Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 96-10-03

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CONTENTS

[01] CoE Rapporteur calls for ''logic and sanity''

[02] Cyprus Defence Minister flies to Greece

[03] Cyprus expects new proposal on military dialogue

[04] Suspected murderer in occupied Cyprus

[05] Cyprus Stock Exchange

[06] Clerides congratulates Herzog on Day of German Union

[07] Joint Defence Pact answer to Turkish expansionism

[08] House President calls for effective pressure on Turkey

1200:CYPPRESS:01

[01] CoE Rapporteur calls for ''logic and sanity''

Nicosia, Oct 3 (CNA) -- The Council of Europe Rapporteur for Cyprus, Lord Finsberg, believes that ''logic'' does not play much part in the politics of the Greek and Turkish Cypriot sides, which are called upon to display ''sanity'' if they wish to settle the protracted Cyprus question.

He also thinks that the European Union may act in a ''punitive manner'' against either the Greek or the Turkish Cypriot sides, if it considers their behaviour inappropriate during negotiations on the Cyprus problem or membership talks.

The Rapporteur of the Political Committee of the Parliamentary Committee of the Council of Europe reveals that there is a recommendation to a proposal to invite the Turkish Cypriots to discussions at CoE Assembly and refers to the missing persons whom he believes to be dead.

He slams the tactics of the Turkish Cypriot side in the occupied areas describing them as ''demographic cleansing'' and sees the Cyprus-EU accession negotiations as an ''incentive'' for an overall settlement which ''may hold the key to progress.''

In his preliminary report on the situation in Cyprus, Lord Finsberg expresses ''despair for the future because both communities defy the UN quite blatantly'' and rebuffs both sides for their stance during talks on the UN-proposed Confidence Building Measures.

''To date every effort has been rebuffed by one party or the other or both! The EU negotiations may help to knock heads together,'' the report said.

The EU may warn the Cyprus government that ''accession may not take place while the UN is defied'' and tell the Turkish Cypriots that ''failure on their part to negotiate an overall Cyprus settlement based on the UN proposals might speed up the entry of Cyprus.''

The report also sends a message of rebuff to Turkey that if the illegal Turkish Cypriot regime in occupied Cyprus ''took the decision to try and integrate with Turkey, Turkey would need to consider her own position when wishing to join the EU.''

A footnote by the author of the report states quite categorically that reference to ''TRNC'' (Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus) does not ''imply any recognition'' and stresses that the ''only state recognised by the Council of Europe is the Republic of Cyprus.''

Lord Finsberg believes that both sides ''bear a share of the responsibility for their (absence of agreement on UN measures) failure,'' and adds ''I would not wish to ascribe blame more to one side than the other,'' noting that had the UN been ''tougher'' an agreement would have been reached on the UN-proposed Confidence Building Measures.

''If there is a will on both sides to forget - not forgive -the past and draw up a new constitution based on a federal bizonal, bicommunal state along the lines discussed ad nauseam, there is hope for the people of this unhappy land,'' the report says.

''If not, then whatever fate befalls this island can be laid at the door of the leaders of both communities who failed their peoples'', it adds.

Lord Finsberg, however, expressed the hope that his ''blunt words will be seen as a cry for sanity'' and not a personal attack on President Glafcos Clerides and Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash, whom he describes as men of ''integrity.''

''Any one who has followed the unhappy Cyprus saga for over a quarter of a century would be a foolish person if he imagined logic played much part in the politics of the two communities,'' Finsberg said.

The draft report, divided into six sections, ''strongly condemns'' the murders of two unarmed Greek Cypriot demonstrators by Turkish troops during anti-occupation protests in the UN buffer zone, in August.

The report refers to President Glafcos Clerides' idea to set up an international force, as part of his demilitarisation proposal, and notes that such a force can ''possibly be modelled on IFOR in Bosnia'' and the idea can be explored as an element of a comprehensive settlement.

Noting that the state of the economy in the occupied areas of Cyprus continues to deteriorate, Lord Finsberg calls on the government of the Republic to consider relaxing ''some of the trade barriers to halt the economic decline in the North and stabilise the population balance.''

Turkey, he adds, must refrain from ''encouraging its citizens to settle in Northern Cyprus.''

On human rights issues, the British official acknowledges ''demographic cleansing'' in Turkish-occupied Cyprus and notes the many problems some 500 Greek Cypriots living there are facing.

He urges both sides on the island to ''refrain from using the tragic fact (that sadly all the missing have died) for propaganda purposes.''

Referring to Cyprus' prospects for EU membership, Lord Finsberg dismisses Turkish Cypriot fears that Greek Cypriots will not work for a settlement if EU membership is guaranteed.

But he warns both sides that the EU may ''delay Cypriot membership'' if it considers that the government of Cyprus ''is not genuinely negotiating with the Turkish community'' and stresses to the Turkish Cypriots that it will not ''permit a Turkish communal veto to prevent membership'' if that community is ''unreasonable.''

In his conclusions, Lord Finsberg advocates participation of Turkish Cypriots in Assembly Committee meetings when Cyprus is being discussed.

''There is a recommendation to give effect to this,'' he says, which would give ''a great advantage of widening the political aspect.''

The preliminary report is subject to further discussion and possible amendments before it goes before the Plenary for final approval. Lord Finsberg is expected to visit Cyprus later this month.

CNA MM/GP/1996

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1330:CYPPRESS:02

[02] Cyprus Defence Minister flies to Greece

The Cypriot Minister will also have a meeting with Greece's National Defence Minister Akis Tsohantzopoulos.

This will be the first meeting between the two Ministers. Tsohantzopoulos was appointed to the post last month. He replaced Gerasimos Arsenis, who took over the Ministry of Education.

Eliades and Tsohantzopoulos will discuss matters of mutual interest with emphasis on the joint defence pact agreed upon by the two governments in 1993.

Cyprus and Greece have joined forces to face Turkish expansionist designs against the two countries.

Greece's Prime Minister Costas Simitis, who left Cyprus yesterday after two days of talks, reiterated his warning that there would be a war between Greece and Turkey, if the Turkish occupation troops advance towards the government-controlled southern part of this east Mediterranean strategic island.

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

Minister Eliades told the press on Tuesday that the Greek air-force and navy will take part in the National Guard annual military exercise code-named ''Nikiforos'', which starts tomorrow in the free areas of the Republic.

At the same time, the Greek armed forces will be involved in the annual military manoeuvres code-named ''Toxotis''.

Both exercises will take place within the framework of the Greco-Cypriot joint defence pact.

CNA GP/1996

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1400:CYPPRESS:03

[03] Cyprus expects new proposal on military dialogue

This was said by Government Spokesman Cassoulides, who was answering a question whether the issue of a military dialogue is expected to be raised again when UN Secretary-General's Resident Representative Gustave Feissel returns to Cyprus, later this month.

The proposal for a military dialogue between the commanders of the National Guard and the Turkish occupation army was put forward by US Ambassador to the UN, Madeleine Albright, while on a visit to the island last July.

Albright announced the agreement for this dialogue during a press conference in Nicosia.

But the military dialogue has not yet started because Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash demanded participation of the commander of the Turkish Cypriot so-called ''armed forces''.

''Mrs Albright has seen the difficulties that have arisen because of the stance of the Turkish Cypriot side'', Cassoulides noted, adding that the government expects a new proposal on the issue.

Cassoulides said the government has no information whether the new proposal will be put forward by the UN or the US.

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

1440:CYPPRESS:04

[04] Suspected murderer in occupied Cyprus

The prospect of such inquiries, however, poses problems to both Sweden and Cyprus because no state, except Turkey, recognises the illegal Turkish Cypriot regime in occupied Cyprus.

The Swedish government is also considering the possibility of dispatching a team to South Africa to examine the connections, if any, between Wedyn and South African death squad leader Eugene de Kock.

Bertil Wedyn, married to an English woman with four children, has been living in the occupied part of this East Mediterranean island for years and presents a weekly review on the illegal Turkish Cypriot station ''Bayrak''.

Wedyn is believed to have been behind the rumours that implicated the Kurdish Workers Party in Pale's assassination.

Reports in the Turkish Cypriot press say Wedyn, who lives in a villa outside the port of Kyrenia, enjoys the protection of the Turkish Secret Service (MIT).

According to the reports, Wedyn told the daily ''Cumhuriyet'' Palme was gunned down by KGB (former Soviet Union intelligence services) agents.

The paper refers to Swedish press reports that people with a police record, such a Wedyn, would take refuge in the occupied part of Cyprus because of its illegality.

A fugitive from British justice, Turkish Cypriot Asil Nadir, is also in occupied Cyprus to avoid trial for fraud in Britain after his fruit-to-electronics empire collapsed.

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

CNA MM/GP/1996

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1715:CYPPRESS:05

[05] Cyprus Stock Exchange

CSE All Share Index                    81.56 (-0.20)

Sectural Indices

Banks                                  88.40 (-0.52)
Approved Investment Companies          73.84 (-0.82)
Insurance Companies                    61.13 (+1.73)
Industrial Companies                   79.73 (-0.96)
Tourist Industries                     74.40 (+1.33)
Commercial Companies                   66.55 (+0.60)
Other Companies                        79.84 (+0.10)

Trading Volume                         CYP 451800.512

CNA GP/1996

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1730:CYPPRESS:06

[06] Clerides congratulates Herzog on Day of German Union

In a congratulatory telegram to the President of the Federal Republic of Germany, Roman Herzog, on the Day of German Unity, President Clerides expresses ''heartiest greetings'' and the wish that the ''long standing relations of friendship and cooperation between Cyprus and Germany will continue to expand and be further strengthened in the years ahead.''

President Clerides notes Germany's ''valuable support in our efforts towards a just and lasting settlement of the Cyprus problem on the basis of UN resolutions and the principles of international law and for the fulfillment of our European vocation as Cyprus approaches accession negotiations to join the European Union.''

Cyprus, which has been divided since the 1974 Turkish invasion, applied for full EU membership in 1990.

CNA MCH/GP/1996

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1830:CYPPRESS:07

[07] Joint Defence Pact answer to Turkish expansionism

Speaking after a two-hour meeting in Athens with Cyprus Defence Minister Costas Eliades, Tsohatzopoulos stressed that the Greco-Cypriot joint military exercises code-named ''Toxotis'' and ''Nikiforos'', which will take place within the framework of the joint defence pact, will go ahead as planned.

Greece's air force and navy will take part in the National Guard manoeuvres ''Nikiforos'', which start tomorrow in the free areas of the Republic.

The newly-appointed Greek Defence Minister announced that he will visit Cyprus in November.

Tsohatzopoulos said ''the strengthening of the joint defence pact between Greece and Cyprus is the answer to those with expansionist desires or questioning the sovereign rights of the two countries.''

The Greco-Cypriot joint defence policy was agreed upon by the governments of Cyprus and Greece in 1993 in order to face Turkish expansionist designs against the two countries.

Greece has warned Turkey with war in case its troops occupying 37 per cent of Cyprus territory since 1974, advance towards the government-controlled southern part of this East Mediterranean island.

Eliades said the joint defence pact strengthens Cyprus' negotiating position in the search for a peaceful and viable solution to the Cyprus problem.

He repeated that the Cyprus government accepts a US-proposed military dialogue with the Turkish occupation army.

At the same time, he turned down a demand for the participation in the dialogue of the commander of the Turkish Cypriot so-called armed forces.

During his stay in the Greek capital, Minister Eliades visited Greece's arms exhibition ''Defendory '96''.

CNA MCH/GP/1996

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1910:CYPPRESS:08

[08] House President calls for effective pressure on Turkey

His appeal was included in a speech in the plenary session of the island's 56-seat Parliament, whose new season proceedings opened this afternoon.

Speaking on the occasion of the 36th anniversary of Cyprus' independence from Britain (October 1, 1960), Kyprianou noted that initiatives for a solution to the Cyprus problem should be under the auspices of the United Nations and based on the relevant UN resolutions.

He stressed the need for coordination among the various initiatives and efforts undertaken by countries and organisations.

The House President called upon ''the US, the EU and other powers to exercise effective pressure on Turkey to change its stance if initiatives are to produce positive results ''.

He said attention should be paid on Turkish acts of barbarity as those displayed in Dherynia buffer zone, in August, when two Greek Cypriot youths were brutally murdered by Turkish troops and extremists and more than 50 others, including two British UN peacekeepers, were injured, during peaceful anti-occupation demonstrations.

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

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