MPA NEWS IN ENGLISH (12/08/1996)

From: Macedonian Press Agency <mpa@philippos.mpa.gr>

Macedonian Press Agency News in English Directory

MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY NEWS IN ENGLISH

Thessaloniki, August 12, 1996

NEWS IN ENGLISH

[A] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

[B] EUROPEAN NEWS

TITLES

[A] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

[B] EUROPEAN NEWS

NEWS IN DETAIL

[A] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

[01] THE CYPRIOT GOVERNMENT INTERNATIONALLY CONDEMNED THE INCIDENTS PROVOKED BY THE TURKISH-OCCUPATION FORCES

The cypriot government condemned internationally the unprecedented in brutallity killing of a 24yearold greek-cypriot and the incidents that were provoked by turkish-occupation forces and para-military forces of the turkish-cypriot regime during yesterday's peaceful anti-occupation demonstration of motorcyclists organized by the greek-cypriots.

Cypriot Foreign Minister, Alekos Michailidis lodged strong demarches to the United Nations and the permanent members of the UN Security Council. This morning mr.Michailidis had meetings with UN Secretary General Alternate Special Envoy, mr.Gustav Feisel and with the ambassadors of the United States, Britain and France, while later he was expected to meet with the ambassadors of Russia and China.

After his meeting with the cypriot Foreign Minister, the US Ambassador expressed abhorrence at the killing of the young greek- cypriot and stressed the need for a fair and comprehensive solution to the Cyprus problem. He also stressed that what was shown on television was shocking and totaly unjustified.

Meanwhile, a protest rally will be held outside the turkish embassy in London tomorrow evening at the initiative of the Cypriot National Federation of Britain. The Federation will also send a letter of protest to british Prime Minister, John Major and UN Secretary General, Boutros Ghali while the same letter will be delivered and to the turkish Ambassador to London.

Tomorrow's protest rally will begin at 5pm in the afternoon (London time) and will be concluded at 11pm at night.

Abhorrence at the killing of the young greek-cypriot was expressed and by the Greek-Kurdish Solidarity Committee in Britain which mentions that yesterday's clashes were another example of organized state atrocity.

[02] STRONG DEMARCHE BY THE GREEK GOVERNMENT ON THE INCIDENTS IN CYPRUS AND ON THE ATTACK AGAINST THE GREEK CONSULATE IN CONSTANTINOPLE

The greek government lodged a strong demarche over yesterday's incidents in Cyprus that resulted in the killing of a greek-cypriot and also on yesterday's attack by turkish islamists against the greek Consulate in Constantinople on the occasion of the events which took place in the buffer zone in Cyprus.

Greek government spokesman Dimitris Reppas stated on the clashes in Cyprus that the attacks with firearms and the merciless beatings displayed the extent of the attackers' barbarity.

Mr.Reppas also wondered what else the international organizations and the foreign governments are expecting to happen in order to stop dealing with the Cyprus problem either with indifference or with resolutions that have never been implemented something that amounds to tolerance, support and encouragement of the turkish occupation forces.

[03] FEARS FOR MORE CLASHES IN CYPRUS AFTER YESTERDAY'S KILLING OF A GREEK-CYPRIOT

Fears for more clashes are being expressed in Cyprus after yesterday's killing of 24yearold greek-cypriot demonstrator Anastasios Isaac, who was savagely beaten by turkish settlers and turkish-cypriots, while soldiers of the UN peace-keeping forces looked on. The UN peacekeeping forces are being blamed because they were unable to avert the clashes that were provoked by turkish-cypriot counter-demonstrators and by turkish soldiers. Those clashes resulted in the death of one person, while 45 people were wounded.

Archbishop of Cyprus, Chrisostomos in his statements wondered if the UN peace-keeping forces are in Cyprus in order to guard the island's division and to protect peace at the expense of the freedom of small countries, while he expressed his regret over the cypriot government decision to cancel the demonstration of the motorcyclists.

From his part, UN representative in Cyprus, Waltemar Rokoszewski maintained that the UN role is to avert clashes by using persuasion, while he underlined that there will be an investigation over the UN behaviour in yesterday's incidents and anyone found to have any responsibility will be sunctioned.

He also blamed the turkish occupation army because it did not stop the turkish-cypriots from entering the buffer zone.

The european motorcyclists, who participated in the anti- occupation demonstration that began on August 2nd from Berlin and yesterday ended up in Nicosia and not in Kerinia which was its final destination, expressed their determination to make known the problem of Cyprus in their countries.

A total of 140 motorcyclists most of them foreigners reached late yesterday afternoon the Lydra Pallas checkpoint, while a delegation made up of 13 motorcyclists from 13 countries approached the turkish guards accompanied by UN peace-keepers and asked to be allowed to go to Kerinia. The turkish guards demanded from the motorcyclists to sign documents before they are permitted to enter the turkish occupied territories but at the same time, they clarified that they have no intention to allow greek-cypriots to pass through the checkpoint.

[04] GREEK EURO-DEPUTY ALEKOS ALAVANOS CALLED FOR THE IMMEDIATE INTERVENTION OF THE EU FOREIGN MINISTERS COUNCIL

Greek Euro-deputy from the Coalition of the Left party, Alekos Alavanos called for the immediate intervention of the European Union Foreign Ministers Council in Ankara over yesterday's violence and criminal acts committed by the turkish occupation forces in Cyprus.

Mr.Alavanos, in his proposal to the EU Foreign Ministers Council asking for its intervention, mentions that after the signing of the EU customs union with Turkey, this country not only hasn't made any steps toward the solution of the Cyprus problem, as it is provided by the Council, but on the contrary it is following a new dangerous course of tension and aggressiveness, which came to a head with the criminal actions of the turkish occupation forces and militants against unarmed and peaceful demonstrators that resulted in the death of one and the wounding of tens of people.

Mr.Alavanos stated that the turkish actions in Cyprus are combined with the strategy of tensions in the greek-turkish relations, expressed by provocativelly disputing the greek sovereignty over tens of islands and islets in the Aegean and by provoking islamist attacks against the greek Consulate in Constantinople.

The greek Euro-deputy calls for the immediate intervention of the EU Foreign Ministers Council to the turkish government and demands explanations over the stance adopted by the turkish occupation forces in Cyprus during the demonstration of the motorcyclists, which was held with the participation of many europeans. He also calls for the exemplary punishment of anyone found to be responsible and also for the promotion of the demonstrators' demands for free movement in Cyprus.

[05] THE UN SECRETARY GENERAL ALTERNATE SPECIAL ENVOY TO CYPRUS COMMENTED ON YESTERDAY'S CLASHES IN DERINIA

UN Secretary General Alternate Special Envoy to Cyprus, mr.Gustav Feisel commented on yesterday's clashes at the Derinia checkpoint during the peaceful demonstration of the european motorcyclists protesting against the continuing occupation and division of Cyprus.

Mr.Feisel stated that responsible for the incidents was the cypriot police which did not stop the demonstrators from entering the buffer zone and also the turkish occupation forces which did not prevent their demonstrators from approaching the ceasefire line.

Regarding the responsibility of the United Nations, as the UN peace-keepers are accused of looking on as the dramatic events were taking place without stepping in to stop them, mr.Feisel stated that it was humanly impossible to hold in check the turks, who beat to death the unarmed demonstrator, because as he said, the number of the UN forces in the area was very small and the region they had to cover disproportionaly large.

Nevertheless, mr.Feisel underlined that an investigation is being held in order to clarify the conditions under which the greek-cypriot demonstrator was killed.

Finally, called to comment on why the UN Secretary General issued an appeal only to the cypriot government to stop the anti- occupation demonstration, mr.Feisel stated that "the problem concerned only the cypriot government".

[06] INTERNATIONAL NEWS AGENCIES AND PRESS ON THE SAVAGE BEATING OF THE GREEK-CYPRIOT THAT RESULTED IN HIS DEATH

Scenes of the savage beating of the young greek-cypriot traveled around the world through the international television networks that covered the clashes, while the news of the killing of Anastasios Isaac dominated, among the top stories in the international news bulletins.

The death of the 24yearold greek-cypriot was the top story in BBC, which also broadcast statements by cypriot Foreign Minister, Alekos Michailidis and turkish-cypriot leader, Rauf Denktash.

The issue was covered extensively and by the british newspapers. The "Guardian" published a photograph with the young victim on the ground while he is being savagely beaten and mentions that the motorcyclists participating in the demonstration were confronted by turkish-cypriots, turkish occupation forces and turkish soldiers.

The "London Times" writes that the clashes began when the motorcyclists ignored the decision for the cancellation of the demonstration, while the "Independent" mentions that the turks outnumbered the demonstrators and savagely beaten two greek- cypriots who were trapped in the barbed wire fence.

Television network CNN, reported that turkish-cypriot soldiers opened fire at greek-cypriot demonstrators and one of them was killed.

The clashes were extensively covered and by the european TV network "Euronews" and also by the british newspaper "Daily Telegraph".

[07] REACTIONS ON THE CLASHES IN CYPRUS BY BRITAIN AND FRANCE

France, through its Foreign Ministry spokesman, expressed its "deep regret" over the violence that resulted in the death of a greek-cypriot demonstrator in the demarcation line in Cyprus and at the same time, praised the position adopted by the austrian peace-keepers whose actions limited the number of victims.

Also, Paris reiterated the wish for a comprehensive and lasting political solution to the Cyprus problem within the framework of its accesion into the European Union.

Britain, through its Foreign Office spokesman, expressed concern over the violence and regret over the killing of a young person, adding that such incidents underline the need for a solution to the problem of Cyprus.

[08] TURKISH OCCUPATION FORCES ARRESTED A GREEK-CYPRIOT AND A GREEK CITIZEN

A greek-cypriot and a greek national were arrested this morning by turkish occupation forces when they lost their way and ended up in the region of the village of Strovilia in the turkish occupied territories in northern Cyprus.

According to Cypriot Police Headquarters, they are 24yearold Kiriakos Hatzidimou from Limassol and 17yearold greek national, Christos Zacharopoulos.

The two were going to the free part of Famagusta and were arrested when they lost their way and went toward the British Base checkpoint.

[B] EUROPEAN NEWS

[09] BAYER TO POST AN 11% PROFIT

German chemical group Bayer is expected to post today a 11 percent gain in first-half earnings which amount to 2.63 billion marks.

Analysts who studied the company's performance say that the company's US operations helped it benefit from the stronger dollar.

It should be noted that Bayer is the first of the big chemical German groups to report while BASF and Hoechst are also expected to show double digit earnings growth.

[10] FRENCH FRANC AGAIN UNDER PRESSURE

The French Franc is again under pressure as the market reacts to President Jacques Chirac's apparent battle of nerves with the Bank of France Governor, Jean-Claude Trichet.

Dealers have been selling the currency in the wake of the announcement that former executives at Credit Lyonnais, The ailing state-owned bank which lost 21 billion francs or $4.15 billion between 1992 and 1994, could face a criminal investigation.

It should be mentioned that as Treasury director at the time, Trichet was directly responsible for overseeing business practices at Credit Lyonnais.

Banking analysts say yet more losses are expected when the bank reports first half results in September.

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