Cyprus News Agency 96-07-09.

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From: Giorgos Zacharia <[email protected]>

CONTENTS

[01] Protests against assassination of Turkish Cypriot journalist

[02] Greek-Americans will vote for Clinton on conditions

[03] Greek planes had permission to fly over Cyprus says Michaelides

1350:CYPPRESS:01

[01] Protests against assassination of Turkish Cypriot journalist

Nicosia, Jul 9 (CNA) -- Turkish Cypriots were protesting today with work stoppages throughout the Turkish-occupied northern part of Cyprus against the assassination of prominent Turkish Cypriot columnist, Kutlu Adali.

Adali, 61, columnist with ''Yeni Duzen'' daily, was shot dead on Sunday by an unknown assailant outside his home in the Turkish-occupied part of Nicosia.

The Turkish Cypriot daily ''Kibris'' reported yesterday that it received a phone call from an unknown person, claiming that Adali was assassinated by the ''Turkish Revenge Brigade (TIT)'', an underground terrorist organisation of Turkey's right-wing fascist Grey Wolves group.

Adali was known as a harsh critic of the pseudo-state and its policy implanting Turkish settlers in the occupied areas. He also advocated the withdrawal of Turkish troops, the common values of Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriots, human rights and the freedom of thought.

Three days after his assassination, political parties, unions, organisations and associations in the occupied areas continue to issue statements condemning the assassination. They also warn that the situation in the occupied areas has reached the point of no return.

Twenty unions were due to stage a two-hour work stoppage from midday today, when Adali will be buried while shops will close for two hours.

At the same time, Rauf Denktash, the occupation regime's leader in statements published today in the Turkish Cypriot press, claimed he was ''worried'' about the escalation of violence in the occupied areas, but refused to blame the Turkish settlers. Instead, he cast the blame on unemployed and poor Turkish nationals who visit the occupied areas for a day or two.

However, he rejected calls for passport control even for those who enter the occupied areas from Turkey but called on Turkish Cypriots to cooperate with the so-called ''Police'' to fight the crime.

Denktash also wondered why the assassination took place now that there is mobility on the Cyprus problem. He went on to say that this kind of crimes make the Greek Cypriots look as though they are the ''champions'' of the rights of the Turkish Cypriots.

He even claimed that if there are people who are eager to start political terrorism and assassinations, they should know that they ''back the wrong horse'' and that they ''will lose the game and be destroyed''.

Meanwhile, ''Yeni Duzen'' reported today that the organisation TIT, which claimed responsibility for the murder, was also responsible for the murder of Ferhad Tepe, of the Kurdish paper ''Ozgur Gundem'' issued in Turkey. The organisation's name was also involved in the murder of another journalist.

Adali's murder is regarded as the last blow to the situation in the Turkish-occupied areas. Statements issued by political parties and various organisations indicate that the reverberations of the murder will continue.

The Central Executive Committee of the Republican Turkish Party (RTP), strongly condemned Adali's murder and called on those people who say ''I want to exist in this country as a free and democratic person and as a Turkish Cypriot'' to protest accordingly.

The Turkish Cypriot Secondary Teachers Union said ''the time has come for the Turkish Cypriot community to break its silence and say enough is enough''.

The Democratic Party, the National Unity Party and the Communal Liberation Party spoke of ideological assassinations and escalation of events.

Former RTP President Ozker Ozgur said the assassination was a challenge to those who defend the existence and the identity of the Turkish Cypriots.

KTAMS, the Human Rights Association, the Turkish Cypriot Journalists Union, the Peace Association, the Artists and Writers Union and other associations issued statements condemning the association.

The newspapers in the occupied north carried the news of the murder with headings such as ''We will not be silenced. Ideas cannot be assassinated'', said ''Yeni Duzen''.

''Ortam'' said ''It is enough'', while ''Vatan'' said ''Damn it''. Pro Denktash ''Kibris'' said ''Political Murder''.

Born in Nicosia in 1935, Adali completed his education in Antalya, south Turkey. He published his first poems in 1955 and wrote about the Turkish Cypriot customs and traditions.

After working in the so-called ''civil service'' in the Turkish-occupied areas, Adali became a columnist in ''Yeni Duzen'' in 1987. His column was named ''Blue Cyprus Notes''. He was also one of the founding members of the Cyprus Peace Association.

Adali attacked the chauvinist Turkish administration in the occupied areas, accusing it of being guilty of every crime in the occupied areas. He often questioned whether crimes for petty things such as bracelets, or a few pounds were committed before 20th July 1974 when Turkish troops invaded and occupied 37 per cent of the island's territory.

Recently, he said ''in the coming 20 years, it will be difficult to pinpoint a single Turkish Cypriot. Denktash is justified in taking so much pride in his work''.

Adali was dismissed from the ''civil service'' when during his capacity as ''official'' of the illegal Department of Registrations, he admitted that the transfer of population from Turkey, which started after the invasion, ''affected the demographic structure of Cyprus''.

CNA EC/GP/1996

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1445:CYPPRESS:02

[02] Greek-Americans will vote for Clinton on conditions

Athens was speaking after a meeting with Cyprus President Glafcos Clerides, whom a three-member delegation briefed on the outcome of a three-day meeting of CHA European branch, that ended in Nicosia on Monday.

CHA President said President Clerides and the Greek-Americans share the belief that time is ripe for the Greek-Americans to press hard to help Cyprus government reach a Cyprus solution.

He noted that the US government has begun exerting ''more pressure'' than before for a Cyprus settlement and said the Greek-Americans are not pleased with former US Presidents' stance on the issue.

Athens explained ''the pressure will be even greater'' and expressed the hope that the Cyprus issue will move forward before the US presidential elections, in November.

Asked about the Greek-Americans' reaction, in case Clinton's administration does not achieve any progress before the elections, CHA President underlined ''we will not vote unless we are sure President Clinton listens to us and helps.''

''When we are sure President Clinton will do something (for a Cyprus solution) then we will assist him a great deal'', Athens said.

Delegation-member, Head of National Co-Ordinated Effort, Andy Manatos, referred to President Clinton's recent letter to Greek-American leaders, where he recognised the adverse effect that the Cyprus problem has for Greek-Turkish relations and the overall stability in the region.

Manatos noted that in the US President's letter one can notice ''a few things he had not said before'' and said this is ''a step forward''.

He added ''some things show a new commitment by the US administration'' and named Madeleine Albright, the US Permanent Representative to the UN, as ''a cabinet-level person involvement'' in the issue.

Commenting on Albright's July visit to Cyprus Manatos said she is coming ''because the President wants to heighten this issue''. He added that Albright is very familiar with the Cyprus problem and has been ''deeply involved'' in it for twenty-two years.

CNA MA/AP/GP/1996

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1715:CYPPRESS:03

[03] Greek planes had permission to fly over Cyprus says Michaelides

Michaelides was commenting on representations made by the US to the government of Greece about the flight of Greek warplanes over Cyprus during military exercises as part of the Joint Defense Dogma signed between Cyprus and Greece.

Speaking to journalists after the meeting of the Council of Ministers, Michaelides stressed that ''Greek planes had the permission of the Cyprus government and have not violated the island's airspace.''

He also said that if there is one country that has been violating Cyprus' sovereignty for the last 22 years that is Turkey which still unlawfully occupies 37 per cent of the island's territory.

Turkish warplanes have repeatedly violated Cyprus' airspace, Michaelides said, noting the two most recent violations, over the south-western district of Paphos, during which photographs were taken, and over the Turkish occupied areas.

Michaelides said it is understandable that the US worries about the situation on the island but stressed that the answer to Greek and Turkish planes flying over Cyprus would be president Glafcos Clerides' proposal for the demilitarisation of the island.

Meanwhile, Greek Government Spokesman, Demetris Repas, said that his government has rejected the representations made by the US and stressed that the problem in Cyprus is that of continuing Turkish occupation of the northern part of the island.

He also said the Joined Defence Dogma between Cyprus and Greece remains a basic element of Greek defense policy.

CNA MCH/RG/1996

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

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