NEWS
CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY
POMAK President believes 2007 congress most important yet
President of the World Federation of Overseas Cypriots (POMAK) Charis Sophoclides believes that this year's POMAK congress is perhaps the most important of recent years, as it coincides with a transitional period for the Cyprus problem. In an interview with CNA London correspondent Kyriacos Trioupras, Sophoclides points out that this period is transitional in that the meeting of Papadopoulos with Talat may pave the way for the creation of preconditions for a Cyprus settlement. Sophoclides also makes an assessment of POMAK's role in the enlightenment effort regarding the Cyprus problem, saying it is satisfactory, adding that more could be done to solve the problems of overseas Cypriots. ''I consider the role of the overseas Cypriots' movement satisfactory regarding the first and utmost sector of its activities, that of the enlightenment effort on the Cyprus problem,'' he said. He pointed out that the rejection by the Greek Cypriot community of the Annan plan was followed by a period of iciness between the federations of Cypriots abroad and the governments of the countries they live in. ''However, this phase was gradually overcome and we are now on solid ground,'' he added.
REUTERS
Turkish plane hijacker trained by al Qaeda: reports
One of two men who hijacked a plane heading for Istanbul from northern Cyprus was trained in camps run by al Qaeda militants and planned to flee to Afghanistan, Turkish media reports said on Monday. The two hijackers surrendered and released their hostages after forcing the Atlas Jet plane to land in southern Turkey on Saturday with the threat of a "bomb" which turned out to be modeling clay with wires attached. Officials said the pair had demanded to be taken to Tehran. Broadcaster CNN Turk said on its Web site the two had met in northern Cyprus a year ago and their ultimate goal was to reach Afghanistan and join al Qaeda. It quoted police officials in the southern city of Antalya as saying one of the hijackers was Turkish and the other an Egyptian born in Cairo in 1974, who had received training in al Qaeda camps. It did not specify where the camps were. Newspapers carried similar reports. Previous reports have said one of the hijackers was a Syrian passport-holder, thought to be Palestinian. The plane was hijacked as it brought 136 passengers from northern Cyprus -- a destination popular with Turkish and foreign tourists -- to Istanbul. One of the hijackers had tried to force the cockpit door open 15 minutes after take-off and told passengers he was a member of al Qaeda. Most passengers were quickly released or escaped through emergency exits but six crew and passengers were held hostage until the hijackers surrendered about five hours after forcing the plane to land.
Sunday, August 19
CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY
(Greek Cypriot) Foreign Ministry condemns hijack of Turkish aircraft
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Cyprus condemned the hijacking which took place on August 18th, 2007 on an aircraft of the Turkish private airline Atlas – Jet and pointed out that Tymbou (Ercan) airport does not conform to the international safety regulations. In an official announcement issued on Saturday, the Foreign Ministry points out that “the flight of the Turkish private airline Atlas - Jet heading to Istanbul, departed from an illegal airport located in the area which is occupied by the Turkish troops and which is not under the control of the legal Authorities of the Republic of Cyprus”. The Foreign Ministry also stress that “the fact that the operation of the illegal Tymbou airport does not conform to the international safety regulations or to the Civil Aviation Regulations, since it operates in an illegal secessionist entity, has repeatedly been pointed out by the Republic of Cyprus to all international organizations as well as to the international community”. Furthermore, the Ministry says that ‘all legal entrance and exit points of the Republic of Cyprus operate under complete safety’ and in accordance with the international air navigation regulations on the basis of International Conventions which have been signed by the Republic of Cyprus.
SUNDAY MAIL
Plot thickens over missing Christakis
The man located in Turkey that could yet turn out to be missing Cypriot Christakis Georgiou agreed to a DNA test after being visited by a journalist from Politis, the paper said yesterday. Georgiou was taken to Turkey in 1974 at the age of five to be treated for a bullet wound to the leg and was never seen again. In its continuing series of articles on the mystery of whether Hakan Kutevu is Georgiou, Politis travelled to Adana last March.There, journalist Andreas Paraschos met Kutevu, his wife Fatos and two children, Mert 16 and Iliada 9 and discussed why they thought he might be Georgiou. Kutevu recounted how Mert, his son had seen a picture of Georgiou in the Turkish mainland newspaper Sabah and wondered why a photo of his father as a child had been published. Comparing the two photos, one of five-year old Georgiou and the 39-year old Kutevu, there is a strong similarity. At home, the family compared the Sabah photo with others of Kutevu as a child and then read other details about Georgiou, particularly the knee injury, and they concluded there might be something to the story. That was when they first made contact with Politis. Kutevu told Paraschos no one in his family had even been able to explain to him how he had gotten the scars on his leg. He also said he had memories of lots of doctors and nurses, and of being taken in a helicopter. Kutevu showed his scars to Paraschos who was able to establish from the details Georgiou’s family had of his injury, that they matched. Asked if he had discussed anything with his mother, Kutevu said he had asked her several times in the past what had happened to his leg, and about the memories or the doctors and nurses and the helicopter, but had never received an adequate answer. He also does not remember his father, who he was told died when he was two years old. Paraschos discussed with Kutevu the possibility of a DNA test. He agreed on the condition he was given some time to discuss it with friends and family and to work out what sort of affect it would have on his life and his family if it turned out positive. They agreed to meet again. However in the meantime Paraschos while still in Turkey was due to meet a Turkish doctor, whose name was given to him by Georgiou’s mother before he left Cyprus. The paper said it would continue the story tomorrow. Since early this year, Politis has been pursuing leads in Turkey after a retired Turkish corporal who said Georgiou had been brought to Turkey alive and not seriously injured with a bullet to the leg. He believes Georgiou is still alive. Georgiou’s mother was told a number of times in 1974 and 1975 that he would be coming home but he was never brought back. Denktash said recently Georgiou had later died from his injuries, despite saying in 1975 that the boy was alive and in hospital in Turkey.
COMMENTARY
SUNDAY MAIL
The Asia Minor disaster by Loucas Charalambous
“One of the most inane arguments used against Yiannis Kasoulides is that, back in 2004, he had expressed the view that a rejection of a settlement by Greek Cypriots would be tantamount to an Asia Minor disaster. Though unable to find the actual transcript, I am prepared to accept that Kasoulides did make a statement to the effect that, in the event of a rejection of the Annan plan, the situation arising would be analogous to that of the Asia Minor disaster of 1922. I must say that I too have many times used in this column the example of the Asia Minor catastrophe in comparing it to the consequences of the Turkish invasion in Cyprus. And I agree with Kasoulides that these two events are comparable. In fact, proportionately speaking, the aftermath of the destruction in Cyprus was far more serious than that in Asia Minor, as I am about to argue below. But before moving on, I think it important to note Kasoulides’ unfathomable omission to respond to the silly accusations hurled by these clueless slogan peddlers. Unless I’m mistaken, the first person to have used this catchphrase was President Papadopoulos, who incidentally is well known for his ignorance of historical affairs but also for his obsession with twisting historical truth in relation to events in which he was personally involved, such as the bloody intercommunal clashes of 1963 (“How many Turkish Cypriots were murdered from 1964 to 1974? The answer is none.” – Papadopoulos, interview with the Khaleej Times, September 4, 2004. Correct answer: about 620.) But let’s get to the point. What was the result of the 1922 disaster? Some 1.4 million Greeks lost their property and were moved to mainland Greece, which at the time had a population of 3.5 million. In other words, the refugees amounted to 40 per cent of the host population. What were the corresponding figures in Cyprus? According to official data, there were 200,000 refugees out of the 500,000-strong Greek Cypriot population in 1974. That is, the refugees amounted to 40 per cent of the population that took them in, which is exactly the same percentage as in the case of 1922. Now, what were the results of the ‘No’ in the 2004 referendum? These people definitively lost their properties and remained in the south, just as the refugees of 1922 stayed in Greece. So where did Kasoulides go wrong, and where did he exaggerate? Proportionately speaking, was the outcome not the same? I also said, however, that by comparison the case of Cyprus is worse. This is because in 1922 the tragedy ended with the resettlement of the refugees, who from there on could live in their new homes in safety. But what about Cyprus? Do our refugees, or even non-refugees, live in safety? Certainly not. The ‘No’ of the referendum has left here two divisions of the Turkish army, and no one knows whether these troops shall one day reach Paphos, in which case 100 per cent of the population would become refugees. Moreover, because of the ‘No’, half of the refugees missed the chance to have their properties returned in Famagusta, Morphou and other areas. Even refugees hailing from other places lost the opportunity to reclaim part of their property or exchange these with Turkish Cypriot properties in the south or receive compensation, even if under a timetable. But the refugees of 1922 never missed these opportunities, as they were never asked to vote in a referendum. Also, one should bear in mind that the Greeks in Asia Minor comprised just 19.2 per cent of the population, whereas in Cyprus they made up 82 per cent. So who can deny that the case of Cyprus is comparatively far worse than that of Asia Minor, as far as its aftermath goes? Is it Kasoulides who is wrong, or rather Papadopoulos and the clueless demagogues who sarcastically tell him to apologise? Instead, it is they who should apologise for voting for partition, allowing the Turkish military to remain in Cyprus and for giving away Famagusta and Morphou to Turkey.”
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