Cyprus News Agency: News in English (AM), 97-07-12

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

CONTENTS

[01] New UN document to be submitted in direct talks

[02] UN maintains strict news blackout on direct talks

1100:CYPPRESS:01

[01] New UN document to be submitted in direct talks

Poughkeepsie, Jul 12 (CNA) -- The UN will prepare and submit today a new document to the Greek and Turkish Cypriot sides, based on remarks each side has made during yesterday's meetings in the ongoing UN-led direct talks at Troutbeck, near New York.

The disclosure was made here by President Glafcos Clerides after he briefed here Friday party leaders on the process of the direct talks which, the President said, will end today.

UN-sponsored direct talks between President Clerides and Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash began on July 9. The talks aim at ending the division of Cyprus, brought on by the Turkish invasion, in 1974, and subsequent occupation of 37 percent of the island's territory.

President Clerides also said "the gap between the two sides has not been bridged because we have not discussed the fundamental issues of the Cyprus problem."

The President, Foreign Minister Ioannis Kasoulides and the political party leaders leave the area for New York City later today.

President Clerides is also scheduled to meet US Presidential Emissary for Cyprus Richard Holbrooke on Monday morning and then Sweden's Foreign Minister Lena Hjelm-Walleen and the country's Representative to the UN, Peter Osvald. Sweden is currently presiding over the UN Security Council.

In his remarks to the press, President Clerides said "the talks have not been cut short" and noted that "today we made observations on the document given to us."

"In view of the comments made by both sides, a new paper will be prepared, which will most probably be given to us, tomorrow (Saturday)," the President said.

This latest paper will be studied in Cyprus and the reply will be given to UN Resident Representative in Cyprus, Gustave Feissel.

"This is why we shall finish tomorrow (Saturday) evening," the President added.

Asked if he is pleased with he outcome of this round of talks, the President said "I am satisfied that a good atmosphere was created" through contact between the leaders of the two communities, the relaxed conversation and discussions held in a civilised climate.

Replying to questions, Clerides noted "the new document will be amended on the basis of suggestions made by the two sides."

He explained further that a list of issues is being prepared, including "the issue of displaced persons, guarantees and others."

"All issues will move on together, we shall not deal with one issue at first and then move on to the next," the President added.

Clerides explained that discussions will be on all issues relating to the Cyprus problem.

Invited to comment whether there was any indication of a shift to the Turkish side's position, the President replied "my impression is that we cannot as yet say there is a substantive shift on the fundamental aspects of the Cyprus problem because, as I have said, we have not discussed the basic issues yet."

The President also said that, as far as he knew, the second round of talks will take place as planned.

A second round of talks is scheduled to take place in Geneva between August 11 and 16.

Commenting on Turkey's Representative to the talks, Inal Batu, remark to a private Greek Cypriot TV that Cyprus must not join the European Union (EU), the President noted this is a long-standing position of Turkey.

"We did not discuss this issue at all at this meeting," the President concluded.

The European Commission recently agreed in principle to recommend the EU open accession negotiations with Cyprus and five other east European countries.

CNA MM/MH/AP/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1150:CYPPRESS:02

[02] UN maintains strict news blackout on direct talks

United Nations, Jul 12 (CNA) -- The United Nations is strictly adhering to the "news blackout" it has imposed on the direct talks it is currently sponsoring between President Glafcos Clerides and Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash at Troutbeck, New York.

Asked by CNA whether the two leaders were meeting the expectations expressed publicly by UN Secretary-General, Kofi Annan, that the two men "explore, without delay, specific and concrete solutions," and begin to deal with the actual documents and legal instruments that will constitute a comprehensive settlement, Annan's Spokesman, Fred Eckhard, responded only by saying, "Monday at noon."

On Monday, at noon, Annan's Special Adviser for Cyprus, Diego Cordovez, will brief and take questions from the UN press corps.

An hour earlier on the same day, Cordovez will brief the Security Council on the outcome of the direct talks which he had brokered for five days.

The diplomatic community appears to be honouring Annan's request made at the onset of the talks to "refrain from making public statements" and speculating on the shape of a final settlement to the Cyprus problem.

That settlement has been the subject of numerous articles appearing in recent months in respected foreign policy journals.

For example, Nicholas Rizopoulos, of the US Council on Foreign Relations, has written that on the territorial issue (involving the redrawing of the boundaries between the Greek and Turkish Cypriot administered zones on the island), greater progress might be made in any negotiations "if the Turkish Cypriots were assured of a disproportionate piece of the economic pie following Cyprus' accession to the EU."

"The types of trade-offs," Rizopoulos said, "that could move the parties closer to a comprehensive settlement have been apparent for a long time. Turkish Cypriots would have to substantially improve their offer of territorial concessions and allow for a partial implementation of the 'three freedoms' under a firmly established timetable."

This, he added, may make it easier for Greek Cypriots "to accept a loose federation in a re-united island in which the Turkish Cypriots would essentially continue to enjoy self-government."

On the issue of security, Rizopoulos said that "third party good offices - preferably American - leading to the demilitarisation of the entire island, as the Greek Cypriot side has itself repeatedly suggested," could prove most useful.

Matthew Nimetz, who practices international law and has served as President Bill Clinton's special envoy on the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) question, has called on Turkey "to withdraw its troops on a timetable, subject to a political settlement and new security arrangements."

Nimetz also foresees a "loose federation with significant autonomy for the Turkish constituent state," and sees NATO "providing the security forces for the entire island."

He also supports an "economic agreement between Cyprus and Turkey under which Cyprus would agree to support actively Turkish entry in the European Union."

CNA JD/MH/AP/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

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