Cyprus News Agency: News in English (PM), 97-08-08

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

CONTENTS

[01] Top UN envoy on Cyprus peace talks

[02] Kasoulides - Rodousakis on integration agreement

[03] President to participate in talks in good-will

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[01] Top UN envoy on Cyprus peace talks

Nicosia, Aug 8 (CNA) -- The UN expects the Greek and Turkish Cypriot community leaders to come up with a common position at the end of the second round of talks, due to start Monday in the Swiss town of Glion.

The UN also expects that the two sides would want to discuss other outstanding issues, on which they have major differences of opinion.

In an interview with CNA, top UN envoy in Cyprus, Gustave Feissel, who last week brokered an agreement between the two sides on humanitarian issues, noted that this round of talks is a continuation of the previous round (in New York) and both are part of a process leading to an overall settlement.

"So one should not look for major, explosive, or dramatic developments of one kind or another," Feissel said.

One of the things the UN expects from Switzerland, he explained, is for the two leaders to "come back to Glion with their views with the objective of coming up with some kind of a common position."

Feissel said this common position would emerge from the "discussions with both leaders and their remarks on a UN non-paper they were given to study in the last round of talks."

"They may have some news on the ideas that were given or shared with them, which may lead to additions, deletions or modifications," he added.

Feissel did not wish to speculate on the shape of any paper they may emerge from the talks and noted this would depend on "the positions of the two leaders and the approach they prefer to take." "One would have to wait and see," he cautioned.

"I think the important thing is to come up with something that they agree to," Feissel told CNA and added "we anticipate they will discuss the ideas we gave them with the objective of coming up with a common position and we also anticipate they would want to discuss the outstanding issues, not necessarily to reach any agreement, but as part of the process leading to an agreement."

Feissel explained that the UN non-paper the two leaders received during the first round of talks contained "ideas and suggestions for a joint statement, which they might agree to or issue on how they propose to proceed towards an overall settlement."

Replying to questions, the top UN envoy said both leaders are "free to discuss other things and it is my understanding that there will also be a discussion, and that seems to be the desire of the two leaders, on the areas of so-called outstanding issues."

These include constitutional, territorial, security, and human rights issues, as well as the issue of displaced persons and property claims, and the three fundamental freedoms of movement, settlement and the right to property, on which there is divergence of views between the two sides.

Asked if he got any feedback from either side about roughly where they stand on the revised UN non-paper, Feissel said he did not, and noted that this is something that will be discussed in Switzerland.

President Glafcos Clerides and Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash are due to resume negotiations on Monday in the Swiss town of Glion, in the presence of Diego Cordovez, Special Advisor to the UN Secretary-General and Feissel.

CNA MM/MCH/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

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[02] Kasoulides - Rodousakis on integration agreement

Stressing that the UN and foreign envoys on Cyprus should take note of the agreement, they both reiterated that the Greek Cypriot side will participate in the talks, to be held in Switzerland from August 11-16, in all goodwill.

Speaking after his first meeting with the new Greek Ambassador, Kasoulides expressed concern with the fact that Ankara decided to create a new fait accompli "only a few days before the start of negotiations for a Cyprus settlement."

"This indicates Turkey's intention to undermine efforts for a solution to the Cyprus question and shows a lack of political will," the Foreign Minister said, noting that the government has informed the five UN Security Council permanent members on its views and will also make them known to the European Union (EU).

The agreement, signed in Turkish occupied Nicosia during a visit Wednesday by Turkish Foreign Minister Ismail Cem, calls for the "gradual economic and financial integration and partial integration on security, defence and foreign policy matters."

It came as a reaction to a recent EU reconfirmation that accession talks with Cyprus will begin next year.

Kasoulides pointed out that Denktash knew of the EU decision long ago and said it should be made clear to the Turkish side that Cyprus' EU course will not be postponed or affected.

He also reassured that the Greek Cypriot side "remains dedicated to efforts for a solution to the Cyprus problem and has indicated that the international community and the EU should not be affected by this Turkish blackmail."

On his part, Rodousakis described the agreement between Turkey and the puppet regime in Cyprus' occupied territory as "worrying, because it undermines the effort taken up by the international community, the UN Secretary-General, the EU and other countries which will be in Switzerland for the talks."

He reassured that Cyprus and Greece will try to overcome this issue and will be "constructive during the negotiations procedure."

Kasoulides also rejected Turkish claims that Cyprus can neither join the EU before Turkey nor submit an application for accession according to the 1960 London-Zurich agreements through which the Cyprus Republic was established.

Turkey based its claims on the legal opinion of British legal expert Maurice Mendelson.

Commenting on Mendelson's opinion, Rodousakis pointed out that "he is a lawyer who is paid to do his job" and added the EU has already said the Turkish position has no legal grounds.

Both Kasoulides and Rodousakis noted the EU has rejected Turkish claims.

CNA EC/MA/MCH/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

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[03] President to participate in talks in good-will

At the same time he expressed concern with statements by Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Dentkash, regarding Cyprus' European Union (EU) accession prospect.

In an exclusive interview with the Athens News Agency, in view of the five-day talks on the Cyprus problem beginning in Switzerland, August 11, President Clerides noted that for the past two years Denktash has been stating he wanted to meet him (Clerides) even though he knew EU accession talks with Cyprus would begin next year.

"I am concerned with Denktash's reaction and I hope he is not looking for excuses to cover a lack of political will on his and Ankara's part for a solution," President Clerides added.

He was referring to the Turkish side's reaction to a recent EU reconfirmation that accession talks with Cyprus would begin as scheduled.

The Turkish side escalated its provocations Wednesday with the signing of an agreement between Ankara and the illegal entity in the occupied areas, calling for "gradual economic and financial integration and partial integration on security, defence and foreign policy matters."

Replying to a question, the President said he expects the US will have an important role to play in convincing Turkey to contribute towards a solution to the protracted Cyprus question.

He also said it is "premature" to consider procedures like the one used at Dayton (to solve the Bosnian crisis) or Camp David (to restore relations between Egypt and Israel), to solve the Cyprus problem.

President Clerides pointed out that each problem has its own peculiarities and its solution should be sought through different procedures.

The first round of UN-led negotiations between President Clerides and Denktash took place last month in Troutbeck, New York.

CNA MA/MCH/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

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