Cyprus News Agency: News in English (AM), 97-04-19

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From: The Cyprus News Agency at <http://www.cyna.org.cy>

CONTENTS

[01] Special adviser to UN chief on Cyprus named

[02] Turkish Cypriots visit Tekke in free areas

[03] Cypriot and Greek Foreign Ministers meet

1230:CYPPRESS:01

[01] Special adviser to UN chief on Cyprus named

Cordovez's appointment follows a recent announcement that the UN chief's Special Representative for Cyprus, former South Korean Foreign Minister Han Sung Joo, would resign at the end of this month, after a year in the post.

UN Spokesman Juan Carlos Brandt said in New York yesterday that Cordovez's primary task is to prepare and assist the UN chief in chairing the next rounds of intercommunal talks.

"The Secretary-General is determined to press ahead with the intensified effort to bring about a comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus issue," Brandt said.

The UN Spokesman said the UN chief "hopes that the current process will lead to direct talks between the two leaders within the next two or three months."

UN Resident Representative Gustave Feissel started proximity talks last month, shuttling between Cyprus President Glafcos Clerides, in the free areas of the internationally-recognised Cyprus Republic, and Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash, in the Turkish-occupied northern part of this Eastern Mediterranean island, divided since the 1974 Turkish invasion.

Due to the Turkish intransigence, the UN have failed to reunite this strategic island under a bicommunal, bizonal federation as agreed upon by the two sides in two high-level agreements in 1977 and 1979 and as provided by numerous UN resolutions.

Political analysts in the United Nations say that Cordovez's appointment as special adviser to the UN chief appears to give him a wider role than that played by UN Special Representatives for Cyprus.

Cordovez served as UN Under-Secretary-General for Special Political Affairs from 1981 to 1988.

He led talks that culminated in the 1988 Geneva Accords and eventual Soviet withdrawal from Afghanistan.

CNA GP/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1240:CYPPRESS:02

[02] Turkish Cypriots visit Tekke in free areas

The Turkish Cypriots were greeted at the Ledra Palace check point in Nicosia by Greek Cypriots, among whom were relatives of persons missing since the 1974 Turkish invasion of the island, carrying olive branches.

The Greek Cypriots also handed to their Turkish Cypriot compatriots messages urging them to join forces in trying to re-unite their homeland divided for 23 years.

This is the first time since 1974 that Turkish Cypriots visit the government-controlled areas of the Republic and the visit comes as a good- will gesture on the part of the Cyprus government in the framework of on- going proximity talks under UN auspices.

The Hala Sultan Tekke, located on the shore of Larnaca's Salt Lake, was built in memory of Umm Haram, an aunt of Prophet Mohammed and is considered one of the holiest Islamic shrines.

The Turkish Cypriot side has promised, as a good-will gesture on its part, to allow for Greek Cypriots to visit the Turkish-occupied monastery of Apostolos Andreas, on the island's eastern tip, on Greek Orthodox Easter Sunday, on April 27.

CNA RM/MCH/GP/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1315:CYPPRESS:03

[03] Cypriot and Greek Foreign Ministers meet

Speaking after a meeting in Athens yesterday with his Cypriot counterpart, Yiannakis Cassoulides, Pangalos said the governments of Greece and Cyprus are in complete agreement regarding the course of the Cyprus problem and the Republic's accession to the European Union.

Asked whether there is a foreign initiative for a package deal that would include Greco-Turkish differences and the Cyprus problem, Pangalos said he had no such information and stressed that the two are separate issues.

On his part, Cassoulides fully agreed with the views expressed by his Greek counterpart.

Refraining from commenting on on-going proximity talks, aimed at direct negotiations between President Glafcos Clerides and Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash, Cassoulides said it is still too early to say.

On the issue of overflights, Cassoulides said the position of the Cyprus government is to refrain from any actions that might upset any negotiations or the present discussions for a solution of the Cyprus problem.

He did however add, that the Cyprus government had rejected the US- proposed moratorium over flights of Greek warplanes, which are legal since they have the permission of the government of the internationally- recognised Cyprus Republic.

Washington had proposed a ban of flights of Greek and Turkish fighters over this Eastern Mediterranean island, divided since the 1974 Turkish invasion, in a bid to create the atmosphere for fruitful discussions.

Cassoulides met today in Athens with the Ambassador of Luxembourg and the Charges d'Affaires of Ireland and Austria in Athens, whom he briefed on recent developments in the Cyprus problem and with whom he discussed the Republic's accession course to the EU.

The above diplomats, who are based in the Greek capital, are also accredited to Cyprus.

CNA MCH/GP/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

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