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Thursday, 21 November 2024
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Cyprus PIO: News Update in English, 96-11-25Cyprus Press and Information Office: News Updates in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office Server at <http://www.pio.gov.cy/>News Update25/11/96CONTENTS
[01] Arrest warrants issued for murder of Tassos IsaacCyprus police have issued arrest warrants against four Turkish settlers and two Turkish Cypriots in connection with the murder of unarmed Greek Cypriot protester Tassos Isaac, on August 11 during a demonstration in the UN- controlled buffer zone at Dherynia village. The Cyprus police requested Interpol's assistance for their arrest.Attorney-General Alecos Markides on Friday (22.11.96) said that the arrest warrants were conveyed to Interpol on Thursday. Speaking at a press conference Markides said all six suspects were identified in photographs. Isaac was beaten to death by extremists on August 11, when he was trapped in barbed wire in the buffer zone. The six persons against whom arrest warrants have been issued are: -Hasim Yilmaz, a Turkish settler and former member of the Turkish Secret Service who now owns a coffee shop in the Turkish-occupied town of Kyrenia. He was identified in photographs beating Isaac. -Neyfel Mustafa Ergun, 26 years old, a Turkish settler serving in the illegal Turkish Cypriot police, who arrived in the occupied areas when he was a child. He was identified at the scene of the crime. -Polat Fikret Koreli, a 17-year old Turkish Cypriot living in the occupied town of Famagusta. -Fikret Veli Koreli, Polat's father, a Turkish Cypriot from Paphos town and now in Famagusta, who works as a bicycle and motorcycle mechanic. -Mehmet Mustafa Arslan, 41 years old, a Turkish settler, leader of the Turkish extremist organisation "Grey Wolves" in the occupied areas, a Nicosia resident. There is evidence that the suspect participated in Isaac's murder. -Erhan Arikli, 40, a Turkish settler, form the former Soviet Union, living in the occupied areas for the last 10-11 years. Mr Markides said more persons were involved in the murder but for the time being there is no evidence as to their identity. However, he said police were continuing investigations to identify the remaining suspects. [02] Turkey's Human Rights violations in Cyprus condemnedCyprus' Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Nikos Agathocleous, speaking before the Third Committee of the United Nations on human rights, raised the issues of the enclaved, the missing persons and the buffer zone murders.He said that the human rights of the Greek and Maronite Cypriots living in the occupied areas are being violated on a daily basis. "Basic rights such as the right to freedom of movement, personal security, religion, education, health, are denied to the 654 persons remaining out of the 20,000 enclaved at the time of the Turkish invasion", he said. He added that the oppressive policies against the enclaved in the occupied area continue, despite the calls made by the Security Council. Recent examples, he said, were the refusal to allow a Greek Orthodox priest permission to conduct services for the enclaved and the refusal to allow the replacement of a Greek Cypriot elementary school teacher after the previous one retired, thereby leaving 31 pupils of all grades with one teacher in two classrooms. As regards the question of the missing persons in Cyprus, he said this problem is still unresolved. Although an investigatory committee started its investigatory work in 1984 no real progress was made towards the fulfilment of its humanitarian mandate. He stressed that the Cyprus government reiterates its appeal to all concerned for their assistance for a speedy resolution of this problem, to which end the co-operation and help of Turkey is essential and indispensable. Referring to the buffer zone murders, the Ambassador said that these vividly depicted the tragedy of this divided island and underlines the grave dangers emanating from the continuation of the status quo. "It must never be forgotten", he said, "that not to uphold international law and respect for human rights in one situation, sets a precedent for similar failure elsewhere". [03] The Cyprus government pays for Turkish Cypriots' university educationThe Cyprus government has decided to extend its payment of the tuition fees for Turkish Cypriots attending private educational institutions in the government-controlled areas of Cyprus, to cover tertiary education as well as primary and secondary education.[04] New Council of Europe rapporteur for CyprusHungarian deputy, Andras Barsony, a Vice President of the Council of Europe's Parliamentary Assembly and President of the Parliamentary Assembly's Political Affairs Committee was appointed on Thursday (22.11.96) as the Assembly's new rapporteur on Cyprus. He succeeds the late Lord Finsberg of Britain.[05] EU-Cyprus meeting starts in BrusselsThe 10th European Union-Cyprus Joint Parliamentary Committee starts in Brussels today. The Foreign Minister Alecos Michaelides and a 15-member parliamentary delegation have left the island to attend the two-day meeting.The meeting will deal with EU-Cyprus relations, the Cyprus question, the Intergovernmental Conference and the EU's Mediterranean policy. [06] We are on the right track, says Greek Defence MinisterGreek Defence Minister Akis Tsohatzopoulos has said that he returns to Greece satisfied that Greece and Cyprus are on the right track as regards their defence objectives.Speaking at a press conference at the end of his four day official visit to Cyprus, he said the joint Greco-Cypriot defence pact serves as a deterrent against possible Turkish expansionist designs on Cyprus, and is an invitation to all to back peaceful means for a settlement of the Cyprus problem. He also said that during his talks it was agreed that there are possibilities to improve and conclude the defence doctrine through promoting co- ordination and planning joint military exercises, training, arms purchases or technical matters. "Our defence capability must be complemented by a steady economic and social development which backs our ability to meet the cost of arms acquisition programmes", he added. He said that Greece will continue to work towards promoting the two basic aspects of our joint strategy, namely the effort for Cyprus to join the EU and the strengthening of Cyprus' defence capabilities. While in Cyprus the Greek Defence Minister also met with Foreign Minister Alecos Michaelides, House President Spyros Kyprianou and political party leaders. From the Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office (PIO) Server at http://www.pio.gov.cy/Cyprus Press and Information Office: News Updates in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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