Cyprus News Agency: News in English (AM), 97-11-27

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

CONTENTS

[01] Government to comply with Court decision, says Attorney General

[02] Israel invites Clerides to attend celebrations

[03] Cyprus participates in environment meeting

[04] Cyprus calls on UN to stop destruction of its heritage

[05] Britain does not recognise Turkish Cypriot pseudostate

1010:CYPPRESS:01

[01] Government to comply with Court decision, says Attorney General

The Court said the cabinet "overstepped its authority in that it exercised authority not afforded to it by the law" and added the government held the three accountable for criminal acts in violation of their right to innocence until proven guilty.

The Court also said the sackings were wrong as a criminal court had cleared two of the three officers and no disciplinary procedure had taken place against them.

Speaking on CyBC from Strasbourg, Markides pointed out he had not read Wednesday's decision but stressed "the state has an obligation to conform with the Court ruling".

"This is what we mean when we talk about the rule of law," he added.

All three police officers were sacked in 1995 following allegations of torture in Limassol police headquarters where they all served. Their dismissals were overturned yesterday.

The cabinet decision to sack them was taken after an independent inquiry found them guilty of torturing suspects to extract confessions.

The Attorney General had advised the government to fire the three, on the basis of the findings of the inquiry.

Markides acknowledged the Supreme Court did not adopt his own interpretation of a law relating to cabinet authority to sack members of the police force in exceptional circumstances.

The three officers, namely Elias Kyriakides, Theodoros Stylianou and Charalambos Taliadorou, said they would seek legal advice about demands for compensation.

CNA MM/GP/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1235:CYPPRESS:02

[02] Israel invites Clerides to attend celebrations

The invitation was conveyed to President Clerides today by Israel's ambassador in Nicosia Shemi Tzur.

Tzur told the press after the presidential palace meeting that he invited President Clerides to attend celebrations on December 23 for the 50th anniversary of Israel.

Leaders from all over the world will attend the celebrations. "It will be a kind of joint forces", he said, adding that President Clerides will be part of it.

He said he agreed with President Clerides that relations between Israel and Cyprus were "very good".

The ambassador noted there was prospect for upgrading them in many fields.

The two men talked about tourism, culture, agriculture and education. "Now we are looking forward for other things", he said.

Asked if Cyprus concerns over an Israel - Turkey military agreement had been eased, Tzur said he is sure that Cypriots understand "that the cooperation has nothing to do which can harm Cyprus in any way".

He said explanations and assurances had been given to the President, the Foreign Minister and to all levels. "That is the past", he added.

CNA KN/EC/GP/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1440:CYPPRESS:03

[03] Cyprus participates in environment meeting

The 15 European Union member-states and their 12 Mediterranean partners are taking part in the conference.

The ministers are expected to approve a final declaration and an action programme, which will set the foundations for cooperation in the protection of the environment in the Mediterranean region.

CNA MA/GP/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1450:CYPPRESS:04

[04] Cyprus calls on UN to stop destruction of its heritage

In a letter to the UN Secretary-General, Cyprus permanent representative to the UN, Sotos Zackheos, also refers to the recent building of a mosque in land owned by a Greek Cypriot.

He says a mosque was built on land owned by Maria Nicolaidou Longinou, one of the 200 thousand Greek Cypriots forced to flee their homes after the Turkish invasion.

"While the Cyprus government ardently protects places of worship belonging to all faiths in Cyprus, Turkey has not so far complied with its obligations under international law and UN resolutions on this issue," the ambassador adds.

Zackheos points out that churches, monasteries and other religious sites and monuments in the Turkish-occupied areas, "are subjected daily to severe and extreme destruction of unprecedented extent and proportions".

"Unfortunately the efforts so far of the various international organisations and leading personalities in art and culture have not resulted in the prevention of the destruction and wanton exportation of Cyprus' heritage, which form part of the religious and cultural patrimony of the world."

In his letter, which circulated as a General Assembly and Security Council document on Wednesday, Zackheos asks the UN to take the necessary steps to be more effective in ending this "anachronistic" Turkish policy.

In a recent appearance before the Cyprus House of Representatives, Byzantologist and former head of the Antiquities Department, Athanasios Papageorgiou reported that more than 500 churches and monasteries in the Turkish-occupied areas have been plundered.

He said that churches have been turned into mosques, stables and even public lavatories, whereas others stand completely abandoned and empty.

CNA MA/GP/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1450:CYPPRESS:05

[05] Britain does not recognise Turkish Cypriot pseudostate

The Foreign Office issued a statement after reaction in Cyprus to statements made by Britain's special envoy for the Cyprus problem, Sir David Hannay, that Turkish nationals living in the occupied areas are now part of the country.

In an interview with a Cypriot daily , Sir David had also said that the Turkish settlers, brought to the occupied part of Cyprus in a bid to change the island's demographic character, have "Turkish Cypriot citizenship".

However, he acknowledged there is officially no such thing as a "Turkish Cypriot citizenship" but said that the illegal regime treats the Turkish settlers as Turkish Cypriots.

The Foreign Office statement says "Sir David Hannay made clear... that nothing in his remarks during his interview with the Greek Cypriot newspaper 'Fileleftheros', imply or was intended to imply a shift in Britain's policy of not recognising the 'Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus' which remains unchanged."

UN resolution 541, adopted in November 1983 when the pseudostate was illegally declared, describes the unilateral declaration of Turkish Cypriot independence as "legally invalid".

It calls for its withdrawal and urges all states not to recognise the puppet regime.

Cyprus Foreign Minister Ioannis Kasoulides will tonight attend a dinner hosted by Sir David, in London, during which the two men are expected to discuss the British envoy's positions on the settlers issue.

Cyprus High Commissioner Vanias Markides and David Redaway, Foreign Office Director of Southern European Department, will also attend the dinner.

In statements to London Greek Radio (LGR) earlier today, Kasoulides dismissed Hannay's statements as "unacceptable".

He reiterated the government position that "the Turkish settlers cannot remain in Cyprus after a solution."

"Turkey's colonisation policy aims at changing the demographic character and balance in Cyprus, creating new faits accomplis in Cyprus," Kasoulides added.

He said this policy "violates international law" and described it as "a war crime".

The Foreign Minister said during his meeting with Sir David he will elaborate on the government positions on the settlers issue. CNA KT/RM/MA/GP/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

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