Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 96-08-14 (3rd UPDATE)

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

CONTENTS

[01] UN envoy condemns shootings

[02] Clerides comments on demonstrations

[03] Britains contemns buffer zone killings

2150:CYPPRESS:15

[01] UN envoy condemns shootings

Earlier today Turkish soldiers killed one Greek Cypriot youth, the second in three days, when he tried to lower the Turkish flag during a peaceful anti-occupation demonstration in the UN-controlled buffer zone. Eleven other people, including the British UN peace-keepers, were wounded from Turkish bullets.

In statements to the French News Agency (AFP), Feissel condemned the shootings. He said ''the shooting from the Turkish Cypriot side is totally unjustified''.

Furthermore, he said the Commander of the UN Peace-keeping Forces in Cyprus (UNFICYP), Finish General Ahti Vartiainen, went to the occupied areas to protest to the Commander of the Turkish occupation troops, Hasan Kundakci.

Greek Cypriot Solomos Spyrou Solomos, 26, a refugee from the Turkish-occupied Famagusta, was shot after he broke through barbed wire in the UN-controlled buffer zone at Dherynia, in eastern Cyprus, and climbed up a flagpole to tear down the Turkish flag.

AFP quoted an Italian photo-journalist, Antonio Russo, who was within metres of the incident as saying:

''A Turkish officer walked up, very relaxed, with a pistol and shot the young person like a hunter, like an executioner'', he said.

In a further display of the Turkish provocation, Kundakci, who heads the 35.000-strong Turkish occupation force, claimed ''we do not have an eye on anyone else's land and we won't let anyone with bad intentions into our territory'', AFP quoted him as saying.

He further claimed that ''those who try to enter by force are punished. This should be known very well.''

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

The new incidents occurred less than an hour after the burial of Tasos Isaac, savagely beaten to death on Sunday by Turkish extremists while Greek Cypriots were demonstrating peacefully in the same area.

Black clad Solomos, a relative of Isaac, was one of hundreds of Greek Cypriots, who marched to the Dherynia checkpoint, which borders the Turkish-occupied Famagusta town, to protest his cousin's brutal killing and demand the withdrawal of the occupation force from his homeland.

CNA EC/GP/1996

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

2210:CYPPRESS:16

[02] Clerides comments on demonstrations

In statements to the press after meetings with the National Security Council (NSC) and political leaders, the President emphasised that the island can not be led into military confrontation by people who have no real knowledge of the situation.

He added such a decision could only be taken by the governments of Cyprus and Greece.

President Clerides had called an extraordinary meeting of the NSC to examine the situation after today's incidents.

In a written statement, the NSC expresses its belief that the situation after Wednesday murder of a 26 year-old unarmed Greek Cypriot by Turkish troops ''continues to be tense''.

The Council said ''taking into consideration Turkey's expansionist plans, irresponsible acts which may lead to military confrontation can not be allowed to continue.''

Today's incidents followed the burial of 24-year-old Greek Cypriot Tasos Isaac, who was savagely murdered by Turkish extremists, in the UN-controlled buffer zone in Dherynia, in eastern Cyprus.

The Council also believes that measures taken ensure that ''any attempt by Turkish occupation troops to advance will be dealt with effectively.''

The statement notes that President Clerides recognises the bitterness and indignation felt by the people, but ''calls upon them to be calm and self-restraint''.

President Clerides stressed that the government is handling the protracted Cyprus problem with the appropriate ''seriousness and responsibility''.

The President extended his condolences to the family of Solomos Spyrou Solomos, who was killed today by the Turkish troops and expressed sympathy to the 11 people injured, including two UN peace-keepers.

CNA MA/GP/1996

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

2245:CYPPRESS:17

[03] Britain condemns buffer zone killing

In a statement, the FCO said it ''strongly condemned the killing of another Greek Cypriot demonstrator, out of all proportion to the provocation''.

It also deplored the wounding of British UNFICYP peacekeepers.

The FCO called on both communities (Greek and Turkish Cypriot) ''to refrain from violence, respect the buffer zone and thereby avoid further confrontation, in accordance with United Nations Security Council resolutions and the statement made by the President of the Security Council yesterday''.

Furthermore, it said Britain ''will be discussing today's events with all interested parties, including the UN''.

At the same time, it noted that ''these incidents reinforce the urgency of international efforts to find a political settlement in Cyprus''.

CNA EC/GP/1996

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

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