Cyprus News Agency: News in English (AM), 97-08-11

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

CONTENTS

[01] South Africa vetoes helicopter sale to Turkey

[02] Greek Cypriots to travel to occupy areas

[03] Cyprus Stock Exchange

[04] Political leaders leave for Switzerlnad

1205:CYPPRESS:01

[01] South Africa vetoes helicopter sale to Turkey

The Sunday Independent said the South African government's decision to stop the 257 million-US-dollar sale of the Rooivalk helicopter gunships to Turkey was made at the last meeting of the National Conventional Arms Control Committee on July 17.

According to the newspaper, Committee Chairman Kader Asmal said the decision was made after consideration was given to Turkey's illegal occupation of 37 percent of Cyprus' territory, its continuing human rights violations and its dominant position in the region.

"Because the hardware in question was a strike helicopter, we had to consider the possibility that such craft could be used in Cyprus and in Turkey's forays into northern Iraq," the newspaper quoted Asmal as saying.

Laurie Nathan of the Centre for Conflict Resolution told the Sunday Independent that Turkey is guilty of committing human rights violations against Kurdish refugees which include the bombardment of Kurdish refugee camps.

"The Rooivalk could have been used for this purpose," Nathan was quoted as saying.

The reported decision followed an application by the arms industry asking for guidance on whether to go ahead with negotiations for the sale of the helicopters to Turkey.

South Africa decided on April 15 to lift an arms embargo it imposed on Turkey in April 1995 after a major incursion by Turkish troops in northern Iraq against separatist Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) guerrillas.

South Africa was widely criticised by human rights groups and South African politicians supporting Kurdish guerrillas for lifting its embargo. CNA/MH/GP/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1400:CYPPRESS:02

[02] Greek Cypriots to travel to occupy areas

Among those travelling to the monastery on August 15, the day of the Annunciation of the Virgin, will be the Abbot of Kykko monastery Nikiforos and other Kykko monks, who will conduct the Te Deum there.

Presidential Commissioner for Humanitarian Affairs Takis Christopoulos told CNA those who have been selected to go to the monastery will travel there with buses provided by the occupation regime.

He added that they will depart from the Ledra Palace checkpoint in Nicosia between 0830 and 0900 local time and will arrive back late in the afternoon.

Asked why Turkish Cypriots who visited the Turkish Cypriot village of Kokkina, on August 8, passed through the government-controlled areas with their own buses, Christopoulos said that evidently there were not enough buses in the area to accommodate all visiting Turkish Cypriots.

He said that in any event, the distance from the occupied areas to Kokkina is a short one.

Kokkina, on the northwestern part of the island, is approximately ten kilometres away from the occupied areas.

It is expected that the occupation regime will use 12 buses to ferry the Greek Cypriot pilgrims to the monastery which is approximately 125 kilometres from Nicosia.

Christopoulos said that he does not know if the occupation regime will permit any of the 550 or so enclaved Greek Cypriots living in occupied Karpass to attend mass at the monastery.

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

CNA MK/MH/GP/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1500:CYPPRESS:03

[03] Cyprus Stock Exchange

CSE All Share Index                    75.59 (-0.29)

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

Sectural Indices

Banks                                  84.79 (-0.41)
Approved Investment Companies          64.86 (-0.11)
Insurance Companies                    57.14 (-0.49)
Industrial Companies                   75.77 (-0.25)
Tourist Industries                     63.77 (-0.95)
Commercial Companies                   47.90 (+1.74)
Other Companies                        60.19 (+0.48)

Trading Volume                         CYP 214602.830

CNA MA/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1430:CYPPRESS:04

[04] Political leaders leave for Switzerlnad

The Cypriot politicians left today for Switzerland to consult President Glafcos Clerides on developments emerging from the talks, scheduled to begin this afternoon, with Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash.

Speaking at Larnaca airport, ruling right-wing Democratic Rally (DISY) leader, Nicos Anastasiades said he hopes "a good climate will prevail in Montreux", but noted that recent statements made by Denktash as well as an agreement for partial integration of the Turkish-occupied areas to Turkey "minimizes hopes for progress."

Opposition left-wing AKEL General Secretary, Demitris Christofias also referred to the negative impact of the recent agreement between Turkey and the occupation regime, adding that "the omens are not good."

Spyros Kyprianou, leader of the government-partner centre-right Democratic Party (DIKO), said the Greek Cypriot side could not have refused to attend this second round of talks, but warned that if negotiations dragged on indefinitely a solution to the Cyprus problem could be associated to the Republic's accession talks with the European Union.

On his part, socialist EDEK leader, Vassos Lyssarides stressed that Denktash should accept the principles of "one sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity and respect for human rights" as they have been repeatedly pointed out in UN resolutions for Cyprus.

United Democrats leader George Vassiliou said "we are going to Montreux hoping that progress can be made", and noted that the Greek Cypriot side tries its best in this direction. He noted, however, that "recent moves made by the Turkish Cypriot side do not leave room for optimism."

CNA MAN/MCH/GP/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

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