypriots, Kovalev noted that the matter demands a legal framework to secure the rights of the interested parties. He also stressed the need for the adoption of legal regulations regarding the issue of purchase of property by citizens of the two countries. The bilateral agreement on the transfer of persons sentenced to imprisonment will be signed tomorrow while Kovalev is returning to Russia on Sunday, November 10. He said he will report about the outcome of his Cyprus trip to Prime Minister Victor Chernomyrdin. CNA MCH/GP/1996ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY1945:CYPPRESS:10[10] Cyprus, Greece parliaments agree on closer cooperationLarnaca, Nov 7 (CNA) -- The parliaments of Cyprus and Greece have agreed to closely cooperate for the promotion of the Cyprus problem and other national issues internationally.This was stated here today by President of the House of Representatives, Spyros Kyprianou, on his return from Athens where he had talks with his Greek counterpart Apostolos Kaklamanis. Kyprianou had also meetings with Greek President Costis Stephanopoulos, Prime Minister Costas Simitis, Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos, Minister of National Defence Akis Tsohatzopoulos and Deputy Foreign Minister Christos Rozakis. Expressing satisfaction with the outcome of his Athens talks, Kyprianou announced that a special committee for the promotion of national issues was established. It will meet soon. He said there is complete identity of views between the governments of Cyprus and Greece, concerning the Cyprus problem and other national issues. Speaking to the press at Larnaca airport, the House President also referred to the US stance in regards to recent European Parliament resolutions on Cyprus and Turkey. Kyprianou expressed concern over US criticism against the European Parliament's support for the freezing of EU funds to Turkey because of the mass violation of human rights pursued by this country. Regarding a US initiative on Cyprus, President Bill Clinton promised to launch in early 1997, during the pre-election period, Kyprianou said all initiatives are welcomed, provided they assist UN Secretary-General in his efforts for a Cyprus settlement. Commenting, however, on Clinton's re-election, Kyprianou noted that pre-election promises alone do not justify optimism. Kyprianou also noted that ''while the Greek Cypriot side has made many compromises, the Turkish Cypriot side remains intransigent in its positions''. He stressed, at the same time, that the present situation should not be allowed to continue. Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkish troops invaded and occupied 37 per cent of its territory. CNA TA/MCH/GP/1996ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY2000:CYPPRESS:11[11] Democratic security the road to a united EuropeNicosia, Nov 7 (CNA) -- Consolidation of democratic security as an end, can contribute towards a united Europe based on respect for human rights.This was stated by Cyprus Foreign Ministry Permanent Secretary Alecos Shambos, addressing the 99th Session of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe, held in Strasbourg from November 6 to 7. Noting that respect for human rights, democracy and the rule of law should be the basis of a united Europe, Shambos stressed that member-states should ''not only seem to cherish but first and foremost to apply, monitor and ensure the implementation in real practice'' these shared values. The Cypriot official welcomed Croatia as the 40th member-state of the Council of Europe. CNA MCH/GP/1996ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCYCyprus News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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