Cyprus PIO: News Update in English, 96-10-31

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From: The Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office Server at <http://www.pio.gov.cy/>

News Update

31/10/96

CONTENTS

• [01] Warrants of arrest issued for the murder of Solomos Solomou
• [02] State Department protests shooting against British soldiers by Turkish troops
• [03] Green Line is an obscenity and a disgrace, says Portillo
• [04] Turkish refusal to allow education of Greek Cypriot children denounced

[01] Warrants of arrest issued for the murder of Solomos Solomou

Mr Markides said: "On Sunday, 20 October, I had a meeting with the Assistant Chief of Police, Mr Andreas Stephanou, and the Head of the Criminal Investigation Department to examine the progress of the investigations into the murders in Dherynia last August. We reached the conclusion that investigations in the case of Solomou justified the issue of warrants of arrest against five persons.

At the request of the Police, warrants were issued for the arrest of:

(1) Kenan Akin, a settler from Turkey, and so-called Minister of Agriculture and Forests of the pseudostate.

(2) Erdal Haciali Emanet, a settler from Turkey and Commander of Special Forces of the so-called Turkish Cypriot Police.

(3) Attila Sav, Chief of Police of the pseudostate.

(4) Hasan Kundakci, from Turkey, Lieutenant-General in the occupying army.

(5) Mehmet Karli from Turkey, Major-General and Commander of the 28th Division of the Turkish Army.

There are also other suspects, but there is no evidence yet as regards their identity.

As for the case of Tasos Isaac, investigations are still continuing. In this particular case, the Police has now got sketches of the suspects. These sketches were made by specialists and will be distributed, together with related photographs, to Interpol.

The case of Tasos Isaac has not proceeded as far as Solomos Solomou's for the simple reason that it was not possible to collect right from the start the information concerning the identities of those who appeared in the relevant films. In the past few days, however, there has been significant progress in this respect and we have reason to believe that we will soon have the necessary evidence regarding the identities of those who appear in the photographs".

[02] State Department protests shooting against British soldiers by Turkish troops

Burns told reporters on Wednesday 30 October during his daily briefing: "We think that the Turkish Cypriot security forces ought not to be firing at people when they stray a metre or two over a line. Unfortunately, a young Greek Cypriot was murdered this way a couple of months ago. We think this kind of thing should not happen again in the future. We join the British in protesting this."

He also read out this statement:

"Yesterday two British military engineers in uniform but riding a rented civilian vehicle were shot at by Turkish Cypriot security forces. The engineers were adjusting markers demarcating the British Sovereign Base Area, when they apparently strayed a few metres into the other side of the Turkish forces ceasefire line. The vehicle was hit twice, no one was hurt.

"The United Kingdom High Commission in Cyprus has protested this action. The Commander of the SBA is investigating this incident. From the circumstances as we understand them, the firing appeared completely unjustifiable. This incident once more underscores the need for the implementation of measures to reduce the potential for violence along the ceasefire line and the UN buffer zone".

In Nicosia the daily Cyprus Mail quoted Thursday (31.10.96) diplomatic sources as saying that the British Deputy High Commissioner "has made official representations to the Turkish Cypriot so-called "Foreign Minister" but has not received an apology.

"The Turkish side are not very good at apologising", the source added.

[03] Green Line is an obscenity and a disgrace, says Portillo

Portillo, who was speaking at the opening of a photographic exhibition on the demarcation line by Greek Cypriot photographer, Doros Partasides, held in the House of Commons, said: " We can see very poignant and very striking images of an island which has been divided by an obscenity, this terrible Green Line, which is the fissure between two communities, a line that people cannot cross".

He also said that Britain considers 1997 as the "year of opportunity" for a Cyprus solution and noted that during this year "all have to try very hard indeed to bring about the unification of the island".

He said that the island's wish to be part of the European Union may offer the possibility of movement for the future and that it would be easier for the island to enter the EU if it were united than if it remains divided.

[04] Turkish refusal to allow education of Greek Cypriot children denounced

In a letter to all European Union Ministers of Education, Angelidou said: "We strongly protest the violation by Turkey and its minions here of the basic human right to education of children at elementary level".

Two months into the school year, elementary school children are still without adequate number of teachers in occupied Cyprus where each of the three schools, operating under severe restrictions, have one teacher each.

"The illegal Turkish Cypriot regime tries in every way to hinder the despatch of teaching and educational material. These schools are in no way adequately equipped and lack even basic means of teaching", Angelidou said in her letter.

Greek Cypriot children (girls at 18 and boys at 16 ) are forced to leave their families in occupied Cyprus to continue their studies in the free areas as the illegal regime does not allow secondary schools to operate there.

This and other methods of harassment were a major factor for the depopulation of Greek enclaved areas under Turkish occupation since 1974.

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