Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 96-09-17

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CONTENTS

[01] US concerns over Cyprus situation

[02] Killed husband's wife gives birth to baby-girl

[03] Ghali ''very concerned'' about military build up

[04] Australian Federal House approves resolution on Cyprus

[05] No word about US moves towards Ankara

[06] US statement incomplete, government says

[07] Cyprus Stock Exchange

[08] Popular Bank records favourable results

[09] Turkey expected to account before European Parliament

1010:CYPPRESS:01

[01] US concerns over Cyprus situation

Responding to a CNA question regarding rumors in Cyprus about possible provocative actions by the Turks and the tension these rumors create, Burns said: "We are concerned about the situation in Cyprus, because we've seen political violence this past summer...''

The spokesman referred to the killing of one Greek Cypriot youth and one Turkish soldier. He did not refer to the murder of the second Greek Cypriot youth.

Tasos Isaac, 24, was savagely beaten to death by Turkish extremists and so-called policemen of the occupation regime, during a peaceful anti-occupation demonstration in the UN-controlled buffer zone, in Dherynia, eastern Cyprus, on August 11, 1996.

Three days later, Solomos Solomou, 26, was shot and killed in the same place by Turkish troops and agents, when he tried to lower the Turkish flag. More than 50 other people, including two British UN peacekeepers, were injured.

On September 8, a soldier of Kurdish origin of the Turkish occupation army was found dead and a second injured in their observation post on the demarcation line.

Burns said the perpetrators of those crimes should be found and brought to justice.

The State Department spokesman said the United States is concerned with the climate that is now prevailing in Cyprus, and that the Americans are trying hard to help.

He said the US ambassador in Nicosia Kenneth Brill and other US officials involved ''in our Cyprus policy are trying very hard to do what the United States can do to be a positive influence.''

The American official pointed out that messages have been sent to the Cypriot government and to both Greece and Turkey.

''There have been diplomatic messages sent to the Cypriot government, to the communities on Cyprus, and to Greece and Turkey about this, and we'll remain very active,'' he added.

Furthermore, a State Department official said it is highly unlike that US Defence Secretary William Perry conveyed any message regarding Cyprus during his visit to Turkey.

Asked by CNA whether the US administration fears of another heated incident on the island, Burns responded ''we certainly hope that these incidents will not be repeated. There can be no justification for taking life because you have a political difference with someone, and we've seen that twice now. We've seen a Turk killed, and we've seen a Greek Cypriot killed, and both crimes are indefensible.''

The State Department spokesman expressed the hope that Greece and Turkey will work together on the Cyprus problem.

''I think you know that the United States would hope that Turkey and Greece would work together on the problem of Cyprus. That has not always been the case. It has not been the case over the last couple of decades, and we've working very hard towards the end.''

Regarding press reports for possible attack on the ship which transfers armaments to Cyprus, the spokesman did not have anything to say.

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

CNA DA/GP/1996

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1040:CYPPRESS:02

[02] Killed husband's wife gives birth to baby-girl

Anastasios (Tasos) Isaac, 24, was savagely beaten to death on August 11 by Turkish troops and extremists, during a peaceful anti-occupation demonstration, in the UN-controlled buffer zone, in Dherynia, eastern Cyprus.

Tasos and Maria, 19, got married one and a half month before his brutal murder.

Around 0800 local time (0500 GMT) today the victim's wife gave birth to a baby girl at the Polyclinic ''Lito'', in Paralimni.

Doctor Michalis Petralis told CNA that he performed the delivery through a caesarian section. Maria and her daughter are in good health.

Black-clad relatives and other people are visiting Maria in the clinic.

Last Sunday, a memorial service was held at St. Georgios Church in Paralimni for Tasos Isaac and his cousin Solomos Solomou, 26, who was shot and killed by Turkish troops and agents, on August 14, during a second anti-occupation demonstration in Dherynia.

CNA AP/GP/1996

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1420:CYPPRESS:03

[03] Ghali ''very concerned'' about military build up

In a report on UN work, presented ahead of tomorrow's opening of the UN General Assembly, Ghali expresses ''grave concern'' about the excessive levels of military forces, armaments and expenditures on both sides in Cyprus.

The UN Chief is also worried about ''the rate at which these are being expanded, upgraded and modernised.''

The report refers to the ''impasse in the negotiating process'' which, Ghali said, prevented his mission of good offices.

Developments, outlined in the report, include an informal meeting of the UN Security Council in April, the appointment of Ghali's special envoy for Cyprus Han Sung-Joo in May and Ghali's separate meetings in June with President Glafcos Clerides and Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash.

''Tension increased following the fatal shooting of a National Guard soldier in June,'' the report said and added that Ghali called for renewed efforts to reach agreement with the parties to take reciprocal measures to lower the tension along the buffer zone.

Ghali called for the extension, without delay, of the 1989 unmanning agreement to all parts of the buffer zone where their forces remain in close proximity to each other.

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

1450:CYPPRESS:04

[04] Australian Federal House approves resolution on Cyprus

A draft motion on Cyprus was tabled last week in the Canberra House by opposition Labour Party MP and shadow Foreign Minister Lawrence Brereton.

The resolution 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.''

Brereton underlined that Australia is duty bound to take this lead, at a time it is seeking a non-permanent seat in the UN Security Council.

The Australian Parliament deplores the recent tragic outbreak of communal violence in the UN buffer zone in Cyprus.

The motion condemns the presence of Turkish troops in Cyprus' occupied north and notes this ''has no place in an international climate of reconciliation and cooperation.''

It describes the present status quo on the island as ''unacceptable'' and deplores the fact that more than 22 years after the 1974 Turkish invasion ''Cyprus remains artificially and tragically divided'' with no lasting political settlement still in sight.

The Australian Parliament calls for the withdrawal of all foreign troops from Cyprus and commends the efforts of the UN Secretary-General to resolve the dispute in a just and viable manner.

The unanimous resolution reaffirms the Australian Parliament's ''total support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Republic of Cyprus, as the only legitimate authority on the island.''

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

1430:CYPPRESS:05

[05] No word about US moves towards Ankara

''We have been in contact with the US Administration which recommended that tension must be defused. We fully backed such a position and have always advocated this line of thinking in the past few weeks,'' Cassoulides told the press.

The Spokesman's comments come after increasing speculation in the press that US President Bill Clinton had called on Ankara to help reduce tension in Cyprus.

Emotions were running high among the Greek and Turkish Cypriot sides since last month's brutal murders of two unarmed Greek Cypriot demonstrators by Turkish extremists and June's murder, by the Turkish army, of a National Guardsman who had entered the UN buffer zone unarmed.

Earlier this month, the discovery of a dead Turkish soldier in his sentry post, near the buffer zone, under rather mysterious circumstances did not help reduce tension on the island. The Turkish Cypriot side was quick to blame the Greek Cypriot side for the killing but has so far produced no evidence to back its claims.

Cassoulides said that US ambassador to Cyprus Kenneth Brill had meetings with the Cyprus government when the killings took place but did not recommend a reduction in arms.

Earlier moves by the US ambassador to the UN, Madeleine Albright, had called on the military chiefs of the National Guard and the Turkish occupation troops to hold talks on ways to reduce tension along the demarcation line, dividing the island.

The Cyprus government accepted Albright's proposal for a military dialogue, which has so far not taken place because of Turkish Cypriot demands to be present at the talks. MM/MA/1996

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1650:CYPPRESS:06

[06] US statement incomplete, government says

US State Department spokesman Nicholas Burns mentioned on Monday the killing of ''a Turk and a Greek Cypriot'' in the past couple of months, but made no reference to another murder of a second Greek Cypriot by the Turks in August, or the unwarranted killing of a National Guard soldier in June by the Turks.

None of the Greek Cypriots was armed when they were killed in the UN controlled buffer zone, dividing this eastern Mediterranean island.

''Mr. Burns, the US State Department spokesman, would have been more correct if he had put things in the right perspective. There is something lacking in his statement,'' Cassoulides told his press briefing today.

''The US State Department must not forget either the killing of the unarmed National Guardsman or the brutal murders of the two Greek Cypriot demonstrators,'' Cassoulides pointed out.

He noted that the killing of the Turkish soldier on September 8 took place under mysterious circumstances which leave many questions unanswered.

''Findings relating to this murder do not justify the view that the Greek Cypriot side is responsible for the killing. We have absolutely no indication that this act was committed by our side,'' Cassoulides said.

The Turkish soldier, of Kurdish origin, was found dead in his sentry post, together with another injured soldier. Apparently only ''officials'' of the self-styled illegal regime have seen the body of the dead man.

Replying to questions, Cassoulides did not think Burns was trying to even out the various events that have shaken Cyprus in the past few weeks and said ''I would not like to believe that there was any intention to ignore important events.''

CNA MM/MA/1996

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1710:CYPPRESS:07

[07] Cyprus Stock Exchange

CSE All Share Index                    84.10 (-0.63)
Sectural Indices
Banks                                  90.97 (-0.84)
Approved Investment Companies          76.87 (+0.64)
Insurance Companies                    62.33 (-0.49)
Industrial Companies                   83.73 (-0.04)
Tourist Industries                     75.93 (-1.50)
Commercial Companies                   67.90 (+1.34)
Other Companies                        83.02 (-1.41)
Trading Volume                         CYP 517107.399

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

CNA MM/1996

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1915:CYPPRESS:09

[08] Popular Bank records favourable results

''Operating costs recorded a 13,2 per cent increase over 1995 figures and reached 18,2 million Cyprus pounds (one pound is about two US dollars),'' Lazarides told a press conference.

Profit to shareholders, he said, rose to nearly ten million pounds, up by one million over 1995 figures.

''The Group's operations focused on quality service, technological advancement and high profitability, in addition to our policy to upgrade our overseas operations,'' Lazarides added.

The Bank operates seven offices in Greece, six in the UK, four representative offices in Australia, one in South Africa and one in Canada.

In the past six months, the Bank announced the establishment of a new sister insurance company, ''Cyprialife,'' whose operations have been very successful to date, the chairman said.

He also welcomed the Bank's cooperation with Fidelity Investments in mutual funds and said more details about the deal will be revealed next week.

Commenting on Cyprus' economy, Lazarides said ''prospects are not that encouraging and many financial indicators show a downward tendency, while unemployment is rising in industry, agriculture, manufacturing and tourism.''.

The rate of inflation is expected to be around 3,2 per cent, he added.

Lazarides called for a change in the traditional tourist policy, which for years has depended on selling Cyprus as a sun and sea resort, and argued for diversity and improved quality.

CNA MM/MA/1996

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

2055:CYPPRESS:10

[09] Turkey expected to account before European Parliament

The Parliament is also expected to call for a freeze of European Union funds to Turkey because of human rights violations in the country.

A draft resolution, under discussion at the Euro Parliament, declares that ''human rights violations which continue to be perpetrated in Turkey contradict the spirit and letter of the EU-Turkey customs union agreement.''

The resolution also decides to ''start the process of registering in the reserve the credits relating to the financial agreement between the EU and Turkey.''

Furthermore, it calls on the EU Commission to ''block immediately all the foreseen credit of the European programme MEDA for funding projects in Turkey'' except those concerning the promotion of democracy and human rights.

It also ''strongly condemns the murders of Tasos Isaac and Solomos Solomou by Turkish soldiers and Turkish paramilitaries and demands the arrest and the condemnation of those who participated in the murders.''

Greek Cypriot demonstrators Isaac, 24, and Solomou, 26, were brutally killed by Turkish extremists during last month's demonstrations against the continuing Turkish occupation of part of Cyprus.

The draft resolution calls on Turkey to implement UN resolutions on Cyprus and demands the withdrawal of ''military occupation forces'' in Cyprus.

''It considers the start of accession negotiations between Cyprus and the EU six months after the Intergovernmental Conference now more necessary than ever,'' the resolution adds.

Diplomatic sources told CNA here that should the plenary of the European Parliament adopt the draft text, it would be one of the most damning resolution against a third country.

CNA NB/MM/MA/1996

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

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