Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 96-08-13

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

CONTENTS

[01] Evidence to be collected on Issac's murder

[02] Cyprus Stock Exchange

[03] Leaders decide on war matters, not demonstrators, says spokesman

[04] Government wants "correct depiction of situation"

[05] Shock over Sunday's murder

1430 :CYPPRESS:02

[01] Evidence to be collected on Isaac's murder

This was stated here today by Attorney General Alecos Markides, after a 30-minute meeting with coroner Petros Vanezis, who has arrived in Cyprus to perform a post mortem on the body of the young Greek Cypriot. Markides stressed the state's interest for ''an in depth and objective investigation into the matter''.

''Only if evidence regarding the identity of the suspects is established can an arrest warrant be issued'' he explained.

The Attorney General said that once arrest warrants are issued Interpol will be informed and if the suspects are tracked down in countries with which Cyprus has an extradition agreement or cooperation, the Republic will ask for their extradition.

"The Cyprus Republic will certainly not ask for their extradition from Turkey or the illegal entity unilaterally established in the Turkish occupied areas of the island'', he stressed.

Asked if the suspects will be declared wanted based on photographs and film of Turkish extremists lynching Isaac, in order to establish their identity, Markides said ''every effort will be made.''

The possibility of these people being extremists from Turkey who, according to Turkish-Cypriot press reports were brought over to hold a counter demonstration, will also be looked into.

Markides did not rule out the possibility of the Republic taking the case to international fora, but said this is a serious issue that needs to be examined after investigations are completed.

He also noted Isaac's family can also take legal measures.

Isaac was beaten to death on Sunday during a demonstration held by Greek Cypriots in Dherynia, in the east of the island, demanding freedom of movement and the restoration of their human rights violated since Turkey invaded and occupied Cyprus' northern third in 1974.

The demonstrators faced a crowd of organised extremist Turks, on a counter-demonstration, who were armed with iron rods, stones and pieces of wood. Real gunfire was also shot against the unarmed demonstrators.

CNA MA/MCH/1996

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1630:CYPPRESS:02

[02] Cyprus Stock Exchange

CSE All Share Index                    86.68 (+0.65)

Sectural Indices

Banks                                  91.79 (+0.66)
Approved Investment Companies          79.50 (+0.89)
Insurance Companies                    66.16 (+0.55)
Industrial Companies                   88.83 (+0.43)
Tourist Industries                     80.83 (+1.81)
Commercial Companies                   73.04 (+0.90)
Other Companies                        88.55 (-0.23)

Trading Volume                         CYP 330019.720

CNA GP/KN/1996

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1710 CYPPRESS:03

[03] Leaders decide on war matters, not demonstrators, says spokesman

The Spokesman was also in no doubt about the readiness of the Republic's armed forces and its citizens to defend their country.

Arotis made these statements in response to press reports that the National Guard is capable of deterring a Turkish offensive in the UN controlled buffer zone.

The reports surfaced over speculation about Sunday's savage killing of a 24-year-old Greek Cypriot in the UN buffer zone when Turkish extremists attacked him with iron rods and wooden clubs during clashes in an anti-occupation protest.

Arotis said that there is no doubt that the National Guard, and Cypriots ''would defend their territory'' but noted the question was ''whether we should be drawn into a war with Turkey without completing all that is required by our joint defence pact with Greece and without the consent of the Greek government''.

The Spokesman also questioned the validity of the view that Cyprus should go to war with Turkey as a result of demonstrations, such as the one on Sunday.

''The responsibility for such serious decisions which concern the physical and natural survival of Greek Hellenism, belongs exclusively to the leadership of the island'', Arotis stressed.

Sunday's demonstrations followed the cancellation of the last leg of a ride by motorcyclists from Cyprus and Europe, who set off on August 2 from the once divided city of Berlin and was meant to finish in the Turkish occupied town of Kyrenia.

On Sunday morning President Glafcos Clerides advised the leadership of the Motorcyclists Federation to abort the last part of their ride, citing reasons of national security.

However, scores of disappointed bikers expressed indignation at the end of their long-awaited ride and demonstrated in various areas along the buffer zone. Scuffles broke out when Greek Cypriot protesters were confronted with Turkish Cypriots and Turks near Dherynia, on the eastern part of the island.

CNA EC/MM/1996

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1840 :CYPPRESS:04

[04] Government wants ''correct depiction of situation''

The Minister, however, stopped short of criticising a statement by UN spokeswoman Sylvana Foa on Sunday's demonstration and said the government will wait until an official report by the UN is issued on the matter.

Speaking at a press conference here today, Michaelides stressed in no uncertain terms that the presence of members of Turkish terrorist groups ''the Grey Wolves'' in the buffer zone and the firing of live ammunition by the Turks there should be noted by the UN.

''We are anxious to see that events and the situation on Sunday are depicted correctly and that the right messages are sent,'' he said, referring to serious scuffles that broke out between Greek Cypriot demonstrators and Turkish or Turkish Cypriots who confronted the protestors with iron rods, stones and wooden clubs.

One Greek Cypriot was killed by the Turks and 41 injured during the clashes, described by many as the worst since Turkish troops invaded and occupied Cyprus' northern part.

''If it is an error to enter the buffer zone, it is an even bigger error to shoot in the buffer zone, and even more so it is totally unacceptable to kill people in the buffer zone,'' the Minister said, and wondered whether it was the UN who controlled the buffer zone.

He said the government may look into the question ''of asking the UN to re-evaluate their mandate relating to the buffer zone. We want them to have the right mandate,'' he stressed.

He said the UN Security Council meets today in New York for a briefing on Sunday's events in Cyprus and said the government will assess the official UN position, once this is outlined in a report.

The demonstrators should not have entered the buffer zone but, he added, ''the reaction they got was criminal as there were people there ready to kill.''

Referring to the stand of UN peace-keepers when a Greek Cypriot was being beaten to death by Turks, he said that some UN officers (Irish civilian police and Austrians) had tried to help him and others were wounded.

Michaelides revealed that intelligence reports had clear evidence that Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash brought into occupied Cyprus more than 3.000 members of the ''Grey Wolves'' who landed in the Turkish occupied port of Kyrenia a few days before Sunday's rally.

''If this incident goes unnoticed, then Denktash would get the message that he can bring terrorists into occupied Cyprus again,'' he added.

The Minister appealed to those interested in the Cyprus question, including the US, Britain, Russia and the European Union, to ''redouble their efforts to settle the Cyprus problem''.

CNA MM/EC/1996

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1905 CYPPRESS:05

[05] Shock over Sunday's murder

In a letter to UN Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali, Kyprianou called on the UN to work with determination for a just solution of the Cyprus issue, based on respect of UN resolutions on Cyprus and the restoration of human rights and fundamental freedoms.

Kyprianou said the savage beating of Tasos Isaac, 24, from Paralimni and the brutality shown against other citizens of the Republic ''constitute a further example of the scorn Turkey and the Turkish Cypriot occupation regime show towards international law.''

The House President said Isaac's killers were members of the Turkish extremist organisation ''Grey Wolves'', brought to Cyprus and armed with the sole aim to brutally attack demonstrators.

In Greece, Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos joined in the international condemnation of Isaac's horrific murder.

In a message of condolences to the dead man's pregnant wife and family, Pangalos notes that Isaac's brutal murder under circumstances which shocked millions of viewers in Greece, has made him feel ''shame and deep grief''.

''I express outrage over the incident and I pay tribute to your husband and son's courage, which has made him a symbol of the struggle for freedom,'' Pangalos concluded.

Commenting on Sunday's events in Cyprus, Deputy Spokesman of the French Foreign Ministry, Yves Dutriaux, expressed sadness over the violence which resulted in Isaac's murder during Sunday's clashes.

Dutriaux reiterated France's desire for an overall and final political settlement of the Cyprus problem. He said France considers progress towards a Cyprus solution a necessity as part of Cyprus' prospective accession of the European Union.

The start of bicommunal talks, he added, could contribute to the adoption of measures which would reduce tension along the buffer zone.

CNA EC/MM/1996

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

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