Cyprus News Agency: News in English (AM), 98-11-14

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

CONTENTS

[01] Rolandis - World Travel Market

[02] Marcoullis - Honourary Citizen - Texas -

Austin

[03] Kaklamanis - Cyprus visit

[04] Protest - Ocalan's arrest

0840:CYPPRESS:01

[01] Rolandis - World Travel Market

During his five-day stay in the British capital, Rolandis will meet with travel agents.

The Minister will be accompanied by the President and General Director of the Cyprus Tourism Organisation, Andreas Erotocritou and Fryne Michael.

CNA MA/MCH/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1030:CYPPRESS:02

[02] Marcoullis - Honourary Citizen - Texas - Austin

Marcoullis briefed Governor Bush on recent efforts for progress towards reunification of Cyprus, and on the Republic's process for accession to the European Union.

The Cyprus Ambassador gave a lecture at the University of Texas on the Cyprus problem and the Republic's accession process to the European Union.

Speaking before a large audience of students and faculty of the University, she stressed that the basic objectives remain reunification of the island and establishment of a viable federation based on democratic principles and respect for human rights, meeting the particular concerns of both the Greek and Turkish Cypriot communities.

She also added that it is important to implement the comprehensive proposal for the complete demilitarization of Cyprus proposed by President Glafcos Clerides.

The result, she explained, will be enhanced security and prosperity for all the people of Cyprus.

Marcoullis analysed the many benefits that would result from Cyprus' accession to the EU, pointing out that it is seen as "a catalyst in efforts towards a solution of the island's political problem, a view shared by the European Commission, the UN Security Council and the EU member states".

She also said that "membership itself would provide the best safeguard for the viability of a solution, affording increased security and prosperity for all Cypriots".

Marcoullis also expressed the hope that Cyprus will be next "in the high priority agenda of the American government to end the occupation and division of the island".

The Ambassador also visited Houston where she discussed the Cyprus issue with the Director of the Baker Institute for Public Policy at Rice University and visited the Byzantine Chapel at the DeMenil Foundation, which houses rare frescoes from a church in the Turkish occupied area of Cyprus.

The frescoes were bought and restored by the Foundation from Turkish smugglers and are exhibited in Houston with the consent of the Church of Cyprus which remains their legal owner.

Ambassador Marcoullis also discussed current developments on Cyprus with local officials, the Pancyprian Association of Texas and the media.

CNA MK/MCH/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1205:CYPPRESS:03

[03] Kaklamanis - Cyprus visit

During his stay, Kaklamanis, will be received by President Glafcos Clerides and Primate of the Greek Orthodox Church of Cyprus, Archbishop Chrysostomos.

He will also have separate meetings with his Cypriot counterpart and political party leaders or parliamentary representatives.

The Greek Speaker will be the main speaker at an anti-occupation gathering organised by the Kyrenia Bishopric and the Union of Municipalities, Associations and Organisations of the Turkish-occupied Kyrenia district to protest against the illegal declaration of the Turkish- occupied areas of the island into a so-called independent entity.

The puppet state unilaterally proclaimed in the Turkish-occupied northern part of the island 15 years ago is not recognised by any other country but Turkey, whose troops have been occupying 37 per cent of the island's territory since 1974.

UN Security Council resolution 541 (1983) "considers the declaration as legally invalid and calls for its withdrawal," while it "calls upon all states not to recognise any Cypriot state other than the Republic of Cyprus".

CNA MCH/GP/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1415:CYPPRESS:04

[04] Protest - Ocalan's arrest

The demonstrators distributed leaflets relating a history of Turkish oppression against the Kurdish people and chanted slogans such as "freedom for Kurdish national leader Ocalan" and "Turkish troops out of Cyprus".

"The PKK (Kurdish Workers' party) has supported peace in a period when the Turkish state pursued belligerent and provocative tactics that have risked a full-scale conflict engulfing the whole of the Middle East Middle East," the Kurdish announcement read.

Pointing out that Kurds are fighting for their fundamental human rights, a Kurdish spokeswoman said that "if Ocalan is considered a terrorist then the world should consider all Kurds as a nation of terrorists".

Left-wing AKEL Secretary General, Demetris Christofias, reaffirmed the protestors of his party's support to their struggle, stressing that AKEL stands by their side, "not because they are fighting against the Turkish state, but because they are fighting for their freedom and human rights".

Christofias said his party believes the struggle of the Kurdish people is "a just struggle against human rights violations and for principles safeguarded by the UN Charter".

He also attacked the US and all those who "claim that liberation struggles are terrorist acts".

AKEL has sent a telegram to the Prime Minister and Justice Minister of Italy, calling for the granting political asylum to Ocalan.

Meanwhile, New Horizons party issued a statement expressing its solidarity to the Kurdish people and demanding political asylum for Ocalan.

"Cypriots know all too well that charges against Ocalan are not criminal but political," New Horizons stress and call upon the people and political leadership of Cyprus to actively demand respect for Ocalan's human rights.

The Kurdish protestors along with their compatriots in other countries started a hunger strike demanding their leader's release.

CNA RM/MCH/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

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