Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 96-10-14

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CONTENTS

[01] Shoot-to-kill policy followed by Turkish troops

[02] British envoy hopes for 1997 meeting

[03] Number and density of aftershocks further decline

[04] Cyprus protest to big ''5'' over murder by Turks

[05] Britain and US stress need for Cyprus settlement

[06] Government may appeal to UN over killings

[07] Cyprus Stock Exchange

[08] Cyprus expresses optimism on a 1997 meeting

[09] Hungarian and Cypriot Foreign Ministries to sign Protocol

1130:CYPPRESS:01

[01] Shoot-to-kill policy followed by Turkish troops

Speaking on state radio, Michaelides said it is obvious by yesterday's cold-blooded murder of another Greek Cypriot, who strayed into the Turkish-occupied areas while collecting snails, ''that orders are to shoot to kill anyone who is seen to cross the dividing line.''

Michaelides noted that the ''danger for such incidents will exist as long as the Turkish occupation of the island continues'' and called upon third parties to intensify efforts for a solution to the Cyprus problem.

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

Increased interest in a solution to the Cyprus problem as displayed by the US, Britain and the European Union (EU) worries both Turkey and Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash, who wish for the perpetuation of the current situation on the island, Michaelides said.

''The Turkish side'', he stressed ''wishes to pass the message that the Cyprus problem is very complicated and that there is a lot of tension in an attempt to discourage all those interested in a Cyprus settlement.''

The Foreign Minister will today make representations to the Ambassadors of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council and a representative of UN Resident Representative Gustave Feissel.

Meanwhile, President Glafcos Clerides has told the press that the government was studying the possibility to file a recourse to the UN Security Council following the new murder, the fourth in four months, by the Turkish troops.

The possibility for an appeal will be examined after the study of all evidence gathered as well as the UN report on the case, he said.

President Clerides also said that he will re-write from scratch his letter to Rauf Denktash, in reply to a letter the Turkish Cypriot leader had sent to the Cyprus President earlier this month, concerning the latest tension on the island.

Meanwhile, British Representative for Cyprus, Sir David Hannay, who arrived in Cyprus yesterday for meetings with President Clerides and Denktash, stressed in an interview with BBC the need for a settlement of the Cyprus problem if similar incidents are to be avoided.

''What we got to put the big effort into is trying to get a settlement, once and for all, which takes into account the interests of both sides and means we can put an end to these arrangements, which are so difficult to police and to manage and which lead to tragedies like today's (yesterday's).''

Government Spokesman, Yiannakis Cassoulides, yesterday described the murder of Petros Kakoulli as ''a cold-blooded murder, which contains the element of pre-meditation, if one takes into account the fact that there was not any Turkish occupation army post in the location where the heinous crime was perpetrated.''

CNA MCH/GP/1996

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1315:CYPPRESS:02

[02] British envoy hopes for 1997 meeting

However, he warned against too much optimism as efforts to arrange such a meeting ''can go either way.''

Sir David also considers that common elements that may help towards such a meeting are emerging and becoming more easily identifiable.

Speaking after a lengthy meeting with President Clerides here today, he stressed the need to ensure the necessary ground work is made so that such a meeting could be underpinned by detailed agreements.

''I am confident that there will be such a meeting in 1997. I do not want to put a time frame on it. I think the most important think to do now is to accentuate the preparatory work. I hope my meetings here will help take the process forward,'' he told the press.

On a more cautious note, Sir David pointed out that efforts to convene a Clerides-Denktash meeting could go either way and added ''anybody who is familiar with Cyprus knows very well, how the best laid plans tend to go off the rails at some stage, we must try to ensure that this time that does not happen.

Replying to questions, the British envoy said he believed that common ground between the Greek and Turkish Cypriot sides ''is becoming easier to identify as we move along, there are common elements that are there and it is becoming more possible to identify it'' even though there is a lot more work to be done.

Common ground, he explained, cannot be created but rather it emerges, like the ground when the tide goes back, when it has been properly identified.

''I think everyone is working on the framework the UN Cyprus envoy has put forward (bizonal, bicommunal federation with political equality as described by the Secretary-General) and I think people are working on the guarantees and security that would be needed for both sides if such a solution were to work,'' he explained.

He said a number of issues were taken forward during his talks with President Clerides, but refused to be more specific.

''These discussions have to be carried forward in a careful, discreet manner and I do not think it would be useful for the opportunities for a settlement to be more specific,'' he told the press and added that ''all the main issues, (constitutional, geographical, return of refugees, security)'' were on today's agenda.

Sir David denied press suggestions that he brought any ideas, plans, or a blueprint on the issue of security.

''I come with a lot of questions and the answers will need to be fleshed out in the weeks or months ahead, if these ideas are to become reality,'' he said.

Replying to questions, the envoy said he would report to British Foreign Secretary Malcolm Rifkind on the outcome of his meetings here and brief other interested parties about his contacts in Cyprus and in Athens and Ankara last week.

Sir David said part of the discussions was taken up by yesterday's murder of a Greek Cypriot man, shot dead by Turkish occupation troops when he strayed into the Turkish-occupied part of the island as he was collecting snails.

''We talked about the tragic event yesterday and the desirability to try and reduce tension and risks along the buffer zone. I hope very much that somehow, ways can be found to break out of this cycle of tragic events which 1996 has seen far too many,'' he said.

Asked if he would bring this issue up with Denktash, Sir David replied ''certainly this, among other issues'' and said that, though he is not in the business of demanding, he will use ''friendly persuasion'' in his meeting with the Turkish Cypriot leader.

Asked if he shared the view of that Turkish troops are now under orders to ''shoot to kill'', Sir David refrained from characterising the situation and added ''anything that can be done to make instances like that less likely to happen would be thoroughly worth while.''

''I hope very much it would be possible for the UN to resume the discussion of issues like the removal of live ammunition from front line, unmanning of some posts to reduce the risk of these events,'' he concluded.

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

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1420:CYPPRESS:03

[03] Number and density of aftershocks further decline

According to a press release issued by the Seismological Station of the Geological Survey Department there were 26 aftershocks yesterday between 0900 local time (0600 GMT) and 1900 (1600 GMT) between 3 to 4 on the Richter scale.

According to the Department, a further decrease in the frequency of the aftershocks was reported. It described the seismic activity as ''normal''.

More than 50 persons were injured when the earthquake struck on Wednesday afternoon, measuring 6,1 on the Richter scale. The epicentre was some 50 kilometres south-west of Paphos town.

Many houses and block of flats in the towns of Limassol and Paphos were affected.

A total of 67 people were killed in earthquakes in the last 100 years in Cyprus.

On February 23, 1995, an earthquake measuring 5.2 on the Richter scale rocked western Cyprus, killing two people.

This East Mediterranean island is located in the second major earthquake zone in the world, experiencing many but slight earthquakes.

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1510:CYPPRESS:04

[04] Cyprus protest to big ''5'' over murder by Turks

Petros Kakoulli, 58, a retired fireman, from the Turkish-occupied village of Lefkoniko, who was staying at Avgorou village, was shot and killed by Turkish soldiers in Achna village, near the British Base Area of Dhekelia.

Kakoulli was collecting snails with his 27-year-old son-in-law Panikos Hadjiathanasiou, who saw his father-in-law standing with his hands up. Two Turkish soldiers shot him twice and then walked closer to him and finished him off with another shot.

His body was removed four hours after the killing and was taken to the hospital of the Turkish-occupied town of Famagusta. The body was handed over to the Cypriot authorities this afternoon through the UN. An official post morten examination will be carried out.

Michaelides told the press after the meeting with the ambassadors that this was not an isolated incident but part of a series of criminal acts by the Turkish troops, which aim at discouraging those who are interested in a Cyprus settlement.

The Minister said he presented to the foreign diplomats a map of the area where Kakoulli was killed, 40-60 metres from where the line of the occupied territory begins.

He said apart from Kakoulli's son-in-law there was another eyewitness, a Cypriot policeman at the British bases.

Michaelides said all diplomats condemned the murder, adding that they will convey the Cypriot government's demarche to their governments.

Asked whether, the Cypriot government would file a recourse to the UN Security Council, the Minister said the government was studying a number of options. He did not elaborate. Decisions will be taken today or tomorrow, at the latest, he added.

Michaelides said he spoke on the telephone with his Greek counterpart Theodoros Pangalos. He will have another telephone conversation with Pangalos later today to coordinate action.

The Cypriot Minister said the latest incidents underline the need to intensify efforts for a solution to the Cyprus problem. ''All those who are interested in a solution, must multiply their efforts,'' he added.

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

CNA GP/1996

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1645:CYPPRESS:05

[05] Britain and US stress need for Cyprus settlement

The two diplomats were speaking to the press after a meeting between Foreign Minister Alecos Michaelides and the ambassadors of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council to whom he protested against the murder of 58-year-old Petros Kakoullis by the occupation army.

British High Commissioner David Madden expressed his country' strong condemnation of the killing.

''I think that the further tragic incident reminds us of the intense need to press ahead with progress towards a settlement'', Madden said, noting that ''there had been various ideas floated in the past, as for example, further demanning measures and the idea of banning live ammunition on the buffer zone.''

He said ''I think it is time to look again at those because I would have thought that that could only have a very good effect.''

Madden said the murder will be discussed during the course of contacts here by Britain's representative for Cyprus, Sir David Hannay, and with Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash ''and just see where we stand after this latest tragic killing.''

US Ambassador Kenneth Brill described the murder as ''deeply regrettable''.

''We had a report from the Foreign Minister about what happened and it is just hard to imagine that such things can happen'', he said.

He stressed the need ''to make sure that this kind of incidents do not happen in the future'' and US commitment ''to try and move the process forward to try and find a way to solve the Cyprus issue.''

Brill said such incidents are one more reason for aggressively active diplomatic work to ensure that ''no more families on either side should lose people.''

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

1700:CYPPRESS:06

[06] Government may appeal to UN over killings

''The government is looking into the murder and will examine the matter in cooperation with the Greek government to decide whether we shall make a recourse to the Security Council,'' Government Spokesman Yiannakis Cassoulides told the press today.

This murder, he remarked, ''sheds a different light on to previous murders (of two Greek Cypriot demonstrators and a National Guardsman in the summer) and forces us to look at all four murder cases from a different angle.''

''Yesterday's murder was utterly unwarranted, premeditated, carried out in cold blood and is the fourth murder in a row,'' Cassoulides said.

An eyewitness to Sunday's murder said the Turkish occupation troops fired against the Greek Cypriot, 58-year-old Petros Kakoullis, as he stood with his hands raised in the air.

As he was lying on the ground, having been shot, a Turkish soldier shot him in close range, said his son-in-law Panikos Hadjiathanasiou, 27.

Cassoulides said he was sure Kakoullis must have erred in crossing into the Turkish-occupied area and appealed to the public to be more vigilant.

The Spokesman pointed out that the way Kakoullis was killed ''shows that the Turkish Cypriot regime acts in bad faith.''

''We cannot approach this latest murder as an isolated incident,'' he pointed out.

CNA MM/GP/1996

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1700:CYPPRESS:07

[07] Cyprus Stock Exchange

CSE All Share Index                    85.33 (+1.01)

Sectural Indices

Banks                                  92.80 (+1.30)
Approved Investment Companies          76.60 (+1.98)
Insurance Companies                    62.66 (-0.14)
Industrial Companies                   84.76 (+0.96)
Tourist Industries                     75.80 (+0.70)
Commercial Companies                   70.37 (+0.56)
Other Companies                        81.72 (+0.07)

Trading Volume                         CYP 940320.258

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1730:CYPPRESS:08

[08] Cyprus expresses optimism on a 1997 meeting

However, he noted that it is too early to refer to the prospect of a favourable outcome of such a meeting.

Cassoulides was commenting on the conviction expressed earlier here today by Britain's envoy for Cyprus, Sir David Hannay, that the two leaders will meet in 1997, and that common elements to help such a meeting are emerging and becoming more easily identifiable.

''We are confident that by that time there would be an in-depth and proper preparation, to ensure that talks to be held will be productive'', the Spokesman said.

''Our optimism stems from the fact that our side has the necessary political will to hold a meeting'', he said.

The Spokesman expressed the view that Sir David's optimism was based on the positive way he viewed President Clerides' recent speech at the UN General Assembly and Denktash's reply letter to President Clerides.

The Government Spokesman said during his meeting with the British envoy earlier today, President Clerides expressed his strong protest and deep concern about yesterday's murder of unarmed Greek Cypriot, Petros Kakoullis, 58, shot dead by Turkish occupation troops when he strayed into the Turkish-occupied part of the island, while collecting snails.

Cassoulides said during the meeting, Sir David raised several points concerning the key issue of security but declined to say whether comments made by the British envoy were considered satisfactory.

President Clerides and Britain's envoy for Cyprus will meet again on Friday.

On Tuesday morning, Sir David Hannay will have a meeting with Cyprus' House of Representatives President Spyros Kyprianou.

Later in the day, he will cross into the Turkish-occupied northern part of Nicosia to meet Denktash.

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

CNA AP/GP/1996

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1810:CYPPRESS:09

[09] Hungarian and Cypriot Foreign Ministries to sign Protocol

The protocol will be signed during a two-day official visit by Hungary's Foreign Minister Laszlo Kovacs, who arrives in Cyprus Tuesday afternoon, at the invitation of his Cypriot counterpart Alecos Michaelides.

The two Ministers will have official talks on Wednesday that will cover the Cyprus problem, issues concerning the two countries' accession course to the European Union (EU), the situation in Central and Eastern Europe, international issues of mutual interest, as well as the prospects for further cooperation between the two countries, an official announcement said here today.

On Wednesday, the Hungarian Foreign Minister will be received by President Glafcos Clerides and the House of Representatives President Spyros Kyprianou.

He will leave on Wednesday afternoon.

CNA AP/GP/1996

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

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