Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 96-09-12

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From: "HR-Net News Distribution Manager" <[email protected]>

CONTENTS

[01] Socialist International calls for ouster Turkish troops.

[02] Israelis to appear before court

[03] Police receive report on Sunday's killing

[04] Four Israelis remanded in custody

[05] Clerides' letter to Denktash ''not a PR exercise''

[06] Cyprus Stock Exchange

[07] Clerides propose meeting on demilitarisation

[08] Four Israelis remanded in custody

[09] President addresses Cypriot businessmen

[10] No question for Turkish Cypriot interlocutor

[11] Australian MPs ask their government to condemn Turkey

[12] House President backs Clerides' proposal

1010:CYPPRESS:01

[01] Socialist International calls for ouster Turkish troops

Unlike other sections on world problems adopted by the world socialists in their final declaration only the language on Cyprus was forced to a separate vote.

When the Turkish delegate, Erdal Inonu, objected to the draft language the delegate from Cyprus, EDEK leader Vassos Lyssarides insisted to be put to a vote.

The objection was roundly defeated. ''Turkey was completely isolated'', Lyssarides said.

In his address, the Cypriot politician strongly condemned the 22-year occupation of Cyprus' northern third by Turkey and recounted recent events, including the cold-blooded murder exactly a month ago of two Greek Cypriot youths in the UN buffer zone.

The term ''elements'' in the declaration is understood to refer not only to the longstanding Turkish colonist settlers from Anatolia but pointedly also to the ''Grey Wolves'' terrorist organization based in Turkey, whose members took part in the recent buffer zone rampages that resulted in the two Greek Cypriot deaths.

The declaration said ''the Socialist International supports the accession of Cyprus to the EU and expresses its concern for the lack of progress and the continuing division of the island...''.

It called for ''respect of the independence, sovereignty, the territorial integrity of Cyprus and the safeguarding of the basic freedoms of the people''.

In other developments, the senior advisor to the UN Secretary-General Jimaya Gharekhan, briefed the Security Council on the shooting incident on September 8, in the vicinity of the British Sovereign Base Area that left one Turkish soldier dead and another wounded.

Council members called it a ''regrettable situation'', ''deplored the incident and called on both sides to refrain from any-actions that would escalate matters''.

CNA JD/GP/1996

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1030:CYPPRESS:02

[02] Israelis to appear before court

All four of them were handed to the authorities of the Republic Wednesday night after a UN request, a UN spokesman said.

A spokesman for the Israeli embassy in Nicosia told CNA today the embassy ''definitely did not request their return because Israel does not recognise the Turkish Cypriot regime.''

The UN spokesman described the return of the four Israelis to the authorities of the Republic as ''a step in the right direction.''

The spokesman said the UN had worked all day long on Wednesday to secure their return to the authorities of the Republic, and eventually following a ''slightly complicated operation, they were handed over to us and we delivered them to the Cyprus police.''

''The release was based on our request because the Israelis stormed a UN barrier and threatened our personnel and we requested their return since they had come from the government-controlled areas of the Republic,'' he added.

Two of the Israelis, Abi Biton, 21, and Shuki Samana, 24, escaped from a police car when their two accomplices, David Biton, 24, brother of Abi, and Shimon Amor, 28, freed the prisoners and fled to the Turkish-occupied areas of Cyprus.

Biton and Samana were in custody for illegal possession and circulation of forged US dollars. Police found in their possession more than 7,000 counterfeit dollars.

CNA MM/GP/1996

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1330:CYPPRESS:03

[03] Police receive report on Sunday's killing

The report was also handed to the British High Commission in Nicosia.

The six-page report, which covers events that occurred on Sunday within the SBA area only, is entitled ''Investigation in Confidence'' and its contents are confidential.

A soldier of Kurdish origin, serving with the Turkish occupation forces in occupied Cyprus, was found dead in his sentry post and another seriously injured in the same spot, which is in very close proximity to one of the British bases, Dhekelia, southeast of the capital Nicosia.

The Turkish Cypriot side has accused the Greek Cypriot side of carrying out the killing to avenge last month's brutal murders of two unarmed Greek Cypriot demonstrators in the UN buffer zone.

The Cyprus government has denied any involvement of either its National Guard soldiers or any other Greek Cypriot in the incident and called for calm.

The bases spokesman said none of the recipients have responded to the report and it is unlikely any of them would come back with queries or comments on its contents.

''We told them we would cooperate fully with all the authorities,'' the spokesman said.

Asked if the report established whether the dead soldier was killed on the site he was found or not, the spokesman said it was up to the Turkish Cypriot ''police'' to deal with this matter because the man was found in the Turkish-occupied area of Cyprus.

''The SBA is about 100 metres away from the sentry post where the dead soldier was found,'' the spokesman explained.

He said British police were initially given access to the spot after the UN invited them to carry out an on the spot investigation.

''The report recorded some footprints in the area similar to those found in SBA area,'' he added.

Referring to an explosive device, found some 250 metres away from the sentry post, the spokesman said an ammunition technical officer defused the device, which contained half a kilo of plastic explosives.

''This is an improvised explosive device and at present military specialists in the UK are carrying out forensic examinations on it,'' he said.

The forensic report will probably be ready in a week or two, he added.

The UN here, who also has a copy of the report, declined to make any statement or comment at this stage about the contents of the report.

CNA MM/GP/1996

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1455:CYPPRESS:04

[04] URGENT Four Israelis remanded in custody

Two of them were under police custody facing forgery charges and were taken to court yesterday, when the other two Israelis armed with a pistol and knife riding motorcycles intercepted the police car in a busy Nicosia street.

All four then escaped to the Turkish-occupied areas of Cyprus through Cyprus police and UN checkpoints, in Nicosia.

They are Abi Biton, 21, his brother David Biton, 24, Shuki Samana, 24, and Shimon Amor 28. (More later)

CNA GP/1996

1515:CYPPRESS:05

[05] Clerides's letter to Denktash ''not a PR exercise''

''The two-page letter was written on blank white paper by Glafcos Clerides and is addressed to Rauf Denktash,'' Cassoulides revealed.

Asked if the letter will be made public, the Spokesman said ''the letter is of a substantive nature and what matters is the purpose for which it was sent and not whether it will be made public or not.''

The letter was conveyed to Denktash yesterday through the UN Secretary-General's envoys on Cyprus.

Press reports have suggested that the President stops short of declining Denktash's call for a meeting with him as he considers such a move, at present, to be ineffectual and unnecessary because of the prevailing situation on the island.

The President is also said to have argued for a fundamental change in the situation before such a meeting takes place.

The Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation (CyBC) quoted reliable sources today as saying that in his letter, President Clerides counter proposes a meeting between him and Denktash to discuss his demilitarisation proposal.

According to this proposal, the National Guard must be disbanded and the Turkish occupation forces must be withdrawn from the island and be replaced by an international force to monitor peace.

Denktash made the call on Monday during a press conference in occupied Nicosia, only a day after a soldier serving with the Turkish occupation forces was found dead and another injured in their sentry post, close to the UN buffer zone, on Sunday.

Cassoulides also said the President has already briefed most political party leaders about the content of his letter to Denktash and intends to inform the remaining leaders.

Asked if the government might review its position on a proposed meeting between the President and Denktash or a joint statement by both men to help reduce tension on the island, Cassoulides replied ''speaking in general terms, politics are not static and neither are decisions.''

On this specific matter, he added, ''I reserve the right to reply.''

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

CNA MM/GP/1996

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1740:CYPPRESS:06

[06] Cyprus Stock Exchange

CSE All Share Index                    85.12 (-1.07)
Sectural Indices
Banks                                  92.11 (-0.58)
Approved Investment Companies          77.79 (+0.53)
Insurance Companies                    63.37 (-2.33)
Industrial Companies                   84.21 (-1.78)
Tourist Industries                     77.42 (-1.59)
Commercial Companies                   68.24 (-2.61)
Other Companies                        84.27 (-1.40)
Trading Volume                         CYP 492510.420

* The difference in brackets represents the percentage increase (+) or decrease (-) of the index from the previous stock exchange meeting.

CNA GP/1996

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1815:CYPPRESS:07

[07] Clerides proposes meeting on demilitarisation

Clerides' proposed meeting is included in a two-page letter conveyed yesterday to Denktash through the UN Secretary-General's envoys on Cyprus.

In his letter released today, President Clerides refers to a recent interview given by Denktash, in which he was reported as saying that a meeting should take place between them in order to cool the atmosphere and that it does not matter if they do not discuss the Cyprus problem.

''I fully share your view that steps are needed to cool the situation, but in my view such steps must be convincing,'' President Clerides told Denktash.

He expressed the view that a meeting between them at this stage and a joint statement would not be convincing and would not defuse the situation, but it would give ground for public arguments which would add to the tension.

President Clerides gave the reasons why he was holding this view.

He said ''there is indisputable photographic and other evidence that in the case of the murder of Solomos Solomou, which occurred on the 14th August, Mr Kenan Akin, a settler from Turkey, was aiming his pistol towards the direction of the victim and Mr Erdal Emanet, 'Police Chief Inspector and Commander of Special Forces', was actually firing his weapon on the victim.

''Present at the time, were also Attila Sav, 'Chief of the Turkish Cypriot Police', Lieutenant General Hassan Kundakci, Commander at the time of the Turkish Forces in Cyprus, and Major General Mehmet Karli, Commander of the 28th Infantry Division. Mr Kenan Akin was made 'Minister of Agriculture and Forests' on the Turkish side three days after the murder of Solomos Solomou.

''You will realise that, in so far as the Greek Cypriot community is concerned, a murder committed before so many officials and with the participation of some of them cannot be washed away by a meeting between us and by an appeal for calmness.''

President Clerides added in his letter to Denktash ''regarding the killing of one soldier and the wounding of another of the Turkish side, you have already drawn the premature conclusion and stated publicly that it was a revenge killing by the Greek Cypriot side, without waiting the result of the independent inquiry of the United Nations or the British Bases and without waiting the result of our investigations.

''May I remind you of a similar situation in 1975, where there was much greater tension than now. You telephoned me that a Turkish woman and her children were missing and that a revenge killing was suspected. Despite the great tension at that time, as Acting President of the Republic, I ordered an investigation. As a result, John Antoniou Vouniotis was arrested and tried by a Court. He was convicted and sentenced to death. President Makarios, who was a priest was against the death penalty, reduced his sentence to life imprisonment. He served his sentence. The conviction and sentence contributed greatly to the reduction of tension.

''May I also remind you that on another occasion when a Turkish Cypriot was fired upon and killed by a sentry of a National Guard camp, though one might have claimed that he was unlawfully trying to get into the camp, full compensation was paid to his family.''

President Clerides concluded his letter to Denktash saying: ''In my view, a convincing step which we can now take together and which will really permanently defuse the tension is to meet and discuss the issue of demilitarisation on the lines of the proposal I made in my letter to the Secretary-General on the 17th December 1993.''

The President attached a copy of his letter to the UN Chief. He also enclosed copies of the photographic evidence for the murder of Solomos Solomou.

President Clerides had proposed to disband the Republic's National Guard provided that the Turkish occupation forces would be withdrawn from the island simultaneously.

He suggested the establishment of an international force to monitor peace.

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

CNA GP/1996

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1830:CYPPRESS:08

[08] Four Israelis remanded in custody

Two of them were under police custody facing forgery charges and were taken to court yesterday, when the other two Israelis armed with a pistol and knife riding motorcycles intercepted the police car in a busy Nicosia street.

All four then escaped to the Turkish-occupied areas of Cyprus through Cyprus police and UN checkpoints, in Nicosia. They were handed over to the Cyprus authorities late last night, after UN intervention.

They are Abi Biton, 21, his brother David Biton, 24, Shuki Samana, 24, and Shimon Amor, 28.

The four face charges of illegal possession of arms, freeing detainees, carrying a knife, possessing weapon in order to cause fear, malicious damages and escape.

The court heard that while Abi Biton and Shuki Samana were yesterday, around 0900 local time (0600 GMT) being transferred in a police car to appear before the Assize Court, in Larnaca, David Biton and Shimon Amor freed them from police custody after threatening the police officers with a pistol and a knife.

Police investigator Stavros Karaolis described the way the four Israelis managed to pass from the Cyprus police and UN checkpoints and escape to the occupied part of Nicosia, as well as details of the procedure followed by the UN to hand them back to the Cyprus authorities, around 2100 local time (1800 GMT).

Defence lawyer Andreas Georgiou did not object to judge Eftychia Kolatsi's order for an eight-day remand order against the four Israelis.

Abi Biton and Shuki Samana will appear tomorrow before the Assize Court in Larnaca for illegal possession and circulation of forged US dollar notes.

CNA AP/GP/1996

1850:CYPPRESS:09

[09] President addresses Cypriot businessmen

The Cypriot President said liberalisation of the foreign exchange markets and interest rates will come into force with the minimum possible upheaval to the economy.

Furthermore, he reiterated his government's unwavering support to press on with Cyprus' accession to the European Union.

Addressing the Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Cyprus Chamber of Commerce and Industry, President Clerides noted that Cyprus meets the Maastricht convergence criteria and called for ''substantial investment in the technological upgrading of productive units and the production of new products and new services.

''The future success of the local economy depends basically on its export capabilities,'' Clerides said, noting that productivity must increase to help strengthen the competitiveness of Cypriot products.

He urged all those involved in the tourist industry, the main money-making industry on the island, to ''show a higher degree of professionalism'' in order to overcome current difficulties and face better future prospects.

On Cyprus' European orientation, the President said ''our course to the united Europe will be continued unwaveringly'' and remarked on the need to modernise the local financial system.

''The question of liberalisation of the foreign exchange market and the ceiling on interest rates, which are of vital importance, will be implemented gradually and with the required care and study so as to avoid problems or shocks to the economy,'' he said.

President Clerides called for a change in the prevailing attitude in some sectors, including the ports and the air transport.

Clerides said in the past three years there was ''a satisfactory rate of growth, inflation was reduced, full employment prevailed and living standards improved substantially.''

Outgoing KEBE President, Phanos Epiphaniou called for an ''outward looking policy to broaden horizons and possibilities for the expansion of Cypriot enterprises beyond the local market'' and stressed that the small and limited Cypriot economy will not suffer from market liberalisation and globalisation if properly prepared.

''Cyprus can neither influence nor change the flow of things but it can adjust promptly to new developments and utilise the time until its expected accession to the European Union,'' he said.

Epiphaniou warned all social partners not to remain ''sheer spectators of the changes'' but instead they should monitor them and prompt transformation of the local institutional structures.

''Only in this manner will we be able to play as a country a leading and definitive role in the area,'' he added.

KEBE President said the local financial, organisational and technological infrastructure must be modernised, and the quality of services in ports, airports, telecommunications, health and education should be upgraded.

He told President Clerides that he can count on KEBE's financial and political support to help him find a just, viable and balanced solution of the protracted Cyprus question.

The President of the Employers and Industrialists Federation Andreas Pittas said maintaining a sound economy was ''a must'' for Cyprus.

He urged on everybody to work towards full integration with Europe to facilitate Cyprus' membership of the EU.

CNA MM/GP/1996

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1950:CYPPRESS:10

[10] No question for Turkish Cypriot interlocutor

Government Spokesman Yiannakis Cassoulides dismissed suggestions that the government was separating Rauf Denktash from actions of the illegal regime in the Turkish-occupied part of the island.

Regarding recent tragic events on the island, the Cypriot official repeated that there is not a conflict with the Turkish Cypriot community.

The government revealed earlier this week the names of two of the killers of 26-year-old Greek Cypriot Solomos Solomou, who was shot by civilians and soldiers from Turkey, during a peaceful anti-occupation demonstration, in the UN-controlled buffer zone in Dherynia, on August 14.

Cassoulides replied negatively to a question whether there is any problem for the Turkish Cypriot interlocutor.

Rauf Denktash is recognised as the leader of the Turkish Cypriot community.

''We do not wish to close all avenues and efforts leading to the search of a peaceful Cyprus solution'', the Spokesman added.

Commenting on a remark that the Denktash illegal regime has in its high ranks people, who were involved in the brutal killings of Greek Cypriots, Cassoulides acknowledged that this fact creates difficulties.

However, he noted if a future dialogue were appropriately prepared, aiming at a peaceful solution and the reconciliation of the two communities ''we will participate.''

Turkey, whose troops have been occupying 37 per cent of Cyprus territory since 1974, has blocked all UN efforts for a solution to the protracted Cyprus problem.

CNA AP/GP/1996

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

2010:CYPPRESS:11

[11] Australian MPs ask their government to condemn Turkey

Australian Labour party MPs Lawrie Brereton and Lindsay Tanner along with ruling Liberal party MPs Paul Zammit and Ross Cameron, supported Monday a Brereton's draft motion, expected to be approved later this month.

The motion condemns the presence of Turkish troops in Cyprus, noting ''it has no place in an international climate of reconciliation and cooperation''.

It urges the Australian government to ''take the lead in insisting on the international community to take immediate steps to promote a just solution based on relevant Security Council resolutions, including incentives to encourage progress in negotiations.''

Addressing the Canberra House all four MPs referred to last month's Turkish atrocities in the UN buffer zone, in Dherynia, as a result of which two Greek Cypriot youths were brutally murdered by Turkish occupation troops and extremists. They noted these reflect the tragic reality in Cyprus for the past 22 years.

Brereton stood for Cyprus' demilitarisation and strongly attacked Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer's ''passive attitude'' in his ''explicit'' reference to the withdrawal of all foreign troops from Cyprus.

Zammit, in his turn, stressed ''any reflections I make on the actions of the Turkish government on this specific issue is distinct from any reflection on the Turkish Cypriots.''

Tanner called on the House plenary to deplore the loss of the two youths, noting they were victims of unjustified aggressiveness by the Turkish occupation forces.

Ross Cameron noted Britain's responsibility for today's tragedy in Cyprus and expressed hope to ''see this small island achieve its destiny as a demilitarised, federated, sovereign member of the community of nations.''

Cyprus has been divided since July 1974 when Turkish troops invaded and occupied 37 per cent of its territory.

CNA AP/GP/1996

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

2050:CYPPRESS:12

[12] House President backs Clerides' proposal

Clerides' suggestion to discuss his demilitarisation proposal with Denktash was put forward in a two-page letter addressed to the Turkish Cypriot leader. The letter, which was conveyed yesterday by UN envoys, was released to the press today.

Kyprianou, who is the leader of the centre-right Democratic Party, the island's third largest and a government partner, described Clerides' demilitarisation proposal as ''very good'' but, he said, the Turkish side rejected it.

The Cypriot President had suggested to disband the Republic's armed forces, the National Guard, provided that the Turkish occupation troops would be withdrawn from the island simultaneously and be replaced by an international force to monitor peace.

Kyprianou was speaking to the press after meeting UN Secretary-General's Special Envoy on Cyprus Han Sung Joo, who is currently on the island holding talks on the Cyprus problem with both sides of the divide.

''The general picture I have is that the Turkish side has not changed its stance,'' the House President remarked.

Referring to the substance of the Cyprus propblem, Kyprianou expressed the view that there should be no high-level meeting between President Clerides and Denktash before a common ground was achieved on the basic aspects of the Cyprus problem.

The UN envoy said he had a ''very good, in depth '' discussion with Kyprianou, regarding the Cyprus problem. ''I benefited a great deal from this discussion,'' he noted.

The former South Korean Foreign Minister avoided to comment on President Clerides' demilitarisation proposal.

Han will have a second meeting with President Clerides tomorrow. He will have a similar meeting with Denktash Friday afternoon.

He will also see the ambassadors of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council and the ambassadors of the European Union member-states in Nicosia.

He leaves on Monday for talks in Athens and Ankara before flying on to New York.

Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkish troops invaded and occupied 37 per cent of its territory.

CNA KN/GP/1996

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

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