British Greek experts discuss Thrace tourist development
NEWS IN DETAIL
Athens and Nicosia yesterday condemned what they called "the cold-blooded
murder" by Turkish occupation troops of an unarmed Greek Cypriot who
mistakenly wandered into the occupied northern sector of Cyprus.
Petros Kakoulis, 58, a retired fireman, was shot and killed early yesterday
morning by Turkish troops. He had been snail-gathering with his son-in-law
Panikos Hatziathanasis, 27, who lost sight of Kakoulis in fields close to
the former police station of
Achna and territory controlled by the British military base at Dhekelia.
Hatziathanasis testified that he saw Kakoulis about 200m away with his
hands raised. He then saw two soldiers from the occupied zone fire two
shots, then move closer and fire a th ird shot at close range. Hatziathanasis
then ran to the nearest police station to report the killing.
The incident occurred near the British base at Dhekelia. Base police and
officials of the United Nations peacekeeping force were not permitted to
approach the site of the incident until Kakoulis's body had been removed by
Turkish Cypriot "authorities" later yesterday morning.
The body was taken to a hospital in Famagusta for a postmortem and will be
handed over to the UN force today.
It was the third murder in as many months of unarmed Greek Cypriots by
Turkish occupation forces. Tassos Isaac, 24, and Solomos Solomou, 26, were
killed in a week of violence at the UN buffer zone in August.
'Cold-blooded murder'
Cypriot government spokesman Yannakis Cassoulidis called the killing an act
of cold-blooded murder, since there had been no provocation on the part of
Kakoulis, who was unarmed. The Turkish Cypriot authorities, who confirmed
the killing to the UN force,say that Kakoulis had "intruded" into the
occupied territory.
Mr. Cassoulides said the government would protest the "totally unjustified
act" by the Turkish occupation troops to the United Nations, other
international organisations and foreign governments.
Cypriot President Glafcos Clerides did not rule out the possibility of
recourse to the UN Security Council over the incident, which he called a
"cowardly, cold-blooded murder" by the Turkish troops. This was not the end
of the issue, he said. He added that he would be rewriting a letter he had
been intending to sent to Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash.
Meanwhile, in Athens, government spokesman Dimitris Reppas condemned what
he called a criminal act, which he said not only confirmed the criminal and
terrorist nature of the regime in occupied northern Cyprus, but proved that
Turkey's preferred policy w as to create tension in the region.
The Turkish occupation forces in northern Cyprus, he said, acted like
common criminals.
The incident was also condemned by Greece's political parties. The main
opposition New Democracy party spokesman called on the international public
"to wake up", particularly those who showed apathy regarding the behaviour
of a country that disdained ju stice and violated human rights. Similar
statements were issued by Political Spring, the Communist Party of Greece
and the Coalition of the Left and Progress.
Calm urged on Cyprus
Speaker of the House of Representatives and former Cypriot president Spyros
Kyprianou urged Greek Cypriots taking part in an anti-occupation protest
march yesterday to stay calm, following the murder of Kakoulis.
Thousands of refugees took part in a march from Astromeritis village, west
of Nicosia, on the road leading to their hometown of Morphou, in the
northeastern part of the island.
The House speaker took the opportunity to brief foreign MPs and guests
taking part in the Morphou march about the new Turkish provocation.
Cyprus police and the UNFICYP took strict security measures near the UN-
controlled buffer zone at Astromeritis to prevent marchers entering no-
man's-land.
Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash threatened that his illegal regime
would arrest anybody who tried to cross into the occupied territory.
EuroMPs taking part in the Morphou march strongly condemned the murder.
British Labour EuroMP Pauline Green, leader of the Socialist group in the
European Parliament, said the new murder ``reinforces the horror of an
island of this size divided in this way``.
She said it demonstrates that ``we have to resolve this problem. It is now
becoming more and more of a flashpoint``.
The leader of the largest political group in the Europarliament said the
international community ``must respond with firmer pressure on Turkey to
solve the dreadful problem``.
Dutch EuroMP Jan Willelm Bertens said it was Ňa premeditated murder, done
on purpose to show there is no chance for peace. But we will fight back
peacefully for the reunification of the island``.
Both EuroMPs said the new murder by the Turks strengthens their determination
to refuse all EU funds for Turkey.
Greek EuroMP Alekos Alavanos strongly denounced the new Turkish provocative
act and said the matter would be raised in the Europarliament.
British reaction
A British Foreign Office spokesman told the Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation
(RIK) that Britain strongly condemned the murder of yet another unarmed
Greek Cypriot in the buffer zone. He called on the two communities on the
island to limit violence and conflict and to exercise restraint.
Britain's special Cyprus envoy Sir David Hannay, who arrived in Cyprus
yesterday afternoon, said the tragic incident showed that the status quo
should not be allowed to continue.
Despite the recent events, Sir David nevertheless expressed the view that
there was more common ground than before and that there had been some
positive developments. The views expressed by President Clerides at the UN
General Assembly had been of great help to all those involved in the Cyprus
issue, he added.
Speaking at a large youth rally at the Peace and Friendship stadium in
Piraeus, Communist Party (KKE) Secretary-General Aleka Papariga warned
yesterday that the Aegean was in the process of dismemberment, with the
Greek government prepared to concede ever ything, and the US set to assume
full dominance while Greek borders being disputed not only by Turkey, but
also by the other allies.
Referring to the murder of a Greek Cypriot citizen by Turkish occupation
forces in the morning, she expressed indignation, warning it was not an
isolated incident.
"It constitutes the escalation of an effort to officially impose the
division of Cyprus, to have UN forces withdrawn and replaced by a NATO
multinational force, so that this dangerous organisation, which terrorises
and murders peoples, may assume open and undisguised control on the island,
" she charged, adding that the rapid reaction force, as referred to by
Defence Minister Akis Tsohatzopoulos during discussion of the government's
policy statement in Parliament, would be used for the implementation of the
American-German plan of subjugating the peoples of the Mediterranean, which
included the division of Cyprus.
Arsenis pledges solution to university funding this week
Commitments regarding the future of tertiary education in Greece were made
by Education Minister Gerasimos Arsenis in Patras at the weekend during a
meeting of Greece's university rectors.
With regard to universities' financial difficulties, Mr. Arsenis announced
that a solution to this year's problems would be found during the coming
week in cooperation with the finance minister and the rectors' council. The
1997 budget would be discuss ed with the rectors as part of a long-term
programme, pending the announcement of a five-year plan.
Patras University Rector Stamatis Alachiotis referring to the minister's
commitments, said Mr. Arsenis had showed understanding and decisiveness
regarding the university salary scales.
He had also assured them of his support in finding more funds for tertiary
establishments, adding that there was a possibility of securing more
funding for 1996.
Turkish ambassador begins Komotini visit today
Turkish ambassador to Greece Pamit Umir begins a four-day visit to the
Thracian city of Komotini today.
He will have contacts with members of the Moslem minority, and pay courtesy
calls on public authorities.
Mr. Umir served as deputy consul in the city in the 1975-77 period.
Hungarian Foreign Minister Lazlo Kovacs arrived in Athens yesterday
afternoon heading a delegation seeking Greece's support for Hungary's bid
to join the European Union.
Mr. Kovacs's agenda includes meetings this morning with President of the
Republic Kostis Stephanopoulos and Prime Minister Costas Simitis.
This afternoon, after a meeting with his Greek counterpart Theodoros
Pangalos, the two ministers will give a joint press conference.
Tomorrow morning Mr. Kovacs will meet with Defence Minister Akis Tsohatzopoulos
and in the afternoon with Parliament Speaker Apostolos Kaklamanis, before
flying on to Cyprus.
British and Greek tourism officials and company representatives on
Saturday attended a one-day conference on sustainable tourist development
in Xanthi, Thrace, organised by the Greek National Tourism Organisation
(EOT) and regional authorities at the Demo critian University.
Speakers at the event, which, it is thought, will provide impetus to the
implementation of a pilot programme in the region of eastern Macedonia and
Thrace, made special reference to the possibilities for European Union
financing of such programmes.
Byzantine icons exhibition goes on show in NY
The Onassion Greek Studies Centre of New York University is holding an
exhibition of 15th to 19th century Byzantine icons between October 17 to
30.
The icons come from many Orthodox and non-Orthodox regions of the world,
including Greece, Russia, Italy, the Middle East and North Africa, and have
already been shown in London and Chicago.
In the framework of the exhibition, entitled "Beyond Byzantium, Beyond the
Dreams", NYU professor of Byzantine History Jean Baun and gallery curators
will give a series of lectures.
WEATHER
Monday's weather is expected to be cloudy, with northeasterly light to
moderate winds. Temperatures in Athens 14-21C, in Thessaloniki 9-18C.
SPORTS
Weekend results of the Greek first division soccer championship:
Olympiakos - Kalamata 2 - 2
Panahaiki - Panathinaikos 3 - 1
Xanthi - OFI 3 - 0
Aris - Pyrgos 1 - 2
AEK - Heraklis 6 - 1
Edessa - Ionikos 1 - 1
Athinaikos - Veria 2 - 1
Kavala - Kastoria 0 - 0
Apollon - PAOK match to be played today
POINTS
1. Olympiakos 10
2. Pyrgos 10
3. Panahaiki 10
4. Panathinaikos 9
5. Ionikos 8
6. Xanthi 7
7. AEK 7
8. OFI 6
9. Kalamata 5
10. Veria 4
11. Aris 4
12. PAOK 4
13. Athinaikos 4
14. Kavala 3
15. Kastoria 2
16. Heraklis 1
17. Edessa 1
18.Apollon 0
BASKETBALL
Results of the 4th round of Greece's basketball league played on weekend:
AEK Athens-PAOK Thessaloniki 87-74 Olympiakos-Papagou Athens 80-
68 Byzantine Thessaloniki-Peristeri 91-101
Sporting Athens-Iraklis Thessaloniki 90-88 (etxra time played) Panionios
Athens-Piraikos 97-80 Larissa-Apollon Patras 67-68
Aris Thessaloniki-Panathinaikos 81-80
Standings: AEK 8 p, Panathinaikos 7, Panionios 7, Aris 7, Olympiakos 7,
Peristeri 7, PAOK 6, Sporting 6, Piraikos 6, Apollon Patras 6, Iraklis 5,
Larissa 4, Papagou 4, Byzantine 4.
FOREIGN EXCHANGE (Buying)
U.S. dlr 238.120 Can. dlr.175.822, Australian dlr. 188.232, Pound sterling
374.837, Irish punt 383.011, Cyprus pd 510.979, French franc 45.947, Swiss
franc 189.983 Belgian franc 7.553, German mark 155.590 Finnish mark 52.088,
Dutch guilder 138.751 Danish Kr. 40.597, Swedish Kr. 36.148, Norwegian Kr.
36.625, Austrian Sh. 22.121, Italian lira (100) 15.638 Yen (100) 213.330
Spanish Peseta 1.849, Portuguese Escudo 1.538.
(C.E.)
