Cyprus News Agency: News in English (AM), 98-11-16

Cyprus News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

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

CONTENTS

[01] Britain - Protest - Illegal regime

[02] Clerides - Cyprus problem - Illegal state

[03] AKEL - Euro leftists - Ocalan

[04] President Clerides - Greek Speaker

[05] Cypriot students - Kurds - Demonstration

[06] Cyprus - Ocalan

[07] Cyprus Stock Exchange

1000:CYPPRESS:01

[01] Britain - Protest - Illegal regime

The protestors left a petition at the door of the Embassy, pointing out that "a Cyprus settlement would expedite better Greco-Turkish relations, bring economic benefits for Turkey from the European Union, reduce tension in the region and earn the approval of the world community".

The Turkish government is urged "to work with the UN and the EU to bring justice and a lasting peace for all Cypriots."

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

On November 15, 1983 the occupation regime unilateral declared independence recognised only by Turkey. The UN branded it "legally invalid" and called on all states not to recognise it.

Meanwhile, President of Cyprus National Federation in Britain, Harris Sophoclides, stresses in a letter to British Prime Minister, Tony Blair, the need for influential British support towards a solution of the Cyprus problem.

"We call upon you to sustain your valued commitment and influential support for a solution in Cyprus which will bring an end to the division of the island, under a bi-zonal, bi-communal federal state."

CNA KT/MCH/GP/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1110:CYPPRESS:02

[02] Clerides - Cyprus problem - Illegal state

In a message at an anti-occupation gathering last night against the illegal declaration of the secessionist regime in the Turkish-occupied part of the Republic, 15 years ago, President Clerides also called upon the international community to focus its efforts in this direction.

"The Turkish side has undermined all the efforts made so far by the international community to find a federal solution through negotiations either in direct or in proximity talks," he remarked.

"The international community has on many occasions formally noted these negative and undermining tactics of the Turkish side," he added.

"It has been proved that our sincerity and goodwill are not enough to solve the Cyprus problem on the basis of a federation," Clerides said, stressing that "it is self-evident that the policy and the intentions of the Turkish side should radically change".

He pointed out that "it is in this direction that the international community should focus its efforts," warning that "if this need is not fully understood, then the Turkish side will with mathematical certainty cause also the failure of the new UN effort underway."

President Clerides also called upon the UN Security Council "to take against Turkey the measures envisaged in the UN Charter", should it torpedo this effort too.

In his message, read by Foreign Minister, Ioannis Kasoulides, the President also referred to Cyprus' course of accession to the European Union, repeating his invitation for Turkish Cypriot participation in the Republic's negotiating team.

"The Turkish side must realise that it cannot put a stop to this course and therefore its completion would be in its interests," he said.

The President also stressed that the Republic's right to defence will continue to be exercised "for as long as the powerful and threatening presence of the Turkish occupation troops continues in Cyprus".

He pointed out, however, that "our vision is a united, demilitarised and secure Cyprus, with all the human rights of its inhabitants safeguarded".

CNA MCH/GP/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1140:CYPPRESS:03

[03] AKEL - Euro leftists - Ocalan

In a letter to Alonso Puerta, President of the Confederal Group of the European United Left/Nordic Green Left of the European Parliament, AKEL General Secretary Demetris Christofias briefs him on his party's actions aimed to secure Ocalan's release.

According to an AKEL press release, in his letter Christofias suggests the Europarliament leftist group to ask for a debate on the subject in the European Parliament.

AKEL also suggests the adoption of a resolution, urging the Italian government to grant political asylum to the Kurdish leader.

Meanwhile, scores of Kurdish people living in Cyprus continued today, for a third day, a hunger strike in downtown Nicosia, demanding Ocalan's release and justice for the Kurdish people, who fight for self- determination in Kurdistan.

CNA/GP/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1210:CYPPRESS:04

[04] President Clerides - Greek Speaker

Speaking after a 90-minute meeting with President Glafcos Clerides, Kaklamanis also said he has brought a message of solidarity from Greek Premier Costas Simitis.

The Greek Parliament Speaker said he discussed with President Clerides the present situation in the Cyprus problem, latest developments and Cyprus' EU course.

"Our assessment is that any problems will be overcome because Cyprus' accession is a precondition for the EU enlargement procedure," he said.

Some EU member-states have been trying to connect a settlement to the Cyprus problem with the Republic's EU accession course, but have faced strong opposition from Athens.

The Greek government has underlined that the two issues are not related and that Cyprus should join the EU along with the five other applicant countries that have begun substantive accession talks.

Kaklamanis underlined that Cyprus is well ahead of the other five former eastern bloc countries in conforming with the European acquis communautaire.

"Cyprus fulfills nearly all conditions for its accession," he noted. Referring to the message he conveyed from the Greek Premier, Kaklamanis said it is one of "common struggle and solidarity" for a settlement to the Cyprus problem and the restoration of the unity of the Cyprus Republic.

The Greek Parliament Speaker was accompanied by his Cypriot counterpart Spyros Kyprianou, on whose invitation he is visiting the island, and Greek ambassador in Nicosia Kyriacos Rodousakis.

He is also scheduled later today to have separate meetings with leaders or representatives of the island's political parties and the Primate of the Orthodox Church of Cyprus, Archbishop Chrysostomos.

CNA MA/GP/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1240:CYPPRESS:05

[05] Cypriot students - Kurds - Demonstration

Kurds temporarily living here have joined the youth of Cyprus demanding freedom for the leader of the Kurdish Workers Party (PKK) Abdullah Ocalan, arrested in Italy last week.

Police have taken strict security measures in the checkpoint vicinity, the only point by which one can cross into the areas of the Republic occupied by Turkish forces since they invaded in 1974.

They have put up barbed wire at all points leading to the checkpoint and from which one could try to enter the Turkish-occupied areas, to prevent any incident.

There is also an increased police and UN Peace-keeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP) presence.

The students are demanding freedom for Cyprus, the return of some 200 thousand Greek Cypriots who were forced to leave their homes in the occupied areas and restoration of human rights.

On their part, the Kurds are chanting slogans such as "Long-live Ocalan" and "PKK - Ocalan - Kurdistan".

A programme with live music and patriotic songs will take place at the checkpoint.

CNA AA/MA/GP/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1400:CYPPRESS:06

[06] Cyprus - Ocalan

"The government of the Republic of Cyprus expects that at the end of the day Kurdish leader Abdullah Ocalan will not be extradited to Turkey," Government Spokesman Christos Stylianides said here today.

Noting that the European Union is committed to respect of human rights, he said "Europe considers human rights as the essence of its principles and is bound by its own decisions in Luxembourg on human rights violations in Turkey."

The EU has invited Turkey to improve its human rights record at home, to try and solve the Kurdish problem, ameliorate its relations with Greece and contribute to the peace effort in Cyprus before it joins the list of candidate countries to begin accession negotiations.

"Given this and the fact that Turkey violates human rights repeatedly, we expect that the Kurdish leader will not be extradited," Stylianides said.

He also said the government "backs a political solution of the Kurdish problem."

Replying to questions, the spokesman said each country has its own laws and procedures relating to political asylum and always acts within its own constitutional framework.

"In this instance, Italy will act within the framework of its own constitution," Stylianides said.

Ocalan was arrested Thursday at Rome airport.

CNA MCH/MM/GP/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1510:CYPPRESS:07

[07] Cyprus Stock Exchange

      CSE General Index                          89.91 (-0.54)

      Traded Value            CYP 1,768,007

      Sectural Indices

      Banks                   CYP   414,573     103.13 (-0.40)
      Approved Investment
      Companies               CYP    22,905      60.14 (-1.49)
      Insurance Companies     CYP   678,199      68.67 (-1.68)
      Manufacturing Companies CYP    73,416      88.70 (-0.45)
      Tourism Companies       CYP   325,324      68.95 (-0.17)
      Trading Companies       CYP    17,458      42.40 (-0.70)
      Other Companies         CYP    61,975      84.29 (-0.05)

CNA EC/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

Cyprus News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article