Cyprus News Agency: News in English (AM), 97-05-07

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From: The Cyprus News Agency at <http://www.cyna.org.cy>

CONTENTS

[01] Turkey asked to pay damages in landmark case

[02] Britain urged to act on Cyprus

[03] Cyprus Stock Exchange

1040:CYPPRESS:01

[01] Turkey asked to pay damages in landmark case

Titina Loizidou, from Kyrenia, sued Turkey successfully in the European Court of Human Rights for human rights violation and the Court, after a seven-year legal battle, found Turkey responsible for continuing violation of Loizidou's right to enjoy her property peacefully and said Turkey exercises effective overall control in the occupied part of the island.

Loizidou's lawyer, Achilleas Demetriades, told CNA the damages asked "do not in any way relinquish my client's ownership of her property", and said compensation is sought on the basis of Article 50 of the European Convention of Human Rights, which refers to "just satisfaction to the injured party."

"The Court's decision in this case is very important in that it establishes the ownership of property, under Turkish occupation in more than twenty years and notes that the self-proclaimed Turkish Cypriot regime in occupied Cyprus is a non-entity as far as international law and order are concerned," Demetriades said.

He also pointed out the decision of the Court, which slammed many Turkish objections, offers the chance to other individuals to make a recourse to the Court on much the same grounds.

Demetriades explained that any such moves have to be orchestrated and not made in an arbitrary manner. He said recourses can be filed by various categories of people, including those owning property in the enclosed area of the eastern port of Varosha, for which the UN holds Turkey directly responsible.

Financial conglomerates, which ran their businesses out of the Turkish- occupied part of Cyprus before the 1974 invasion of Cyprus and Greek Cypriot owners of property in the occupied areas, whose property is used by Turkey as military installations, can also go to the Court.

Commenting on the Court decision, Attorney General Alecos Markides described it as "a landmark ruling in the development of Human Rights Law because it is a victory for the Court itself."

"The decision has created an impetus and gives the Cyprus government the possibility to reject any ideas or suggestions, put forward for a settlement of the Cyprus question, which do not comply with the European Convention of Human Rights," Markides said.

The Court's ruling on Loizidou's case, with eleven votes in favour and six against, marks the first time Turkey has been found guilty of continuous human rights violation in Cyprus' occupied areas.

CNA MM/GP/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1230:CYPPRESS:02

[02] Britain urged to act on Cyprus

He also urged Britain to "act now" as an "honest broker" in efforts to solve the protracted Cyprus problem and work with the US to persuade the Turkish military, an indispensable player in the Cyprus peace effort, to break the current deadlock.

In a letter to British Premier, Tony Blair, Rann argues that "a satisfactory resolution of the Cyprus problem should be a pre-condition to Turkey's entry into the EU" and notes his "strong opposition" to the view that Cyprus can only join the EU after it has been unified.

Britain, he said, can play a "crucial role in resolving the Cyprus issue" and points out that "real action is needed now".

"I believe that Britain can play a major honest broker role in helping to resolve the current impasse," Rann said in his letter, and suggests that Blair could visit Cyprus during his first year as Prime Minister.

The leader of the Labor opposition in Southern Australia calls on Blair to talk to the Turkish political leadership and underlines the prominent role of the Turkish military in many crucial issues as a "power centre".

"To secure any real progress on Cyprus the Turkish military must agree and comply. In my view, only the US, supported by Britain, can win that compliance," Rann said.

CNA MM/AP/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1445:CYPPRESS:03

[03] Cyprus Stock Exchange

CSE All Share Index                    77.62 (+0.35)

Highest: 82.46 (2/1/97)
Lowest : 73.90 (30/1/97)

Sectural Indices

Banks                                  86.58 (+0.25)
Approved Investment Companies          68.98 (-1.03)
Insurance Companies                    59.48 (+2.60)
Industrial Companies                   83.51 (-0.33)
Tourist Industries                     61.99 (+0.26)
Commercial Companies                   51.65 (-0.23)
Other Companies                        55.16 (+0.82)

Trading Volume                         CYP 621189.093

CNA MCH/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

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