Demonstrators Disrupt Israeli Reception
09:35 19/04/2002 - Cypria.com News

Police arrested five demonstrators outside the residence of the Israeli ambassador last night during violent scuffles with protesters who were attempting to prevent guests entering to celebrate Israel's 54th anniversary at a reception there.

Some 300 demonstrators led by left wing party AKEL deputy Eleni Mavrou and Green Party deputy George Perdikis arrived on the scene, a leafy suburb in the Nicosia district of Engomi, at around 7.30 pm and proceeded to block off entry points leading to the ambassador's residence Those in the crowd included members of student associations, trade unions and other organizations, Palestinians and Kurds living in Cyprus.

No guests were hurt but some police and demonstrators suffered injury, one a broken nose.

In a show of solidarity with the Palestinian people, President Glafcos Clerides and the entire political leadership boycotted the reception. Less than half of the invited guests also reportedly failed to show up in a sign of solidarity with the besieged Palestinians.

Meanwhile Cyprus will file a protest with the Israeli government over its offensive against the Holy Church of Nativity in Bethlehem, Foreign Minister Ioannis Cassoulides said yesterday.

Speaking before the House Foreign Affairs Committee, the minister backed a proposed initiative by the House to the Israeli parliament to begin contacts between the two warring factions with a view to promote a new peace process on the Middle East.

"Our ambassador to Israel has been instructed to make a formal demarche to the government of Israel with regard to the siege of the church and the firing against the building," Cassoulides said.

He said Cyprus continues to avail itself to facilitate international attempts to find a peaceful settlement of the conflict and so far has hosted four meetings between Israelis and Palestinians since May 2000. The minister described situation in the region as "particularly worrying".

"Cyprus opposes any military occupation, refusal to withdraw occupation forces, settlement of occupied territory or annexation of occupied areas belonging to another country," Cassoulides said.