Cyprus News Agency: News in English (AM), 99-03-28

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

CONTENTS

[01] EDEK leader - Athens

[02] Council of Europe - Cyprus

[03] President - Greek - Turkish Cypriots

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[01] EDEK leader - Athens

On Monday night he will present the problem of some 500 enclaved Greek Cypriots, living in the northern Turkish occupied part of the country, who endure many grave restrictions on their freedom of movement and their rights.

Lyssarides will then go to Messologi to outline the importance of Greece's resistance during its war of independence against Ottoman rule in 1821 in relation to the current situation in Cyprus.

CNA MM/GG/1999

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

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[02] Council of Europe - Cyprus

The Assembly meetings will discuss the crisis in Kosovo as a matter of urgency and deal with capital punishment in Europe, the arrest of Kurdish PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan and the need to increase economic cooperation in the Mediterranean region.

The Cypriot deputies, Panayiotis Demetriou and Doros Christodoulides, will participate in meetings of the Legal Affairs and Human Rights Committee, the Subcommittee of Immigration and the Political Committee as well as sessions of the Assembly's presidium and the Standing Committee.

CNA MM/GG/1999

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1335:CYPPRESS:03

[03] President - Greek - Turkish Cypriots

He also pointed out that both communities have suffered from past events on the island and expressed the view that people have become wiser as a result.

"What we are looking for is to be the winners, all of us, Greek and Turkish Cypriots, in the framework of a just, lasting and viable solution of the Cyprus problem," the President said in a message to the first conference of the Association of Volunteer Fighters for 1963-64, when intercommunal fighting broke out.

Expressing his wish to see Turkish and Greek Cypriots living together again, the President said "Turkish Cypriots are not our enemies, our duty is to protect the Cypriot state, restore lasting peace on the basis of justice and international law, and the principles of freedom, democracy and human rights."

Referring to the early 1960s period, shortly after the establishment of the independent Republic of Cyprus, the President said events of those days "have rendered us more mature and wiser" to help us handle political realities with the necessary political wisdom and responsibility.

"We have all suffered during the recent history and at the end of the day there are no winners and no losers. We have all lost," he added.

Intercommunal fighting erupted in late 1963 after Ankara rejected constitutional proposals by the late President Archbishop Makarios III, intended to resolve constitutional deadlocks.

A UN peace-keeping force arrived on the island in March 1964 and the UN mediator endorsed most of Makarios' views, and put forward proposals, which were rejected by Turkey again.

Turkish Cypriots withdrew into enclaves and seized a number of strategic sites. Ten years later, Turkish troops invaded and occupied Cyprus' northern areas. Turkey continues to maintain some 35,000 troops, effectively controlling this part of the island, and refusing to withdraw them despite repeated calls by the international community.

CNA MM/GG/1999

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

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