Cyprus News Agency: News in English (AM), 99-07-12

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

CONTENTS

[01] Greek-American leader - Cyprus

1410:CYPPRESS:01

[01] Greek-American leader - Cyprus

Rossides had meetings with Cyprus President Glafcos Clerides, House of Representatives President Spyros Kyprianou and Foreign Minister Ioannis Kasoulides.

Speaking to CNA, Rossides said "I took the opportunity to give them my thoughts as to the situation presently in the US."

"I stressed that in view of the Kossovo situation it gave another opportunity to raise the level of the debate regarding Cyprus" and in view of the fact "that Turkey did worst to Cyprus than it was done by Serbia in Kossovo", adding that "it gives us another opportunity to move progress towards a proper solution".

Rossides said "another added point, that now is good time to take a special effort with the US, is in view of the forthcoming Presidential elections, which will take place in November in 2000".

The President of the Washington-based Greek-American organisation added "the view of the Institute is that the G8 must altered its vision, because unless it concentrates on putting the pressure on Turkey it will not succeed."

"The issue is not (Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf) Denktash. He is a puppet," he said, adding "you have to go after Turkey and you've got to recognise that Cyprus is an example of aggression and occupation".

Referring to the Yugoslav crisis, Rossides said "Kossovo gives us the opportunity to hammer that home, on this terrible double standard by the US and NATO regarding Cyprus. This is to the detriment of the US, is not in the US interest to continue the appeasement of Turkey".

Asked about the G8 initiative and the intercommunal dialogue, Rossides said "unless the US pushes the G8, to go after Turkey, you will not get much progress. We have the opportunity to say that Turkey has done worst in Cyprus than Serbia did in Kossovo, Turkey has done worst to Kurds than (Yugoslav President Slobodan) Milosevic did to Kossovo".

The Greek-American leader said his Institute "pointed out that Milosevic was indicted as a war criminal, so should (Turkish Prime Minister Bulent) Ecevit should indicted as a war criminal, for what he did in 1974, along with the Turkish military, who control Turkish foreign policy and national security policy under their constitution".

Turkish troops have been occupying 37 per cent of Cyprus territory since 1974, in violation of repeated UN resolutions calling for their withdrawal.

Some 200.000 Greek Cypriots, one third of the island's population, were forcibly uprooted from their homes and properties by the invasion troops while 1619 people were listed as missing persons.

CNA FZ/GP/1999

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

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