Cyprus News Agency: News in English (AM), 98-10-31

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

CONTENTS

[01] Lyssarides - Omirou - London

[02] British Bases - Farmers - Turks

[03] Cyprus - Annan - UN anniversary

0900:CYPPRESS:01

[01] Lyssarides - Omirou - London

They are scheduled to speak at an event organised by Greek Cypriots living in Great Britain.

Greek Defence Minister, Akis Tsohatzopoulos, and Alternate Foreign Minister, George Papandreou, will also speak at the event.

CNA MA/RG/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1320:CYPPRESS:02

[02] British Bases - Farmers - Turks

It was the first time the farmers visited their land, near Pergamos village east of the coastal town of Larnaca, since the 1974 Turkish invasion and occupation of 37 per cent of the island's territory.

The land is within the Dhekelia Base, one of the two military Bases retained by Britain since it granted Cyprus independence from colonial rule, in 1960. The second Base is in Episkopi, on the western coast.

"The police escorted five farmers to their land in Pergamos. Unfortunately, because of the risk of injury they couldn't stay there very long", British Bases spokesman Bob Need told CNA.

Turkish Cypriots and settlers came to the area with tractors and, holding sticks and stones, threatened the Greek Cypriots, forcing them to abandon their plans to cultivate their fields.

Scuffles broke out with Greek Cypriot journalists as well, when the Turks tried to bar them from covering the event.

Asked if the Bases will try to go the area again with the farmers, Need replied "no" but added "you'd better ask the farmers".

"We consider that the tension is too high to try and go in there with the tractors, which was going to be the second phase of the exercise", he added.

After today's developments the farmers, who are refugees from nearby Turkish occupied Lysi village, are contemplating taking their case before the European Court of Human Rights.

They have also criticized the British Bases for not being in a position to ensure the cultivation of their fields.

"The British Bases are not in a position to enforce law and order or they don't want to", said deputy Antonis Karas, the farmers' lawyer.

Karas, Lysi Mayor Andreas Tofias and Famagusta District Officer Kyriakos Triantafyllides, accompanied by British Bases police, had escorted the farmers to their fields.

Triantafyllides explained that for the past two years they have been in touch with the British Bases over the issue and have given them all required evidence to prove who the rightful owners of the fields are.

"Today we see that they cannot give the farmers the necessary protection so that they can cultivate their fields", he said.

Echoing his words, Tofias said "after today's efforts by the Turks to isolate and lynch us, I am convinced that the British Bases cannot control this area".

He added that, bearing in mind today's developments, the farmers cannot try again to cultivate their fields.

Karas said that on the one hand the issue is political and the government must deal with it, but on the other "it is time we went before the Court of Human Rights".

All three men criticized the British Bases for not arresting the Turks who did not allow the farmers to cultivate their fields.

CNA MAN/MA/RG/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1330:CYPPRESS:03

[03] Cyprus - Annan - UN anniversary

In his response to a congratulatory message from President Glafcos Clerides on the 53rd anniversary of the UN, released today, Annan points to the challenges facing humanity at the turn of the millennium, noting they are "as complex as any time in its history".

"We are confronted with conflict and endemic poverty in many parts of the world, with the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, with the ravages of HIV-AIDS, with threats to the global ecology, with terrorism and other forms of transnational crime, and now with an economic crisis which has dashed the hopes even of some of the most rapidly developing countries", he says.

Annan adds that "as the UN seeks to play its role in responding to all these challenges and in helping the world's people achieve their aspirations for peace, development and human rights, its only resource is the support and confidence of its member states and their peoples."

"To know that we enjoy the support of the Republic of Cyprus is therefore of inestimable value", the UN chief concludes in his message to President Clerides.

CNA MA/RG/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

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