Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 96-09-27

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CONTENTS

[01] US, Russia show interest in Cyprus settlement

[02] Spring: Accession prospect offers best hope for Cyprus solution

[03] US officials pledge to redouble Cyprus efforts

[04] MPs satisfied with IPU report on Cyprus

[05] French embassy confirms threats

[06] Greek Premier on official visit to Cyprus

[07] Leftwing party condemns Israeli-Palestinian clashes

[08] Foreign Minister sees increased US interest

1030:CYPPRESS:01

[01] US, Russia show interest in Cyprus settlement

New York, Sep 27 (CNA) -- The United States and Russia exhibit a strong interest in assuming a role to promote a procedure, which will lead to direct negotiations for a Cyprus settlement in the first half of 1997.

This was the outcome of meetings here yesterday of Cyprus President Glafcos Clerides and Foreign Minister Alecos Michaelides with Russian Foreign Minister Evgueni Primakov and US Undersecretary of State Peter Tarnoff, respectively.

President Clerides told reporters that he exchanged views with Primakov on issues such as the island's demilitarisation within the framework of a solution.

Clerides said the Russian interest is ''clear'', as it was in the past and still remains so.

Asked by CNA how this interest will be realised, Clerides noted that the Russians will hold meetings with Turkish officials to express their views on a Cyprus settlement.

Michaelides told reporters that his meeting with Tarnoff signified a substantial US interest and intention to enter the procedure.

At the same time, he said it was stressed to the Americans that the Cyprus government attaches great significance in the preparation of the negotiations.

These negotiations, he added, ''should create a momentum and such a climate'' which would test whether there is a possibility or not for a solution.

The Cypriot Minister indicated that these meetings should be frequent, in order to maintain the momentum.

''They should be intense and the best period is until the middle of 1997'', Michaelides said.

Addressing the UN General Assembly session yesterday, President Clerides expressed his intention to embark on face-to-face talks in 1997, ''once the ground has been sufficiently prepared to ensure success.''

Cyprus has been divided since 1974 when Turkish troops invaded and occupied 37 per cent of its territory.

CNA EC/GP/1996

1050:CYPPRESS:02

[02] Spring: Accession prospect offers best hope for Cyprus solution

United Nations, Sep 27 (CNA) -- The prospect of Cyprus' accession as a European Union member ''offers perhaps the best opportunity we've had in the last 22 years for movement in the Cypriot question'', Irish Foreign Minister Dick Spring has said here.

Spring, who currently holds the six-month presidency of the EU Council, told a press conference the EU has spent considerable time outlining to both, Greek and Turkish Cypriot sides, the ''enormous benefits, economic, political and indeed security benefits for the whole island that would flow from accession".

He said he hoped the prospects of the coming accession negotiations would act as a ''catalyst to renew the momentum which is sadly lacking at present''.

Asked whether Turkey's adamant opposition to Cyprus' accession before a settlement is reached did not place the European Union and Turkey on a collision course, what with the accession talks clock already ticking, Spring replied ''I certainly hope we're not on a collision course''.

It has been a difficult summer on the island, he said, but ''most importantly a degree of relative calm and stability has been reestablished''.

The Irish Foreign Minister noted that the European Union was ''very supportive'' of the efforts of the UN Secretary-General in negotiating a lasting settlement which, he emphasized, must ''respect the sovereignty, independence, the territorial integrity and the unity of the country, in accordance with the United Nations resolutions''.

Referring to the Greco-Turkish relations, Spring described them as very important, because they also have an impact upon Cyprus and for this reason the EU is engaged in a dialogue with Turkey.

Turkish troops have been occupying 37 per cent of Cyprus territory since 1974, in violation of repeated UN resolutions calling for their withdrawal.

Cyprus applied for full EU membership in 1990. It signed an association agreement with the European Community in 1972 and a customs union agreement in 1987. CNA/JD/GP/1996

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1130:CYPPRESS:03

[03] US officials pledge to redouble Cyprus efforts

Washington, Sep 27 (CNA) -- US high-ranking officials have pledged to redouble efforts to achieve a solution to the Cyprus problem.

Antony Lake, the National Security Advisor to President Clinton, George Stephanopoulos, Senior Advisor to the President, and Richard Holbrooke, former Assistant Secretary of State, were among the speakers at the 12th Annual Hellenic Leadership Conference held in Washington.

Lake informed the participants about President Clinton's and his own strong belief that it is outrageous that now after over twenty years there is no Cyprus settlement.

He said the US Administration hoped 1996 would be the year in which they could make real progress on the Cyprus problem.

According to Lake this was not possible with the politics in Turkey and Greece as they work through the elections, but now there will be opportunities to do what they have got to do and that is to deal with the fundamentals and make the kind of progress that they want to do.

''What I can tell you'', Lake said, ''is that we are determined to do that, and I think you can this is not a statement of a press meet because it is better than that. This is a question not only of our very firm intent, reflecting our frustrations at where we stand on that, but it is also in the American national interest, that we make progress on Cyprus and try to resolve it. I can assure you that we therefore push ahead''.

Lake told the participants that ''one reason that it will be a good thing if President Clinton has a second term is because he is offended by their inability to make more progress on Cyprus''.

The National Security Advisor concluded his remarks describing how the Clinton Administration sees the future initiative on Cyprus.

''I think we need a rifle shot on Cyprus not a shotgun effort. If we make a new initiative every week then the Turks and everybody will get used to it and it will be oh! here is the weakly American initiative on Cyprus, and we won't be taken seriously. So we want to be sure that when we go for it we think we can get it and that does include public efforts. I think that you can be vigorous and still be diplomatic''.

Lake ended his speech by saying ''we want to do that at once as a part of a real effort to get something done to solve this problem. It is unfinished business and I don't want unfinished business''.

From his part George Stephanopoulos said 1996 was to be the year of Cyprus, but unfortunately a lot of things happened like the change of government in Turkey and the elections in Greece.

Right now as Stephanopoulos stressed ''the United States are only several weeks away from the Presidential elections. That makes it very difficult and probably counterproductive to try a major initiative on Cyprus''.

He concluded his remarks describing what President Clinton wants to do about Cyprus.

''The President wants to have a serious initiative. He wants to solve the problem and we believe that through the work of Ambassador Albright, through the work that Antony Lake has been developing through the National Security Council for the last several months, and we hope with the good offices of Ambassador Holbrooke we will be able to come back next year and really figure out if we can get a comprehensive settlement on Cyprus. I can tell you that the President is committed to that''.

Richard Holbrooke shared the view of the two previous speakers about the difficulties towards a Cyprus solution in 1996.

He said he had a breakfast with Turkey's Foreign Minister Tansu Ciller, and that they discussed all the issues regarding Cyprus and the Aegean.

His impression from the discussion was that the political situation in Turkey today is not the one that can give him the feeling that they are where he wants to.

Despite that, Holbrooke expressed hope and confidence that after the US presidential elections the US will redouble its efforts regarding Cyprus and regarding the islets in the eastern Aegean. ''Those issues are very important to be ignored,'' he added.

Responding to a call from the participants in the conference to be involved in the American initiative, Richard Holbrooke expressed his gratitude and said Presidential Emissary on Cyprus Richard Beattie, who he had personally picked for the job and with whom he has a regular contact, is preparing to travel to the region after the US elections.

Turkish troops have been occupying 37 per cent of Cyprus territory since 1974, in violation of repeated UN resolutions calling for their withdrawal.

CNA DA/GP/1996

1210:CYPPRESS:04

[04] MPs satisfied with IPU report on Cyprus

House of Representatives Deputy Speaker Nicos Anastasiades, who headed the Cypriot delegation to the Beijing 96th Interparliamentary Conference, referred to the Committee's report and recommendations during a press conference here.

The Committee examined the situation regarding Cyprus and the events that took place on the island in recent weeks. It examined written documentation and held hearings of representatives of the two Cypriot communities and of the three guarantor powers established by the 1960 Treaty of Guarantee (Greece, Turkey and the United Kingdom), on developments in Cyprus since April 1996.

Anastasiades said the Interparliamentary Council had adopted the Committee's report and decided to extend its mandate to the Seoul Interparliamentary meetings, in April 1997.

He described its recommendations ''very positive'', stressing it is ''positively better'' than the one adopted at the Istanbul IPU meeting, in April 1996.

The parliamentary delegation was made up of MPs Nicos Anastasiades, Andreas Philippou, Stathis Kittis, Yiannakis Omerou and Androulla Vassiliou.

Anastasiades underlined the report's mention to the August events in the Dherynia UN buffer zone, and especially that ''Turkish forces participated very directly'' and ''violent elements'' that came from Turkey in order to act against the demonstrators, two of them violently killed by Turkish extremists. Cypriot MPs provided the IPU Committee with a video of the incidents.

The Committee urges the authorities of the two communities and the Turkish government to ''conduct without delay the necessary in-depth investigations and promptly bring to justice all those suspected of being directly or indirectly responsible'' in these events.

With regard to the killing of a Kurdish soldier of the Turkish occupation troops, on the Aheritou cease-fire line on September 8, the report says ''responsibility remains to be established.''

The report recalls once again that, in accordance with UN resolutions, ''there is no internationally recognised state in northern Cyprus and hence no international border, but only a cease-fire line.''

It also reiterates emphatically the value it attaches to respect for the principle of freedom of movement on the island.

The IPU Monitoring Committee on Cyprus ''emphasises that the Set of Ideas of the UN Secretary-General remains on the table of negotiation'' and urges the two parties to ''reach agreement'' on the Confidence Building Measures (CFMs) proposed by the UN Secretary-General.

It also considers ''particularly necessary and useful'' a dialogue under the auspices of the general commanding of the UN Peacekeeping Forces in Cyprus (UNFICYP), between the head of the National Guard and the general heading the Turkish occupation forces in Cyprus, as proposed by the US government, in July 1996.

Referring to the increase in number of mediators for Cyprus, it notes that this reflects the international community's concern to reach a negotiated settlement. This ''constitutes an opportunity for the settlement of the Cyprus question'' but only to the extent that mediators efforts devotail with those of the UN Secretary-General. On the contrary, this increase could add to the difficulties, the report says.

With regard to the accession of Cyprus to the EU, the Committee reiterated its view that ''negotiations preceding consideration of Cyprus' request for affiliation to the EU provide a unique opportunity to settle the Cyprus problem.''

Anastasiades expressed satisfaction because Turkish proposals to alter the report's wording were unanimously turned down. The proposals were against any mention on the Republic of Cyprus, which is internationally recognised, as well as on Turkey's responsibilities.

Mrs Vassiliou, former first lady, participated in a special session on women's issues that preceded IPU meeting, stressed the significance of unofficial talks with her counterparts.

On their part, Philippou described the report as ''objective'', Kittis noted the Turkish efforts to influence the Committee, whereas Omerou noted that the Dherynia events had a favourable ''catalytic'' reaction worldwide.

Turkish troops have been occupying 37 per cent of Cyprus territory since 1974, in violation of repeated UN resolutions calling for their withdrawal.

CNA AP/GP/1996

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1500 :CYPPRESS:05

[05] French embassy confirms threats

Embassy spokesman, Xavier de Cabanes, told CNA the ''one-page letter was written in Arabic and was posted in Cyprus'' but he refrained from commenting on the content of the threats or the signatory.

Six foreign nationals, two Syrians and four Pakistanis, who where arrested Thursday in Limassol in connection with the threats, are appearing before Limassol District Court where the police will request an eight-day remand order.

''The letter gives no indication of the identity or the nationality of the sender,'' the spokesman said.

Replying to questions, de Cabanes said he did not think the threats had anything to do with the recent expulsion from France of many refugees who had sheltered in a church in Paris.

''I do not see any relevance between the two incidents,'' he said and noted that this is the first time in the past couple of years that the embassy of France has received such threats.

He also said the names of the six suspects ''are not known'' to the embassy and, as far as he knew, are not wanted in connection with any police investigations in France.

''They are unknown to us,'' he added.

The spokesman told CNA the embassy ''notified the Cyprus police about the letter as soon as it reached the embassy.''

Earlier police spokesman Glafcos Xenos told CNA police found ''note books, notes and a seal similar to the one on the threatening letter'' in the house where the six were staying in Limassol.

Xenos said the seal does not appear to be a known crest of a terrorist organisation.

''Police are continuing their investigations to ascertain any connections the six suspects may have had with other persons or organisations. Interpol has also been asked to make inquiries into their identity and their links,'' Xenos said.

The six suspects are: Muhamad Ilyas Bajwa, Kamran Sarwar, Omtiaz Ali Bajwa and Ahmad Abbas, all from Pakistan and Samer Zurbeir and Feraz Kamis from Syria.

CNA MM/MA/1996

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1625 :CYPPRESS:06

[06] Greek Premier on official visit to Cyprus

Simitis arrives on Tuesday morning in time to watch a grand military parade marking Cyprus' 36 years of independence.

President Glafcos Clerides, flanked by Defence Minister Costas Eliades and the Commander of the National Guard Lieutenant General Nicolaos Vorvolakos, will take the salute of the annual parade.

Prior to the parade, the Greek PM will lay a wreath at the statue of the late Archbishop Makarios III, Cyprus' first President who died in 1977, in the grounds of the Presidential Palace.

Clerides and Simitis will have a private meeting after the two-hour parade on Tuesday, followed by a working lunch.

Later on Simitis will pay his respects to the Primate of the Church of Cyprus Archbishop Chrysostomos and later on he will have a meeting with President of the House of Representatives Spyros Kyprianou and parliamentary party leaders.

The same evening the Greek Premier will attend a reception to mark the October 1 independence anniversary and then sit at a formal dinner hosted by President Clerides.

On Wednesday Clerides and Simitis, accompanied by their aides, will hold talks.

At noon the same day, Nicosia Mayor Lellos Demetriades will offer Simitis the city's golden key and announce him an honorary citizen of this divided capital.

Simitis will also receive a doctorate from the University of Cyprus before leaving for Athens early afternoon.

In an interview with a local weekly review ''Selides'' ahead of his visit, Simitis said his purpose is to ''further existing close cooperation between Greece and Cyprus in the political, economic, trade and cultural spheres, and draft a common policy.''

He said Greece aimed at promoting a ''just and viable solution of the Cyprus question on the basis of UN resolutions and through peaceful and diplomatic means, to persuade Turkey to abandon its intransigent positions.''

''But we also have to back and consolidate Cyprus' defences as part of our joint defence pact (agreed in 1993),'' he said.

This, he added, is not only Greece's ''obligation'' but also its ''national duty.''

Looking ahead, Simitis said the start of membership negotiations between Cyprus and the European Union is a ''particularly positive development which offers new opportunities for a just settlement in Cyprus.''

CNA MM/MA/1996

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1900:CYPPRESS:07

[07] Leftwing party condemns Israeli-Palestinian clashes

In a statement, issued here today, the main opposition party also reaffirmed its support for the ''just case of the Palestinian people''.

AKEL called for an end to Israel's ''arbitrary acts which risk creating new conflicts in the region, with unpredictable consequences on peace in the Middle East''.

The left wing party blames the Israeli side for the incidents, and notes that ''Israel did not respect historical places of worship for the Palestinians''.

AKEL also believes that through its behaviour the Israeli government ''is reneging the Palestinian - Israel agreements'' and threatens to dispel all hope for a just and peaceful solution to the problem.

CNA MA/MM/1996

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

2105 :CYPPRESS:08

[08] Foreign Minister sees increased US interest

Speaking after a meeting with US Permanent Representative to the UN Madeleine Albright here today, Michaelides said US interest in the Cyprus problem has increased after the tragic events on the island in August when two Greek Cypriot demonstrators were killed by Turkish extremists during protests against the continuing Turkish occupation of part of Cyprus.

President Clerides, who is in New York where he addressed the UN General Assembly, was also scheduled to meet Albright but the meeting was postponed because Albright was due to attend an emergency meeting of the Security Council to discuss clashes in Israel.

Michaelides described his meeting with the US Ambassador as preparatory. He said they agreed to hold a second meeting to deal with the details of the situation in Cyprus.

The Foreign Minister said an American proposal for a meeting of the commanders of the Cyprus National Guard and the Turkish occupation forces, put forward by Albright during her visit to Cyprus in July, will also be discussed in the next meeting with the US Ambassador to the UN.

On Thursday Michaelides held separate meetings in New York with his counterparts from Sweden, Croatia, Kenya and Bulgaria and exchanged views on matters of mutual interest, including developments in Cyprus and the Republic's application for accession to the European Union.

CNA MA/MM/1996

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

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