Cyprus News Agency: News in English (PM), 99-07-15

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

CONTENTS

[01] Parliament - Coup - Commemorative session

[02] Australia - Opposition leader - Turkey

[03] City of New York Council - Cyprus

[04] Cyprus Stock Exchange

[05] AKEL - Resolution - UN

[06] Cyprus - Tremor

1510:CYPPRESS:01

[01] Parliament - Coup - Commemorative session

The junta toppled Makarios on July 15 and only five days later, July 20, using the protection of the Turkish Cypriots as a pretext, Turkey, a guarantor power of the independence of Cyprus, invaded the island, occupying 37 per cent of its territory.

Turkey continues to maintain a 35.000-strong army in the island's northern third, in violation of repeated UN Security Council resolutions calling for the withdrawal of the occupation troops.

The House observed a one-minute silence for those killed during the twin crime against the Republic of Cyprus.

Opening the session, House President Spyros Kyprianou said today's anniversary is a day for all Cypriots to undertake their responsibilities "because the future of their children and grandchildren is at stake."

He said that under today's circumstances "we cannot reach an ideal solution of the Cyprus problem", adding that an acceptable solution should secure conditions of unity.

Referring to efforts to promote a confederal solution, contrary to UN resolutions, Kyprianou expressed the hope that during tomorrow's National Council meeting the party leaders will take specific decisions to try to avert this development.

Leader of ruling right-wing Democratic Rally party, Nicos Anastasiades outlined that his party believes that we should not be willing to give up everything to the Turks because "our vision and principles" do not allow us to.

Noting that the memories of the coup and the invasion are still alive, Anastasiades called for a united domestic front with the "sole aim the interest of our homeland."

Left-wing AKEL General Secretary, Demetris Christofias said the difficulties which confront the Cyprus problem "should not lead to acts of desperation", adding that his party views with scepticism the initiative on Cyprus by the Group of Eight most industrialised nations.

He assured that AKEL will continue the struggle against the occupation and division for a peaceful reunification of the island which will safeguard the human rights of the people and will make Cyprus independent, federal and prosperous.

Centre-right Democratic Party Parliamentary Spokesman, Tassos Papadopoulos said "Turkey, without hesitation, was the first in 20th century Europe to implement the inhuman plan of ethnic cleansing."

Papadopoulos said Cyprus should continuously "remind all those who hypocritically care about the ethnic cleansing in Kosovo that Cyprus was the first victim of a policy of ethnic cleansing in the 20th century by their valuable ally, Turkey."

Socialist EDEK party leader, Vassos Lyssarides said "at last it is the time to examine carefully the international and regional scene and determine a complete strategy."

Lyssarides stressed that "we should make clear that we will not accept a dialogue based on confederation or the recognition of separate entities."

United Democrats Deputy, Androulla Vassiliou pointed out the responsibilities of today's political leadership against tomorrow's generation.

"The curse which has been bestowed on Cyprus a quarter of a century ago continues to affect the lives of the whole of the people of Cyprus and to create serious concerns about the future," she added.

President of the Eurodemocratic Renewal Party, Alexis Galanos stressed the need for bold decisions, noting there is still time for unity and resistance.

"We should send the message to all directions that the Turkish Attila nor any other enemy will find again a divided people" in Cyprus, Galanos said.

CNA FZ/MK/RG/EC/GP/1999

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1600:CYPPRESS:02

[02] Australia - Opposition leader - Turkey

In a letter to Turkey's Ambassador in Canberra, Rann said the Turkish government "in its absolute refusal to abide by UN Security Council and UN General Assembly resolutions on Cyprus has shown that it has not been prepared to behave as a responsible member of our international community."

"I would urge your government to consider its international reputation and now make some bold steps towards resolving the Cyprus problem," Rann said.

The Australian MP called on Ankara to accede to the latest UN resolution providing for unconditional talks for a settlement on Cyprus.

He referred to his proposal to have a debate on Cyprus "as a keynote issue" at the forthcoming Commonwealth summit in Cape Town later this year.

"I will continue to raise publicly the government of Turkey's flagrant violations of international law at every forum and opportunity both within Australia and overseas," he said.

Rann reminds Turkey that it has to abide by a decision by the European Court of Human Rights to pay compensation to a Greek Cypriot for continuous violation of her human right to enjoy peacefully her property.

CNA MM/MCH/1999

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1700:CYPPRESS:03

[03] City of New York Council - Cyprus

An estimated "200 million US dollars worth of American military equipment is deployed by the Turkish government in its illegal occupation of Cyprus", the proclamation says, noting that the "expense of maintaining Turkish troops in Cyprus equals half of America's more than 500 million US dollars of annual foreign aid to Turkey."

The proclamation was handed to Greek Cypriot organisations and Cyprus' Consul General, Pandia Eliades by Council Speaker, Peter Vallone, during a gathering Wednesday to mark the 25th anniversary of the Turkish invasion.

"The Turkish Cypriot leadership, with the encouragement and backing of the government of Turkey, has refused to respond in a positive manner to the UN Secretary-General, frustrating all efforts for a negotiated solution, " the proclamation adds.

It stresses that the "US strongly opposed Turkey's continuing occupation of Cyprus which is in contravention of numerous UN resolutions."

Council of the City of New York Speaker Vallone said the US should exert their power to restore freedom and human rights in Cyprus.

CNA EC/MCH/1999

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1705:CYPPRESS:04

[04] Cyprus Stock Exchange

      CSE General Index                         184.91 ( 3.80)

      Traded Value            CYP 16,399,993

      Sectural Indices

      Banks                   CYP 4,376,549     236.89 ( 3.50)
      Approved Investment
      Companies               CYP   361,242      87.84 ( 1.39)
      Insurance Companies     CYP   510,854      91.56 ( 2.91)
      Manufacturing Companies CYP 1,323,559      96.23 ( 2.77)
      Tourism Companies       CYP 2,063,189     167.16 ( 5.88)
      Trading Companies       CYP 1,793,760     103.84 ( 6.92)
      Other Companies         CYP 1,621,954     159.46 ( 4.96)

CNA MCH/1999

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

2000:CYPPRESS:05

[05] AKEL - Resolution - UN

The petition was approved here Thursday, during a rally organised by AKEL to mark the 25th anniversary of the coup d'etat against the government of President Makarios and the Turkish invasion of Cyprus which followed five days later.

AKEL "condemns the Turkish invasion and continued occupation of a significant part of the territory of the Republic of Cyprus in flagrant violation of fundamental principles of international law, the Charter of the UN and the treaties of 1960."

It denounces Turkey's policy of ethnic cleansing in Cyprus and the colonisation of the occupied areas with Turkish settlers which "has already altered significantly the demographic structure o the island."

Expressing deep concern over the continuing drama of the relatives of the missing persons as well as over the living conditions of the enclaved, it requests Kofi Annan to contribute to the implementation of the relevant agreements "to promote the resumption of the process aiming at verifying effectively the fate of the missing persons."

There are more than 1600 Greek Cypriots missing since the 1974 Turkish invasion while the number of the enclaved Greek Cypriots has dwindled from 20.000 to 500 since the invasion due to Turkish authorities policy of ethnic cleansing in the occupied areas.

AKEL strongly rejects demands by Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash for a confederation of two states on the island and stresses that:

"The solution of the Cyprus problem should be based on a single sovereignty and international personality and single citizenship, with its independence and territorial integrity safeguarded and comprising two politically equal communities as described in UN Security Council resolutions in a bicommunal and bizonal federation."

CNA EC/MCH/1999

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

2015:CYPPRESS:06

[06] Cyprus - Tremor

No injuries or damage has been reported so far. The epicentre of the quake was in the sea, some 40 km south-west of Paphos, a statement by the Geological Department said here Thursday.

CNA EC/MCH/1999

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

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