Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 96-08-12

Cyprus News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

From: "HR-Net News Distribution Manager" <dist@hri.org>

CONTENTS

[01] Greece condemns Turkish barbarity

[02] Turkish soldiers abduct two young men

[03] UN envoy blames government for buffer zone incidents

[04] US Ambassador shocked by buffer zone killing

[05] Protracted problem creates potential for violence

[06] Cyprus Stock Exchange

1040:CYPPRESS:01

[01] Greece condemns Turkish barbarity

The Turks brutally beat to death 24-year-old Tasos Isaac, from Paralimni, who was taking part in a peaceful anti-occupation demonstration yesterday in Dherynia area. More than 40 other demonstrators were injured.

Expressing his government's support to Cyprus' struggle for a just solution to its political problem, Greek Government Spokesman Demetris Reppas stressed that the Turkish occupation regime displayed its barbarity by attacking the demonstrators in the most ferocious manner, killing one of them and injuring many others.

Greek opposition New Democracy party praised the responsible and calm reaction of Cyprus' political leadership and expressed grief over the slaughter of the young demonstrator.

Antonis Samaras, President of the ''Political Spring'' party, said the international community has become an accessory to the ferocious crimes committed by the Turkish occupation forces against unarmed civilians by acclaiming the leader of the Turkish occupation regime, Rauf Denktash, equal status to that of the legitimate Cyprus government.

The Greek Communist Party expressed its anger for the fact that Turkish chauvinists turned a peaceful demonstration into a bloodshed.

The left-wing Alliance party said yesterday's events reminded the world that the Cyprus problem is a question of invasion and occupation.

Grief for the slaughter of Tasos Isaac was also expressed by Greek National Defence Minister Gerasimos Arsenis who, in a message to President Glafcos Clerides, said Turkish barbarity requires serious thinking on the part of the international community.

Meanwhile in Constantinople (Istanbul), Turkey, around 500 Turks attacked the Greek Consulate, causing damage to cars parked outside. The demonstrators were later dispersed by Turkish police, the Athens News Agency reported.

According to press information the demonstrators were members of the extreme right-wing group ''Grey Wolves''. The Greek government will make representations to the Turkish Foreign Ministry for the attack.

CNA MCH/GP/1996

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1420:CYPPRESS:02

[02] Turkish soldiers abduct two young men

The incident follows the brutal killing yesterday by Turks of Greek Cypriot Tasos Isaac, 24, from Paralimni, during a peaceful anti-occupation demonstration in Dherynia area. More than 40 other demonstrators were injured.

The Cyprus government was making representations to the UN to secure their release.

The Cyprus police told CNA that Greek Cypriot Kyriacos Hadjidimou and Greek national Christos Zaharopoulos, were on their way to the Famagusta district, in the southeastern part of this east Mediterranean island.

The two men had taken a road leading to Famagusta through one of the two sovereign military Bases (Dhekelia) Britain has retained in Cyprus, since the island won its independence from the UK in 1960.

Cypriot Senior police officer Simos Andreou informed the UN of the incident and asked for their immediate release, CNA Larnaca correspondent reported.

He adds that members of the UN Peace-Keeping Force in Cyprus visited the two men illegally held at a ''police station'' in the Turkish-occupied town of Famagusta.

British Bases spokesman Tony Warner told CNA that the British police did not see their car go through and nothing is written down in the log they keep.

He said the British police ''were informed of the fact by the Turkish army, that detained them'' and said ''the incident was also confirmed by a UN soldier''.

Warner said the two men might have gone in through one of the tracks west of the Strovilia region, in the Bases.

The British Bases spokesman noted the Bases ''have no power to stop people'', from going into the areas Turkey occupies since its invasion of 1974, ''but make it their duty, if someone looks lost, to ask them their business and warn them they are going towards a Turkish military checkpoint''.

CNA MA/GP/1996

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1500:CYPPRESS:03

[03] UN envoy blames government for buffer zone incidents

Feissel was speaking after a meeting today with Foreign Minister Alecos Michaelides to discuss yesterday's events that resulted in the death of 24-year-old Tasos Isaac, who was lynched by Turks carrying flags of the far-right extremist group of ''Grey Wolves''.

''This is no time for incrimination but I will stand with point number one'', Feissel said. ''If the government side had done its job completely and effectively of course people would not be in the buffer zone in the first place.

''So, if you want to ask why this happened, much of that has to be why they got there in the first place'', Feissel added, saying ''it was the responsibility of the government to ensure that the National Guard cease-fire line is not violated.''

Noting that ''to be fair one has to look at things in its entity and not pick a small aspect of it and draw conclusions from that'', Feissel said ''to provide people a little part of the picture is not good journalism.''

Concerning the lynching of the Greek Cypriot youth, Feissel questioned whether the man shown on film to be attacked by Turks, beating him with iron rods and stones was the one who has been reported dead.

''No one has given us any formal information'', he said, adding ''the only thing that was on TV was that you saw some people being beaten, but we cannot know from that whether one of those three was the poor fellow who died,'' he said.

''I am not sure anybody witnessed this incident from our side'', he said, noting however that information concerning the identity of the dead man is not difficult to be ascertained.

Feissel answered to criticism concerning the behaviour of UN Peace-keeping Force (UNFICYP) soldiers, by describing it as ''moderate'' and one of ''extreme patience''.

He said If you look at the film in Dherynia, even though there was no excuse for what happened to the poor man, this was not a church picknick that was going on in the buffer zone. This was a violent demonstration, both Greek and Turkish Cypriots were throwing stones all over the place.

The UN official said once all information is gathered about the incidents it will be submitted to New York and things will proceed from there.

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

CNA MCH/GP/1996

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1600:CYPPRESS:04

[04] US Ambassador shocked by buffer zone killing

Asked to comment on yesterday's events at Dherynia, during which one Greek Cypriot demonstrator was killed and more than 40 were injured by Turkish extremists, Brill said he viewed them as ''extremely tragic and unfortunate.''

Speaking after a meeting with Foreign Minister Alecos Michaelides, during which they ''discussed yesterday's tragic events'', Brill said he believed they underscored ''as President (Glafcos) Clerides has said, the importance to move forward for a just and comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus issue'' and stressed the need to avoid this kind of incidents in the future.

Asked on the death of 24-year old Tasos Isaac, who was lynched to death by Turkish extremists, many of them carrying flags of the far-right ''Grey Wolves'' group, Brill said the matter is going to be looked into.

''Frankly, I am not competent to address it at this point but clearly what we saw on TV yesterday shocking and absolutely uncalled for'', the US Ambassador said.

CNA MCH/GP/1996

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1740:CYPPRESS:05

[05] Protracted problem creates potential for violence

Expressing concern over yesterday's events at Dherynia, during which a 24-year-old Greek Cypriot demonstrator, Tasos Isaac, was killed and over 40 injured by Turkish extremists, Madden said he condemns both the killing as well as ''other acts of violence that took place yesterday.''

Admitting that the Cyprus problem has remained unsolved for too long a situation that allows for the potential of violence, Madden said Britain wants ''to see a peaceful solution'' and is working very hard towards this direction.

''The international community has not forgotten about the Cyprus problem, far from it'', he said, adding that ''there is more interest perhaps than ever in getting a solution to the Cyprus problem.''

Madden said British Representative for Cyprus Sir David Hannay will continue his efforts in coordination with the UN Secretary-General, and noted that ''there are opportunities for making progress in the coming period.''

Agreeing that ''it is certainly time'' for the international community to act on the Cyprus problem, Madden said if he ''drew any conclusion about the appalling things that went on yesterday, it is that efforts need to be redoubled to find a peaceful settlement.''

Commenting on the cancellation of the motorcyclists' anti-occupation ride at the very last moment yesterday, Madden said there was ''a warning in advance by UN Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali about the consequences of the demonstration going ahead.''

Welcoming President Cleride's decision and the agreement of the organisers of the ride not to go ahead with its final phase, Madden said it was very wisely made ''on the basis of that message from the UN Chief and other messages received.''

Asked whether the message is that demonstration for human rights should be cancelled every time the Turkish occupation regime threatens with the use of violence, Madden said this was not his message. ''Everyone has the right to demonstrate. It is a proper right to exercise'', he said.

''No one is asking you to forget, but I think that what we and others have been trying to do, is to try to bring a just, peaceful and lasting settlement of the Cyprus problem. That is what the international community would like to see'', the British Ambassador added.

Asked whether Isaac's murderers will be apprehended, Madden said the matter will be examined closely ''and we will certainly raise it to the appropriate manner with those who might be involved.''

CNA MCH/GP/1996

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1750:CYPPRESS:06

[06] Cyprus Stock Exchange

CSE All Share Index                    86.12 (+0.83)

Sectural Indices

Banks                                  91.19 (+1.15)
Approved Investment Companies          78.80 (+1.04)
Insurance Companies                    65.80 (-0.26)
Industrial Companies                   88.45 (0)
Tourist Industries                     79.39 (+0.54)
Commercial Companies                   72.39 (+1.43)
Other Companies                        88.75 (+0.49)

Trading Volume                         CYP 172584.280

CNA GP/1996

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

Cyprus News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article