Cyprus News Agency: News in English (PM), 97-02-24

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From: The Cyprus News Agency at <http://www.cyna.org.cy>

CONTENTS

[01] Cyprus Stock Exchange

[02] Cassoulides on EU talks

[03] British envoy agrees with demilitarisation, says Spokesman

[04] Representations to UN for Turkish over-flights

[05] IFJ figures on journalistic freedom in Turkey

[06] Clerides' condolences for Xiaoping's death

[07] Cassoulides on initiatives

[08] EU Commissioner to visit Cyprus for talks

[09] EU Council fails to reach common stance

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[01] Cyprus Stock Exchange

CSE All Share Index                    77.15 (+0.21)

Highest: 82.46 (2/1/97)
Lowest : 73.90 (30/1/97)

Sectural Indices

Banks                                  88.03 (+0.34)
Approved Investment Companies          65.87 (+0.83)
Insurance Companies                    58.20 (-0.67)
Industrial Companies                   72.81 (+0.23)
Tourist Industries                     63.87 (+0.74)
Commercial Companies                   52.79 (-1.07)
Other Companies                        57.96 (+0.24)

Trading Volume                         CYP 661755.300

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[02] Cassoulides on EU talks

"We would like the Turkish Cypriots to be informed about these benefits. The government wants the Turkish Cypriots to understand that Cyprus' reunification and EU accession will pave the way for a common future," Cassoulides told his briefing today.

He noted that Cyprus remains divided because of the Turkish invasion and the continuing illegal occupation of part of the island and because of a decision by Turkish Cypriot leader, Rauf Denktash to declare a UDI (unilateral declaration of independence in 1983, which no other country except Turkey has recognised).

"We would like the Turkish Cypriots to participate in the official delegation of the Republic of Cyprus and when there is a relevant response from the Turkish side, then the government will deal with the matter," the Spokesman said.

He did, however, point out that the Cyprus government will reject any Turkish Cypriot involvement in accession negotiations that does not fall within the legal framework.

Efforts, he stressed, should concentrate on finding a Cyprus settlement "to help overcome all these problems at the same time as the start of accession talks."

Cassoulides refrained from commenting on developments in Brussels today during a meeting of EU Foreign Ministers, ahead of tomorrow's EU-Cyprus Association Council meeting.

"It would be rather risky to make any comment as in the next few hours we expect to have the outcome of the meeting," he said.

Cassoulides described this week's visit to Cyprus by EU External Relations Commissioner, Hans Van den Broek, as "important" and added "we will review the progress made in the structured dialogue and there will be a briefing on efforts to find a political settlement of the Cyprus question and also see the extent of EU contribution towards this objective."

Asked to say if any progress towards a settlement depends on the gains Turkey will obtain from the EU, Cassoulides said Turkey's assessment of the benefits obtained from a Cyprus solution are an important factor.

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[03] British envoy agrees with demilitarisation, says Spokesman

"The British believe that Cyprus should be demilitarised as part of a solution", Cassoulides said.

President Glafcos Clerides' demilitarisation proposal has been welcomed abroad, the Spokesman noted, adding that it has not been dealt with so far due to Turkey's "utter rejection".

Cassoulides made clear that President Clerides' proposal does not concern British bases troops but those of the Cyprus Republic's National Guard and the Turkish occupation army.

He explained that the demilitarisation proposal prior to a solution of the Cyprus problem does not provide for the deployment of a multinational force on the island but for an increase in the numbers of the UN Peace- keeping force (UNFICYP).

President Clerides submitted the demilitarisation proposal to former UN Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali "in order to break the counter productive climate of fear and mistrust and thus enhance the prospects of a negotiated settlement."

He proposed to "repeal the National Guard law, disband the National guard and hand all its arms and military equipment to the custody of the UNFICYP", provided "the Turkish forces are withdrawn from Cyprus, the Turkish Cypriot armed forces disband and hand their weapons and military equipment to the custody of UNFICYP."

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

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[04] Representations to UN for Turkish over-flights

This was revealed here today by Government Spokesman Yiannakis Cassoulides, commenting on reconnaissance flights over the sea area off the southern and western coastal towns of Limassol and Paphos and between Cyprus and the Greek island of Rhodes, last week.

Meanwhile, Cassoulides said the government has notified the UN of threats expressed by the Turkish extremist group "Grey Wolves" to settle the coastal town of Famagusta (Varosha), under Turkish occupation since 1974.

UN resolutions hold Turkey responsible for the fenced Varosha area, he said, pointing out that this means it is also responsible if these resolutions are violated.

UN Security Council Resolution 550 (1984), "considers any attempts to settle any part of Varosha by people other than its inhabitants as inadmissible and calls for the transfer of this area to the administration of the UN."

In an attempt to create tension on the island, Turkish provocative acts have become all the more evident since last summer, Cassoulides noted, making special reference to the most recent illegal arrest of a young Greek Cypriot, who lost his way and crossed into the occupied areas.

Sotiris Louca Siderenos, was apprehended by Turkish troops last Friday.

The Spokesman expressed the hope that the Turkish side would show the necessary political will for a successful outcome of the UN-sponsored indirect military dialogue between the National Guard and the Turkish occupation forces.

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

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[05] Representations to UN for Turkish over-flights

This was revealed here today by Government Spokesman Yiannakis Cassoulides, commenting on reconnaissance flights over the sea area off the southern and western coastal towns of Limassol and Paphos and between Cyprus and the Greek island of Rhodes, last week.

Meanwhile, Cassoulides said the government has notified the UN of threats expressed by the Turkish extremist group "Grey Wolves" to settle the coastal town of Famagusta (Varosha), under Turkish occupation since 1974.

UN resolutions hold Turkey responsible for the fenced Varosha area, he said, pointing out that this means it is also responsible if these resolutions are violated.

UN Security Council Resolution 550 (1984), "considers any attempts to settle any part of Varosha by people other than its inhabitants as inadmissible and calls for the transfer of this area to the administration of the UN."

In an attempt to create tension on the island, Turkish provocative acts have become all the more evident since last summer, Cassoulides noted, making special reference to the most recent illegal arrest of a young Greek Cypriot, who lost his way and crossed into the occupied areas.

Sotiris Louca Siderenos, was apprehended by Turkish troops last Friday.

The Spokesman expressed the hope that the Turkish side would show the necessary political will for a successful outcome of the UN-sponsored indirect military dialogue between the National Guard and the Turkish occupation forces.

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

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[06] IFJ figures on journalistic freedom in Turkey

According to documented accounts by the International Federation of Journalists, (IFJ), four journalists were murdered in Turkey and one in the Turkish occupied part of Cyprus. At least three of those died at the hands of either Turkish extremists or the Turkish police for daring to raise a voice contrary to official government lines.

Turkish Cypriot journalist, Kutlu Adali, 61, was murdered on June 6, 1996 just outside his home in the Turkish occupied part of Nicosia.

He was shot point blank because he strongly criticised the regime imposed in the occupied part of Cyprus by Rauf Denktash.

Adali's wife accused the Grey Wolves, a right-wing Turkish terrorist organisation, of being responsible for her husband's assassination.

Responsibility for the murder was also claimed by the Turkish Revenge Brigade, a little-known extremist organisation.

Sayfeddin Tepe, 27, died in police detention on August 29, 1995, at the Bitlis Security Directorate. Tepe was correspondent for the pro-Kurdish daily, "Yeni Politika".

He was detained on August 22 with two other colleagues, but they were released later that day. Tepe was transferred to the Bitlis Security Directorate on August 26, where he died three days later.

His family was told that he had committed suicide, but Tepe's brother disputed that, saying Tepe had torture marks on his body.

Tepe was the cousin of Ferhat Tepe, another journalist allegedly killed after being detained by police in Bitlis in 1993.

Metin Goktepe, 27, journalist for the left-wing daily "Evrensel", was found dead near a gymnasium in Constantinople on August 1, 1996.

Goktepe was covering the funeral of two militant leftists killed in a prison clash when, according to witnesses, he was detained along with many others by police for an identity check. Goktepe was separated from the others and beaten.

Police initially said he died after being released, but later denied he had been detained in the gymnasium altogether.

A Parliamentary Commission investigating his death found Goktepe was beaten to death by police while in detention and concluded that police must be trained in order to prevent such cases.

Some 48 police officers are currently on trial for Goktepe's murder.

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[07] Clerides' condolences for Xiaoping's death

Expressing "great sadness" over Xiaoping's death, President Clerides conveyed "deepest and most sincere condolences for this loss" on behalf of the people and the government of the Republic of China.

In a telegram to the President of the People's Republic of China, Jiang Zemin, Clerides praised the contribution of the late leader to his country.

"Through his great vision, inspired leadership and profound love for his country Deng Xiaoping has bequeathed to China a legacy of enviable economic growth", President Clerides said.

Today, President Clerides signed a book of condolences at the Chinese Embassy in Nicosia.

The book was also signed by Acting President of the House of Representatives, Nicos Anastasiades. Last week House President Spyros Kyprianou sent a message of condolences to China's ambassador to Cyprus for the death of Xiaoping.

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[08] Cassoulides on initiatives

He did however point out that, to a certain extent, this was due to changes in the hierarchy at the US State Department.

"So far", Cassoulides said, "the UN and those countries supporting the UN Secretary-General's efforts have not gone far enough to facilitate the search for common ground that could lead to direct negotiations", between President Glafcos Clerides and Turkish Cypriot leader, Rauf Denktash.

"The UN Secretary-General and other foreign governments, however, continue to express their intention to intensify efforts in this direction", Cassoulides added.

He said the government believes "everybody will align and work together in the next couple of months."

Asked to comment on US ambassador to Cyprus Kenneth Brill's statement that Greek and Turkish Cypriots have to break away from "long standing positions, to develop some new compromises that would promote a much better settlement", Cassoulides said "our side has already made an important and painful concession when it accepted a Cyprus settlement on the basis of a bi-communal, bi-zonal, federation, as well as other concessions."

The Greek Cypriot side, he said, is not prepared to move away from its positions unless there is indication that the Turkish side, which has not so far made any concession, will do what is required of it.

Replying to questions, he said the unanimous decision taken by the political leadership in 1989 leave room for concessions on many counts.

"We do not intend to go to the negotiating table and present our positions as an ultimatum. We shall have to make concessions, but we expect the Turkish side to make concessions too," Cassoulides said.

He stressed that on certain issues, such as the principle of indivisible and single sovereignty, no concessions can be made.

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[09] EU Commissioner to visit Cyprus for talks

On Thursday, February 27, the Dutch EU official will have meetings with President Glafcos Clerides, Foreign Minister, Alecos Michaelides, House of Representatives President, Spyros Kyprianou and political party leaders.

Foreign Minister Michaelides will host a dinner in Van den Broek's honour on Thursday evening.

During his three-day stay Van den Broek will also meet with Turkish Cypriot leader, Rauf Denktash and Turkish Cypriot party leaders.

On the last day of his stay, Van den Broek will meet the Heads of Mission of the EU member states in Cyprus at the Office of the Delegation of the European Commission.

He will also give a press conference for members of the Greek and Turkish Cypriot press at Ledra Palace hotel in the UN-buffer zone in Nicosia.

The EU Commissioner will be accompanied by Representative of the EU Presidency, Kester Heaslip, Ambassador and Head of the Delegation of the European Commission to Cyprus, Gilles Anouil, Director of General Directorate of External Relations, Catherine Day and Head of the Unit for Cyprus, Serge Abou.

The EU Commissioner leaves on Friday.

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[10] EU Council fails to reach common stance

Failure to reach an agreement could mean a meeting, in the framework of the Cyprus-EU structured dialogue, scheduled for tomorrow, may not take place, President of Council, Dutch Foreign Minister, Hans van Mierlo, said here today.

However, he pointed out that the Cyprus-EU Association Council will meet as planned on Tuesday.

The government of Cyprus has said that Turkish Cypriots are welcome to participate in the talks but will have to be part of the official delegation of the Republic of Cyprus, which conducts the structured dialogue with the EU.

The EU itself has said in the past that the government of the Republic is its "sole interlocutor."

Efforts by the Dutch EU Presidency to adopt a common statement failed due to the insistence of the British, the German and the French Foreign Ministers, Malcolm Rifkind, Klaus Kinkel and Herve de Charette respectively, that Turkish Cypriots should also be involved in the accession process.

The three Foreign Ministers insist on the inclusion of a phrase to the effect that circumstances will soon allow for the participation of all Cypriots in the accession process.

Greece has expressed reservations about the proposed text and the Dutch Presidency is expected to bring up the issue later tonight in an attempt to reach a common statement.

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