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Cyprus News Agency: News in English (PM), 98-11-30Cyprus News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Cyprus News Agency at <http://www.cyna.org.cy>CONTENTS
1500:CYPPRESS:01[01] Tourism and Travel - StatisticsNicosia, Nov 30 (CNA) -- Arrivals of travellers including excursionists, in October 1998 reached 290.411, showing an 8,9 per cent increase, compared to the same month last year, while departures reached 325.482, recording an 7, 6 per cent increase.According to figures provided by the Department of Statistics and Research, 86,1% of travellers, excluding excursionists, arrived on the island from European countries. Specifically, 70,3% came from the European Union, while looking at individual countries, the United Kingdom was in the lead with 37,8%, followed by Greece with 9,3%, Germany with 8,5%, Israel with 7,3%, Switzerland with 5,9%, Sweden with 4,9%, Egypt with 3,4% and Russia with 3, 1% of the total travellers. Arrivals of tourists reached 228.881 in October 1998, compared with 224.371 in October 1997, recording a 2,0% increase. During the same month, 39.406 residents of Cyprus returned from trips abroad, compared with 28.703 in October 1997, of which 66,6% stated as reason for travelling, holidays, 24,8% business, and 3,9% studies. CNA RG/MCH/1998ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY1650:CYPPRESS:02[02] Jensen killing - sentence reducedNicosia, Nov, 30 (CNA) -- The Supreme Court of Cyprus reduced today a life sentence against three British soldiers to 25 years imprisonment.Justin Fowler, 30, Geoff Pernell, 27 and Alan Ford, 28 were convicted in 1996 to life imprisonment for the brutal killing of 23 year-old Danish tour guide, Louise Jensen in 1994. Upholding their appeal the Supreme Court reduced their sentence to 25 years on the grounds that in passing the original sentence, the lower Court had not taken into account their age at the time of the crime, their clean records and the "influence of drink as a mitigating factor". Earlier, lawyers for the three British convicts had argued that the life sentence handed down for Jensen's manslaughter was "unprecedented" and "excessively harsh". However, in passing out the sentence the Supreme Court condemned the "atrociousness of the crime" and said it "feels repugnance". CNA RM/MCH/1998ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY1810:CYPPRESS:03[03] Lawyers - PAK - Apostle AndreasNicosia, Nov 30 (CNA) -- The Turkish occupation forces refused to let a five-member delegation of lawyers to cross into the Turkish occupied areas to visit the monastery of Apostle Andreas in the Karpass peninsula.President of the Bar Association of Thessaloniki, Georgios Ignatiades, who participated in the five-member delegation, handed over a petition to the UN, on behalf of the other lawyers from Thessaloniki, who gathered at the Ledra Palace checkpoint. The delegation also comprised the President of the Pancyprian Bar Association, Xenios Xenopoulos, the President of the Paphos Bar Association, Andreas Demetriades, and another two lawyers from Thessaloniki. Speaking to the press, Ignatiades said the UN told the delegation that the Turkish illegal authorities had demanded they sign a document in order to be allowed through. "We refused and we refuse to sign any document or to request any permission to cross into an area that belongs to us, that belongs to the Republic of Cyprus", Ignatiades stressed. The petition of the Bar Association of Thessaloniki declares that "our free movement from the roadblock of Ledra is prohibited to us from the occupation army of Turkey, illegally and against UN resolutions, international law principles and Human Rights' agreements". It says "this obstruction to practice our rights, that is the free and unobstructed movement to any part of the Republic of Cyprus, is a violation of our rights and especially the rights of every European citizen to move freely anywhere in an independent and sovereign nation and to practice our religious rights". The Thessaloniki Bar Association "denounces this illegal and unacceptable behaviour" and "notes the continuation of the violation of human rights from Turkey, a country which does not respect the legality, and in spite of this wishes to enter to the European Union". The lawyers also stress that "we shall appeal to any legal authorities and courts for the restoration of all the above principles". Meanwhile, the Pancyprian Anti-Occupation Movement also handed over a petition to the UN saying that it undertook "the task of sending a team of architects, engineers, builders and other technicians to Apostle Andreas monastery" in order to repair the building. It said that November 30 was chosen as an appropriate date, as it is the day dedicated to saint Andreas and "therefore carries a special religious connotation for our people". The Pancyprian Anti-Occupation Movement points out in its resolution that "the monastery is in a state of almost complete collapse" as no restoration work has been carried out since the Turkish invasion and occupation of 37 per cent of the island in 1974. It also says that Archbishop Chrysostomos had been informed and had given permission for the task to be carried out. The resolution calls on UN Secretary-General, Kofi Annan, to "take appropriate measures for the full and immediate implementation of UN resolutions", adding that "such an action will strengthen the confidence of the legal citizens of the Republic of Cyprus in human rights, democracy and freedom, the protection of cultural heritage and will guarantee security". The President of the Movement, Aris Hajipanayiotou, said thirteen persons, including himself, had reached the Turkish checkpoint, but had been stopped by the UN, who said they could not guarantee their safety if they decided to go through with their plans. He said that the UN "used unacceptable violence" and that some members of the Movement had been wounded. CNA AA/RG/MCH/1998ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY1940:CYPPRESS:04[04] AIDS - Decreasing tendencyNicosia, Nov 30 (CNA) -- Five new cases of HIV infections were recorded during the past couple of months, four in October and one in November.Official figures bring the number of persons infected to 297 by the end of November, 178 of which are Cypriots, 153 men and 25 women, most of them aged between 20 and 40 years old. The figures suggest a decreasing tendency in the number of infected persons in comparison with previous years. The authorities stress, however, this should not result in lagging measures against the disease. In the context of the national AIDS programme, joint preventative projects are being organised with institutions dealing in youth matters. The International AIDS Day, which is dedicated to the participation of youth in the AIDS campaign, is a significant opportunity to further develop cooperation with these institutions, an official announcement stresses. CNA RG/MCH/1998ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY2025:CYPPRESS:05[05] Pilgrims - ReturnNicosia, Nov 30 (CNA) -- More than 1.300 Greek Cypriot pilgrims returned this evening from their visit to the Turkish occupied monastery of Apostle Andreas, on the occasion of the Saint's name-day.The pilgrims said the monastery, one of the most celebrated places of worship on the island, bears visible signs of desertion and is in need of restoration. Turkish troops have been occupying 37 per cent of Cyprus territory since 1974, in violation of repeated UN resolutions calling for their withdrawal. CNA EC/MCH/RG/1998ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCYCNA ENDSCyprus News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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