Cyprus Mail: Press Review in English, 98-03-21

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From: The Cyprus Mail at <http://www.cynews.com/>

Saturday, March 21, 1998

Attempt to change basis of talks

THE NEWSPAPERS gave differing interpretations to the comments made by the UN Secretary-general's Special Representative to Cyprus, Diego Cordovez, during his visit.

Phileleftheros reported that for the first time since 1975, a UN official had left open the possibility of changing the basis of the peace talks, which the UN Security Council had unanimously decided should be between "representatives of the two communities".

Cordovez included this matter among the issues that would be discussed between the two sides, when asked to take a stand on Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash's demand that negotiations should no longer be intercommunal but "inter-state".

Denktash adopted this stance when the EU gave the go-ahead for the start of accession talks with Cyprus, saying he would never again attend intercommunal negotiations.

Simerini claimed that President Clerides would dispel Cordovez's "cunning thoughts" about changing the basis of the talks. According to the paper's sources, the government insists on the procedure of finding an overall settlement and will not even discuss the possibility of changing the basis of the talks.

This was to be conveyed by Clerides to Cordovez at yesterday's meeting, the paper said. It added that other foreign diplomats, including EU Commissioner Hans van den Broek, had sounded out the government about the possibility of agreeing to the "acknowledgement" of the pseudo-state. The idea was rejected, because, legally, this would be a preface to recognition.

Alithia gave prominence to Cordovez's assertion that the Cyprus problem should be solved by the two communities, rather than by foreigners. It was up to the two leaders to change the basis of the talks and the settlement, if they so agreed.

After talking to both sides, he would decide whether his terms of reference for the bicommunal talks would change.

Haravghi said that while Denktash remained intransigent, Cordovez had taken the role of Pontius Pilate, refusing to take a stand about the deadlock, which was the responsibility of the Turks. Cordovez repeated that all the UN could do was help the two sides reach a settlement.

Agon reported that the defence ministers of Cyprus and Greece, during their meeting in Athens, were to evaluate changing political conditions in relation to defence and the Unified Defence Area.

Machi said that Israel-Turkey relations were discussed at the meeting between Clerides and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. According to exclusive information, they also discussed Israeli violations of Cyprus's air space and the Jewish state's exchange of military information with Turkey.

© Copyright Cyprus Mail 1998

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