Cyprus News Agency: News in English (PM), 99-02-17

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

CONTENTS

[01] Kurds - Nicosia - Hunger strike - Statement

[02] Cyprus Stock Exchange

[03] Cyprus - Ocalan - Passport

[04] President Clerides - US Senators

1505:CYPPRESS:01

[01] Kurds - Nicosia - Hunger strike - Statement

In a written statement, the Representation calls on all democratic parties, organisations and institutions, as well as all democrats, "to actively defend the life" of Ocalan, by sending "delegations to Turkey, which will monitor the situation and guarantee the life of Abdullah Ocalan".

It also calls them to "become active in the international institutions, the European Union and the European countries, demanding them to press Turkey to release" Ocalan, adding that "an international conference has to be organised in order to promote a political solution to the Kurdish question".

The Cyprus Representation of the ERNK stresses that its policy remains the same as before, i.e. it wants a political solution to the Kurdish question, peace in Kurdistan, and human rights and freedom of expression to be established in Turkey.

The Representation stresses that Ocalan's abduction was "the final stage of the international stand of silence and cooperation with the Turkish authorities, despite the war of genocide carried out by Turkey against the people of Kurdistan".

It adds that the struggle "is not directed against the Greek people, for which we have feelings of friendship and a common struggle", but "against the policy of the Greek Government and especially the policy of Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos and Prime Minister Costas Simitis".

The written statement was issued to coincide with a hunger strike of about fifty Kurds which began this morning outside the Greek Embassy in Nicosia, to protest against the abduction of Ocalan.

Hunger strikers, who staged an all-night demonstration outside the Greek Embassy, said that the abduction of Ocalan was "a shock", adding that "for 20 years the Turks did not manage to arrest him, and now Simitis handed him over on a tray".

A sixteen-year-old Kurdish girl said that "the Greeks gave our life to the Turks".

CNA AA/RG/MCH/1999

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1610:CYPPRESS:02

[02] Cyprus Stock Exchange

      CSE General Index                         114.69  ( 1.08)

      Traded Value            CYP 6,991,388

      Sectural Indices

      Banks                   CYP 4,173,348     141.72 ( 1.43)
      Approved Investment
      Companies               CYP   422,939      74.74 ( 2.59)
      Insurance Companies     CYP   105,457      77.22 ( 1.05)
      Manufacturing Companies CYP   134,955      93.42 ( 0.33)
      Tourism Companies       CYP   140,901      79.88 (-0.35)
      Trading Companies       CYP   388,904      54.65 (-1.00)
      Other Companies         CYP   132,222      87.86 (-0.57)

CNA RG/1999

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1740:CYPPRESS:03

[03] Cyprus - Ocalan - Passport

This was revealed here today by Cyprus President Glafcos Clerides, when asked to comment on Turkish television reports that Ocalan had been using a Cyprus Republic passport allegedly belonging to Cypriot journalist Lazaros Mavros, a pro-Kurdish activist in Cyprus.

Meanwhile, Government Spokesman Christos Stylianides issued a brief statement saying: "In connection with Media reports to the effect that Kurdish leader Abdullah Ocalan was holding a Cypriot passport, the Police are carrying out an investigation in accordance with the laws of the Republic of Cyprus".

CNA GP/1999

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1815:CYPPRESS:04

[04] President Clerides - US Senators

After a meeting with President Glafcos Clerides, Berenter who is heading a delegation of US Senators, said they want to "see the situation here to understand better what is become a major point of dispute between our two NATO allies, Greece and Turkey".

He added "we noticed the difficulties that it creates even in our North Atlantic Assembly. So we are seeking to understand better how we can have peace and stability in the Eastern Mediterranean. That is our objective".

Berenter noted that "we appreciate the increased degree of cooperation from the Republic of Cyprus with the US in so many areas and we have mutual interests in fighting terrorism and narcotics trafficking and in protecting each country's intellectual property".

To a question on a report being prepared by the State Department on US- made weapons used by the Turkish troops occupying Cyprus since their 1974 invasion, Berenter said "the report is mandated by the Congress and we are concerned about US equipment in any place in Cyprus".

He added that "we are going to have that report within five or six weeks at the most and we are looking forward to that".

"We expect it will be an objective report and it will be a basis for congressional consideration", Berenter concluded.

Turkish troops launched their invasion of Cyprus in July 1974 using US- made weapons. The Congress imposed an arms embargo on Turkey in 1975. Three years later it was lifted.

The Turkish troops still occupy 37 per cent of Cyprus territory, in violation of repeated UN resolutions calling for their withdrawal.

The US senators were accompanied by US Ambassador to Cyprus Kenneth Brill.

CNA RM/GP/1999

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

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