Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 01-12-29

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

CONTENTS

[01] Denktash arrives for dinner with Clerides

[02] Peaceful demonstration coincides with Clerides-Denktash dinner

[03] Denktash takes detour for Clerides' house

[04] Demonstration against Clerides-Denktash dinner

[05] Missing persons' mothers demonstrate outside Clerides' house

[06] Clerides-Denktash dinner over

[01] Denktash arrives for dinner with Clerides

2030:CYPPRESS:04

Denktash arrives for dinner with Clerides

Nicosia, Dec 29 (CNA) - Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash has arrived at Cyprus President Glafcos Clerides' home for dinner, at Ioannis Clerides street in the government-controlled southern part of the divided capital Nicosia, surprising everyone by crossing over into the free areas of the Republic from a different point than the one expected.

Denktash was welcomed by President Clerides himself at the house's entrance, where they shook hands and were photographed before entering the President's home.

On his arrival, Denktash was asked if he would do something for the families of persons missing since the 1974 Turkish invasion of the island. He replied: "Happy New Year to all of you".

The Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash arrived with a private saloon with the registration number ES 747. He was accompanied by five security cars.

Denktash's car arrived at Clerides' residence at 2012 local time (1812 GMT)

CNA/RM/RG/GP/2001

[02] Peaceful demonstration coincides with Clerides-Denktash dinner

2050:CYPPRESS:05

Peaceful demonstration coincides with Clerides-Denktash dinner

Nicosia, Dec 29 (CNA) - About 200 people gathered in Makarios Avenue tonight, from where Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash was supposed to pass on route to President Glafcos Clerides' residence for dinner, in order to peacefully demonstrate their strong wish for a solution to the Cyprus problem, within the framework of UN resolutions.

The demonstrators were chanting peace songs, while holding candles and white balloons, as well as banners with slogans in favour of the reunification of Cyprus, peace, and a solution within the UN context.

CNA/RM/RG/GP/2001

[03] Denktash takes detour for Clerides' house

2100:CYPPRESS:06

Denktash takes detour for Clerides' house

Nicosia, Dec 29 (CNA) - Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash crossed over into the free areas of the Republic tonight, for dinner with President Glafcos Clerides, by taking a different route from the one expected.

A bodyguard escorting Denktash told CNA that the Turkish Cypriot leader's procession entered the free areas through the Nicosia Airport, now in the UN-controlled buffer zone, instead of the Ledra Palace checkpoint, where reporters and other people were waiting for him.

CNA/MM/RG/GP/2001

[04] Demonstration against Clerides-Denktash dinner

2115:CYPPRESS:07

Demonstration against Clerides-Denktash dinner

Nicosia, Dec 29 (CNA) - Sixty persons gathered in Eleftheria Square in central Nicosia tonight, to demonstrate against the Turkish occupation of Cyprus' northern third and the dinner given by President Glafcos Clerides for Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash, taking place now.

The demonstrators were members of refugee and anti-occupation associations, students, relatives of persons missing since the 1974 Turkish invasion, and members of a political party youth organisation, as well as Democratic Party MPs.

They were holding placards with various slogans, including "Denktash, you will go to court", "One people, one land, one state", and "The dinner overrides the crime".

A huge black sheet was hung on the Venetian wall outside the Nicosia Town Hall reading "No dinner with the conqueror as long as the occupation lasts in Cyprus".

During the demonstration, members of the group set a table for two and placed a model of divided Cyprus on a serving plate.

CNA/RM/RG/GP/2001

[05] Missing persons' mothers demonstrate outside Clerides' house

2130:CYPPRESS:08

Missing persons' mothers demonstrate outside Clerides' house

Nicosia, Dec 29 (CNA) - About ten mothers of persons missing since the 1974 Turkish invasion of Cyprus, crying "Where are our children?" marched from Eleftheria Square to the home of President Glafcos Clerides, in Nicosia, who is having dinner at this moment with Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash.

Holding placards with slogans such as "We want our children", "We are waiting for 28 years", and "We have a right to live in the homes we were born in", the mothers, dressed in black, were chanting in favour of returning to their homes and determining the fate of their loved ones.

On their arrival at the President's residence, the Police did not allow them to go any further. This did not deter them from shouting in English "We want to ask for freedom for Cyprus", "We don't hate anybody", "End the drama of missing persons", and "One people, one country, one state".

CNA/RM/RG/GP/2001

[06] Clerides-Denktash dinner over

2210:CYPPRESS:09

Clerides-Denktash dinner over

Nicosia, Dec 29 (CNA) - Cyprus President Glafcos Clerides, Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash, and the UN Secretary-General's Acting Special Representative for Cyprus Zbigniew Wlosowicz had dinner tonight at President Clerides' residence.

The two leaders dined and talked for two hours, after which they shook hands on the porch and Denktash departed the way he had arrived, for the Turkish-occupied areas of the Republic.

Asked if he had a good dinner, Denktash said it was "excellent" and wished a "Happy New Year".

CNA/MM/RM/RG/GP/2001

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