Cyprus News Agency: News in English (PM), 99-05-04

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

CONTENTS

[01] Cyprus - EU - France

[02] Cyprus Stock Exchange

[03] Greek Canadian youth - Play - Cyprus tragedy

[04] CoE Anti-Torture Committee - Visit to Turkey

1500:CYPPRESS:01

[01] Cyprus - EU - France

His comments come in response to press reports that France and to a certain degree the Netherlands are trying to link Cyprus' membership talks with efforts to solve the Cyprus question.

"Problems of a technical nature have been raised, they are brought to the forefront and will continue to appear at the talks," Serezis said.

Any problems that have come up in the recent past were dealt with, many with success, and others are on the way to being solved, he added.

France and the Netherlands are reported to press on with the view that it must be noted by the EU in writing that the Republic of Cyprus cannot guarantee the application of the acquis communautaire throughout the island.

Cyprus' division as a result of the 1974 Turkish invasion of the island prevents the internationally recognised government of the Republic to exercise its jurisdiction over the northern Turkish occupied part of Cyprus.

"It is only natural that problems of this nature are being brought up during discussions with the EU because of the particular circumstances Cyprus is facing," the spokesman said.

However, he noted that such problems are seen with understanding by EU member states and with decisiveness by the government.

Cyprus started substantive accession negotiations in November last year and has already concluded several chapters relating to the implementation of the acquis communautaire.

CNA MM/MA/1999

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1630:CYPPRESS:02

[02] Cyprus Stock Exchange

      CSE General Index                         128.62 ( 1.52)

      Traded Value            CYP 10,158,533

      Sectural Indices

      Banks                   CYP 4,009,520     166.86 ( 2.47)
      Approved Investment
      Companies               CYP 2,472,953      74.47 ( 0.81)
      Insurance Companies     CYP    84,279      74.90 (-0.05)
      Manufacturing Companies CYP   181,073      89.46 (-1.41)
      Tourism Companies       CYP   665,637      99.24 (-1.56)
      Trading Companies       CYP   312,581      48.97 ( 1.62)
      Other Companies         CYP   597,491      86.38 (-0.70)

CNA MA/1999

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1710:CYPPRESS:03

[03] Greek Canadian youth - Play - Cyprus tragedy

Toronto, May 4 (CNA) -- A play dealing with the enduring tragedies of Cypriot history and performed by young Greek Canadians moved scores of people in the audience to tears during its local debut Sunday night.

The play, performed to a packed theatre and prompting standing ovations, is one of a number of events planned by the Greek diaspora in Canada to mark the 25th anniversary of Turkey's invasion and continuing occupation of the northern part of Cyprus.

"Signs of National Consciousness" was written by Avra Tsambi, a local Greek-language teacher. She says she wrote it because she felt obliged to teach younger generations of Greek Canadians what truly happened in Cyprus.

"I know we've opened many wounds with this play. But our children must learn about history and the truth because only through this way will they feel proud about the heroes of tortured Cyprus," Tsambi says.

The play revolves around a young Greek Canadian student who, following a conversation with her teacher about the violation of human rights in Cyprus, falls asleep while researching Cypriot history.

In her sleep, the pages of the girl's history books come alive in her subconscious and she becomes an on-the-spot eyewitness to the island's most horrific moments.

The play weaves together the watershed moments in Cypriot history, from the fall of Nicosia during the Ottoman invasion of the island in 1571, to the 1955-59 anti-colonial struggle and the 1974 Turkish invasion, highlighting the suffering the island's people endured throughout.

It was performed by the Toronto Greek community's award-winning youth theatre troupe "Nefeli", under the direction of acclaimed director Nancy Athanasopoulou-Mylona.

The play was first performed two weeks ago in Chicago and garnered high praise for its emotional power from the Greek American community there.

"For me, the best way to learn history is when it is acted out in the theatre. History should be taught in a way that will give children an impactful visual effect," says Athanasopoulou-Mylona who grew up in Australia.

She says the play also underscores the topical issue of the west's "hypocritical" stance in confronting the aggression of the belligerent country against its weaker neighbour.

"The young actors, ranging in age from eight to 22, understood what happened in Cyprus and how important it is for us now, in light of what's going on in Yugoslavia, to raise our voices in unison and ask the world powers where they were when the rape and the killing was going on in Cyprus, " Athanasopoulou-Mylona says.

Tsambi and Athanasopoulou-Mylona researched the play by listening to the personal experiences of Cypriots now living in Toronto, something which had great impact on the children and their understanding of Cypriot history.

"When some Cypriots who went through the invasion and lost their homes spoke to us the children saw them crying and when they asked why we explained what these people went through," she said, adding "you have to convey the message directly into a child's world."

Tassos Mastorakos, a veteran actor with "Nefeli", says not many children were aware of the history of Cyprus, but the play will help change that.

"It's nice to see that now... they understand what this problem is about and can confidently take part in a discussion about Cyprus," Mastorakos says, acknowledging the theatre's effect as a potent teaching tool.

He adds that in one hour and 15 minutes "the audience learns not only the history, but feels the pain the people of Cyprus went through."

CNA MH/MA/1999

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1745:CYPPRESS:04

[04] CoE Anti-Torture Committee - Visit to Turkey

The European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT) delegation visited Turkey from 27 February to 3 March 1999 to review developments as regards the treatment and physical condition of persons deprived of their liberty by the police.

According to a Council of Europe (CoE) press release issued today "in its observations the delegation expresses concern about the methods employed in the Anti-Terror Department at Istanbul Police Headquarters."

In its observations the delegation notes that during its visit numerous allegations were received from persons detained "and certain of the persons concerned were found on examination by medical members of the delegation to display marks or conditions which were consistent with their allegations".

The observations are set out in a five-page letter sent to, Husrev Unler, Acting Director of the CoE and Human Rights Department at the Foreign Affairs Ministry.

Pointing out that "on more than one occasion in the past the CPT has drawn the Turkish authorities' attention to the intolerable methods employed in the Anti-Terror Department at Istanbul Police Headquarters", the delegation stresses that:

"Decisive action must be taken as of now to stamp out, once and for all, resort to such methods by police officers belonging to that Department."

Referring to Ocalan the CTP delegation notes that his "psychological state was not good" and stresses that "if left unattended his state of mind could lead to unfortunate consequences".

Making note of information forwarded by the Turkish authorities that Ocalan "has since been seen regularly by a psychiatrist," the delegation calls for additional measures "to counter the potentially negative effects of Ocalan's mental health of being held on his own in a remote location under a high security regime".

"Those measures relate inter alia to his possibilities for contact with the outside world and the precise nature of the regime applied to him, " the delegation adds.

It also says that Ocalan's access to radio, newspapers and books, visits by his relatives and adequate access to a lawyer should be ensured.

The delegation expresses, however, satisfaction "that his somatic health is good and that "at present Mr Ocalan is not at risk of physical ill-treatment".

CNA MCH/MA/1999

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

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