Cyprus News Agency: News in English (AM), 98-06-22

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

CONTENTS

[01] First missing, declared dead, laid to rest

[02] Fire put out on board British charter plane

[03] CNA Director dies

1010:CYPPRESS:01

[01] First missing, declared dead, laid to rest

Kasapis' remains, located in a field near the Turkish-occupied village of Ashia, in the southeastern part of Cyprus, will be buried today in his home-town of Detroit, in the US.

A report by Ambassador Robert Dillon on the five US citizens, missing in Cyprus since the 1974 Turkish invasion of the island, said Kasapis was taken away by two Turkish Cypriots from his house in Ashia village, where he lived at the time with his family, and shot dead, probably by "Turkish Cypriot militiamen."

The report, released earlier this year, concludes that the other four Americans, of Greek descent, "in all likelihood did not survive the events of in Cyprus in the summer of 1974."

There are 1,619 persons, including women and children, listed as missing since the Turkish invasion and so far only Kasapis' whereabouts were established.

The Greek and Turkish Cypriot sides exchanged information on missing persons, following a UN-brokered agreement on this humanitarian issue, with a view of proceeding to the return of the remains of those killed.

But things seem to have stalled apparently because of Turkish Cypriot demands to look into the fate of people assumed killed in a military coup which preceded the Turkish invasion.

CNA MM/GP/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1100:CYPPRESS:02

[02] Fire put out on board British charter plane

An airport spokesman told CNA today that all 206 passengers are now in hotels in Larnaca awaiting to depart.

The captain of a Boeing 757 returned to Larnaca airport as a precautionary measure after a cockpit fire was put out, shortly after take off at 02.40 (23.40 GMT) this morning.

"The aircraft landed at 03.29 hours, airport services were put on alert and were ready to offer any assistance to the plane, and fire engines were at hand in case they were needed," the spokesman added.

No help was actually needed, as there was no cause for alarm and passengers disembarked from the aircraft without any problems, he said.

CNA MM/GP/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1150:CYPPRESS:03

[03] CNA Director dies

He was suffering from multiple sclerosis. Christofides had served in several public posts, including those of the Minister of Education and the Government Spokesman.

CNA/GP/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

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