[01] Cyprus government has no information on alleged shooting
[02] Ministry denies Turkish allegations
[03] UN: UK SBA looks into the incident
[04] Greece: Planned act of provocation
[05] Shots were fired in Turkish-occupied area
[06] Clerides: We shall take the appropriate measures
[07] Army Chief: No reason for concern
[08] Gunshots were fired in the Turkish occupied territories in Cyprus while explosives were found near a Turkish military outpost
[09] Ciller arrives in occupied Cyprus / LGR reveals dead soldier was a Kurd
[10] No evidence of Greek Cypriot involvement in Turkish soldier killing
[01] Cyprus government has no
information on alleged shooting
Nicosia, Sep 7 1996 (CNA) -- The government of Cyprus announced that no incident involving fire exchange has been reported during the night, in response to allegations by the Turkish Cypriot side that Greek Cypriots shot and killed a Turkish soldier and wounded another on the demarcation line near Turkish occupied Famagusta.
Government sources added that no shots were fired from National Guard posts which are situated some 700 metres away from the Turkish occupation post.
British Bases spokesman Antony Worner, told CNA that there is ''an allegation of shooting and that is being investigated by the Sovereign Base Area Police and Royal Military Police in cooperation with Turkish military representatives''.
He said the allegation is ''that Turkish soldiers were shot''. One Turkish soldier was killed and another one wounded in the incident which occurred in the early hours today but was not sure of the precise time.
He said it occurred near the site of Vrissoules, near Agios Nicolaos which falls into the British Bases sovereign areas.
According to government sources, the Turkish military are further manning the occupation posts along the demarcation line.
National Guard soldiers in Greek Cypriot posts around 700 metres from where the incident allegedly took place, noted that nothing had occurred during the night.
National Guard and Police officials have arrived at the scene and together with members of the United Nations Peacekeeping Forces on the island (UNFICYP) and the British Bases are carrying out investigations.
However, the Cyprus authorities do not rule
out the possibility that the incident is the work of Turkish agent
provocateurs to escalate tension on the island.
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[02] Ministry denies Turkish
allegations
Nicosia, Sep 8 (CNA) -- Cyprus' Defence Ministry categorically denied any involvement of the National Guard in an alleged shooting incident, early today, on the demarcation line, near Famagusta, where a Turkish soldier manning a Turkish occupation post was killed and another was wounded.
In a statement released a short while ago,
the Ministry said ''following today's reports of the illegal 'Bayrak'
radio about a shooting incident, the death of a soldier and the
injury of a second one of the occupation army, the Ministry of
Defence would like to officially and categorically state that
following an investigation the National Guard has in no way been
involved in the incident''.
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[03] UN: UK SBA looks into the
incident
Nicosia, Sep 8 (CNA) -- The United Nations announced that an alleged incident where a Turkish soldier was killed and another was injured near the Agios Nicolaos area is being investigated by the British Sovereign Base Area (SBA) authorities because the area is not in the UN buffer zone.
In a press release issued today, the United Nations Peacekeeping Forces in Cyprus (UNFICYP) said that at ''0630 hours, UNFICYP was requested by Turkish forces headquarters to send the Commanding officer of its Sector 4 to the area of Agios Kendeas at the north of the SBA link road close to Agios Nicolaos.''
It further said that when the commander arrived at the location at 0745 hours, ''he was informed that one TCSF soldier had been killed and another seriously wounded by gunfire allegedly from two persons coming from the direction of the SBA link road''.
However, UNFICYP noted that ''the area concerned its adjacent to the UK SBA and not the UN buffer zone.''
''Therefore, the incident is being investigated by the SBA authorities in cooperation with the Turkish Forces in Cyprus''.
UNFICYP added it is awaiting the outcome of
this investigation before making any further comments.
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[04] Greece: Planned act of
provocation
Nicosia, Sep 8 (CNA) -- Greece's National Defence Minister Gerasimos Arsenis described as a ''provocative act'' Turkish allegations that Greek Cypriots shot and killed a Turkish soldier and wounded a second, at dawn today, on the demarcation line, near Vrissoules.
Arsenis said he was in constant touch with Cyprus and added that according to information he has received, the Greek Cypriot side has done nothing.
He said ''since the soldiers, who man the Greek
Cypriot post in the area, did not hear anything, then we should
not rule out the possibility of a planned act of provocation''.
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[05] shots were fired in Turkish-occupied area
Nicosia, Sep 8 (CNA) -- Shots which killed a Turkish soldier and wounded another in the early hours were fired from a place north of the Turkish forces ceasefire line, the British Sovereign Base Area (SBA) announced.
At the same time, the SBA said , according to first opinions, the perpetrators crossed into the Turkish-occupied areas from the 100-metre strip of the SBA territory.
However, an SBA spokesman said nobody suggests that the perpetrators are Greek Cypriots.
According to the SBA announcement, the SBA Police and Royal Military Police have assisted in preliminary enquiries into the death of a Turkish soldier and the injury of another by shooting this morning near Agios Kendeas.
''First opinions are that the shots were fired from a place north of the Turkish forces ceasefire line and therefore outside British jurisdiction, but that the perpetrators crossed the 100 metre strip of SBA territory that separates the Republic of Cyprus from the Turkish-occupied areas'', said the statement.
It further noted that the Turkish occupation forces ''are taking the lead in the investigation. However, the SBA authorities are assisting in the investigation because of the likelihood that the criminals moved through SBA territory''.
In statements to CNA, Bases Spokesman Antony Worner said there is evidence to suggest that the perpetrators crossed into the SBA 100 metre strip territory.
Asked if he was suggesting that the perpetrators were Greek Cypriots, Worner ''said we have not said that, we are not suggesting that. We are not pointing any fingers to anyone'', he added.
He did not rule out the possibility the perpetrators were Turks.
According to a Greek Cypriot eyewitness quoted
by a local television station, he heard the shots and saw a car
speeding into the Turkish-occupied areas.
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[06] Clerides: We shall take
the appropriate measures
Nicosia, Sep 8 (CNA) -- Cyprus President Glafcos Clerides said the government was investigating the incident where a Turkish soldier manning an occupation post was killed early today near the Agios Kendeas area.
Clerides told reporters that following the investigation, the government would take the appropriate measures. He did not elaborate.
Government Spokesman Yiannakis Cassoulides said National Guard officials had examined all weapons held by National Guard soldiers in the area and found no indications of them being used.
He said the Police had no reports about shots from the free areas to the Turkish-occupied areas.
The Spokesman recalled that the government had warned a couple of days ago of a possible action by Turkish agent provocateurs. Cassoulides pointed out that the incident was clearly an act of Turkish provocation.
He noted the government was gathering information in order to prove that there had been no involvement by Greek Cypriots in the incident.
A Greek Cypriot eyewitness said he heard the shots early this morning and saw a car speeding into the Turkish-occupied territory.
Cassoulides is expected to brief the press
later today.
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[07] Army Chief: No reason for
concern
Nicosia, Sep 8 (CNA) -- The National Guard Chief has assured that there is no reason for concern after a morning shooting incident that left one Turkish soldier dead and another wounded.
Government Spokesman Yiannakis Cassoulides told reporters that he had been informed by National Guard Commander, Lieutenant General Nicolaos Vorvolacos, that there are no further activities or moves which should create excess anxiety regarding the security of the citizens of the free areas of the Republic.
Cassoulides said that according to Vorvolacos, the Turkish moves were a ''natural consequence'' following such an incident.
At the same time, the government criticised statements made by Turkish Foreign Minister Tansu Ciller and Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash, who described the killing as a ''cold blooded murder'' by the Greek Cypriot side and blamed the government for the killing.
Such statements ''do not help in defusing tension'', Cassoulides noted.
He added the government does not want tension in the region or in Cyprus and it is ready to contribute to defuse tension.
''We are a responsible government and we shall examine all possibilities. We will not come to any rough conclusion'', Cassoulides said.
Furthermore, the Spokesman reiterated earlier statements that no shots were fired from National Guard soldiers against the Turkish soldiers.
Cassoulides noted that a ''thorough investigation carried out by the National Guard proved that no shots were fired from a Greek Cypriot National Guard post to the occupied areas''.
Cassoulides said the government was certain about this following an investigation into the weaponry held by soldiers in the area.
He added no shooting incident was reported to the Cyprus Police, which is currently carrying out an inquiry into the incident.
A similar conclusion was arrived at during a meeting at National Guard headquarters, headed by Defence Minister Costas Eliades. The meeting was told that the incident is believed to be the result of an act of Turkish occupation agent provocateurs.
Cassoulides quoted an announcement by the British Bases that the shots were fired from a place north of the Turkish forces ceasefire line. According to the British Sovereign Base Area (SBA) investigation, Cassoulides said, the perpetrators crossed into the Turkish-occupied areas from the 100-metre strip of the SBA territory.
However, Cassoulides quoted a Bases spokesman, who made it clear that this does not mean the perpetrators were Greek Cypriots and did not rule out the possibility that they could be Turks.
Cyprus has been divided since 1974 when Turkish
troops invaded and occupied 37 per cent of its territory.
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Nicosia 8 September (M.P.A.)
Gunshots were fired in the Turkish occupied territories in northern Cyprus behind the demarcation line in Agios Pavlos, as it was confirmed by a National Guard General Staff officer.
The officer clarified that the National Guard General Staff has begun an investigation on the incident even though the shooting took place behind the Turkish military outposts and not against National Guard positions.
Meanwhile, explosives were discovered on the grounds of the Turkish military outpost where a Turkish soldier was found dead this morning while another one was found seriously injured. The discovery of the explosives led the authorities of the British bases, assisting in the investigation of the case, to close the nearby road.
According to information, in the region have
arrived British Bases' vehicles and explosives' experts.
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[09] Ciller arrives in occupied
Cyprus / LGR reveals dead soldier was a Kurd
Nicosia, Sep 10 (CNA) -- Turkey's Foreign Minister Tansu Ciller arrived in the Turkish-occupied area of Cyprus today to attend the funeral of a Kurdish origin soldier of the Turkish occupation army, who was found dead in an observation post on Sunday morning.
Soon after her arrival at the illegal Tympou (Ercan) airport, Ciller expressed Turkey's full support to the Turkish Cypriot community.
She was scheduled to give a press conference at the airport before travelling to the Turkish-occupied northern part of Nicosia to meet Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash.
Ciller is accompanied by a nine-member delegation, which includes the Turkish Ministers of Education and Energy and Deputy Foreign Minister Inal Batu.
The Turkish Foreign Minister was due to attend the funeral in Nicosia of Allahverdi Kilic, a soldier of the Turkish occupation army, who was found murdered on Sunday morning, in an observation post, on the demarcation line, opposite the British sovereign base area of Ayios Nikolaos, southeast of the capital Nicosia.
There are no National Guard soldiers or UN peacekeepers in the area since the territory belongs to the British sovereign base area.
The revelation was made by a man, who claimed he was a cousin of the murdered soldier.
The man, whose name was not revealed, told LGR in broken English that Kilic and the other soldier, who was seriously wounded, were Kurds, who had objected to Turkey's intention to set up a security zone in Northern Iraq.
The caller said the families of the two had been taken to the occupied part of Cyprus, soon after the 1974 Turkish invasion and occupation of 37 per cent of this east Mediterranean island's territory, as part of Ankara's designs to change Cyprus' demographic character.
The caller told LGR that the attack was carried out by the Turkish military.
The Turks had accused the Greek Cypriot side of being responsible for the incident.
The governments of Cyprus and Greece have turned down the Turkish allegations and fired back saying that the incident was a ''pre-planned provocative act'' aimed to mislead the world public opinion, following the international outcry against the brutal murders of two unarmed Greek Cypriot youths by Turkish troops and extremists, during peaceful anti-occupation demonstrations, in the UN-controlled buffer zone, in Dherynia, last month.
Meanwhile, there is evidence that the two soldiers were not shot in the place where they were found.
Greek Cypriots, who live at Brysoulles area, within the British base area, had seen a Turkish military vehicle speeding into the Turkish-occupied northern part of the island. The Turkish military post is only accessible from the northern side.
Although the Turks had said the dead soldier received twelve bullets and the injured ten bullets, only eleven cartridge cases were found in the stairs of the observation post. British investigators found only a couple of blood stains in the area.
Experts suggest that the Turks had shot the two soldiers at another place and took them to the demarcation line to blame the Greek Cypriots for the killing.
Meanwhile, UN Secretary-General's spokesperson Sylvana Foa expressed Boutros Boutros-Ghali's concern over the shooting incident.
''This is clearly a serious incident which needs to be fully investigated by the authorities concerned,'' she said.
The spokesperson added that the Secretary-General had asked his Deputy Representative in Cyprus Gustave Feissel to be in touch with the two sides in the island, ''with a view to preventing any action that could raise tension between them''.
Ciller's arrival in the Turkish-occupied territory today coincided with the arrival in Cyprus this afternoon of UN Secretary-General's Special Representative on Cyprus Han Sung Joo, for talks with the two sides.
Tomorrow, Han is scheduled to meet President Glafcos Clerides in the free areas and Rauf Denktash in the occupied areas. Similar meetings with take place on Friday.
During his stay, the former South Korean Foreign Minister will have a series of meetings with the ambassadors of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council and the ambassadors of the European Union member-states as well as with political party leaders.
He will leave on Monday for talks in Greece
and Turkey before flying on to New York.
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[10]
No evidence of Greek Cypriot involvement in Turkish soldier killing
Nicosia, Oct 25 (CNA) -- The Sovereign British Base Areas Police (SBA) in Cyprus have not come up with evidence proving that the killing of a Turkish soldier, of Kurdish origin, and the wounding of a second, last month, were carried out by Greek Cypriots, as the Turkish Cypriot side alleges.
In a report prepared a day after the incident, the Bases note there was no evidence of a serious shooting scene nor an ejection pattern one would expect if there was shooting from an automatic weapon.
The shooting occurred on September 8, in Turkish occupied territory bordering the British Bases area.
The Turkish Cypriot side claimed Greek Cypriots shot the two soldiers, while they were asleep in their observation post, in revenge for the cold blooded killings of two young Greek Cypriots by Turkish extremists in August.
Both soldiers were removed from the observation post before the Bases police arrived at the scene, according to the SBA Police report.
The report, published today in the weekly magazine ''Selides'', also obtained by CNA, notes that evidential aspects in the observation post where the two soldiers were allegedly shot ''did not appear consistent with a serious shooting scene''.
It also points out there were only small patches of blood droplets and that ''the inside of the building was otherwise remarkably clean.''
''With two men allegedly having been shot at close quarter with a number of rounds fired from a high velocity weapon, I fully expected to find human tissue and debris from exit wounds. There was no evidence whatsoever of such exit wounds debris'', the writer of the report says.
He adds that ''the position of the shell cases simply did not appear consistent with the ejection pattern of shell cases from a automatic weapon''.
The British serviceman further notes only a small path of smeared dried blood outside the observation post, consistent with something having been dragged across the rock. ''There was otherwise no visible evidence of a shooting incident'' he says.
The writer of the report describes the large number of UN vehicles at the scene, even before the SBA police arrival, as ''an unusual occurrence as there is no UN buffer zone on this stretch of road''.
He adds UNFICYP had confirmed that a UN doctor
has seen both soldiers.
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