World

Interview & the Testimony of the Greek Cypriot Priest, Papatsetsos,
as Published in Local Greek Newspaper, Ta Nea on 28 February 1976

PAPATSETSOS: Two days after the coup, on 17 July, I witnessed something which has perhaps never been witnessed by any mortal before. I saw a young Greek Cypriot buried alive. That was when two Junta officers came to my house and ordered me to accompany them to the cemetery. I taught they were going to kill me, but they said they only wanted me for burying some dead people.
In the cemetery there were two open graves and two bodies lying beside them. I went to see if I could recognise them. One was dead. But the other, a curly haired, fair-com- plexioned, 18 year-old youth, was moving. Startled, I turned back and shouted:’But officer, this man is alive!’

Dirioz said, "we are sorry to learn that Russia was exposed to a new terrorist attack and that there were casualties as a result of the explosions in Moscow on December 9."

ANKARA (AA) – Foreign Ministry Spokesman Huseyin Dirioz Thursday condemned suicide attack which happened in Moscow on Tuesday.

Brussels is ratcheting up the pressure on Turkey to broker a deal that would allow a reunified Cyprus to join the EU.

BRUSSELS (AA) – The European Union will be watching weekend elections in Turkish Cyprus closely for signs that the breakaway republic is moving closer to the EU just months before its Greek rival joins the bloc.

Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul received Italian Parliamentary delegation headed by Italian Parliamentary Foreign Affairs Commission Chairman Gustavo Selva.

Iran launched the biggest measles immunisation campaign in the world, aiming to vaccinate around 33 million people aged 5-25 in a month.

Diyarbakir’s mayor Feridun Celik received a French delegation consisting of the World Federation of United Cities (WFUC) and International Union of Local Authorities, along with some majors.

"There are rich oil beds in the sea between Turkey and TRNC. This is very important for the US and EU," said TRNC ambassador to Turkey.

ANKARA (AA) – Ahmet Zeki Bulunc, the Ambassador of TRNC to Turkey said that on Thursday that the main target of Annan plan was to take Turkey out of Cyprus.

"There are rich oil beds in the sea between Turkey and TRNC. This is very important for the U.S. and EU," said Bulunc.

Bulunc who visited Denizli Governor Gazi Simsek the same day, told journalists that various games were played against Turkey and TRNC and Annan plan which came to agenda one year ago was a part of that plan.

A Russian Consulate General opened in Antalya on Monday in an official ceremony during which Sergey Alifanov officially assumed his duties as consul general.

Denktas accused those opposition parties which extended support to Annan plan and which pursued different path from national cause.

LEFKOSA (AA) – TRNC President Rauf Denktas said on Thursday that the people had the right to change the government, adding "but this time the elections are not related to change of government. It is about future of TRNC and limitation of Turkey’s guarantor rights."